My kitty cat is in chronic renal failure

Ghery said:
Open the door. He'll just come in and take over your bed. :D I know, ours did.
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Oh, he will have his way, believe me. He prefers to wait until around 1 or 2 am and then jump on the bed, sit on my chest and meow in my face. Or he chews and pulls on my wife's hair. I love my pets but there are limits.
 
Elizabeth,

Sorry to hear about your kitty and hope that she does better as long as possible. We had a couple of brothers with the same problem and it was sad to watch them lose their energy. The vet told us that it was not painful but my wife and I could see the slow slide. Eventually, about a year apart, they became lethargic and we knew we could not postpone the inevitable.

My heart goes out to you and your kitties. I know you love them and they love you.

Tyler
 
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One of my cats is suffering from the same problem. I have to give him liquids via I.V. every other day. He has to eat special food for his problem as well. He is an old alley cat I took in a few years ago. I had him neutered and got his mangy fur back to normal. He is a scarred up old veteran and fears nothing, including very large dogs, he attacks them on sight.

I have had many cats and dogs over the years and they are buried all over my yard. The rescues always seem to make the best pets, it's like they know you saved them, they show their gratitude.

The only downside to having pets is we outlive them, but they are so rewarding and enhancing to our lives, it is well worth whatever pain we feel when they go. I hate that part more than anything, but not enough to stop sharing my home with them.

John
 
The only downside to having pets is we outlive them
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i agree this is a terribly painful thing...for us humans.

But how if it was the other way? They outlive us, and no one to take care of them after we're gone?
I think there was a good plan in this design after all.
 
woodstock said:
It was just positively confirmed Thursday with an ultrasound. Pretty bummed about it all. I have two cats, they are littermates. Only one is affected.

Other than the weight loss (and the excessive drinking and peeing) she is still acting quite normal. Interested in food, running, jumping, purring, playing. Her numbers are elevated but still low-elevated and so far, stable. It's also possible this has been on a simmer for some time. With cats I guess you don't know things are going on for a long time - they don't "act sick" until they are pretty far along.

It's bad news but now that we know what it is, all the treatment can start and hopefully we will be the ones that beat the odds as long as possible.

She's only 5 years old. I'm learning more about kidneys than I ever thought I would.
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My solution to all health ailements feline, switch their diets to canned springwater tuna. I have had a lot of cats over the years, and you would be amazed at how often this cures many problems. Commercial cat food is garbage, all of it, I don't care what brand.
 
I believe if you put that suggestion out to those who have devoted their careers to studying feline nutrition, you will encounter considerable resistance.
I can think of 5 serious, even fatal health effects that an all-tuna diet can cause in cats.
If a cat appears to do well on tuna alone for many years,....it is probably a successful hunter!
 
Thanks everyone. I hope to keep her with me as long as possible. Kitties hit the jackpot when I brought them home. :)
 
Henning said:
My solution to all health ailements feline, switch their diets to canned springwater tuna. I have had a lot of cats over the years, and you would be amazed at how often this cures many problems. Commercial cat food is garbage, all of it, I don't care what brand.
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Not a good idea when facing renal failure. The extra protein can be very hard on their kidneys. The Feline KD diet is a lower protein food, but it lacks taste and often cats will not eat it. This causes weight loss that can be worse. If the cat's weight can be maintained with the lower protein diet then you stick with that.

But I do agree, most commercial cat food is garbage. The other thing you would need to be aware of is that a strict human consumption tuna diet will also lack calcium from the bones. That will need to be given to the cat somehow.
 
ScottM said:
Not a good idea when facing renal failure. The extra protein can be very hard on their kidneys. The Feline KD diet is a lower protein food, but it lacks taste and often cats will not eat it. This causes weight loss that can be worse. If the cat's weight can be maintained with the lower protein diet then you stick with that.

