CKD

Hi Everyone,  
I am very confused about my cats behavior and would love to hear from those who's cats behave somewhat normally even  with this disease , I know that most of what I am seeing is the disease , but sometimes I wonder.

  Tedda was diagnosed in late July ...he was dehydrated when blood was pulled, so I don't know if the numbers were effected by this ,  I am sorry that I can not upload the blood work ,I don't have a scanner and my vet just gave me a print out, I can tell you that his BUN was 115  and creatine very high  over 8   at that time he was not anemic , but very close to the bottom end of normal..... the last blood work that I had done was about a month ago ...it showed improvement in his creatine  but still quite high at 7.3 ...BUN still over 105,  his phos improved and so did his calcium...he still may have been slightly dehydrated as it was a non fluid day that his blood was taken... this time he was showing signs of anemia, very slight...  25 was that number...  at that time we introduced pet tinic to his regime....hoping for an improvement ..  I have not had him retested as of yet.... he eats a commercially prepared low phos raw food, designed by a vet for cats with kidney disease, he takes azodyl, standard process renal support, b-12 injection once per week,  1/10 dose of jarrow B vitamin,

 I just introduced spirulina that is the only new med, oh and he also takes Rehmannia eight.

  I try to get slippery elm down him as often as I can , but due to the fact that it has to be given out side of reg meds makes it tricky with my work schedule , I don't want to give it too close and have it interfere with his reg meds.   His appetite is good, sometimes great,  I still think he is nauseous sometimes, but he never vomits at all.  

My concern is his behavior..... he has never been the same since the diagnoses altho every once in a while I get glimpses of the cat he used to be but there is no consistency...... like once about the same time he slept with me two nights in a row,( a rare treat)  he rolled over on his back and meowed at me , he has never done it since.  This is a cat that was joined at the hip with me , slept with me every night ect..... he is 9 and and I have had him since he was about five months.  

Now he lives in either my kitchen up on the counter ( I allow it now , don't ask me why,  probably since it is where he is his most affectionate, so I definitely  lowered my standard , he was never allowed up there prior to his illness )  or in the window in the dining room , or lately he has taken to climbing up on a wine cabinet in the dining room, we have had to move all of the glasses so he does not break them... but he must be up high or he is not happy , in fact he almost looks freaked out... if I put him on the living room floor he will stay there for a min or two , and then literally run back to the places I described..

He never sleeps with me anymore.... oddly he did on three occasions in august ...then It stopped as mysteriously as it started.... I went on vacation at the beginning of sept for three days,  he slept with me the night I came home...  that was it.... he never has again ... If I approach him he purrs... he sometimes head butts me ... he plays only occasionally ....  his behavior is all over the place.... last night he was in the kitchen all social.... tonight he is back in the wine cabinet looking unhappy with life.  

One night last week he showed affection for my dog... who he used to love... the week prior he hissed at him.... he has hissed at me on two occasions, both times I was trying to move him...  he shrinks from me on occasion when I pick him up to give him meds... and other times he appears to tolerate it.  

Anyway sorry this was so long.. but I am really beginning to wonder if I will ever have my old cat back.... or if this is his new normal...  I got really upset the other night and wondered if I should just have him put down...then I was furious with myself for even considering such a thing.. I just wonder if his life is not enjoyable. or maybe I am perceiving this based on his change in behavior, I know the meds and fluid are helping him, but I cant help but view them as a double edge sword , helping him , but tormenting him also ..  I have just started fluid every day in hopes for some kind of improvement , I will be making an appointment soon to have his blood work redone...  

I have no desire to give up,  just wondering if anyone as a cat that behaved somewhat the way they used to before being diagnosed with this awful disease. and if there is something that I can do to improved his behavior if this is not all the disease, but his reaction to the meds.      all input greatly appreciated. 

Angie and Tedda 

Well it sounds like you've done all your research because you're doing all the right things to help him thrive. You said you think he might be nauseated despite slippery elm, do you have any cerenia to use when the SE doesn't seem to he helping? Is his Phos level high? That can cause nausea. You said he's acting more aloof, does it appear that he's in pain at all? Older cats, often CKD cats, also have arthritis, does it seem like maybe that might be an issue?

Two things come to mind. 

1)  That he's somewhat aloof because of all the meds you're having to give him which probably aren't making him very happy, and

2)  He very well may be in pain,or at least uncomfortable.  The kidney disease in itself doesn't cause pain, or so my Vet assured me, however, the related over acidity and toxic buildup it causes can certainly cause discomfort.  Have you given any thought to giving him any  Pepcid A/C?  We have had 3 kidney cats, and it seems the pepcid a/c did help.

If you are not familiar with this website, then I would highly recommend you get acquainted with it:  http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm  It is my "go to" for any kidney related questions, and I always refer to it even before Vet visits so I'll be prepared with any questions I  may have, and then I refer back to it with any advice the Vet has given me.  It also discusses other related diseases, such as anemia,and what to do for it.  Plus has info on the aforementioned Pepcid A/C and Cerenia, and lots of other options.  Even has sections on Azodyl, B-12 Injections, etc.  

I hope your guy gets used to all this and eventually comes around.  I know our last kidney cat actually became MORE loving.  For her entire life until the last year, she never, ever was a lap cat.  Then, suddenly, she WAS .  As soon as we settled on the sofa for an evening of TV viewing, there she was, begging for attention, which we were only too glad to give her.