Fluid around lungs and kidney failure

My 10 year old cat recently stopped eating and drinking water, we took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with cancer and kidney failure. The X-rays showed fluid around his lungs,  and the blood results showed cancer and kidney failure. It seems like the cancer cannot be treated because of the kidney failure. I understood that If they try to take the liquid out of his chest, it will come back if he's treated for kidney failure. The vet told us that he hasn't got much to live, and that we should keep him at home, make him comfortable, and when the seizures start, to have him put to sleep. For a couple of days I force-fed him, as I didn't want him to die of starvation, but today he gagged when he smelt the food, and he seemed about to vomit, and I don't want to torture him, so I stopped feeding him. I called the vet, but he is off today. What can I do? Let him die of starvation?  As he doesn't seem to be in pain, he sleeps peacefully, like he always did, I can't decide to have him put to sleep... Has anybody here been in this situation? I still think that there may be a treatment, that something can be done for him to keep him alive, at least for some time... My heart is broken, he's not just my cat, he's my lovely friend.

Elena:

Best thing I could tell you to do in enjoy the time you have with your cat. I had to put mine down this morning (15-16 years old) so I know how you feel about something has to be able to cure it but there may not be. Hopefully things will turn out better for you than I.

Thank you, Jmitch, and I'm sorry for your cat, it's a terrible experience. I had Grey, another cat, put to sleep just a few months ago, it's a terrible thing to have to go through. I just thought that Sherman  was going to be around for some more time, at least for a few more years...  What was your cat's illness?

I don' t personally believe the doctors knew exactly what was going on but they thought it was a brain tumor that was causing the issue. They had her on a high dose of antibiotics but her rear right leg just kept getting worse. They wanted me to take her to Virginia Tech for examination but I couldn't at the time because I had a newborn in the NICU. Its hard to watch them get worse and worse and I know how you feel. I haven't done much of anything today but think about her.
 

My old cat loved Greek yogurt. It was the only thing she'd eat on her own when in the end stages of kidney failure. Any food he'll eat will help.

My cats love cat milk, give that a try perhaps??
 

I'm also wondering if cat milk could possibly help in this situation.

Elena, I urge you, please, please, please, do not to wait until the seizures start. Kidney failure and fluid around the lungs leaves no options. Medication that might reduce the fluid temporarily would totally destroy whatever little kidney function is left. And, unfortunately, with kidney failure the time comes when none of the available treatment options can help any more.

Also, the problem with fluid is that the buildup can accelerate and suddenly cause life-threatening breathing difficulty that requires immediate emergency treatment. So, unless you can keep an eye on your baby all the time, leaving him alone even for a few hours might be risky.

My heartfelt advice to you in this situation, if possible, give warm milk (just look warm, no warmer than that) a try for a day or so, and if you can't find anything else your baby might want to try, or even not even the milk, take him in for a peaceful passing.

One other thing. Keep an eye on his body temperature. You will feel with your hand when his temperature starts dropping. That's also a good indicator that urgent action is needed. (A few years ago I had to rush one mine to the vet when this happened. She also had kidney failure and could no longer eat.)

I wish you peace.

Hi - I also just went thru a similar fate with my 15 year old. Her vet was focused on her kidneys until she got uveitis, then they focused on the eye, and missed the lymphoma - until it was too late. Her lungs were filled with fluid when I took her to the ER due to not breathing right. Long story short, they told me pretty much the same thing - her lungs could fill up again, she could have cardiac arrest, etc. I had to make the VERY PAINFUL decision to put her to sleep. She was my love of my life for 15 years, and my child. I have no human kids. It has only been a week and I miss her so much. I have learned though to question even when a vet speaks with so much adamancy. They are not gods, even some might express as such. You have every right to question them, and make an informed decision. That is the only way you will have no regrets , or minimal. - Allison