He isn't going to make it

seaturtle

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CT is rapidly losing more weight. I have to put him down, I think.

Does anyone know if a cat with kidney disease who is losing weight is in pain?

Thinking of all of you,

Seaturtle
 

misterwhiskers

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I'm very sorry to hear about CT, and I wish I knew the answer. But I am sure your vet will know.

((Hugs))
 

rosiemac

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I'm so sorry to hear about CT.

I'm not familiar with kidney issues, but keep checking in because more members will be on as the day goes on, but as misterwhiskers said, your vet should be able to answer you as well?
 

goholistic

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Does anyone know if a cat with kidney disease who is losing weight is in pain?
Not necessarily. But quality of life is a big factor. My Boo is a senior kitty with progressing kidney issues and he has lost a significant amount of weight in the past year. Some days he eats better than others, but he is still eating and still gets spurts of energy and greets me at the door when I get home from work. If your kitty is still doing many of the things he likes, then he may still have some time left. Is he displaying other "symptoms" besides weight loss?
 
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seaturtle

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'He stares off into space a lot, isolates himself, doesn't want to be petted or held or interact with me or other cats. This is a complete change in personality.

The vet said it is no use hydrating him here, since his phosphorus levels failed to come down even with all the fluids they gave him in the hospital. The damage is too great, and I asked myself what I would want. Quality of life indeed means more than quantity.

I think I must let him go; he is getting more emaciated by the day.

Perhaps someone could help me with the guilt. I keep feeling that if I had only...taken better care, seen it earlier, fed him differently...whatever I didn't do right.

With everyone in spirit, thank you all,

Seaturtle
 
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seaturtle

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I forgot to mention I have to take care of myself, too. I spent another afternoon in the ER today. I don't know how good a doctor I could be, given my illness, too. More guilt.
 

goholistic

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I'm so sorry you're going through this. Please don't feel guilty. The important thing is that you are thinking about his quality of life and what would be best for him at this time. Be in tune with CT and listen to your gut. Talk to him (even if from a distance) and tell him you love him. Try to be at peace with your decision. 
 

Loving Mickey

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Oh seaturtle, I am so sorry that you are going through such pain. It is very common for us to think that we could have /should have done more for our poor babies. I felt the same guilt when my Mickey got so sick. He was always a healthy cat. He seemed to get sick overnight. I felt that I should have been able to make him healthy again, but I couldn't. I still feel guilty to this day. It is not your fault that your baby is so ill. Our babies get sick so quickly and it is not our fault. You love your baby so much and tried your best to make him well again.I feel your pain and am so truly sorry. Whatever you decide, your baby knows he is loved!! Please take care!! Hugs to you and CT!!
 

felines4life

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I hear you SeaTurtle and I"m so sorry you and you're cat have to go through this. It's never easy at this stage. We all have had those fears and insecurities I believe - I know I do. My cat and I ended up in the ER at the same time tonight (no joke). I kept thinking - if only I wasn't sick too and in a wheelchair - I could have taken better care of her, if only I had the money to buy fancy food for her, if only I had paid more attention sooner.... but really it comes down to you know somewhere in your heart you love him and did your best for him. I've decided to not beat myself up about it and like you said try to take care of myself. It's in the vet's hands now to be honest,

I'm sure you love him as much as anyone could, I can hear it from your posts. It's easy to be caught up in the guilt but for your own peace of mind and sanity - try not to say what you could have done for him (as I'm sure you tried your best and that's all we can do), and remember all probably the hundreds of acts of love you did do for him. He knows that. And this last act of love is one of the greatest - taking him to the vet. Praying for your cat tonight for peace for both of you. 
 

cat pal

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It seems no matter what we do to care for our animal companions, if we allow ourselves we can look back and see the s.o.s. signals they were giving that we didn't see at the time. I had a cat - Nina, pictured on my avatar - who I found at the woods edge skeletal, injured, so weak from starvation she was barely able to move or vocalize. I picked her up and carried her two miles to my home, drove her to the vet where she spent 10 days, I took her in and nursed her back to health, had her spayed when she was strong enough, she healed and thrived. Then I found out quite by accident during a wellness exam that she had kidney disease, it turns out her kidneys were malformed and minimally functioning. I put her on a special diet and watched her closely and had her kidney values and weight measured every three months -  for many years. She may have had serious kidney disease but Nina was the last to know she was sick, so full of piss and vinegar and joy and immense affection was she!  So why didn't I notice the weight loss that began after her last check-up? Why didn't I pay closer attention that week when she was sick several mornings, or to her coat that had become flaky and dull? I can't say for sure - she was still doing all of her routine activities and seeking affection, my attention was diverted to my other cat Vivian's health troubles - mentioned on another thread - and perhaps at the end of the day I was in denial. I always expected I would eventually have to give her sub q fluids and meds when the time came, but the time never came because before I could do anything she got quite sick, and I took her to the vet and she never came home. She had given me signals which I did not read properly, and beyond that she disguised the increasing gravity of her condition until she was too sick to save. So do I have guilt? You bet I do. I can only remind myself that I rescued and cared for this amazing cat for over 8 years, and that I did the best I could do for her, though ultimately it wasn't  enough. 

My guess is that you too have done the best you could do for your cat, even if in the end it doesn't seem enough, you did and are doing the best that you can do, you MUST remind yourself of that. Unfortunately, sometimes the best and kindest thing that we can do, when our cat pals tell us it's time, as Nina told me and it seems your kitty may be telling you, is to stop trying to keep them alive and help them to die and end the suffering. After two days in hospital, the vet offered to have me bring Nina home and spend some time saying good-bye, but that would have been for me, not Nina. She was ready to go, and helping her go was really the least - and the most - I could do for her. 

She was suffering, all the light had gone from her eyes, if you feel your cat is suffering too, and beyond medical intervention, it's possible you should do one final thing you CAN do for him and help him to go...

Thoughts with you
 
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