Please Send Prayers and Positive thoughts toward Huckleberry...

I'm so sorry that Huckleberry's struggling to eat.  Poor little guy!  

Loving Mickey said:

The fluids are important as they keep the cat hydrated.You can try syringe feeding him some water if he isn't drinking enough.Also wet food is good as it contains a good portion of water.It is very important that he continues to eat and drink.I do hope he is feeling better.Hugs to you both!!

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I second LovingMickey's comments on keeping Huckleberry hydrated.  Check out this thread, which contains lots of helpful info and links on feeding and hydrating.  http://www.thecatsite.com/t/262642/help-cat-hasnt-been-eating-for-one-week

I know the financial toll can be really hard.  When my cats got really sick about 6 years ago, I had to take out a credit card with the vet.  It's very stressful. Hang in there.  My vet is great because she always lays out all the treatment options for me and will help me prioritize what can wait and what really needs to get done right away.  Sometimes, you can do one thing and wait to see if another is really needed.  She will also give me at home treatments and over the counter options.  

In this case, hydrating is vital. Call your vet and see if they can give you any alternatives for hydrating Huckleberry at home.  The thread also contains very helpful information.  Also, maybe your vet knows of any financial assistance programs in your area.  

JB68711 said:

 
ANOTHER thing is, he'll drink from the sink (He's always been drawn to it.) So I actually did put him in the sink and ran the water low and he licked at it. I bought a "fountain" for both my cats a while ago, but Huckleberry wasn't very impressed with it and still isn't... maybe I should look into getting a different kind.

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Whatever works for Huck is great.  In the meantime, you may have to hydrate and feed him by syringe.  

Hang in there!  I will keep praying for you both.    

If you order the supplies online instead of from the vet, giving subq fluids at home isn't very expensive. And maybe the clinic will cut you a deal on learning how to give the fluids.

Sorry I haven't updated in a few days. Huckleberry is still on the mend and I see a little improvement each day, He's drinking water both from the sink faucet and from the bowl. He's eating little, so I switched out his food from the one the vet gave me (she said not all cats will take to it). Still considering fluids if necessary, but I've noticed is water intake went up significantly in the past 2 days. I won't be able to afford the fluids til Friday. I did get a hold of a liquid syringe yesterday, but didn't need to use it. Little by little, day by day. I plan on having a follow up appointment next week with the vet to get his blood checked again. Thanks again for all your support. I really do appreciate it, and the information you guys have given.

That's great news that Huckleberry's making progress!  Also, keep an eye on him to see to see if he continues to drink and eat and to check on litter box usage.

Keep us posted.  Thanks for the update.  I will keep praying for Huckleberry!    

Positivity and good vibes your way! It's terrible having an ill pet. Hope he continues to get better.

I am so sorry to hear this news!   I hope he bounces back and does better soon. I will keep him in my thoughts and prayer and am sending you good vibes.

Just wanted to add you can try to feed him water with a large syringe (20ccs) without a needle.  Just place it behind his upper incisors to open his little mouth and drip the water in slowly like you're bottle feeding.  I do this with my little 7 week old kitty because he's suffering diarrhea and he needs to replace those fluids.   He hates it, but dehydration is dangerous.  I hope this helps!  You don't always need SC fluids, but I hope you're able to get them soon if those are required!

DO NOT GIVE UP HOPE!

My little lovie Snow was diagnosed with kidney failure a month and a half ago. The emergency vet actually told me he was going to die. No hope nothing. He was at 80% failure, they didn't know why and the best they could do was put him on fluids and prepare for the worst.

The next day (happened on a sunday, he became lethargic, had stopped eating and drinking friday, and by sunday night was doing little more than crying more pathetically then normal and sleeping next to my husband) I took him to a specialist. They kept him there for one week on iv fluids. He has been back for several blood checks but everything has been okay so far -knocks on wood- and he is back to being his little hell cat self.

My point isn't that everything will turn out grand. I don't know, even with Snow. But don't lose hope, just because one says doom and gloom doesn't make it true.

I hope Huckleberrys still doing well. I know personally how rough kidney disease can be especially in a younger cat. Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents in about the fluid therapy. If you can afford it you absolutely should do it, it's not that difficult to learn and if the vet writes you a script you can get the supplies a lot cheaper. Cats with kidney disease (esp the later stages) are unable to filter the toxins out of there bodies and they quickly build up in the blood stream causing them to feel horrible. No matter how much he drinks it most likely won't be enough to keep him hydrated. Giving sub q fluids at home may not only prolong his life but will hopefully give him a good quality of life.

How's that little cutie pie, Huckleberry, doing? 

Thanks @allieq  @silmarien  @plur11ap  @JDollPrincess  @ForrestMeows

The situation right now is not looking positive. Huckleberry has been drinking but has not been eating. I've been boosting his water intake with the syringe, which he's been taking well. I bought 4 small cans of food (sheba, iams, fancy feast)... I've tried to feed him one, and he's just not interested. Last night I gave him some pieces of turkey cold cuts, and he ate a small portion with no problem... but I'm sure it's not that great for him, considering it's human food and it has much sodium. I'm not sure what steps to take from here. He doesn't seem to be in physical pain (even though he is weak).

@plur11ap  I'm not giving up hope, it's a financial thing. I've put $100 into it and borrowed an extra $700 from my mom (for Huckleberry's exam, blood work, urinalysis, catheter, fluids, 2 day stay)... it just all adds up real quick. The only step I can barely afford to take is to do the at home fluids as @JDollPrincess  and others have mentioned.... It is something that I can somehow afford and learn to do. Thank you for your advice and encouragement, as always. I appreciate it so much. I've thought about it from time to time, his lifespan.  I've thought about the time he would have to cross the bridge. It's inevitable... I just assumed he would live an average cat's life, at least 12 years.

