My poor kitty

[Curmudgeoness]

She is 9 years old, and has lost 2 pounds since last year, so they did bloodwork on her. It showed that her kidney functions are all bad. So we had to do urine tests and that confirmed that she has kidney disease. (Have you ever tried to get a urine sample from a cat---they do not appreciate you chasing them around with a cup!) They put her on antibiotics in the remote case that it is an underlying infection. She will now have to be on a special diet for the rest of her life. And I suppose that means my other kitty will have to be on the same diet.

All of this was on top of the reason for the vet appointment, which was blocked anal glands that were causing bleeding. This poor kitty is now on Laxatone, antibiotics, and soft food. (Well, the soft food is not a sacrifice for her. That is kitty heaven.)

Has anyone else had a kitty with kidney problems? What can I expect? I am worried sick over my baby!

[kimi]

1. The antibiotics may help, actually

The kidney function is unfortunately progressive, but can be managed. I had an 18-year-old kitty who had the same thing happen, but she was bad off enough that we had to give her sub-cutaneous fluids every other day, and then, when she got older and somewhat sicker, every day. I'm assuming that your vet will be keeping a close eye on your kitty - blood work is unfortunately sort of necessary, although the kitties hate it, it's stressful but it gives a good idea of where the kitty is as far as progression of kidney disease goes. And the KD diet can help a lot too.

I'm sorry, I'm not much help, really, but I'm sure there are plenty of others who have dealt with this too. Best wishes to you and your kitty.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. You are a great help. Any encouragement is welcome.

Just to hear that some of this may help is a good thing. The vet is doing a wonderful job so far. He showed me the urine sample under the microscope and explained all that we were seeing. He went over the bloodwork results in detail. He will do a good job, I am sure. But he would not go into what I can expect in the long run, and that is what is bothering me. Will she be in pain? How do I know how bad it is? Or is that where all the blood tests will come in?

She was six when I took her in. She was scheduled to be euthanized because of her age, making her unlikely to be adopted. And I feel like I have let her down, don't know how this happened. I'm just bummed right now.

And since every time I get near her, I am forcing something down her throat, she is avoiding me. Double bummer.

[kimi]

6. I'm so glad that you have a good vet

that makes so much difference, to have a vet who will explain and discuss. I was sort of in your place back then, when Heidi got sick. I'd always sort of figured "Well, it's an illness, it gets treated, it goes away." But the fact remained that, although symptoms can be managed, and the kitty can have a good and comfortable life with support and love, kidney disease is a progressive thing and can't be "cured". The day I really, truly realized that was a bad one.

I honestly do not think, from what I saw, that my kitty was ever in pain. And oh, no, my goodness, you have certainly NOT let her down. Ignoring her weight loss and her other problems which were definitely causing her discomfort, now, THAT would have been letting her down. But you didn't, and you won't. It's not a condition that is caused by anything, from what I've read. Age, and genetics perhaps, have something to do with it. There's a lot of info out there on the intertubes, and a CRF (Chronic Renal Failure) website - www.felinecrf.com - is helpful too.

I hear you about the forcing stuff down her throat. When we had to give Heidi her fluids, she really gave us the evil eye. Spend lots of other time with your girl, if you can, and it does get manageable. :hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

13. Thanks for that website. I hope it gives me understanding.

Yes, my vet is excellent (and has the reputation of being too expensive in our area but the one to go to with a sick animal), and will answer questions without hesitation, but I can't ask him to give me a whole course in renal failure. This will help me to avoid asking questions that I can find answers to online, and to ask questions more intelligently.

[Rochester]

2. I had a cat once...

...that had kidney problems in his old age. Cats seem to be very prone to kidney troubles. He went from being a very fat cat to a very skinny cat in the last year of his life. There wasn't anything I could do for him ($$$) so I just tried to make him as happy and comfortable as possible until he died. I hope my current cats don't get kidney problems.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Oh, I hope current kitties don't have this problem either.

