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Original poster

Kidney failure. Appt made to pts this afternoon, is this the right decision?

38 replies

CovidCorvid · 18/01/2022 09:38

Cat is 14yo. Hasn't seemed right for a week and had bloods yesterday. Has lost weight, seems miserable and in pain.

Vet has just rung and said it's kidney failure, results are unreadable/off the charts. Not sure if too high or low.

Vet said 2 options. PTS in which case it needs doing today as she is suffering. Or admit for IV fluids/hydration. Which would cost about 300-400 pounds. And while it would help her in the short term it wouldn't resolve the long term problem and would reoccur. She said there were more tests we could have such as ultrasounds to try and determine the problem better, obviously that would also cost.

Cat isn't insured. I do have money in the bank. If it was a case of spending 500 or so and she would be cured I'd spend it no problem. But sounds like I could easily spend getting on for 1k and be in the same position in a few months with an elderly cat?

OP posts:
everybodystalking · 18/01/2022 09:44

I am not a vet.
I'm so sorry you have this decision to make. In your situation I would most likely PTS (my dog had cardiorenal failure and I had to make this decision at Christmas)

GoodnightGrandma · 18/01/2022 09:45

I think it is the right thing to do. You need to take the pain away.

Szyz2020 · 18/01/2022 09:51

I would pts. I am sorry but it sounds like your cat has had enough Flowers

BarefootHippieChick · 18/01/2022 09:52

I think it is the right thing to do. My last cat had kidney failure (at 17!) The vet said it would be the kindest option as it can also lead to so many other health problems that it would be no quality of life. I know it's so hard though. Hugs to you 💛

RedSquirrelRoar · 18/01/2022 09:54

At 14, suffering, and with little chance of a good recovery I would PTS.

Gargellen · 18/01/2022 09:57

PTS definitely. Kidney failure makes them feel awful. 14 is a good age. If the cat was 7 - different.

ClaudineClare · 18/01/2022 09:57

I think kinder to pts too. So sorry you are having to make this decision.

SilverHairedCat · 18/01/2022 10:06

My moggy is a similar age with slowly deteriorating kidney disease. Watching her waste away is just awful but she currently has a good quality of life.

In your boots, I'd also PTS. We're watching my cat all the time to check she's not suddenly changing again and her numbers aren't as severe as yours.

You're absolutely doing the right thing for your puss.

Original poster
CovidCorvid · 18/01/2022 10:11

Thanks everyone. She does look so miserable, though perked up for the mountain of Dreamies I gave her earlier...

OP posts:
PurpleCarpets · 18/01/2022 10:42

Even if there were to be endless cash available I think it's unfair on an animal to put them through prolonged or complex treatment. As a human patient we're able to understand that the discomfort and unpleasantness is a means to an end. A cat can't understand that. It's kinder to say goodbye gently now with some Dreamies and a cuddle when she's still not too unhappy than to wait for things to get worse.

It's really hard though, and I'm so sorry Flowers

thecatneuterer · 18/01/2022 11:44

It's completely the right decision. I think vets have to mention all the possible treatments, but it doesn't mean that they believe you should subject your cat to them. If there is no long term hope, which it sounds as though there isn't, then PTS now is without a doubt the kindest thing you can do.

TellMeItsPossible · 18/01/2022 11:47

It's so hard. I took my girl in for bloods last spring, and the vet took one look at her and recommended pts as the kindest option. She was only 6. It was so shocking and sad, but she was suffering and there is nothing to fix kidney failure. Sad I'm still sad about it, but also feel confident I did right by her.

joydivisionovengloves71 · 18/01/2022 13:08

We took our 18 year old cat in yesterday with what we thought were dental issues. The vet diagnosed a tumour in her throat so she was put to sleep. We did spend some time with her while she was sedated stroking her and telling her how much she was loved. We are all devastated but it was definitely the right thing to do. We had insurance at £50 a month but never needed to claim. If I ever get another cat I wouldn't get insurance but have a separate savings account

YourenutsmiLord · 18/01/2022 13:28

My DF had kidney failure - fortunately he was on a rota of dialysis three times a week - even then he was quite ill.
Definitely pts.

Original poster
CovidCorvid · 18/01/2022 14:57

@YourenutsmiLord

My DF had kidney failure - fortunately he was on a rota of dialysis three times a week - even then he was quite ill. Definitely pts.
Wow, I didn't know they could do dialysis. But definitely not an option with no insurance.

DD has being sobbing all day and keeps telling me the cat looks OK.

I need to talk to the vet about food for our other cat, this poorly cat used to be on wet food but wolfed it down so quick she regurgitated it all the time. So we put her on dry and now I'm worried this has caused the kidney problems.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 18/01/2022 15:22

I PTS in the same situation. She also had severe heart disease and the treatment was what caused her kidneys to fail. But I just looked at her and knew it was time.

Toddlerteaplease · 18/01/2022 15:25

I think the dialysis was for the DF, not the cat. I don't think that will ever be an option for cats.

TheSpottedZebra · 18/01/2022 15:27

One of our cats had kidney disease. The vet made it quite clear thag with medication hedge ok for a number of months. PTS was not mentioned.

The fact that your vet has lead with pts suggests to me that it is the right course of action, unfortunately. Poor you and poor dd. I remember being the child tyring to convince everyone that the cat was, would be OK Sad

ThePlantsitter · 18/01/2022 15:29

It's very hard to know what to do because quite often the vet won't tell you even if they think you should have the cat PTS because they want it to be your decision.

Releasing her from the pain and the stress and discomfort of treatment she doesn't understand and may not help for long by having her PTS is the right thing to do. They don't suggest it of it's not the right, honourable and kind thing to do. Sorry about your lovely cat. Flowers

TheSpottedZebra · 18/01/2022 15:29

Stupid autocorrect. That was meant to read: The vet made it quite clear that with medication he'd be ok...

Original poster
CovidCorvid · 18/01/2022 15:36

@Toddlerteaplease

I think the dialysis was for the DF, not the cat. I don't think that will ever be an option for cats.
Oh, yes...I read that wrong!
OP posts:
joydivisionovengloves71 · 18/01/2022 15:43

Did you get to the appointment OP? Our cat was put to sleep yesterday and I've been thinking of you today.

We got her when my children were young and it's been very upsetting for us all, but it was the kindest thing to have done as she was so unhappy 😕

Original poster
CovidCorvid · 18/01/2022 16:03

The appt is at 5.30. Cat seems to have perked up a bit and is sat on the windowsill watching the world go by. Dd is adamant she’s not sick enough to be pts and we should do the IV fluids route.

OP posts:
SwissCheeseRentedChildren · 18/01/2022 16:09

What a difficult decision. Sending hugs, whatever you decide is best.

viques · 18/01/2022 16:44

Your cat has had 14 years of being loved and cared for, the final act of love and care you can give is to make sure that they are pain and stress free.

I am so sorry for your DD, it is heartbreaking to make that decision, but she needs to understand that when we take on an animal we commit to its well being, it is part of the responsibility of being a pet owner, sometimes we have to make decisions that are in the best interest of the animal even though they are decisions that hurt us deeply.

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