I wasn't saying you were, just saying not to. It is rediculously expensive to save your animal. But the others on here are right. Look around, see if you can order the sub q stuff yourself for cheaper.

As far as eating and geting them to start eating again, won't lie totally bribed Snow with pizza and orange chicken when he first got home, til he had gotten his appetite back. I looked at it this way, and maybe I'm wrong, but as long as he was eating, putting weight back on and gaining back his energy, to hell with diets.

Water was and still is the tricky part with him, but I figured out a trick. Snow is obsessed with whatever my husband and I are eating or drinking. So I share water with my cat (I know bacteria, disease, I'll die. Bah if it saves my cat idc). I will drink out of a cereal bowl, then set it down, he'll come do the save and we'll repeat til its gone.

I have also heard of people using kitten bottles with low/sodium free flavoring. But I think that will only really work with cats/kittens who still kneed and suckle on blankets and the like but idk. The flavoring might work for just a water dish too idk.

Also if you come across astro's elixir, or what ever its called. All it is, is fish oil and and handful of other vitamins combimed. You can make it at home for 3-4$.

Sending prayers love & warm hugs!  You CAN beat this Huckleberry! 

I'm so sorry Huckleberry's still struggling!  Poor little guy!                                                                         

Have you tried feeding him tuna?  I think just getting him to eat is important.  When my boy was sick, my vet told me to give him whatever he would eat.  What's Huckleberry's favorite food?  You can try putting parmesan on his food.  Have you tried foods with gravy, such as (but not necessarily) Tiki Cat?  What about cooking some bland chicken (even blending it if necessary)? I would not get caught up in human versus cat food.  The trick is to get him eating on his own.  Then later on you can change his diet to something healthier.  

Hang in there!  Sending lots of love-I will keep praying.  I'm so sorry.    

________

Check this out too.  Some helpful tips on getting a cat to eat.  

http://www.felinecrf.com/managd.htm

As discussed at:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/288200/homemade-treats-for-cat-with-kidney-disease

No onions or garlic, including broth containing them. 

Fancy Feast started making these packets of broth, it's pretty much like soup for cats. It's not a balanced diet long term but it might be something to try just to get some food in him. Even my cats who won't eat wet food will eat it. They particularly like the creamy ones.

Thanks again everybody. I went to the vet last evening and got the fluids for Huckleberry, one of the technicians demonstrated how to do it while administering the fluids to him. I'm gonna have to do it later today which is a little scary.

@plur11ap  and @ForrestMeows  I've RARELY given Huckleberry human food. I've given him bits of beef jerky years ago. I've given him little pieces of meat... but maybe, like 10 different times since I've had him. When I'm eating, I always shoo him away when he tries to get at my food, it kind of sounds mean... but I really just didn't think it was okay for him. @plur11ap  , the vet tech I met with yesterday actually said exactly what you did.... we want him to eat, and at this point it's not important to be picky about it. Find anything he will eat and give it to him. I just didn't know that was okay. @ForrestMeows  He doesn't have  a favorite food because I feed him the same thing every day (along with cat treats).

I'm definitely being aggressive with this now. I bought a pack of chicken legs, cans of tuna, and a can of gravy. I boiled some chicken, sliced it into pieces. He would not take to it on his on. So I'm pretty much force feeding him, little by little. I don't want to do too much. He hasn't been throwing it up. I've been filling a syringe with water and gently placing it to the side of his mouth, slowly pushing the water through. I feel like he knows what I'm doing, what he can't do right now.

You all have been so encouraging and supportive, we appreciate it.  It's going to continue to be a day by day struggle with hope of progress and improvement. With the at home fluid therapy, I feel more confident in his recovery. Thanks again, it's time for some sleep

-Jimmy and Huckleberry 

Thanks for the update.  

Regarding the gravy, please check the ingredients first.  It likely contains broth, which has onion or garlic (even possibly powder) and is toxic to cats.  If you cook more chicken, also make sure not to cook it with broth containing onions or garlic of any kind since cats can't have that.  

See this link for foods that are toxic to cats:

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/foods-are-hazardous-cats

You may want to try the fancy feast packets or other cat brand gravy/broth that is formulated for cats just to be safe.

Hang in there and keep us posted!  Hugs and love to you and Huckleberry!  

@ForrestMeows  Thanks, I hadn't given him any gravy and glad I caught this before I did. I just noticed you mentioned it in your previous comment. I'm surprised that the vet technician didn't mention this when I brought him in for the fluid demonstration, as she did suggest trying to feed him anything he'll take to (she even mentioned baby food). I've done 2 at home treatments of the subj q since the last time I posted... they went smoothly and only lasted a few minutes. he is drinking a little bit of water again, I'm still force feeding him the chicken (I boiled the chicken in salt water). I bought chicken legs because it contains more fats than chicken breast. I feel as though I set him back because I didn't initially bring the fluids home from the vet. He started swaying again when he walks... but now we have fluids so hopefully he'll regain his balance, energy, and be able to eat on his own. I still have hope for him... but I've already decided that I'm gonna give it two more weeks (which would be about a month from his initial visit to the vet) and if there's very little to no progress, I'm gonna have to say goodbye.

sending prayers and good vibes from me and Ali.

So sorry to hear that Huckleberry is not doing too well.It is good that you are giving him the fluids.They may help a lot. It is so hard when our precious cats get sick.We try our best to help them and hope that it is enough.I am pulling for Huckleberry to get well.All the best to you and Huckleberry. Take Care!!