Chronic Renal Failure - close to the end.

My cat JJ was diagnosed two weeks ago with Chronic Renal Failure and I've been a basket case since. This has to be one of the hardest things for me to watch my cat deal with this disease. He was diagnosed as a diabetic in October and it has been downhill since. 

Monday, after being up with him all night I took him to the vet and he is now staying there and I'm visiting him three times a day. I'm feeling guilt leaving him there, but the vet is a personal friend and I know that she will look after him while I'm not there as will her staff. He is being allowed to stay in her office in a peaceful environment away from the other animals. But here is why I made the choice, I live alone, I'm a very nervous, emotional person. If JJ were to die during the night, I would be alone and I don't think I could handle it, I know I'd go bezerk. The arrangement with the vet seems to be working out for the both of us. As for me, I'm actually eating again, I stayed so upset that I could not eat, much less perform my job. Does this make me a bad fur mom?

I need some feedback on this issue from other cat lovers who are close to the end with their kitty.

Thanks,

Oh tambo, I'm so sorry to hear about JJ. I have a diabetic cat myself who has had kidney insufficiency for a couple years now.

2 weeks is a pretty fast progression for CRF. What are JJ's symptoms and lab results that make you think he's going to die? Is he getting IV fluids at the vet? Any other treatment (ie: insulin, other meds)?

When one of my cats is sick, I have a problem concentrating, etc.  I can sympathize with your emotional response.

The first symptom that I noticed with the CRF was his breath being so bad, by this time it had progressed. His creatnine and BUN levels were extremely high. We did IV fluids for 4 days straight the first week. The second week my vet and friend broke the news to me that JJ wasn't stablizing and were getting higher and it was a matter of time. When he was at home with me he threw up a lot and was just so weak and very lethargic. At least at the vet's office he can get daily fluids, is my thinking. Since the CRF has reared its ugly head the glucose levels have stayed around 110 so we're not doing insulin any longer.

I hope your cat does well, how old is it?

Thanks MrBlanche, it seems to be all I can think about.

tambo said:

The first symptom that I noticed with the CRF was his breath being so bad, by this time it had progressed. His creatnine and BUN levels were extremely high. We did IV fluids for 4 days straight the first week. The second week my vet and friend broke the news to me that JJ wasn't stablizing and were getting higher and it was a matter of time. When he was at home with me he threw up a lot and was just so weak and very lethargic. At least at the vet's office he can get daily fluids, is my thinking. Since the CRF has reared its ugly head the glucose levels have stayed around 110 so we're not doing insulin any longer.

I hope your cat does well, how old is it?

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Have they been checking for ketones? Is JJ eating anything?

Aztec is going to be 19 in 3 months. He's doing really well, even though he also has pretty bad arthritis. He's been diabetic for 9 years. 
 

I'm so sorry to hear that you are going through this with your baby. We all get emotional when are kids are seriously ill. You have a great support group here to share your pain. We are here for you.

I just want to give you some food for thought. I've lost a lot of pets over the years, the first over 20 years ago. I could not bear to be with him when he died, and its something that I've always regretted. He gave me 13 years of his life and I was too emotional to hold him when he crossed. Since that time, I've always been there for my kids, and while those times are wildly emotional, I gain strength in knowing that they left in the arms of someone they loved.

There is no guilt intended here. The hardest thing a person can do is to put aside their own emotions at these times and I never judge anyone's decisions. I just wanted to share what hind site has taught me in these matters.

Thank you for sharing your experience with me, I still have not made up my mind to be there or not to be there. 

They're doing daily checks on his blood. He is at the point where he is not eating but a few kibbles a day. He has always refused to eat wet food so that was not an option for him. We tried so many different kinds of canned food, from the most expensive to the cheapest and he just would not eat it. He looks really bad this morning and it is breaking my heart.

Thanks to those who posted, JJ passed away last Monday, January 23. It was heartbreaking to let him go, but I'm at peace because I know he is now. He is buried in my back yard and just noticed jonquils blooming this morning just to the side of his grave. I took it as a sign that he was smiling down at me.

I'm very sorry about your loss. I'll close this thread now. When you feel up to it, you can post a tribute to JJ in our Crossing The Bridge forum.
, JJ.