My cat has renal failure, drinking too much and lethargic, recommenda-

[Demonaut]

tions for a diet to restore some of his vigor? He's 13 years old and has been to the vet only a few times as he completely freaks out if I put him in a carrier or box.

[Be Brave]

1. Take him to the vet immediately, first thing tomorrow if you can manage

it. The drinking too much and renal failure do not sound good at all.

[flamingyouth]

2. I second this advice

And I am very sorry for what you're going through. :hug:

[Rene]

6. My 6 yr old cat has an very enlarged heart......is having serious

deep coughing frequently now....is congested. I give him liquid lasix every 12 hrs......and an antibiotic whenever he really sounds crackly/croupy. It's v e r y difficult to get the drops or pills into him. He fights me every time and it gets stressful for both of us.
He's laying on my desk, right next to me now....going to sleep and his sides are heaving too much......difficult for him to breathe.
Any suggestions about something to give him to try to help his breathing be less difficult. Any natural additives to help his overall health.
He only likes Fancy Feast chicken and Whiskas pate cat foods and Natures Best grain. I'm afraid the first two have too much sodium in them. Any suggestions about better cat food?
(I've tried so many and wound up throwing them all out.)

[Fridays Child]

8. Here's a good person to call and ask...

http://www.azmira.com

[Lorien]

12. Yes. As for foods

what you're giving him, as you probably know, isn't helping at all. Try Wellness or Artemis fresh mix feline (ALL cats love it-I promise) www.artemiscompany.com If you can't find either, try Innova, active life, or any other holistic food (try www.petfooddirect.com if you can't find a retailer. The Artemis site has a retailer search function) Don't give your cat any food with corn, meat "meals", or artificial dyes as ingredients. Choose only those with human grade ingredients.

Your cat may need a chest tap. Take him to the vet as soon as you can. I lost my beloved Peewee last year to cardiomyopathy,and I deeply regret the diet I fed him for many years, as well as my slow reaction to his condition. I didn't know any better. You still have time, though. Good luck!

[miss_kitty]

23. this link doesnt work: www.petfooddirect.com

[Lorien]

34. Hmmm....works for me, but it takes a while to load

graphics heavy.

[miss_kitty]

36. i's weird how this stuff works or no

I have cable. Graphics not an issue. I got a note saying the connection was refused. :shrug: it's OK.

[Rene]

30. Thank you all for the advice

I've located distributors here in CT.....about 35 miles from my house. I'll head over and buy some in the AM/toss out the cat food junk I have.
I'm watching him breathe so hard now as he's sleeping---I've got to do something quickly.

Sorry you lost your baby to cardiomyopathy---that's what our cat has.

I think you're right about regular vets too........I went back to the vet recently when PBeau started to sound crackly in the chest. The vet just listened for about 5 minutes.....she felt around his chest...drew some blood....said to "continue the lasix" and charged $125.00.
Someone else told me about lasix in liquid format.....makes it quite easier to get into him.

I guess I will take him back to the vet asap and ask about that chest tap....hope it's not too traumatic.

[Lorien]

33. He'll feel much better after the tap

the trick is to keep the fluid from building up again. If you have a veternary specialist in your area (maybe a cats only vet), it might be wise to switch.They'll probably do a kidney and thyroid scan to rule out other conditions. I'm sending good karma kitty's way.

[Lorien]

35. Oh, and just remember

it's Artemis FRESH MIX feline, not just Artemis feline, that's the "kitty cocaine".

I use Wellness for their wet food. Big improvements in all three cats because of it! (they were on Iams, Nutro, and Eukanuba before the switch, but the holistic stuff is MUCH better-they like it better, too)!

[Demonaut]

18. I'm sorry I dont but the links provided may, good luck

hang in there:grouphug: it really sucks when a member of the family is ill

[AuntieM1957]

21. Try Nutro

You can buy it at Petsmart - Petco is also a supplier - but they are mean to the pets they sell.

It really works - many varieties - ask a clerk to help you find the right one. My 20 year old calico cat swears by it.

It comes in canned and dry varieties. My cat LOVES the seafood tomato bisque canned variety (about 60cents a can).

[Rene]

10. You've got to just get help getting him into the carrier.

I had a similar type cat that freaked out going into a box so I tried bringing him to the vet, wrapped in a blanket. He bolted out of my arms in the parking lot and ran into the nearby woods. Took most of the rest of the day before he'd let me come near him to pick him up again. Thought he was a goner for sure.

