Kidney failure 😔 a few questions/struggles

[ItsAVomOne]

My cat has just been diagnosed with early stage kidney failure. He's 14/15 and has been steadily losing weight over the last few months. I noticed around a month ago he seemed really thirsty, and blood tests at the vets confirmed kidney failure.

I gather I need to change his food to renal food (ordered) and basically keep an eye on him. Up to now he's been eating and drinking fine, but the last few days I haven't needed to top his food bowl up. He's really fussy with food so I'm worried he won't eat it the new stuff. What about treats?

He's also weeing a lot, and this is where I'm struggling. He has a tray (took some chopping and changing of trays/litter etc to get one he liked) but he's so hit and miss with using it. My carpet in that corner is pretty grim- I can't seem to get it clean/dry before he goes on it again! Am I missing any tricks? It's generally just wee but I have a sensitive nose and I work right next to it..

How long might we have? The vet wanted to do bloods again next week to see if the diet is helping but I can't even pick the food up til Thursday, then I need to swap it over, so I'll leave it a bit longer. But the vets eagerness to retest made me wonder if it's generally a quick decline?

Thanks for reading. I've probably missed loads out, can't think straight!

I’m really sorry — is there anywhere you could move his tray to that isn’t on carpet? After mine was diagnosed, he would do absolutely enormous wees but thankfully always in the tray. He got used to the renal food and he lived for about another 5 years!

Thanks @girljulian that's really good going! I hope I can report the same.. he keeps having bouts of pancreatitis as well so his litter tray is generally pretty disgusting but I keep it as clean as I possibly can so I'm not sure what's putting him off using it. I'm carpeted everywhere unfortunately, the bathroom and kitchen are lino but too small.

I did have it on an offcut of lino but I realised today that it's still damp (and smells like wee 🤢) underneath, I just can't seem to get it clean and dry to then put the lino back on!

I suppose it's troubling me a bit that this is a behavioural thing rather than a medical thing (probably?) but we've never used a tray before so all learning!

One of my cats had renal disease and he lived another 5 years until he was 18.

I’m sorry you’ve had this diagnosis for your boy

I have a 17 year old who has had blood tests that show she has kidney disease too, and she’s peeing far more than previously. She also decided a couple of years ago that she didn’t want to use litter trays with any litter in them - possibly because she’s arthritic, or sensitive to the litter being pointy on her paws, or maybe just because she’s a cat 🙄 so I have several empty trays which she uses happily but I have to wash out multiple times a day. We do have one of those sieve trays but that still only gets peed in once before she won’t use it again.

You might consider large washable puppy pads under the litter tray to protect the carpet a bit, and wash the carpet with dilute biological washing liquid as it works on the enzymes to neutralise the smell to you and your cat.

I hope you have him for some time to come 🤞

I think 'how long has he got' is an unanswerable question. My mother had a cat who lived a few years after diagnosis, I had a cat who only lived 3 months. Neither me nor my mother bothered with renal food, we just gave them food they liked. Realistically they are unlikely to have long left so why make it miserable with food they don't like.

On the subject of the litter tray - one of our cats had a serious leg injury a few months ago and he couldn't squat properly so kept missing the tray. The most useful tip I found was to use puppy pads - push them just under and around the tray and they absorb anything that misses, they're brilliant. When soiled, chuck away and put down a new one. I bought Amazon Basics brand.

Thank you @meghansturkey that gives me hope.

Thank you @Catname they're funny little things aren't they- I managed to get a urine sample by convincing him to pee in an empty tray but he wasn't keen!

The washable puppy pads is a good idea- I bought a pack of disposables and they've been an absolute god send, I dread to think what sort of mess I'd be in without them. When they run out I'll invest.

I was ready to type "I tried bio washing liquid but it didn't work" then realised that it probably had worked, it just got peed on again very soon after🤭 it's currently covered in bicarb and puppy pads but I'll pull it all up again tomorrow and go over with the bio liquid.. watch cat like a hawk til it dries.. then re-lino!

I really hope so too. I'm concerned he doesn't seem to have eaten much today and, although sleeping happily now, was definitely a bit hunched over earlier. Perhaps I'm overthinking things because I know there's something wrong though. Hope your little lady is doing well too!

Agreed @saysayonara it's an impossible question, I suppose I was looking for a rough idea- the vet didn't really give any clue as to whether we were talking weeks/months etc. I suppose they can't, can they? Depends if anything is causing it/individual circumstances.

