Quote Originally Posted by Freedom
In many cases, kidney disease is hereditary. That is what the vet suspected with my Mr. Amber Cat. I think it was the prednisone.

No telling how rapidly or slowly it will progress. Sometimes a change in food can slow the progress and the cat will live happily for YEARS.

At some point, the cat may need sub q fluids. Amber started once every other day. Got to the point of 4 times per day when I said no, that is enough.

It is not a death sentence; it is more likely that the cat will die of kidney issues than of something else, now that this has shown up.
I want to also reassure this woman who adopted Monty, because he is such a wonderful cat, just so full of love. I'm wondering if when he was peeing all over his first adopter's furniture if it was because of a kidney problem??? She refused to take him to the vet, so I took him there, and his bladder was empty, but she said it felt tender. We put him on Baytril, and he seemed much better.

I know your Amber was a kidney cat, and so was Georgia's Mitzi. How long did they live after being diagnosed?? I know Mitzi was a young boy, which was so sad. I'm not sure about the progress of your Amber however. How long from diagnosis to becoming really ill was it?? I feel bad asking, but if this woman gets really upset, I'll take Monty back in a heart beat and take care of him myself. He was such a good boy, never was mean or rude to any other cat, sat and waited patiently for goodies. Just a gentleman. I'm getting all teary now because I feel so bad that he is sick. What if I could have caught it here and I didn't? We didn't do any tests after the UTI at the vet and I just let him go to PetSmart when he seemed better. What if that made it worse?!! I feel so terrible for him!

Look at this sweet face...