My kitty just diagnosed w/ CRF - need advice & prayers

[carole]

I am very sad to read your thread regarding your kitty Blackie, especially as he is so young.

I can only offer you my advice from my own experiences, i have an elderly kitty with CRF, and i think it may be a slightly different scenario, Blackie being younger, you would want to explore every option available to you.

I think the best people are your vets who can tell you how to best deal with this, however there are a wise lot of people here who have dealt with it too.

With my cat he is on permanent Steroids, which help the appetite amongst other things, and a pill for his heart, i cannot remember how they all work exactly, but Ash (he is the grey one in my siggy,) has surpassed his expectations from the vets so far living a further 18mths with treatment, and of course i am here daily to take care of his needs.

They do get very bad teeth, caused by kidney failure, and Ash is too old and frail for another dental, but with a young cat it may be very different, i believe if you can brush their teeth on a regular daily basis that might help, but again check with your vet, you don't want to be causing them any extra discomfort if you don't have to.

Eating is indeed a challenge every day with Ash despite his medication, you could choose a special kidney diet, if the cat will eat it, we did not do that, as he would probably not like it,I have heard that about many kitties, and really he gets whatever he will eat, and i fuss around him continually opening can after can getting him to eat, patting him and doing anything that will make him eat, i also give him special kitty milk which has the lactose removed and extra vitamins in it, i have found this a godsend on the days he won't eat well, sometimes he won't eat until late afternoon, as kidney cats often feel sick ,with upset tummy's, you may well be able to medicate for this too, it just depends on what you want for you kitty, what is recommended and really what you can afford.

Weight loss is a normal part of CRF my ash went from a healthy 6.7kg to 4.1, and he is a large stature type cat, however he has maintained that weight for some time now.

My cat is now in the later stages of CRF,and his time is limited, but i just make sure he is comfortable as he can be, and will let him go in peace when i feel the time is right, he will not be allowed to suffer in anyway.


I think the fact my ole Ash is a very hardy old boy and the fact i take really good care of him, fussing over him, bringing him water throughout the day,and medicating him has contributed to his longer survival than normal, my vets are amazed he is still with us.

As you kitty is reasonably young you will want to pursue every avenue possible and give Blackie as long and a happy life as possible.
Also my vet re-assures me that Kidney cats are not in pain, but i do believe they have discomfort with their upset tums and teeth,but it is not excessive enough to warrant ending their lives IMO.

Many here do sub-Q's and have had success with them and swear by them, i do think this is a very personal choice and should be discussed with your vet at great length, as i did with mine, and then make your decision about that, do not feel you need to do anything that you are not comfortable with doing.

I wish you well and take heart that CRF kitties do and can live for a long time given the right care. HUGS.

By the way i think Blackie is simply gorgeous, reminds me of my girl Lexie minus the spot on the chest.