But I do agree, most commercial cat food is garbage. The other thing you would need to be aware of is that a strict human consumption tuna diet will also lack calcium from the bones. That will need to be given to the cat somehow.
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Exactly what my vet said, but then hedged it with "well, she's gonna die anyway, so if you want to try it, it's your cat". (sorry, I'm not paying for, or subject a cat to Dialysis and whatever. When it's time to die, it's time to die and there are always more cats, dogs, guinea pigs.... whatever that are ready for a good home as well.) Granted though, she was a hunter, so I guess she got her calcium from eating the critters she caught. She'd get a can of Bumblebee a day, half in the AM and half in the PM. She lasted another 3 years on that diet. Had a cat that was insulin dependent diabetic until switching him to the same diet. 6 weeks later, no more insulin and the weight was coming off. Commercial cat food is garbage.
 
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Henning said:
Exactly what my vet said, but then hedged it with "well, she's gonna die anyway, so if you want to try it, it's your cat". (sorry, I'm not paying for, or subject a cat to Dialysis and whatever. When it's time to die, it's time to die and there are always more cats, dogs, guinea pigs.... whatever that are ready for a good home as well.) Granted though, she was a hunter, so I guess she got her calcium from eating the critters she caught. She'd get a can of Bumblebee a day, half in the AM and half in the PM. She lasted another 3 years on that diet. Had a cat that was insulin dependent diabetic until switching him to the same diet. 6 weeks later, no more insulin and the weight was coming off. Commercial cat food is garbage.
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I have to second this. I have two cats, litter mates. One is obese because he's addicted to the "kitty crack". Efforts to get him off it have lead to chronic diarrhea and lethargy. The other cat likes meat, and is slim and spry. I can't help but notice the disparity right under my nose. It's very sad. An obese cat cannot groom properly and isn't really living a cat's life. I think we humans like the idea of a nice dry kibble that fits our own lifestyle, but does not fit the evolutionary reality of a cat.
 
An update - can't believe it's been a year, wow. Avert your eyes unless you are a cat fan!

I took her in for her 6-month cardio exam. She is progressing which in this context isn't good. Not in crisis, but she held at "low risk" for 18 months, now she is at "low to moderate". The left atrium is starting to enlarge (if I got that right). Still moderate.

Her blood pressure is too low - 100. Less than a month ago she had two consecutive vet visits where she was at 180, so they started her on low dose amlodipine. That is making it too low and the cardiologist said that we should try benazepril now, which, if her kidneys can tolerate it, might actually be better for the kidneys (fine line).

Poor baby. Every morning I shove atenolol, amlodipine (now to be benazepril) and tumil K down her throat, pepcid every other day. Each night atenolol and tumilK again. She's been stable for 25 months with the CRF which is fantastic though. Fingers crossed her blood tests tomorrow show continued stability.

She has lost weight though no matter that she is eager to eat. Dang. Sigh.
 
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They get under our skin, that much is for sure.

Best kittie-luck to yours...
 
My little Moogie dog has kidney problems, runs in the breed. Low-protein food has really done wonders for her, put the spring back in her step.
 
Tuna Fancy Feast and Hills GD kibble (RX Senior Diet).

I am talking to an internal specialist/nutritionist about her diet though. This may change. Or not. She loves that Tuna Fancy Feast.

Thanks Spike, yes, they do.
 
woodstock said:
An update - can't believe it's been a year, wow. Avert your eyes unless you are a cat fan!

I took her in for her 6-month cardio exam. She is progressing which in this context isn't good. Not in crisis, but she held at "low risk" for 18 months, now she is at "low to moderate". The left atrium is starting to enlarge (if I got that right). Still moderate.

Her blood pressure is too low - 100. Less than a month ago she had two consecutive vet visits where she was at 180, so they started her on low dose amlodipine. That is making it too low and the cardiologist said that we should try benazepril now, which, if her kidneys can tolerate it, might actually be better for the kidneys (fine line).

Poor baby. Every morning I shove atenolol, amlodipine (now to be benazepril) and tumil K down her throat, pepcid every other day. Each night atenolol and tumilK again. She's been stable for 25 months with the CRF which is fantastic though. Fingers crossed her blood tests tomorrow show continued stability.