I'm willing to try the renal food, mostly because it sounds like it might be an opportunity to get a bit of weight back on him or at least stop him from losing anymore, but if he doesn't like it we'll go back to normal! I really don't want him to lose any more- he's halved his weight already.

Yes puppy pads have been absolutely brilliant, I just learned you can get washable ones! He's not missing though- I watched him earlier on, he's deliberately walking past the tray and going next to it 🙄 it's tucked in a corner under my desk and he just goes next to it (still under desk, next to tray). I feel bad for the poor little guy, but at the same time it's bloody infuriating when he could save me so much hassle!

I'm glad you're onto the puppy pads (just don't tell the cat that is what they are called 😆)

That's interesting that he doesn't attempt the tray. What litter are you using, I know you said you tried a few. It sounds as if he doesn't actually like the feel of it. A fine grain one with a sand-like texture can work well. (Like World's Best.)

Alternatively, is he a bit arthritic? Can he comfortably get into the tray? My vet recommended a low sided litter tray for my injured cat. It had not occurred to me he wouldn't be able to get over the side, but vet was right.

Sorry to hear about your cat's diagnosis. My 20 year old cat was diagnosed about a year ago. I've swapped her to renal food - i know she steals from our other cat, but at her age, I'd probably refuse to give up wine! I'd like to keep her going whilst she's happy, but recognise that time may be running short. Compromise of keeping her happy and healthy - and she's quite an elderly cat.

Thanks @Saysayonara, we've had success overnight with two wees in the tray. So happy when morning cleanup is a simple scoop of the tray 🤪 I think he must have decided he does like this litter after all. The stuff before was a bit chunkier/sharper- I think he prefers this sandy type. It was all a bit of a rush job setting up the tray and I grabbed the first litter I saw so hadn't really considered the options!
He's still jumping about/on and off my bed and sofa, and when I watch him outside he's not struggling with movement so I assume no arthritis- just standard cat fussiness I think..

Thank you @ellieinfrance I hope your cat is managing well, a year sounds promising. I know, I'd be the same with wine! It's a fine line between helping them feel better and helping them enjoy the time they have left isn't it. A day at a time 😊

That is good news - success! I think if they are not used to a tray it takes them a little while to get used to the idea. Mine prefer the less chunky type of litter too, softer on their delicate paws!

At 15 I’d just let him eat what he likes. Quality of life is more important than length.

When my cat was like this I used an Ikea under-bed storage box as a litter tray because it was wide and shallow. I also put an empty tin of Quality Street beside it as a wee step so he had no excuse that he couldn’t get in the litter tray!

Keep a good eye on the pancreatitis- he will be in lots of pain with this and off his food and water.

Sorry to say this but if it’s happening regularly you might want to consider ending his suffering.

I nursed my old boy through a bad case of it (he lived and had all his meals on my H’s pillow for about a month and I carried him up and down to the garden to wee in his favourite spot! )

He lived another 3 years after this but luckily the pancreatitis never came back.

And I 100% agree with this

Thanks all, lots to think about here. @scarletwidow and @Toddlerteaplease I totally agree re quality of life over quantity. He's never been a particularly food oriented cat, never been particularly greedy or had a "favourite"- I've basically fed him the same food his whole life. Occasionally swapping between chicken and fish flavours just for interest 😅 he's not eating a lot at all really now so if he doesn't take to the renal food I'll switch back.

The pancreatitis one is weird. I think he's had it on and off for years but it never seems to bother him noticeably, but I know it's meant to be horribly painful. I'm watching him like a hawk to see if he's showing signs of discomfort, he's purring away quite happily for now.

The underbed storage box/litter tray is genius @scarletwidow I'll definitely bear this in mind if we have any more incidents! I've cleaned the carpet again today and hoping to get it dry and lino'd ASAP, he's outside enjoying the sunshine so it has a fighting chance..

My boy died of CKD earlier this year. I would echo all the great practical advice you have had so far - although as grim consolation you may find that his pee will start to smell less as it becomes less concentrated. My poor boy was peeing water basically by the end. Agree that although diet is the main treatment there is no point making a 15 year old cat miserable. Elton was very young (3) so we tried to take a more interventionist approach. You mention a few times that you would like to know the likely trajectory of his illness. The vet should be able to tell you what stage of CKD your boy is at. Anything below stage 3 is manageable for a considerable period of time but things move faster at stage 3/4. I wish you all the best.

