Final Group allocation for the 20 healthy cats included in the study.

GFR, glomerular filtration rate; M, male; F, female; C, control group; HS, high salt group; TDI, tissue Doppler imaging. Normal: normal systolic and diastolic radial and longitudinal myocardial function assessed by TDI. Subnormal: normal systolic and diastolic radial and longitudinal myocardial function, except for the presence of regional post-systolic contraction waves for the longitudinal motion of the left ventricular free wall and/or the interventricular septum. Abnormal: regional diastolic dysfunction (as assessed by an E/A ratio <1; E and A: early and late diastolic TDI waves).