cat with stage 2 kidney failure -- diet advice please help :(

Hi I am new to the forums and this is my first time posting because well I have never needed help before but today I need some advice, My 14 year old Cat  Max just got her blood work done and the vet called me with the heartbreaking news that she has stage 2 kidney failure I want to make her quality of life the best I possibly can and the vet said the best way to do that is through her diet. Currently Max is on the Halo Senior formula and some Halo wet food 2 times a day. The vet however has recommended I put her on Royal Canin Renal support. I was given samples of both the A and S formula of dry food and the T D E formulas for wet food. 

My concern is the ingredients on the Royal Canin stuff is way different then the Halo I am currently feeding which has a lot of real meat and vegetables but since this is the vets recommendation it should be good right? I just want to do whats best for my baby and whatever will keep her with me as long as possible. Has anyone used the Renal Formulas with success? is there anything else out there that is better? Can anyone who has gone through Kidney failure with a cat before give me some advice? 

I have had Max since I was in grade 2 and just recently moved out on my own. She is definitely my world and I am not ready to lose her T.T 

Don't despair.  I adopted my cat at age 14 and she was in stage 3 kidney failure. The first vet told me she'd be lucky to make it a year.  Some people on this forum directed me to this site:  www.felinecrf.org.  I also found a different vet who was more knowledgeable with kidney disease.  This combination saved my cat's life.  That was almost 1 1/2 years ago and she's happy and sassy today.  Much better than when I first adopted her.  She was one sick girl back then.

Did your vet discuss subcutaneous fluids?  I don't know about stage 2, but I know that in stage 3, diet alone is not enough. She needs daily subQ fluids, anti-nausea and antacid and an appetite stimulant every 3 days.  I would suggest reading up on the felinecrf site and joining the forum.  You can even post your lab results and they will give you advice.  They're not vets, but they are very knowledgeable.   Like I said, they saved my cat's life.

Good luck with your kitty!

ETA:  To address your main question, I give my cat the Hills k/d food  There are differing opinions out there on these kidney foods. I wouldn't even give it to her at all except that she seems to like it, and getting her to eat in general is an ongoing challenge. 

I've had 3 kidney cats, and that website Daryl the Cat referred you to is absolutely a MUST for anyone who lives with a kidney cat.  There is one particular section of that site that is all about nutrition and which foods have what amount of phosphorus.  It's the phosphorus that you want to cut down on. 

Here's the section on foods:  http://www.felinecrf.org/diet_and_nutrition.htm  It's a HUGE read, with lots of links, but well worth it.  And, no, the ingredients are no where similar to what she is now eating, but sometimes these prescriptions foods ARE helpful...IF she will eat them. If she will - GREAT .  If not, then you can look at the food charts they have and try to find something more suitable, or add phosphorus binders to her existing food. 

As to sub-q's, in Stage 2 those shouldn't be necessary yet.  Hopefully she'll stay in stage 2 for quite some time and not progress

If you have a facebook join this group. Amazing smart people over there that can give you some great advice on both food and supplements to help your kitty thrive. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/felinecrf/

thank you all so much for the links!!! Max is the only cat I have ever had so I have never delt with a cat that has health problems before... she has always been in perfect health until now, I have definitly been feeling down these past few days thinking this is a death sentence you guys have seriously gave me much needed encouragement that it will be ok. thank you!