She has lost weight though no matter that she is eager to eat. Dang. Sigh.

This is kitty on the left BTW.
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Medication changes are the norm with CRF kitties and they will have ups and downs to be sure. Just keep going with the floor as long as they are not being too traumatized by the treatment. Twenty Five months is really good. You still are not doing the IV water yet are you?
 
Thank you. I attached a photo, my little Moogie is below, my loyal boy dog Kurzon above. Red eye and everything. Not easy taking good dog photos. May all ailing pets get better.
 

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No sub-Q yet. The cardiologist said we hope to hold that off as long as possible because her heart issues will GREATLY complicate that need. She simply won't be able to tolerate much. What is concerning me today is that since we started the amlo I am noticing a lot more urine output (told you, if you aren't a cat fan, avert eyes!). I hope that it is the amlo and not a kidney ramp up.

Cute pups Steingar! Yes, tough to avoid red eye. My photo below looks like "black mass with glowing eyes".

I took the below when I was outside (mowing lawn) and they were both sitting up against the door, inside, faces near the door-window. (edit - found the photo).
 
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Cats and dogs are far more difficult to photograph because their eyes have a special tissue not found in humans or dogs called a tapedum lucidum. It is a reflective layer at the back of the eye that causes light to pass twice through the retina, thus increasing their visual acuity (a handy thing for an animal that is basically nocturnal). Thus the light from your flash comes back out at you.
 
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Every morning I shove atenolol, amlodipine (now to be benazepril) and tumil K down her throat, pepcid every other day.
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Sounds like you are getting top care for her Elizabeth. Only thing I can add is that the first two meds can now be had in a pen-type applicator or perhaps in a measured dose syringe. Both are applied to the patient's ear and have a carrier agent that transports the med into the circulation. (wear gloves)
Much less stressful to owner and pet. Not as inexpensive as oral medications however.
We get ours from Veterinary Pharmacies of America, you will need a script - give this # to your dvm: 877-838-7979
All the best.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Sounds like you are getting top care for her Elizabeth. Only thing I can add is that the first two meds can now be had in a pen-type applicator or perhaps in a measured dose syringe. Both are applied to the patient's ear and have a carrier agent that transports the med into the circulation. (wear gloves)
Much less stressful to owner and pet. Not as inexpensive as oral medications however.
We get ours from Veterinary Pharmacies of America, you will need a script - give this # to your dvm: 877-838-7979
All the best.
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I did the ear application for a cat that I had that needed chemo. The stuff was really nasty and we did always wear gloves. Luckily we had a compounding pharmacy that would make the stuff up for us. But I will keep that VPA in mind if I have need for that again. The compounding pharmacist that had done work for us was not exactly a spring Chicken.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Sounds like you are getting top care for her Elizabeth. Only thing I can add is that the first two meds can now be had in a pen-type applicator or perhaps in a measured dose syringe. Both are applied to the patient's ear and have a carrier agent that transports the med into the circulation. (wear gloves)
Much less stressful to owner and pet. Not as inexpensive as oral medications however.
We get ours from Veterinary Pharmacies of America, you will need a script - give this # to your dvm: 877-838-7979
All the best.
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Thanks Dave. She is actually very easy to medicate. Very gentle, submissive cat. Now, when she knows it is coming she will hide but once you have her she doesn't put up a fuss.
 
They appear to be fierce. Do you rent them out for canine patrol work?

steingar said:
Thank you. I attached a photo, my little Moogie is below, my loyal boy dog Kurzon above. Red eye and everything. Not easy taking good dog photos. May all ailing pets get better.
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wabower said:
They appear to be fierce. Do you rent them out for canine patrol work?
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I was very proud when Moogie confronted the forces of evil in my dining room. She is afraid of other dogs, cats, and puppies. You might call it cowardice, but I call it wisdom, since she only weighs about 12 pounds.

Since they don't have commercial certificates, I can't rent them out for anything.
 
GOOD NEWS!

