Dr. Toru Miyazaki, an immunologist at the University of Tokyo, has developed an injectable treatment targeting chronic kidney disease — the leading cause of death in cats, affecting nearly 30% by age 10. The therapy delivers an activated form of a protein called AIM directly to the kidneys, restoring their natural waste-clearing function that cats are genetically unable to activate on their own. Even cats with advanced kidney disease showed remarkable recovery after receiving injections — and no side effects have been observed. Trials have exceeded all expectations, with the treatment working both preventively and therapeutically. Global availability is projected for 2027, with commercialisation beginning in Japan first. Researchers believe the discovery could have significant implications for human medicine, given cats age similarly to humans and develop comparable conditions including cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s-like brain changes. Dr. Miyazaki — motivated partly by a dear friend who died during his medical internship and was a devoted cat lover — says he believes he “was destined to save cats.” Sources: University of Tokyo, Yahoo News Canada, Bored Panda, The Purrington Post — 2020–2026