Kidney failure - food

[MyCatLovesMeSometimes]

Dcat collapsed with kidney failure over a year ago - and has been on pills ever since (& will be for life she's now 13). Had vaccinations at vet yesterday and found that since she was last there 3 weeks ago she's lost over a kilo in weight which I don't think looks too good.

She always refused to eat the special kidney food samples we were given but I want to try again with them and wondered if anyone had any recommendations for nice (in cat terms) food - preferably fish? She is on biscuits at the moment but am willing to try a mixture of wet and dry food or just wet if it's not possible to mix them.

Many thanks.

Just realised I am making big assumptions there, sorry. Good luck at the vets - hope they will be able to help her

No I know this is the end I think. But thanks anyway.

I knew a year ago we were on borrowed time, as I thought she was going to be PTS then but she pulled through. She's managed a little tuna now but doesn't look too good. We've a vets appointment at 10.45 - me in tears making it.

Stay as strong as you can. It's all about her now and I'm sure you'll decide to do what's best for her.

I say this because I kept a cat going for too long once, backaways, and with hindsight I can realize that it was for me and not for him. You learn.

Thinking of you all.

No I know me and DH have already said this morning better to go while she's still feeling ok rather than when she's in pain. "Better a week too early than a day too late" etc.

As a by the by, I note that she was recently in a stand-off. My old boy who died of kidney failure had, unusually for him, been in a big fight with another cat and I've always wondered whether the flood of adrenalin to his body finally sent his kidneys for six. Maybe one of the vets who post knows of a connection.

(He seemed OK afterwards but then he was a Siamese and they take the old Spartan adage very literally - the 'Come back with your shield or on it' thing. He clearly wasn't that OK because he died a few days later.)

She's an Asian/Burmese cross so very similar but also a total coward with it. Preferably in a cat fight she'd want me or DH behind her so we can scare off the other cat when she wants to run away.

Photo of her now showing on my profile.

She's a honey.

Some orientals may seem to be cowards - and may in fact try to avoid fights - but if it comes to it, they'll usually pony up.

All the best.

Ok back from vets and cat is still with us.

Vet had misread her notes and she's not lost a kg - she's lost hardly any..... Bloods and urine test from last week are apparently amazing - you couldn't tell the cat had kidney failure from them. However there is something wrong with her as she's not been eating this weekend and vet thinks her hips/legs are hurting her. She's had a painkiller and another appointment at vets for later today in case she doesn't eat anything today - if she does then I can cancel it.

Thanks everyone.

Seniorboy (who is much older than your girl) has arthritis which is steadily getting worse. He's been on meds for it for close on two years but two weekends ago, I really thought he'd given up - he was just sitting looking at me and wouldn't do anything. I reckon now that he was just sore and depressed because his vet gave us some top-up painkillers and he's much much happier now (barring a solid sleep in the afternoons when he first gets effect.)

It's worth a try.

Our old boy has been on Royal Canin renal food and meds for kidney failure for more than 3 years now. When he was first diagnosed with kidney disease we thought he had a couple of months at most. The vet is always amazed at how well he is doing. Arthritis started becoming a problem for him, which we're now treating with Canosan and Onsior, which seem to do the trick. I hope your kitty gets better soon.

She's now sulking with me as I tried to give her some pro-kaolin (for the runny poo) I didn't realise how bad it smelt!

Has she had any more runny poos/been visiting her tray a lot? Sometimes, you can have a transitory episode which doesn't last.

PS - cheer her up and give her some chicken if you have any around.

No chicken but I've given more tuna which she is ignoring hopefully when I get back she'll have eaten some.

I actually taste Seniorboy's main meds so that I know what he's going to be getting and how best to hide/mix it. (Not his new pain meds because they're a tiny dose and don't go in food.)

Good luck with her.

By the way, it's good news that she didn't lose so much weight after all. I did wonder about a mistake - they can happen and the circumstances suggested at least the chance of it. Hey Ho.

I think you'll have to bear her activity levels in mind - I know that Seniorboy, for example, doesn't eat as much these days but then he's not nearly as active either so his weight is pretty well maintaining. (In fact, the temperature in this house is climbing today to summer levels and he's sprawled out completely.)

Has she recovered from her sulk yet?

I'm being slowly forgiven (wait until the next dose which should be fun!).

She's now stalking around the house and I've given her some more meat, just half a sachet, as she was trying to break into the cardboard container of it. Her eyes look brighter now and she looks more like herself but she'll be going back to the vets tomorrow for checkup/painkiller as required.

It is good about the weight I feel far less stressed now! It was because it's a locum vet who's not familiar with her. Though on the other hand it's good she did have the bloods/urine test last week as we knew it couldn't be her kidneys getting worse now which otherwise might have been assumed.

The painkiller might well be helping if she has a touch of joint problems. The extra pain meds have made a huge difference to my old boy - he may be on the final furlong (unlike your girl) but he's not so depressed any more.

Good luck tomorrow and let us know how things go?

Course I will and thanks for all your help - really appreciate it.

Relieved that it wasn't as dire as you had feared

sometimes these elderly cats can go up & down very quickly, I know both of my oldies have looked awful & been off food etc, I have feared the worst, only to find them having perked up the next day

As LastingLight says, I would second Onsior, it was brilliant for my elderly girl cat's arthritis, unfortunately my vet was very unwilling to prescribe it for more than 2 weeks because it is only licensed for short term use in cats (she was switched onto metcam which didn't agree with her at all & sadly seemd to make her kidneys worse)

Good luck for the next few days

Absolutely beautiful photos by the way

Sorry forgot to update earlier.

Went back for a checkup this evening - no temperature and doesn't seem as stiff in her legs now. Vet happy with her and I'm going to be carefully watching her to see if she has any more problems with her legs/hips. If she does then we'll have to try and balance painkillers with her kidney - vet also said this can make her kidneys worse.

She's had about 50g of biscuits, small portion of tuna and little bit of meat sachet so her appetite seems to have returned.

Thanks she is a beautiful cat with a really lovely nature as well - she adores DD and puts up with with her pretending to be a cat and following her (helps if Dreamies are provided!). We've had her since she was 8 weeks old and she knows she's boss.

Sounds good.

You might be interested to read Lone's post in \link{http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_litter_tray/2071069-Cost-of-arthritis-medication-for-cat-can-someone-give-me-a-guideline-please?msgid=46837645\this thread} although I'm conscious of the fact that your girl already has compromised kidneys so wouldn't be starting with a clean slate.

I do know that Seniorboy has improved hugely since his vet gave me top up pain killers for him. (He's already been on Loxicom for coming up for two years and is handling it just fine.) Now that he's not hurting so much he's perkier generally (even played some) goes up and down the stairs more - and most importantly, is back to eating properly and using his tray fine. He's just a happier cat and that's fine by me although you'd have to discuss any need for meds for your girl with your vet of course.

Well done her.

Cheers for that Cozie. I suspect she may be starting arthritis but she seems ok this morning - scratched the sofa and carpet and been after the toast, now gone outside to enjoy the sunshine. If she seems in pain then she'll be straight back to the vets of course.