I know that we all die of something, kitties too. I know about cancer in cats. My two other cats died within a year of each other, both of cancer, different kinds. But they had lived a good long life---17 and 18 years.

So does the cat just end up losing weight until it wastes away? I am sorry you had this happen too. I feel helpless in the face of this, as with the cancers. I don't know how much money it would take to do everything possible, but I know that I will not have enough for serious treatments down the road. Although I don't think I would put her through it even if I could afford it.

Best wishes for you current kitties.

[Rochester]

5. The cat lived to be 17, so he had a good long life...

He pretty much wasted away, yes. He was extremely fat before, but he was skin and bones near the end. As his kidneys gave it up, he drank more and more water and peed it out as quickly as he drank it because his kidneys couldn't do their job any more. He started getting noticeably weaker in the last month or so of his life; eventually it was all he could do to get from food dish to water dish to litter box. At that point I was ready to have him put down but the vet looked at him and said take him home, he's not going to live through the night. And he was right.
I will pass on your best wishes to my current kitties. One of them is purring on my lap right now.

[Curmudgeoness]

14. That was kind of your vet to save you money.

I know all about that point where you know it is time to put them down. A sad realization for sure. But you are giving me information that is valuable as to what to watch for. Thanks.

[murielm99]

7. My kitty is probably fourteen.

When we noticed that she was getting skinny, we had a complete workup done. The first time she was healthy. About a year later, when she had dropped another pound, they found kidney disease.

We get Royal Canin cat food, a special renal failure formula, from the vet. She has a little bit of the dry and a little bit of the wet every day. She eats well and has gained back her weight. Who knows, she could be around for another fourteen years. She has never looked or acted more healthy.

[Curmudgeoness]

10. This is encouraging. I hope that the special diet will work for her.

He gave me some Prescription Diet K/D to try. She ate the wet well, and the dry I am just trying with a mix in her old food to get her used to it. We will see, but she is just not going to have a choice in the matter. Like medicine, this is just how it has to be. I hope that she does as well as your kitty. How long did it take for your cat to start looking and acting better after the change in food? Has your vet done further testing to see if all is well?

May your kitty continue in good health.

[murielm99]

18. She started looking and acting better after two or three months.

There really is nothing further they can do for her, so we have not had any additional testing. If she stops responding to the special diet, she will not have any other options. I am glad this is working. I hope it works for your kitty, too.

Mine has been on this diet for at least two years. I have lost track.

[Paper Roses]

8. Our kitty lived about 5 years after being diagnosed with kidney trouble.

She was an abused stray, asthmatic, and then developed the kidney problems. She had 2 types of medication daily and led a full 14 year kitty life. She was on a special bagged diet we bought from the Vet called KD. Can't remember the manufacturer but your vet would know. It is formulated for kitties with kidney problems. I'm sure my kitty's life was shortened by her health problems but we did our best for her and she rewarded us with years of fun and companionship.

I hope your kitty gets well soon and that her kidney problems can be brought under control too.

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Yep, my vet put her on K/D food. We are trying wet and dry.

With 2 cats in the house, they will both be on that food. Good for the health of both, I am sure. Not good on the pocket book, but what is money for.

Five more years of living healthy would be great to me, although I was hoping for more. I always do.

Thanks for the story, I feel better knowing this is not necessarily a quick death sentence.

[hippywife]

9. No answers.

Just sending some love to your kitty. :hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

12. Thanks for the kind words. I will hug her one too many times from you.

She may not like it since she is not all that into hugging, but she has to deal with it anyways. That is the price she pays for the room and board---and health care.

[raccoon]

15. No experience with this, but I am sorry to hear it.

:hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

21. Thanks. And hope you never have to experience it.

I am feeling rather encouraged by some of the posts where the cats lived a long time with kidney disease. I just hope we caught it early.