I got my kitty kidney numbers back just now. Stable. Tracking pretty closely to last time. Very happy. 25 months and doing OK. Now to get her to gain some weight.

Here she is below, a year or so after I brought them home.
 
Hi

I just thought I'd update.

It's been a really rough month. She had her first "crash" in early July, and we've been chasing numbers ever since. If you have been through this you know what I mean.

She was very stable for 3.5 years, stable to the point of being pretty routine -give meds, cat eats and drinks and all is well.. and I simply don't know if she is adjusting to a "new normal" (meaning a plateau, worse, but still a plateau we can adjust to) or if something finally went "pop" and I'm now witnessing a sliding decline. Either way, it sucks, big time. I really hate watching this. Knowing what is going on would be a small comfort. And you simply don't want to know what the vet bills have been like. She's seeing her specialist yet again today.

Damn. :-(

Give your pets a big hug.
 
Beth, I've been watching your posts on FB and praying for her (and you).
 
Beth,
Where do you live? My wife is one of 73 board certified feline specialists in the world. If you could possibly get your kitty to Central Florida I could get her to give her a thorough exam and advice. No charge.
John
 
Thank you Grant and John.

John, that is very kind of you thank you. I'm in metro DC (not far from Bill Suffa). I appreciate the thought. I'm ok on vet bills just astounded at how quickly they add up.

I'm right now waiting for her blood results at her specialists' office. Expecting an overnight (or more) stay. Her list of meds are long and I've started hand feeding and watering bc this wkd (esp) she just wasn't doing it on her own. Poor girl. She's such a sweetie.
 
JOhnH said:
Beth,
Where do you live? My wife is one of 73 board certified feline specialists in the world. If you could possibly get your kitty to Central Florida I could get her to give her a thorough exam and advice. No charge.
John
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I didn't know there was a veterinary specialty board for felines. Why are there so few specialists? What additional training or testing is required over the usual veterinary school? Does she work on big cats?
 
And I'm back... avert your eyes if you don't want to hear details.

The good news is... she isn't worse. And that actually is good news - she is home tonight.

For a long wkd worth of not eating much and not drinking much on her own (I've been hand assisting with both - syringes - but not enough to compensate) her main numbers have gone done very slightly. Statistically the same, but again, I think had she been eating and drinking she would be MUCH better. I'm hoping this is due to "pre-renal" values, then. Re-hydration may help those numbers a lot.

One number, an important one, actually is a lot better. Phosphorus levels were climbing too high, and we got her back to "high normal". Improvement needed but that is still good.

May this good luck continue...

John, thank you again. That was a very kind thought.
 
Only you can make this call, but maybe it is time? I am an animal person for sure, but there comes a time when, as the pet owner, you need to make the call.

Please don't miss understand, I feel for you and the kitty. I love cats. My first one was born a year after I was and lived 22 years and died after I got out of the service. My last cat lived to 12. Both inside - outside cats. I have seen outrageous vet bills also, and I would do it again, but at some point "the decision" has to be made. I know you know that, but no one has brought it up yet that I could tell.

Good luck.
 
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Sigh. She is still doing her normal cat things, happy and perky. As long as she is, I'll soldier on. She will need to start eating and drinking to sustain herself though. I can assist as much as I can, but I'm not home for 10+ hours each day.
 
You can hydrate a cat by sub dermal injections of saline solution. Ask your vet about this home treatment. It pulled our cats through a couple of tough times. Dehydration is bad news. The "water" is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades and is absorbed. Just grab the skin like a mommy cat grabs a baby and inject under the skin. The vet will show you how to do it. It is easy and almost painless for the the cat.
 
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woodstock said:
Sigh. She is still doing her normal cat things, happy and perky. As long as she is, I'll soldier on. She will need to start eating and drinking to sustain herself though. I can assist as much as I can, but I'm not home for 10+ hours each day.
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Absolutely.

My standard is "no undue suffering". Living with me was torment enough. :rofl:

Seriously, you are doing the right thing if she is playfully and energetic. :yesnod:

Hang in there. :yes:
 
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