My cat has a bad reaction to any canned foods

I have had my rescue cat 6 months.  We already know that he has deformed kidneys but also would frequently stop eating and drinking which had nothing to do with that problem.  After putting him through all kinds of tests over a period of 5 months, medicating him, and then trying different wet foods, my vet said, let's try something.  She did not medicate him this last time.  She said stop feeding him wet food entirely - just the Royal Canine Renal dry formula.

Well, it has been one month, and he has not been sick, drinks often from the water fountain and finishing the Dry Royal Canine Renal Formula every day.  I am so glad she would rather experiment a bit rather than medicate him or put him through any more tests as he got so stressed out, it took a toll on his little body.

Since he is only on the dry food, he is more active and much more bouncy.  He actually looks and acts as if he feels better now.  

I had tried all kinds of wet food, even the natural ones called Schesir which got such a high rating.  I got desperate and even tried to make him homemade food, but he threw up all the time or just stopped eating entirely.  

Anyway, I do feel a bit guilty feeding him only the renal, but he is happy and eating very well.  My vet told me to do what works.  He needs to eat and drink.  Keep watching him. He may be allergic to something in canned foods.  

I wonder if anyone ever heard of this?  

Joyce

Sometimes cats cannot tolerate the oils or fat in canned foods, and sometimes cats simply prefer dry over canned.  Also, too much variety or switching food brands and types too frequently can cause problems with palatability, digestive issues and can cause food aversion.  It's not a bad thing to be feeding a prescribed renal diet, it is still formulated with everything he needs, and it's working, that's what matters most.  You can ask the vet if any supplementation is necessary, especially if he is very young, but chances are, he doesn't require supplementation.

Your vet is right, he needs to eat sufficiently, and if his kidneys are even the slightest bit compromised, his water intake has to be normal and consistent.  Please follow up with your vet as she advises, and get regular checkups and or blood work rechecks to monitor the kidneys.

Hi:  Thank you for your kind response.  No more tests.  He went through hell already. He has had every single test imaginable, including an ultra scan.  That is how we discovered his kidneys were not fully formed.  As my vet explained and I also had a specialist look at the ultra sound and blood and urine workup, his kidneys will eventually fail and there is absolutely no cure or help.

I am giving him a wonderful life.  He has two luxury beds, cat tunnels and cat boxes and he sleeps with me at night in down and fleece.  Very spoiled.  When I read in the living room, he jumps in my lap and I wrap him in a light blanket and he falls asleep, so precious.  My job is to make his life comfortable.  My vet even comes to my house since he screams and now attacks them in the clinic if they have to put him in a cage for observation.  Far from the docile skinny cat I adopted from the streets.

The good news is that he is thriving.  The Kidney specialist said he could live between 8-10 years.  But he will not live beyond that.  I don't think that is so bad, because at first, we thought he did not even have that long, which was hard to hear.

He is the cat of my dreams.  A loving companion, always by my side, affectionate, playful and seems so grateful to have a quiet and peaceful home with me as I live alone.  

Anyway, as I read the stories from so many other cat lovers, I realize how lucky I am to have him and to never take each day for granted that he is alive and thriving.

Joyce

I'm not talking about invasive tests, I'm simply recommending kidney value rechecks to monitor renal function, it's commonplace and prudent to do so.  It's a quick and simple blood draw, that's it.  If you don't follow up regularly, you risk not finding potential problems that could be treated early and/or preventative treatment.   The kidneys are a very sensitive and vital organ, we have to take good care of them!

jkuras he sounds like a lovely companion and he is very lucky indeed to have been found by you.

Hi:  Thank you.  Again, I had my vet consult with a kidney specialist for cats.  He looked at the ultra scans, blood workup, urine directly form his bladder, and other tests on the blood and urine.

There is nothing I can do to prevent kidney failure.  He has deformed kidneys that are going to fail.  No medication can help him.  I am not going to put him through any more blood tests.  He screams and his little body goes into a trauma.  So I prefer to not put him through that.  I am a very very good pet owner.  I have been to my vet more times in 6 months with him then most have been in 6 years.

The most I can do is feed him what works for his kidneys and give him a quiet and peaceful life filled with love and attention.

I hope and pray that he will live many good years.

Will keep reading other posts.  I learn so much from everyone.

Love to all.

Joyce