My poor little boy

[Puppylucky]

I've posted a couple of times on here about my beautiful boy Elton. He's a rescue FIV cat and we haven't had him long - 2 1/2 months. He has just had his first full check up and they have found out he has stage 3 kidney failure. He won't live more than a few months more. I am absolutely devastated. He is so beautiful sweet and loving and I will miss him so much

Op, it's highly stressful having an ill cat and you feel helpless as they can't tell you what's wrong or what hurts, but you love him and are doing the best for him. It sounds like he may need some antibiotics so maybe you can bring forward his appointment to tomorrow. AB's usually get to work quite quickly - our poor girl had a nasty dental abscess and went from eating/drinking nothing to wolfing her food down within 24 hours.

Thanks again for all the advice - the vets not open today but I think I will try and get the appointment brought forward as apart from anything else he is now very stinky in the mouth region!
Edited for clarity

I am so, so sorry. Your Elton is beautiful. Perhaps you can do fluids at home for a while?

We have lost several to renal failure (one last year) and our elderly kitty boy is currently declining from it. He also has the stinky mouth and is very thin, though still eating and lively. We will spoil him until he starts feeling poorly. I dread it so much.

I hope Elton rallies and is with you (feeling well) for much longer than expected!! ❤️

This. In spades.

Sending love to you and Elton and wishes for a happier mouth, from me and my boys!

@LuckyPeonies What were the signs of decline if you don't mind me asking? It's so hard to live with the uncertainty and just not knowing what to expect. Elton is definitely thin but again as a recent adoptee I have no idea if he's actually lost weight. The stinky mouth is definitely worse but I do think it might be related to his tooth extraction - I guess the vet can confirm that. But he's eating and drinking well, playing and bird watching as usual. The really odd thing is that no-one can agree how old he is. We were told he was about 2 but the vet seems to think he's about 14! She's basing this largely on the disgusting state of his teeth and claws as well as the kidney failure. But teeth and claws aside he doesn't look or act like an elderly cat so I just don't know what to think. Cat tax paid in case anyone has any ideas

Oh he's so gorgeous and looks so happy 😍
I hope it goes well at the vet today.

We have a 17yr old cat, diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 2021, immediately changed to renal food and they are still going, they even put a little bit of weight back on last year. They have bad days occasionally when they are sick a lot and don't eat much, and more recently they are not drinking as much as they used to and have had some mild issues with constipation but otherwise they are definitely still enjoying life even though it's at a lot slower pace now. Have they definitely said it will be a matter of months? Even with a diet change and if needed meds? That seems very short even for stage 3. Maybe a second opinion would be worth it?

@LilithImpala67 Thanks so much for sharing this - very helpful! Elton is nowhere near what you describe - he's never been sick, is still drinking and eating and playing. He's also supposed to be 2 - so not an elderly cat although he is FIV - you have really given me hope so thank you!

@Puppylucky no problem at all. Ours had initial symptoms of weight loss, eating less and drinking a huge amount, plus massive wees in the litter tray. We were heartbroken when diagnosed and thought they would not last long but they are still going! Still trying to steal chicken and claw the sofa They don't eat much now so the renal food was a must for them as it is calorie dense as well as gentle on the kidneys. We use Royal Canin renal dry and Pro Plan renal wet food, costs an absolute fortune but has helped them immensely. Can recommend Animed for a cheap source of the food if you need it!

Thank you so much!

@puppylucky, his decline is similar to what lilithimpala wrote. Low weight, muscle wasting as well so some weakness and he cannot jump as far and gets a bit wobbly occasionally. His coat is very scruffy as well.

His appetite has decreased so we are trying mirtazipine gel. And days where he seems nauseous, 2.5 mg of famotidine. He is almost 18 (vet estimated him to be around 1 year when he showed up sickly and skinny 17 years ago) so he is quite aged.

He also has feline herpes which is now causing constant symptoms of sneezing and nasal/eye discharge. Monthly steroid injections help and even initially increased his appetite so he gained a bit. Your Elton sounds to be in much better condition, so take heart that he may be with you for quite a while yet!,

Just an update as you've all been so lovely and helpful. We've just come back from the vets and I'm feeling more hopeful if a bit confused! We saw a different vet who agreed that Elton had a minor mouth infection so he's got antibiotics for that. We also discussed his kidney function results and it seems he's a bit of a mystery. With his numbers where they are he should be a very sick cat but he's not. Nor does he look old enough for this to be a natural part of ageing. We are going to repeat the test in a few weeks to try and get a handle on what's really going on. Another photo to thank you all for your kindness - it's really appreciated!

Elton is such a gorgeous boy and so pleased to hear it’s just a minor mouth infection.

My Ian is supposed to be 10, the vet thought 7 but he also literally climbs the walls and is faster and more energetic than my 4 year old who does not have a heart issue! they are SO confusing!

Wishing you all the best for his follow up tests- you are being such a FAB cat mumma!

@Puppylucky he is absolutely adorable. There is something about him tugs at my heartstrings and I say that as a cat slave of some sixteen years!

Hope the antibiotics do the trick ❤️

I also have an FIV tabby boy. I don’t want to give you false hope but…

It may be worth double checking the kidney result. My boy’s urine test was taken before a dental when he was dehydrated. I thought he was at death’s door, put on special food etc in fact a second sample was fine.

Oh and the vet also identified kidney issues in ultrasound which don’t actually exist.

Oh wow @Catinknickers thank you so much for that info! I'm trying so hard not to be too hopeful but something just doesn't stack up about his results

What a gorgeous boy! I hope the blood tests are wrong.

Oh my gosh I wonder if he’s like my old boy! So 6 years ago we were told he had kidney disease and I was just devastated. Cried for ages. And then onto all the special foods etc etc. Bloods were always the same. Until after 5 years our vet said that the weird markers may just be his baseline. I do so so hope that is the case for Elton too!

Harry was the same @LostCats! We were told he had chronic kidney disease when he was about 11. He refused point blank to eat the renal diet so we gave him ipakitine in his normal food. His readings never got worse and the vets used to say he didn't look like 'a kidney cat' as lets just say he wasn't wasting away!

He started to drink a lot more just before we lost him but he had heart failure and we always knew the side effects of his medication could be worsening kidneys.

Oh wow @PinkSparklyPussyCat! I didn’t know that about Harry!
(and hi! Been wondering how you’re getting on with new baby cat?)

Do hope Elton has strange readings just like Boone and Harry and lives a long and happy life 🩷

Harry was a meowing medical encyclopedia @LostCats!

Unfortunately it didn't work with Noah. I loved him dearly but after coming from a litter of 9 kittens he was lonely. I believe he was the only one to go on his own. However this does have a happy ending! He is now living his best life with my friend's Mum and her year old cat who was also lonely after losing her mate. They run play together and then wash each other and go to sleep curled up together. I get regular updates from him (yes, his new family are as mad as me!) and I'm his Mum 1. He has developed a taste for smoked salmon and enjoys watching snooker! They've said I haven't lost him and I'll never lose touch with him so while I have a little cry when I see a picture of him as I miss him I'm also happy that he's happy.

Ah @PinkSparklyPussyCat I am so sorry it didn’t work out with Noah. Air is nice he’s landed on his paws but I do hope there is another soul out there for you ❤️