Kidney disease in cats

[Cheesechips]

I've been told by the vet that our 11 year old girl likely has kidney disease. Thyroid levels still up and down at the moment so they aren't 100% sure but it's probable. Going to put her on a renal diet. She's fine now, but just wondering how long cats with kidney disease can live for? I'm hoping she stays healthy and happy for a long time!

Depends on how severe? My senior cat had kidney disease and lived quite happily for a number of years after diagnosis (obviously had to put on renal diet and he did have medication too as illness went on. From what I remember/experienced, it can't be improved or cured, but definitely can be loved with.

My cat did die (this was about 5 years ago) but of a tumour, not kidney disease.

Loved with I meant lived with. I miss him.

@spudjulia

Depends on how severe? My senior cat had kidney disease and lived quite happily for a number of years after diagnosis (obviously had to put on renal diet and he did have medication too as illness went on. From what I remember/experienced, it can't be improved or cured, but definitely can be loved with.

My cat did die (this was about 5 years ago) but of a tumour, not kidney disease.

I don't think it's severe but need more info. Thanks, it definitely gives me hope!

Hi OP
My previous cat had stage 3 kidney disease, didn't show any symptoms but over the course of a few days, I noticed she was drinking a lot of water.
Straight to the vet, lots of tests. She had renal food but wouldn't eat it. The vet eventually said it was more important to get some food inside her, so we went with senior food. At her worst she was struggling to eat half a pouch a day.
She had 2.5 years after diagnosis., but for the most part seemed quite happy day to day.

She was 14 when she died

Good luck to you and your cat, OP.

My car lasted five years after kidney disease was initially found. Wouldn’t eat the special food. Are mostly regular food but sometimes managed some food for older cats.

I read somewhere about a potential link between fishy cat foods and kidney disease so I moved onto meaty flavours of pouches and biscuits to be in the safe side and wouldn’t feed fishy flavours again. Just in case. Presumably it’s like people smoking. You only find out you’re damaged your insides by the time you actually have a disease.

Hope your cat does ok.

Our cat drinks a lot and has poor kidneys so we bought her a water fountain, she loves it

Dcat collapsed with kidney failure at 12 (she was being investigated at vets the day before but it was a bit too late) 24 hours on a drip and 48 hours in vets and she came home.

She's been on 1/4 tablet - nelio since and has ipakitine powder on food (as she refuses to eat the special food) and even vets said it was more important to eat something.

She turned 21, 2 weeks ago and is still going strong.

Kidney disease is very variable - if diagnosed early and managed, cats can live for several years. It can be difficult to predict how fast an individual cat’s disease will progress.

ICC is a good source of information icatcare.org/advice/chronic-kidney-disease/

@Thecatisboss

Dcat collapsed with kidney failure at 12 (she was being investigated at vets the day before but it was a bit too late) 24 hours on a drip and 48 hours in vets and she came home.

She's been on 1/4 tablet - nelio since and has ipakitine powder on food (as she refuses to eat the special food) and even vets said it was more important to eat something.

She turned 21, 2 weeks ago and is still going strong.

Yes I too have a 21year old lady who's had kidney failure for 7+ years. An expensive business unfortunately as not insured.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I've ordered some food so hoping she'll eat it with no problems. She's always drank a fair bit of water actually but I assumed that was because she was on mostly dried food. I'm in regular contact with the vet so will update with any more news. She seems perfectly happy but it's hard to tell with cats sometimes!