Cat with CRF/Kidney Failure-Advice Welcome

[ThornyRidge]

I am so sad right now.. my 11.5 male indoor cat had surgery to remove 3 bladder stones approximately a year ago.. after surgery he responded well and was good.. now the bad news.. about 2 months ago I noticed he was not as thrifty and have kept watch on him.. I have noticed no bathroom issues until the past week I found two "accidents" on my bed (thankfully bed made with ample blankets) and noticed too the urine did not have strong cat urine odor.. in addition he has reduced his food intake and has dropped weight.. we went to vet last night and vet wanted to keep to do blood workup.. results today were bad.. he was dignosed with kidney failure.. and is very "sick" I have already made the call to my normal family vet for the appointment to do what I was recommended to do.. however when I got home from work today he greeted me at the top of the steps and did his "talking" and was eating, drinking and actually came a bit ago to jump in my lap and drink some milk left over in my cereal bowl. outside of looking very unwell he has moments where he shows almost the opposite. The vet said that there is nothing that can be done other than sub q fluids. He is not to the point of drinking a lot.. and I do find him still using litter box. He is for the most part laying down in his spot but very much alert. This hurts so bad. I have done nothing but cry.. and then reading that some cats can be supported for a while with this condition. I am gonna take lab results for my normal vet to look at Thursday night but I just wish I could freeze time. I am 34 years old and do not do well with loss of my animals- who I consider my family.. infact most people that know me know that I feel more strongly for my animals than alot of people I know. Any additional information from others who have experienced this CRF/Kidney/Bladder issues would be appreciated.. oh and since surgery he was on the prescription diets.. and now I feel guilty about that!!

 

[thebritt]

I am so sorry to hear about you're cat's troubles (name?) and yours. I once made the appointment to put down one of my dogs (she was 17, with severe vestibular disease). But the first 2 times I cancelled because she showed signs of still enjoying life, in spite of her symptoms. She still ate and drank, and would pee outside with supportive help, and carry her frisbee. One may come to the conclusion that, when there are no signs of enjoying anything about life, it is time. However, is it our job to prevent that much discomfort?

I don't think I'll ever know. We just take it one day at a time, and do what we can. It would be at the point where no modern medicine has any answers that I usually start trying alternative approaches. That makes ME feel better, and I can only hope it makes the pet feel better as well. Will your vet come out to your place when (if) the time comes? I'm really glad our vet does.
Take care, and enjoy the time you have together as much as you can. Again, my condolences.

.
Will your vet give you a sub-q set-up so you can do that at home?

 

[dun chick]

So sorry about your kitty, had to put mine down last summer. Enjoy the time you have and you will know when the time is the right time to say goodbye.

 

[PitterPaws]

Sorry to hear about your kitty, They give so much love and live such a short time.
As long as your kitty is eating, drinking, enjoying life as much as can be in his condition I would say Hold off, and enjoy the time you have with him, You will know when it is time. Have the vet teach you how to do the SubQ once you get the hang of it it is easy and your kitty also will get into the routine. Cats know you are trying to help them I had to give my cat SubQ (she also had Kidney Failure) and at first she wasn't happy about it but she did get used to it and would just lay there, I think she enjoyed the extra attention for her alone. She lived for another year with KF and when it was time I could tell.

 

[insiderart]

I kept my cat alive for 4 glorious years after being diagnosed with CRF. She was down to 25% kidney function. I just gave her subQ fluids once a week or so. More if I noticed that she was not eating well. She was absolutely fine for a long time, my only regret is that during that last year I myself was chronically ill and practically bedridden and wasn't able to take as good care of her. Had I been well then I might still have her even now. I miss her everyday.

With CRF cats they need a special diet, very imperative you get the r/d I think it is? The vet will tell you. You will need to follow the restrictive diet. Protein is not their friend. And that you learn to give subQ, or go to your vet regularly for fluids. CRF cats can live a long happy life if well cared for.

Terri

 

[patandchickens]

So sorry to hear it <big hug>. It is probably worth trying subQ fluids and a 'kidney diet'. At least back when I had my kidney-patient cat, like a decade ago, vets were not highly accurate at forecasting happiness and lifespan of cats with kidney problems. I know people who were told their cats' problems were very mild and the cat should have several good years ahead of them, and the cat was gone in a couple weeks; OTOH my beloved Hecate kitty was predicted to have only months left "if that" when diagnosed with polycystic kidneys, and was happy as a clam for over 4 years before succumbing rather rapidly at the end. You really just can't tell.

So since subQ fluids (easy to learn to administer at home) and food (with Hecate we fed Hill's k/d, but of course your vet will tell you what's most appropriate on the current market - it really wasn't any mcuh more expensive than what she'd been eating before - and do not feed him people food nor high-protein snacks, unless he will eat aabsolutely nothing else at the moment) are low-stress and inexpensive, it is worth giving them a try. Some cats will really perk up, others not so much, but at least you'll have tried and will have given him as much more comfortable time as possible.

Very best of luck,

Pat

 

[insiderart]

LOL, yeah maybe it was k/d. (Reference the aforementioned illness... complete with memory issues.)

Yeah, don't throw in the towel just yet. Good luck.