Can cats recover from CRF?

My 9 yo Dusty girl was diagnosed with CRF several years ago.  Last year we thought she was living on borrowed time.  She was about 5 lbs, had lost lots of fur, had chronic ear infections, wasn't eating much and even the vet suggested we think about putting her down.  My husband would have no part of that program, though we both decided we would not subject her to needles, pills or anything that would stress her.  She could live out her life with dignity and when she could no longer eat or pee, and when we thought she was in pain, we would put her down.  This was last summer.  In addition to her fur loss and skinny frame, her coat had a distinctive reddish color.  Basically she is a bi-color tuxedo charcoal grey and white.

Now it is one year later.  She hasn't been back to the vet, as our finances are very tight.  But now she has gained weight and must be over 6 lbs.  I no longer feel her bony spine and hip bones.  Her coat is nice and thick and no longer has the reddish hue.  She appears to feel much better, and her appearance is 100% improved.  And she has even caught a bird or two in the past few months - not counting the bird that committed suicide by flying into our big window!

Now the one big change has been a change in her food.  I recently discovered Paws canned food.  It is only available at one local chain in my community, but it is economical, comes in lots of flavors, and most importantly both of my cats love it.  Dusty used to only eat about 1/2 can of food a day, but now she has doubled that consumption and sometimes will eat more.  Her favorite flavors are  Chicken & Liver and Beef & Liver.  She seems to prefer these over the fish flavors.

So my question is, can cats recover from CRF?

I really don't think so.  Did she has bloodwork done to determine she had CRF?

Fafeena was kind of 'down in the dumps' which was why I took her in for a blood panel.  She was in renal failure, also.  She gets her canned K/D every day, and has improved vastly in terms of behavior, appearance, and general attitude.  

She was diagnosed several years ago after having a blood panel.  I have not had recent blood work for financial reasons, but she is much better off now than she was 4 years ago, and especially last year when we thought she was near death.

Very interesting post. My understanding is that CRF can be managed (and that cats can live for years, potentially, after that initial diagnosis), but that it is progressive and irreversible.

Let us know if you decide to have another blood panel done - I'd be interested in knowing how her numbers compare now with that initial test diagnosing CRF.

No, cats never are healed from CRF.  It can be managed very well, though, and the kitty can live for a long time with no other "symptoms".  You really should have bloodwork done on her to see where her numbers are.  Of course, if she was having other issues at the time, the results of her bloodwork could've been skewed and she was misdiagnosed.

If it was acute kidney failure, yes your cat could recover. But it is chronic.so it is.irreversible. sounds like your cat was having a uremic crisis. I find it amazing that she has rallied back without any therapeutic measures like iv fluids etc. Well I'm glad she is better. If you van, I would suggest getting some Bloodwork done, just a kidney panel and a urinalysis.