[veganred]

16. Our cat had similar problems

Hi,

About 4 months ago our cat was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection after we obtained an urine sample. It was our first cat urine sample but the black pellets the vet provided helped the process. She was put on meds and recovered well. She is also on a special urinary track food which is really expensive and they say she has to be on it for life.

Good luck.

LLN

[Curmudgeoness]

22. Those pellets were pretty cool. Worked like a charm.

Kitty has a LOT of particles in the urine, which is not normal. Many were in the shape of the kidney tubes, which indicates the problem. So the kidneys are not filtering properly and I hope the meds help with my kitty too, although there was no sign of infection in the urinary tract.

I have learned about the expense of the special K/D food, and that it is a forever thing now. Small price to pay, I suppose.

Thanks for the help.

[myrna minx]

17. Awww - I'm so sorry.

You'll probably have to feed her k/d and give her occasional saline shots to help her along.

:hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

23. Oh no, not shots! It is a given that she will be on K/D for

the rest of her life. I guess the vet is waiting to hit me with the shots later. He did tell me to have water all over the house to encourage her to drink. I suppose that if she continues to drink water, this is unnecessary. But it is good to know that this may be the future. I can deal with it, but will not like it. She has begun to run from me already with the pills and the Laxatone all the time.

Thanks for caring.

[myrna minx]

25. I hope you won't have to do the saline either, but the kitties really

don't seem to notice that it's happening. The saline 'bubble' does absorb quickly and it does help flush out the impurities from her system and rehydrate her, so it's a good thing.

My current kitty doesn't care for this thing, but you may want to consider a drinkwell type kitty fountain to encourage more water consumption. My little fur weirdo found this innocuous thing to be 'startling' but he's also afraid of the laundry pile. This is wonderful for some cats but again, my kitty wouldn't use it.

http://www.amazon.com/Drinkwell-FWB-RE-Original-Pet-Fountain/dp/B00063446M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1284656958&sr=8-1

If all you have to do is change her diet at this time, it sounds like you've had an early diagnosis, which is good. You've done nothing wrong - kidney disease is one of the most common affliction in kitties. You can manage it and you caught it in time. You and your fur baby are probably going to have a long life to share together.

All my best. :hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

28. Ya know, that is a great idea. Of course I have no idea

whether my kitties will like it or be afraid of it, but these are the strangest cats I have ever seen. I adopted them at 5 and 6 years old when their mommy died and they were headed to the animal shelter. So I don't know what was up with them up until that time. All I know is they came in the house and just jumped on a chair and laid down like this was home---no hiding, not curious, just home. And funnier still is that I have to pick them up and move them to vacuum under them. No fear of the noise, so these are odd cats, they probably will have no problem with that fountain. I am going to try this---it will be worth it if it makes her drink more.

Thanks for a wonderful suggestion.

[GreenPartyVoter]

19. I am so sorry *hugs* I have 2 with hyperthyroidism. The female has a touch of kidney disease but

nothing major as of yet. *knocks on wood* But my guess is that as they get older we will have to face it eventually.

Good luck to you and kitteh! :hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

20. Oh my, 2 kitties with hyerthyroidism! Like one isn't enough.

Does this require meds all the time? So sorry. This is not something that I have dealt with--yet.

Hope your kitties are healthy otherwise and live a long life. What we won't do for them!

[GreenPartyVoter]

24. They are brother and sister so they were probably both genetically inclined. I have to

stick margarine-coated pills down their throats twice a day. Other than that, they are living their lives as normal. They are 16 now, and the boy cat who came down with this first has been like this for 3 years now, I think? I just feel thankful it wasn't diabetes. I dunno how I could manage with trying to give them insulin!

I will keep thinking positive thought for your little meow-baby. :hi:

[Call Me Wesley]

26. Good vibes for your kitty.

Hills was never very popular with our cat. Try Royal Canin if she stops to like the Hills one. :hi:

[Curmudgeoness]

29. Thanks. The Hills is easy since that is what the vet sells.

They loved the canned Hills K/D, so that is a good thing. And the dry is a process moving from old food to this one, but they are not just eating around it. I will keep Royal Canin in mind if this doesn't work out.