[alittlelark]

3. I would vote for the vet too

but if it is not possible I would suggest Baby food - turkey, and Lactose-Free formula.

But, if you can do it, a vet would be the best bet.

[auntAgonist]

4. please take him to the vet!!

good luck and best wishes!


AuntAgonist.

[sally343434]

5. The sooner he sees a vet the better

The trauma of the trip will be worth it, and he'll forget all about it shortly after he arrives back home.

A low-protein diet will relieve some of the stress on the guy's weak kidneys. The vet knows just what to do to make him comfortable and happy!

[Rene]

7. Could 'drinking too much' be a sign that the cat has diabetes.

Years ago....I had a cat---similar age---with that diagnosis--diabetes(Scooter was her name). Had to give her insulin shots from then on. She was well for several years after that.

[Jersey Devil]

11. Same thought here - had the same experience

Cat was about 15 and suddenly went from healthy to extremely lethargic and gulping water like no tomorrow. Insulin kept him alive and fairly healthy for another 3 years.

[Lorien]

15. Hyperthyroid disease has the same symptoms

easily controllable if you catch it soon enough.

[Fridays Child]

9. See post number 8. This vet is quite good.

[Demonaut]

13. off to the vet tomorrow, thanks everyone!!..the towel idea may work

[georgiaw]

14. Kitty needs to see the Doc!

I would also definitely recommend taking kitty to the Vet ASAP, as well. They will most likely want to give him some subcutaneous fluids for re-hydration, a prescription kidney failure food, and possible medication. Them cats always HATE those carriers and having to go anywhere! But, you will be making his quality of life more enjoyable, and he will thank you for it! (Okay, maybe not...he'll most likely glare and be pissed, but he'll feel a whole lot better) :)

[haele]

16. Recommending a vet also...

If you're not already seeing one (and I hope so, since you seem to have a diagnosis). Renal failure is a painful death that can last quite a few, long months if not caught in time. The vet should have medication that will help the kidney functions.

The type of kitty diet that's required for one of my guys who is also 13 and has a history of UTI's is a low protien, low ash, low manganese kibble with low protien moist food. Cut out any dairy (no whipped cream or especially whole milk!) or any people food with lots of carbs or sugars that he might be getting into.

The Nutro/Max Cat Lite and Senior Cat formulas are the best I've easily found that can be gotten without a perscription. They're carried at PetSmart/Petco or most any other pet stores.

But again - get him to a vet as soon as possible. Another suggestion for transporting him in the dreaded carrier - bring the carrier out tonight, put a towel sprinkled with Catnip (if he reacts well to Catnip)and some comfy toys in, and leave it open for him to investigate. Before you take him to a vet, give him some serious Catnip exposure a half-hour to an hour before he gets in the carrier (however long it takes for him to get through the crazy stage) - and some sprinkled on a towel in the carrier for when he gets in so that he stays sleepy - should help his anxiety some.

Good luck with your baby...

Haele

[Tom Kitten]

17. if you can afford it

find a naturopathic vet and take your cat there...I through experience (Losing two) no longer trust conventional vets much at all at preventing death for indoor cats who experience kidney failure around the age of ten to fourteen...which is due to their diet...
unfortunately most vets are very poorly trained as to the proper diet...
It is very sad but I find it true...

[AuntieM1957]

19. Wrap him in a towel & get someone else to drive

But take him to the vet ASAP!

They have great diets that can help with his problem - but don't wait -

Please - I've had a cat suffer through renal failure - and my vet told me that due to cat's high tolerance for pain - they are really suffering a lot before you notice it.

[Rjnerd]

20. We are going thru the same thing now.

In our case, Catelin is 19, and on top of the kidney problems, she has thyroid issues, low hematocrit, and hypertension. This was first brought to our attention by her having a seisure.

Anyhow, there are specific kidney diets - Science Diet makes KD, Purina makes one called NF. She hated the Science diet, deigned to eat the Purina. They are "prescription", which mostly means pricey. While there is a dry version of the kidney diet, the vet said canned, for the extra fluid.

