Priscilla's failing kidneys

[phesina]

Hi Sandra!! I tried another Fancy Feast (chicken liver and something, I think) on her, but she was not interested. You'll be glad to know it did not go to waste, though, as the other cats made short work of it.

I haven't had a chance yet to pick up more of the Ocean Whitefish and Tuna Feast yet.. but this evening she ate a serving of the MaxCal on her own so I did not have to syringe-feed it.

She likes kibble too (KD! and now and then some Fancy Feast kibble), but I don't think she eats much of it. She looks like she's really working on it, and then I see she's still got quite a bit in her bowl.

I know Fancy Feast is not the greatest kidney-cat food in the world, but sometimes I just want her to eat something and really enjoy it!

Thanks again,
Priscilla and Pat and the gang

[kb2yjx]

Continued HOORAYS for Priscilla!!! Eat, girlfriend!!! Molly just loves her Friskies! Wen I tell the vet what she eats, the vet cringes, but Molly IS eating, and at 13+ that is what we want.....Enjoy your food Priscilla!

[Randi]

I'm sorry to see what Priscilla has had to go through - and you too, but glad she's now eating on her own. You are such a good mommy.

It seems that some of the medicine has helped. I hope Priscilla will continue to feel perkier and have many years with you yet.

Sending positive thoughts to Priscilla, and you. Give her kisses and scritchies.

[sandragonfly]

just reading this, your precious priscilla! I can relate you, my little star girl had CRF a couple years ago and it took her a while to perk back up! you can read more here.

I'm so sorry you're going through this with your baby, not a good feeling .. worried, worrying and stressful! I'm glad to read that she eats a lot (than what my star could ab ovo) better, you go girl!

when I learned that star wouldn't want to eat ANYTHING, the last suggestion I tried was a chunk of natural raw meat (best from fresh market or butcher anywhere) - she ate like she hadn't eaten in months! they had to be in SMALL portions, she can't eat too fast! after that, I feed all of my ark raw diet and never went back to kibbles ever again. except for recently because I was gone. my cats hardly get sick now.

maybe you could try that too, it'd be pretty hard when you have other cats to feed altogether. good luck and I hope cilla's appetite continues and her better in no time! (((hugs)))

..gina & the furrfelines
(zephyra, ocean, eclypse, clayton, shaddow, whispers, midnight, star, gus, echo and two guestkittens, tortie and apollo!)

[phesina]

Thanks, Sandra and Randi and Gina, for all your encouragement and suggestions and good wishes.

Priscilla's appetite isn't as strong as a few days ago. She still eats some on her own but not as much. I got a couple more cans of the Fancy Feast Ocean Whitefish and Tuna Feast, but she's NOT interested now. (Of course, most cats do that, eat some food like they can't get enough of it, and then after you buy a whole lot of it they no longer want it.) She still eats some kibble but not a lot, and I'm back to the syringe-feeding.

She wants to be closer to me than she has in the past. I'll pick her up and she'll hug me, her face to my chest or neck and her paws around my neck. She's sitting on my lap as I write this. She was never a lap cat or the real openly-affectionate type before; much more independent.

Gina, I read some of your thread about Star. I felt so bad for her, and then I was so happy to realize she made it through all that. How is she now? Once again I'm amazed when I learn about cats that come down with CRF and then pull through. Very encouraging and hopeful for Priscilla and me!

What do you mean by natural raw meat? Organic or additive-free or something like that? Sounds like something worth trying, if your cats are doing so well with it. Over the holidays I pet-sat a cat that is fed entirely on raw chicken liver, beef, and fish plus some Liv-a Littles Whole Chicken Treats. I thought that diet must be deficient in some of the nutrients that cats need. But then, I suppose that's what they eat in the wild, raw meat..

Thanks very much, everyone,

Pat and Priscilla

[Cataholic]

Just finished reading up on Priscilla. I hope she re-gains her appetite. Good thoughts headed your way.

Johanna

[jennielynn1970]

Have you tried any of the new Fancy Feast canned foods?? I know they are pricey, but my finicky guys eat it. I buy it as a treat mainly, but my newest cat in the family, who is FIV+ and about 12 or so, has practically no teeth and eats mainly wet food. He doesn't care for friskies, but loves Fancy Feast, and really enjoys the new stuff.

One of our cats at the shelter is on a raw food diet. I think the shelter mgr gets it freeze dried or something like that. They have a lot of it available on one site I checked out early this week http://www.onlynaturalpet.com
They deal in only holistic, natural foods for dogs and cats. If you haven't seen the site before, you might want to check it out. They have all kinds of foods, treats and things like that.

Good luck, and I hope your kitty starts to feel better, and eat more on her own shortly!