Thanks for the vibes. Pudding needs it right now. And so do I, I am a basket case. She is half the age of my other kitties when I lost them, so at their age I was expecting it sooner rather than later. But not this, and not yet.

[RKP5637]

27. I'm so sorry to hear this, I hope she gets better. My kitty is about the same

age and fortunately he's well. He's my 7x24 companion, just likes to be where I am and vice versa. I can really understand your worry. If they could talk to us to let us better know how they're doing. Hope she gets better and better. Sounds like you have a vet that is trying to help her as best they can.

[joeybee12]

30. Sorry to hear that...two of my four have such problems, but still early stages...

The good news is that depending on how advanced the disease is, your kitty could have a few more years in her...let's hope so!

[Curmudgeoness]

31. So sorry about your kitties too. Hopefully your babies

will be fine for years. My kitty---I want more than a few more years. I just hope that all we are doing for her right now will help. The blood work was not as bad as it can be from what the vet said, but all the numbers for kidney function are off and there is a large amount of debris in the urine, much of it in the shape of the tubes in the kidneys. That was not a good sign, but I will be hopeful. It is better to just enjoy every day with her than to distress myself over it and forget the cuddle times.

Good wishes to your kitties---all 4 of them.

[GoCubsGo]

32. My 16-year-old has about 25% kindey function.

The vet put him on a supplement called Azodyl. It has worked wonders. His appetite is back on most days, and he vomits much less often. My vet said to just feed him whatever canned food that he likes, and that he'll still drink (and pee) up a storm. (I decided against giving intravenous fluids, because I didn't think he'd tolerate getting poked twice a day.) I just make sure the canned food is higher quality than the grocery store stuff. No special food prescribed. When I first bought my kitty to the vet, I thought he probably wasn't going to be around for more than a month or two. That was late March. He improved markedly after only a week on the Azodyl. He's even putting back on a little of the weight he lost.

You don't need a prescription for Azodyl, and it is for dogs, too. It's a capsule with a few strains of bacteria that consume urea, which is a waste product the kidneys normally filter from the bloodstream. If your vet doesn't carry it, you can order it from places like Entirely Pets.com and Petmeds.com. It's not going to cure the kidney disease, but it will likely make kitty feel better by getting that nasty urea out of its system.

I'm sorry to hear your baby is sick. I know just how you feel...

[Curmudgeoness]

33. I will ask my vet about that. Why did you decide not to go with

prescription food? Or was that the vet's call? Everything I have read says to use the special k/d foods---unless the cat refuses to eat any of it. At that point, any food is better than no food. But my kitty seems to eat it without problems. She has always ate well, just vomits too often. (I just heard her a minute ago, so will have more clean up.)

I have been reading too much about this disease right now, and I am overwhelmed with bad news from it all. People on DU have been the only hopeful signs I have seen, and I really do appreciate it. I want to hope this will not take her soon.

Thank you for the suggestion of Azodyl, and the reason to hope.

[DeepBlueC]

34. your cat can do quite well on prescription food

My neighbor's cat upstairs has been on it for years and he looks pretty damn healthy. The drugs and supplemental fluids are really for end-stage kidney failure as I understand it.

I have one diabetic cat who has to have prescription food which all the others eat as well and it is probably good for them as well. The diabetic cat gained back his weight and really too much more but he has been able to go off insulin. So I'm a believer in the efficacy of special diets.

Apparently I made a big mistake giving him too many treats and cat foods with gravy. They can eat Fancy Feast pate luckily because it is high protein but not the stuff in gravy. They all like prescription dry food and grain-free dry food but the wet stuff they have not taken too.

I hope your kitty does well on the new food...cats can hang in there for quite a while with kidney disease so don't assume the worst.