CRF-Hard to tell if it is Louie's time

Hi everyone-

Louie has crf (due to 2 large kidney stones, 1 in each kidney) and is 7 years old. Diagnosed about a year ago and spent a few days at the vets for 24/7 IV fluids about 2 months ago. That brought his levels down from where they were, but they were still elevated. Since they he has been managed at home with Sub-Q fluids, pepcid and phosphate binders.

In the past 1.5 weeks, he has taken a turn for the worse. He vomited water every day for a week (but that stopped 3 days ago), has been extremely lethargic and his back end is pretty week. He walks slowly and carefully. But, he prefers not to walk at all and spends all day curled up in a ball.

On the positive side, he eats a few bites of food for breakfast and dinner, but only if I bring the dish to where he is sitting. He drinks a bit and is still using his litterbox. Although the volume of urine is decreased.

The vet recommended increasing his fluids to 2x/day, which I have done. Other than that, she has indicated there is not much more to do other than supportive care. And I don't feel like it would be the right course of action to hospitalize him again for 24/7 fluids. My poor mush has been through enough.

My ideal scenario (other than him being completely cured!) would be for him to suffer as little as possible and I am fully ready to help him get to the bridge when the time is right. But I am struggling with when that is. I know he is uncomfortable now, but he purrs when you pet him and will groom his buddies a little when they come to him for a cuddle.

I am taking it day by day, but I would love to know what other folks have experienced with their crf kitties. Were there big crashes? Slower declines? I don't want him to suffer because I can't make a decision. But now, it seems like he might not be quite there. Any advice?

I've owned many cats and have had to put them all to sleep. But due to different reasons (cancer, etc) and it seemed so much more clear to me when the time came around.

I think it will again be clear to you when the time comes..... it's such a terrible decision to make. And in these cases it's definitely better to be a day early then a day late. Bless you for loving so much, you are doing all you can at the moment. Please know we are all thinking of you and I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. The very best to hope for would be for Louie to peacefully go to sleep, he sounds like a wonderful cat who was well loved and gave much in return!

With my Sven , also a kidney cat, I simply asked him if he was ready to go.  I asked him a LOT, normally when he wouldn't eat anything, and usually he would immediately jump up and start eating, which let me know he wasn't ready .   One day when he wasn't eating, he actually got up and turned his back to me and layed down, so I walked around to the other side where I could look him right in the eyes and I asked him if he was ready to leave me, and he immediately started purring, a very loud purr, and got up and head bumped me the way he used to when he felt good.  I knew then that he was ready.  He WANTED to go.  So that was it.  Even though my heart was breaking, I kept the promise I had made to him when he got sick, that I would let him go when he gave me the signal he was ready.    And when we got to the Vet, she said she barely touch him with the needle and he was gone...that's how ready he was 

My guy never had a big crash.  He just slowly declined.  Lost half of his body weight over a period of 3 years and turned into skin and bones.  He could still get around pretty well,could even still jump up on the bed, walk up and down the stairs, etc., but about the last couple of weeks just didn't have any interest in doing much except lay in his big fluffy soft bed and go from the water dish to the litter box to his bed.  I brought his food bowl literally to his bed, otherwise I don't think he would have bothered to try to eat

I'm so sorry your guy is going thru this.  Kidney disease sucks! 

I am so sorry for your loss of your sweet Sven. I know the pain of that so well but like my Sophie he went fast and peacefully because they  were ready. Maybe they have met in Kitty Heaven and are playing together with all our cats and all others too. Our cats were blessed in life because we  treated them so well with all the love in us. Many cats  do not get that . Bless you and Sven RIP.  

I never had a cat with kidney disease but both my parents had renal failure and yes it sucks big time ! 

Thanks Di and Bob, I think you are right about it better being a day early. I'm waiting and watching and really giving him as much love as I can while he is here. Luckily I can work from home when necessary. He's rallyed a bit--he met me at the front door yesterday evening when I returned from a haircut. I was so happy to see him downstairs, I almost cried. He ate, and even gave himself a cat bath. All positive signs. For now.

Ms Greeenjeens-thanks a bunch for sharing your experience. Sven sounds like he was one smart cookie! You must miss him very much-sorry for your loss. I've also been having those talks with Louie but no answer yet.

Kibmfxy-I agree-kidney disease sucks! Sorry for the loss of your Sophie.

I lost my CRF cat last year.  She declined to the point she was skin and bones, towards the end all she would do is lay around, I had to take the food and water to her.  I could see it in her eyes that she was ready to go.  The vet I used gave her a pre-euthanasia tranquilizer, that was wall it took, they didn't have to give her euthanasia solution so I knew she was ready.  It broke my heart in two, but I know I did what was best for her.

Hi Lymx, sorry about what you are going through with Louie although it is good that he has rallied. I am currently going through the same situation with my 13 year old guy that was diagnosed back in August with ckd. With Riley so far we have had no crashes and he continues to show interest in his food. Some days he feels good enough to play a little with da bird when I bring it out for the kittens. With Riley as long as he is showing an interest in food and other things that he enjoys we will continue to fight. I know the probability is some day I will need to make the decision to help Riley to pass over, I hope that he will give me a sign when that time comes, but I know that it may not happen. Hoping that your guy continues to do well.

Thanks BarbH and Cprcheetah. Sorry to hear about your fur babies. Louie is continuing to rally, I think the extra fluids have helped him to feel a little better. All we can do is take it day by day. And I swear the other guys know he isn't feeling well. I've noticed lots of extra cuddling and co-grooming, which really warms my heart.

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving holiday.

LYMX said:

Thanks BarbH and Cprcheetah. Sorry to hear about your fur babies. Louie is continuing to rally, I think the extra fluids have helped him to feel a little better. All we can do is take it day by day. And I swear the other guys know he isn't feeling well. I've noticed lots of extra cuddling and co-grooming, which really warms my heart.

Hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving holiday.

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Good to hear that Louie is rallying. The extra fulids do seem to help. When I first found out that Riley had ckd I had been feeding dry. I changed over to wet and between getting more fluids in and a lower phosphorus food I saw a difference in how he felt. With this disease or any other chronic disease I do believe that you have to take it a day at a time. Something that I have been learning myself over the past few months.

I do believe that other cats can tell when another is not feeling well and have seen it with my own the cuddling and co grooming. It is a happy feeling when you see your cats providing comfort to each other. Hope that Louie continues to feel better.