However, the primary treatment for her is subcutaneous fluids. We have an IV bag of Ringers lactate, and she gets 100cc regularly (started out once a week, is now daily). For those that don't know, Renal failure mostly means unable to concentrate her urine. So she has to push a lot of water thru her system in order to rid herself of normal waste buildup. Enough fluid that it is hard to just ingest, plus the need for the salt to make up for too much getting passed. This is a bit of a balancing act, as too much fluid could give her heart problems.

Its not that hard to administer the fluids. Luckily she has fairly loose skin, and the needle just has to go under it, no finding veins, etc. Takes about two minutes, costs $1.70/dose. Afterwards she gets her thyroid, and various other medications. They come wrapped in a ball of cream cheese, and has become something she demands rather than dreads...

Caetlin hates her carrier at home, but loves it at the vets. You have to hold it door up to get her into it at home, upend it fully to get her out at the vets. Yea, she complains in the car, but thats par for the course. The main trick we learned, was to put the carrier in the bathtub (so she couldn't see it), lure her into the room, and shut the door. Its a small space, with nothing to hide under/behind.

Yea, this all sounds difficult. But she is still happy, except during actual treatments (which she tolerates with some dignity).

She is delighted that she is getting daily treats, and a lot of canned food (again, a treat in her book). Not sure how much longer we have her for, but we do want her to enjoy what she has left. Its been almost a year since she showed symptoms, and her current condition is mostly stable. (doing well enough that the vet has us trying to boost her hematocrit...)

I now have a big collection of IV bags -- I recycle them as drip oilers for metalworking, they have a clever mechanisim to adjust the volume... (only the needle itself is really biohazard, not that cutting oil cares very much)

[Demonaut]

24. I read about the IV drips, is it hard on the skin or does it hurt her

when you pierce it? and how do you find new areas to insert the needle?....thanks

[Rjnerd]

28. She doesn't flinch

When the needle goes in. The "camel hump" that gets left behind is an affront to her dignity. I do move it around (in the same general area, bascially the loose skin above her shoulder blades) but in >6 months of daily doses, skin condition hasn't been an issue.

-dp-

[Demonaut]

29. lol, tough cat!

[Be Brave]

32. Kudos to you for your dedication to your kitty.

Sounds like she gets plenty of love and attention.

[miss_kitty]

22. if you can afford it, find a mobile vet

The stress of a box trip can do a lot of harm.

One thing to try is to just get the box out now and leave it open. Put a towel in in and just leave in there. If you have to take your kitty in, having the box already out may decrease the agitation.

A friend of mine uses Sojourner Farms. It's a gradual process to switch them over, but his kitties all improved greatly in looks and vigor. Lost weight, fur got all soft and fluffy and one chonically ill guy got about 6 healthy years off it.

I wish you luck. Call the vet you use tomorrow and ask if he/she can recomend a mobile vet, or a less stressful way of getting kitty to the vet.

[virgdem]

25. Get your baby to a vet immediately...

and get a proper diagnosis.

If it is renal failure, find out what stage of renal failure he/she is in. If it is chronic renal failure, it can be managed for years. If it is more severe, then there are ways to make your cat more comfortable.

I just lost a cat to renal failure at age 13. She was diagnosed at age 9. I changed to a vet that practiced integrative medicine (holistic as well as allopathic) and he suggested that we put her in a new drug study by one of the major drug companies. The drug was for high blood pressure, which many cat suffer when going through renal failure. We later discovered that the drug she was getting was the real thing, not the placebo. By taking that drug, Amlodipine, we were able to keep her with us almost 5 years from the time of diagnosis. Ask your vet to see if that could be an option, and find out if he has a machine to measure the blood pressure.

Good luck. I know what you are going through. I had to have my baby put down in February and I still get teary eyed when I think of her.

[Demonaut]

27. how did you find out she had kidney problems at 9, what symptoms did

she have?

[Be Brave]

31. Sorry about your loss. n/t

[Robeson]

26. I have a half ferel cat that goes wild when I put her in a cage...

...but when I asked people on this board what I should do, they gave me great advice, that I followed. Go to your vet and get a sedative for your cat. It will relax him, and you will be able to take him to the vet with no problem. Listen to me....It will work. As I said, our cat is ferel and wild. We found her in the wild. We sedated her, and she was meek as a lamb. Just tell the vet the situation, and he/she will know exactly what you're talking about. But take him to the vet.