Kidney Disease

Hi Everyone-my 16 year old cat was diagnosed with kidney disease last week. she is now on hills kd dry and canned. and also Azodyl has been added to her food the last day or so. this morning there was a wet spot on the bed. yesterday I thought I smelled urine on the couch blanket also but wasn't sure. the last couple days Roma has been licking her rear. my question. is the wetting of the bed mean this is likely the end stages of my cats life? the vet told me last week, her kidneys are at the stage two of four. she has a good appetite and good energy. thank you for any advice or support. feeling sad

vanislandcat5 said:

 
Hi Everyone-my 16 year old cat was diagnosed with kidney disease last week. she is now on hills kd dry and canned. and also Azodyl has been added to her food the last day or so. this morning there was a wet spot on the bed. yesterday I thought I smelled urine on the couch blanket also but wasn't sure. the last couple days Roma has been licking her rear. my question. is the wetting of the bed mean this is likely the end stages of my cats life? the vet told me last week, her kidneys are at the stage two of four. she has a good appetite and good energy. thank you for any advice or support. feeling sad

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Hi, welcome to The Cat Site! 

I'm so sorry to hear your cat is already at Stage 4 when diagnosed.  However, the peeing outside the box could be from a UTI which could be treated.  Have you brought her back to the vet since this happened?  

There are many people here who have experience with CKF kitties, myself included. However, I'm at the beginning of that journey so my experience is limited. I do know if they are still eating well and are playful they are not at the end of their life.  Adding Azodyl is a great help - our cat is on Renadyl, which is similar except it can be added to food instead of pilled due to it being double the colonies in it.  I've noticed that since I'm giving it to our boy, Casper, that he has not been drinking quite as much and therefore, not totally flooding the litter box.  He also has nearly stopped throwing up nearly daily so apparently it is doing some good for him.  

There are so many various ways to manage this disease.  I would suggest that aside from the great advice you'll get here, that you look at the following website, which has become a "bible" of learning about and treating kidney disease in cats:

http://www.felinecrf.org/index.htm\

There is a companion Facebook group also:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/felinecrf/?fref=nf

If you want, you can post the test values and the mods there who are all very well educated in the disease, can help advise the best course of action, working with your vet of course.  

FYI - Hills diet probably is not the best and you'll hear that a lot.  Older cats diagnosed with CKF need good, high quality protein with low phosphorus. The website above can help you find other alternatives. Vets in general are not well versed in feline nutrition and while the prescription diet *might* be fine for a younger cat, older ones really do need higher protein and calories than those provide.  And making sure she has plenty of fluid intake is important also or dehydration can set in.  

Last, if you vet is giving you the feeling of "end of life" for your cat, perhaps you might want to find another one who will be more proactive in their treatment. So many cats have lived many years past diagnosis with the proper medical and nutritional support.

Stage 2 is definitely not end of life.  Not nearly!  At least not normally.  But finding urine spots outside of the litter box is a sign of a UTI, as sivyaleah pointed out, so I would either phone your Vet or take her back in to be checked. Unfortunately, UTI's come with the territory.    (I just lost my 3rd kidney cat a year ago this month, but she lived 3 years after her diagnosis)

That website you were provided above is absolutely the BEST for research, but it's not interaction like we are.  I always used it prior to any Vet visits so I'd be able to ask questions about meds, supplements, etc. 

Hang in there.  this is just a little bump in the road in all probability

Oops I apologize - I read that it was Stage 4, not 2!

@mrsgreenjeens  is correct - Stage 2 is really treatable!  My cat is Stage 2, just slight elevations in phosphorus and diluted urine. 

Would love to see a photo of your kitty!

Wow thanks so much everyone for all the information and advice! much appreciated. Roma will see the vet tomorrow for a antibiotic shot for Urinary tract infection. Just to clear up Roma is at stage 2 of 4 of kidney disease. And the vet didn't suggest she is at the end of her life. It was me! Roma's mom who gets a little frantic and worries constantly about her senior girl. anyways what a great site this is. I'm feeling thankful I found it

Roma on the left with her brother Ben