Early Stage Kidney Failure in Monty??

Tell her to follow the vet's advice, and he could have many many good years.

Change of diet is the most crucial. :)

I have no idea what he was being fed at Huntingdon Animal Shelter, but with me he was fed Nutro dry. He loved canned food as well, but was never fed any of the recalled stuff.

His first adoptive home, where he got the UTI (if that's what it was...), was feeding him crap (Friskies or Purina... sorry just don't think it's great stuff). Have no idea what he was being fed at the 2nd home.

What causes CRF?? Is it diet and stress??

Found this on Dogpile:

CRF may have one or more causes. The common contributing factors are age, genetics, environment, and disease. In recent years, more attention has been directed towards high blood pressure, low potassium levels, acidified diets, and dental disease as possible contributors to the development of CRF. Research has indicated that some breeds have a higher rate of CRF than others. The Maine Coon, Abyssinian, Siamese, Russian Blue, Burmese, and Balinese appear to be more likely to develop CRF than other breeds. Although CRF can occur at any age, it is usually a disease of older cats. With dietary improvements in cat food, advances in feline medical care and more cats living indoors, cats are now living much longer and their bodies eventually wear out just as human bodies do.

Many renal diseases result in CRF. Usually the diagnosis in the vet’s office is simply CRF because the cause cannot be determined in most cases. Causes can, however, be divided into two groups – congenital and acquired. Congenital kidney disease may progress and turn into CRF in kittens and younger cats.

Renal failure may be either chronic or acute. Chronic Renal Failure (CRF) is a progressive, irreversible deterioration of kidney function. Because cats hide their illnesses and the very early signs of CRF are subtle, this disease may only be recognized when the patient reaches the 70% deterioration level and more dramatic symptoms are observable. The seemingly sudden onset may appear to be an acute condition but is most often a crisis point of CRF. By comparison, Acute Renal Failure (ARF) is characterized by an abrupt shutdown of kidney function, most often accompanied by oliguria (reduced urine production). The primary causes of ARF in cats are: urinary obstructions, infectious diseases, trauma, and the ingestion of toxins - the most common one being ethylene glycol which is contained in antifreeze. ARF is extremely serious and can quickly become fatal. Immediate veterinary treatment is imperative. Though the prognosis is usually poor, if damage has not been too severe and medical treatment is aggressive, it may be possible for normal kidney function to be restored.

Hope I didn't bombard you w/too much info but I wasn't doing too good of a job in explaining the difference between chronic and acute and what causes it. I sure hope Monty's new family listens to their vet. Monty could have lots of good years left.

My Cleo (Siamese) was diagnosed with kidney impairment in Oct 2005. (No such word as "failure" in our house... ;) ) We have managed it together by means of medication for her high blood pressure and hyperthyroidism and subcutaneous fluids. As time goes by she needs the fluids more often. It started off at once a week in Feb 06, then twice a week, then up to three-four times, now it's just about every day. She also has Chinese herbs and acupuncture. She didn't like the renal wet food at first but she liked the renal dry after her normal wet food. A little bout of constipation recently has meant that she now has very little or no dry food but she has started to eat the wet renal much to my delight. She is generally going on very well. She is now 18yrs 8mths. She is gradually losing more and more weight though. She loves her food and is still bright and reasonably agile.

I would say to you, please don't think there is anything you did to cause this. Cats are prone to kidney impairment by virtue of the fact they have less nephrons (the little filtration tubules) in their kidneys than other animal species including humans. Some cats are lucky and are never affected in this way, but many are. Some make it to 12, 15, or 17 before it shows up, others contract it earlier in life. Dear Monty just drew a short straw, and I would say there is nothing you could have done about it, particularly as the condition is almost always well under way before a cat shows any signs of having the condition.

We wish Monty well and that he and his purrents manage the condition well so he has a long and happy life. No reason at all why he shouldn't. :)

Thank you all for the words of moral support here. I'm just really worried about him and wondering if there was something I should have/could have done that we would have known this earlier. Like, was it a UTI? Should he have gone back in for a urinalysis? Or, maybe he had started this when he was at the shelter before we even picked him up and no one ever knew.

The funny thing is, I always thought he looked like an older cat. He reminded me of the diabetic kitty we had at the shelter who had passed away. Not THAT bad, but he just looked boney when I got him and his fur was bad, ya know?? I was shocked when the vet said he was only 5 years old. My youngest is 4 1/2 years and she looks 1/3 of his age.

I'm hoping to keep in close contact with his adopters, and hear how things are going. Hopefully he'll be a good boy and eat what he needs to! He has a good appetite and loves wet food, so that's a plus for him (unless the renal food is really yucky!).

Apparently the wet renal is not the tastiest feline gourmet experience :p

Best to introduce it by mixing it with current food in ever increasing percentages.

Or add some tuna or salmon juice from a tin of your own/their food.

Cleo wouldn't touch it a year ago, now she is happy to hoe into it with gusto :p I don't give it to her at every meal but I mix it 1/2 and 1/2 or give it to her as an additional meal in the day if she asks for food.

Jenn, I'm very sorry to hear these news on Monty, but like others have said, diagnosed at an early stage, Kidney Failure doesn't have to be a death sentence.

And please don't blame yourself! As we all know, cats hide their discomforts very well!

I hope his new humans will keep you updated, and I also hope that he will start eating his diet food (I'm just going through the same with Luna!) which is so important for him.

I once knew a cat that lived for many years with CRF. He was a good boy and ate his diet, and took his meds.

Best wishes to Monty!

Kirsten