So sorry to hear about Elton @Puppylucky that's so sad that he was so young. You almost expect it with older cats but that seems really unfair!
When I took his sample in the vet commented that it was very dilute so wasn't sure how accurate their test would be. It still reeks though- my carpet washing efforts haven't done much to help unfortunately.

I could do with ringing the vets back really, it was hard to take it all in and I didn't have a pen and paper handy. I do remember her saying it was early stages and the stats she read out to me were at the very top of normal/only just into abnormal. I'm not sure why he seems so symptomatic with that in mind. He's so sleepy, other than his little trip outside he's been snoozing all day. Hasn't eaten today either 😞 hoping maybe the new food I collect tomorrow might tempt him.

Honestly the worst thing about CKD is feeling continuously on edge about how the cat is feeling. If he is early stages that's great news and there is a lot you can do to keep him healthy. Feeling snoozy comes with the time of year and probably him being 15. Our new chaos goblin has been dozing all day!

Sorry I just saw the bit about him not eating. CKD makes them nauseous so you may want to look at toppers and soups to make his food more appealing and get more fluid into him. A lot of people swear by FortiFlora as the magic additive gets them eating but both my cats have been indifferent to it.

Yes absolutely on edge all the time @Puppylucky I hadn't realised until you put it like that!

I imagine time of year and weather are playing a part. I'm probably overthinking but have started weighing his dish so I can see how much he's eating. It's dry food so I just keep it topped up usually. He's always had dry, not ideal I know, but previously would never eat wet food or any treats, soups, sticks, jellies whatever. Never been able to give him e.g. plain cooked chicken or fish, a tin of tuna. It's this dry food or nothing! So it doesn't really leave me anywhere to turn when he's gone off it.. maybe nausea as you say, could ask the vet if there's something he could have.

I really don't want to go down the "over treatment" route, he hates the car and the vets, but it's hard to know when to start and stop.

My 15 year old cat is diagnosed with early stage renal disease. He’s actually put on 1kg since diagnosis with the new food and seems happier. He does sleep a lot, but the vet was really happy with him at his last checkup. He used to eat dried food but had become much less interested in food - the vet said he also did not have many teeth left as well. We swapped him to wet food which we put his arthritis medicine on, we mix a teaspoon of pate & gravy food that he loves with the wet renal food and the medicine. We also always leave out dried renal food which he will nibble on during the day. It seems to work for him.

Totally agree.

@ItsAVomOne we had exactly the same problem with Elton rejecting wet food. I think as he started to feel more nauseous it was just too much for him. However he absolutely adored Smilla cat drink which you can buy on Zooplus. It's basically chicken or tuna broth so very basic (and probably a total rip off) but it was a godsend . We could even add meds etc to it and he still lapped it up.

Mine was diagnosed about 8 months ago. Vet was very pessimistic. I did think in May I was going to have to get the vet out as she was so weak and wobbly but luckily I contacted a friend in the US who runs a cat sanctuary. She suggested Tilly was dehydrated so i upped her fluid intake and here we are. She’s currently out hunting. She caught two birds a couple of months ago so isn’t going badly at all. Her first slightly matted but she’s put on weight and having a great time. Medicine goes in Lick e Lix and she gets lots of treats so she’s happy.

Thanks so much for all your thoughts. I'm in the process of moving over to the renal dry food- he no more/less interested in it than he was his normal food so hopefully it will do some good.. he just doesn't want to eat much full stop.
I did buy some pouches of the renal food too and surprisingly he's taken to them quite well- at least, he's eating all the jelly from them anyway! Not sure if you can get something that's just like the jelly stuff, maybe that broth you mentioned @Puppylucky might be worth trying, I didn't think he'd touch anything wet but he's surprised me.

Though I do agree with @Scottishlass10 and everyone else to just feed him whatever he will eat! He's so bloody skinny it's awful.

Also as much as I hate to say it, I'm really struggling with the smell in the house.. the litter tray is kept immaculate but the smell seems to linger and the wet food reeks. I have a really sensitive nose so I'm finding it a constant, depressing reminder.

Since starting the renal stuff he doesn't seem to be drinking and weeing as much- I'm not sure if this is a good thing?! His diarrhoea hasn't improved at all though sadly.