[RedHedd]

Please do talk to your vet about special diets for kidney compromised kitties. High protein is not good for them and makes the kidneys work harder, not something you want. Most of the prescription diets for kidney cats is low protein, but sufficient nutrition to keep them healthy. I do hope Phesina is feeling better.

Have you tried the wet K/D? Mishi LOVES it.

[phesina]

Thank you, Johanna, Jenn, and RedHedd for the encouraging words and good thoughts. Priscilla's appetite is still not quite what it should be. She eats some on her own but not a lot.

Jenn, I tried one of the new Fancy Feasts.. she wasn't interested (though the others loved it). I will try another one of the flavors. I took a quick look at the Only Natural site, and thank you. There are a couple of places not that far from here that carry some of those foods; I'll check them out too.

However, I wonder if, as RedHedd says, high protein is not good for kidney-compromised cats, and what I looked at about the raw foods says they are high in protein.. would this not be a good idea for Priscilla? I will ask the vet about it. Gina said her Star loves raw food and Star and her other cats do very well with it.

RedHedd, we have tried the wet K/D, both original and chicken flavors, and the Eukanuba and Purina canned prescription kidney foods.. sometimes she'll eat some, and sometimes she won't. I'll try giving her a little more later, and see if today is a Paws-Up or Paws-Down day.

Thanks very much, everyone, it really helps Priscilla and me to get all these suggestions and encouragement!

Pat

[Catty1]

Hi, Pat - low protein is best for kidney problems, but check with your vet...if the most important thing is to get her eating right now, then I think a little leeway is okay. Check with your vet, though.

I think what Gina was suggesting was to get some beef, like stewing beef, and cut one piece up into little bits, and see if she likes that. The protein is high, but there is iron and other good things in it.

Just see how she likes it.

Also, if there is a wet food she likes, mix it with a bit of warm water, so she gets more liquid in her.

HUGS

[sandragonfly]

hi! just am reading this .. I'm sorry I didn't warn you threads about my star would be pretty long! (four long threads altogether.) they can be a bit overwhelming, I know.

yes, raw meat gives high protein and good nutrients (unless you cook), that also is why star couldn't eat a lot at first. because your cat is failing one of most active organs - kidneys and weak kidneys will not handle high (enough) proteins at first. I began with very very little, like noahsmommy's cat, micah, (where I learned at first from her in the threads you read), little portions of beef chunks then chicken and carefully. it sure was a slooow progress but now she, with a permanent damaged stomach, is doing awesomely great! certainly worthed it. when noahsmommy at first told me about raw diet, (yes, organic) I talked with my vet, he reccomended me to not...even second opinion from my usual vet but that was last thing I could try little by little, she HAS to eat something!! she went right into them (plus, most importantly with a lot of subq-fluids) and gosh, look at her! it was a miracle progress as well, it now is impossible to tell she has abdominal problems. she would have still throw up and deal with more bad days by now.

maybe you could ask for noahsmommy's help too, she is great at this too. but of course, please do talk with your vet and more than a few opinions are always best too, see what they think, you never know what they or food could for your little dear one. also priscilla, don't give a second thought to PM star!

gentle, very gentle hugs and stritches to your dear priscilla please and let us know!

[kb2yjx]

I give Molly some Royal Canin Renal LP dry along with her Fiskies. I think my vet mentioned that they make wet food in pouches. Maybe you can get a sample or two from your vet. But then, Priscilla MAY like it, then you will order it and change her mind!!!

[kb2yjx]

Just checking in to say HI! and how is Priscilla doing?

[phesina]

Thanks, Candace and Gina and Sandra. Priscilla is doing about the same.. eats some but not much on her own, and I give her some MaxCal mixed with a little warm water, mostly from a syringe, and I give her her fluids twice a day. I spoke with Dr. Lewis a little this evening. I asked her about the raw meat, and she said that while high-calorie food is not the best in kidney cases, at this point you just want her to eat so I should try anything I think she might like.

I did try some more of the Fancy Feast Ocean Whitefish and Tuna, but she still was not interested, and some of the Eukanuba Multi-Stage Renal wet food, but she voted Paws Down this time.

Dr. Lewis wants to check her hematocrit again and see if it is still holding steady at around 11 (or even improving), so I'm taking Priscilla over tomorrow afternoon for that blood test.

Thanks for the details of how you introduced Star to the raw-meat diet, Gina. I think I will give that a try when I can pick up a little raw organic meat, with luck tomorrow.

Thanks again, everyone, for all your thoughts and encouragement and prayers and good wishes.

Pat and Priscilla

[Barbara]

I'm sorry to hear that there are still not many things Priscilla is interested in.
With Filou raw meat is always a favorite- he loves ground steak