Some insight on kidney failure please

Trapped and removed a feral cat from a person's yard who had called animal control and wanted it put down, very thin with a good appetite.

I've had caged for 3 weeks to get some weight gain before having fixed.

Sent yesterday for fixing, vaccinating and testing for felv, to be sure the reason for the thinness was NOT felv.

"It" is a she, vet said over 10 years old, with kidney failure, and consider euthanizing her.

I did not choose to do so, not yet at least, I have this need to give a cat who has struggled out there some feel good time in their life, before I am okay with doing that.

So she is here again, back in my cat room caged, cozy in her plush bed.

She has a great appetite, but he had to give her a good amt of fluids ystrdy.

I would just like to know some guidelines about this progressive, non treatable disease, and what to watch for, so I will know when it is time, without allowing her to suffer.

Thanks so much. I don't do well with dead end rescues, I have turned around many of the sickest, worst case kitties you can imagine, but now and then, as this one, there is no hope for future recovery, so I am very sad for her. Feeling defeated, I can't save her and give her a good life. I can't relocate her as planned. I can only keep her caged, feed her and talk to her, give her warmth, good smelling wet food, and my voice. Safety. No more outdoors, what she has had and is most familiar with her entire life.

Very feral btw, but when I go to the cat room, she knows I am bringing her what she loves, wet food, and she stares at me from her hidey tall bed with the biggest, deep gold eyes I remember ever seeing on a cat. Gorgeous, wide-eyed, dark golden eyes. This is the connection I have with her now. It's hard to look in them now knowing her life is nearly over. Sucks you guys (

Thanks for rescuing this poor old girl. Sorry to hear that she's in kidney failure. Did the vet mention how advanced it is? Acute or chronic? Depending on the stage, she may have some good months or years left in her. This site is really good for all things kidney disease related, and I'm linking the treatments page: http://felinecrf.org/treatments.htm

If she has a good appetite, then she doesn't sound ready to go yet. Lack of appetite is one of the hardest things to deal with in CKD cats. Giving subq fluids at home regularly is pretty standard treatment. Feeding a high quality protein/low phosphorus diet is also pretty standard.

No matter how long she has left, at least she will have known warmth and care and regular food. That really is worth a lot. I'm sure she thanks you. Many vibes for her and hugs for you.

Totally agree with vball91. She's already in a better place! Doesn't help your heart much, I know.

Thank you, I'm afraid each time I see a reply to this I am going to tear up

I'm pretty strong usually, have seen and dealt with so much loss this past year though, I guess I'm worn down quite a bit.

Not that it EVER is easy. I promise, rescue is definitely aging me. So much good, so many saved, healed, given them all what they surely would have never had without rescuing, but wow.....the pain and heartache, grief and worry.......it wears on a person's very soul.

It's only been a month since the last death, my sweet and permanent foster girl Stella had to be euthanized, 3 years old with intestinal cancer. Who'da thought.

How much she loved me, why I kept her, her special motherly ways with young kittens, despite being a kitten at the time herself, and the incredible bond between one of my cat room cats and her, Destiny, who needed her desperately, despite showing her Stelly's body before burying, she waits all day, everyday at the screen door for her,.which kills me to see, and constantly reminds me of how wrong that was for her to be taken so young.

So this one is hitting hard.

Anyway, because she eats so well, I knew it wasn't time yet. Her thinness is her only symptom, besides the vet giving her lots of fluids yesterday. I of course can't do anything about this, she is not handleable at all. Fluids are out. All I can do this way is wet food, even water it down. She does drink alot.

The only small thing that gives me any relief is that she will not go off and slowly die outdoors somewhere. Or get weaker and weaker and not be able to fend for herself. That I can give her. Still, those big gold eyes are so wise, almost like a window to her soul.

If I can capture them with my camera I will show you what I mean. Intense. Really beautiful.

Thanks.

You might be able to hide phosphorus binders in her food. That may give some time.

Can you post her numbers?  How bad are they?  BUN, Creatinine?  How much function do her kidneys have left, did the Vet say?  I'm really shocked that she is eating so well!  I take that as a very good sign, actually.

My kidney cat doesn't require any additional fluids other than what she takes in voluntarily via her fountain and her watered down wet food.  But it's like pulling teeth to get my girl to eat some days

The website Vball posted above should have everything you need to know, and more!  I refer to it daily.  There ARE certain foods that are better than others.  If she's not picky, then try to feed her foods that are lower in phosphorus.  Here's a chart that is sort of in order of % of phosphorus (Dry Matter %) that might be of help to you:  http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPhosphorus9-22-12.pdf

Here is the same info, but in alpha order:  http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

Just for informational purposes, my last kidney cat lived for 3 years after we found out he had kidney disease, and he NEVER even ate low phos. canned food.  He continued to eat kibble and didn't even get sub-q fluids until about the final 6 months of his life.  Just goes to show that you never know how long she will have