Renal failure in old cats

Thank you so much, Susan and everybody. I do look at Edna and see a "person." You know how it is when you've had a pet for such a large part of your life.
I do appreciate all the good thoughts.
Judy

Judy

Thinking of you and your Edna at this sad time.

Susan & Linksy

Sher, thanks very much for that info. I hadn't known stroke was a possibility. We have a date set for the vet to come to the house and give Edna a boost to the Rainbow Bridge. Today Edna is staying on our bed sleeping (had trouble jumping up there) and has not asked to go outdoors or anything. So hard, but yet she's been such a good kitty and we have enjoyed her so much, I want to make sure she has a comfortable exit. I will keep you posted.
Judy

Judy we lost our JJ in July to kidney failure...over the years he had his battle with liver issues and he got through them all until this last summer.
He would have been 19 on August 30th but we had to let him go on July 28th.
I knew he wouldn't make it, he lost so much weight and he ate like a little piggy.
He was on thyroid medication too but over all he was a happy boy, loved to be loved and cuddled, then on night he had a very bad stroke and we rushed him to the vet but there was nothing they could do.
He kept crying, I was devastated but I knew I had to give him relief from his old body.
He was such a good cat...totally black with the biggest eyes and such a love bug.
Best of luck Judy, I wish your little Edna a peaceful journey.

Sher

Thanks Dr Doug and all. I have a call in to the nice vet that does home euths. I noticed that Edna had quit eating anything but a few little treats a couple of days ago. Checked the litter box and it is bone dry. Her gums are pink and her skin retracts, so she's not yet dehydrated. She will sometimes take a couple laps of water if I hold it in front of her. She likes our bed with the electric blanket turned on. She never did the excessive water drinking that you read about. Well, she has drank more than she used to for the past six months or so, but not alarming amounts.

The interesting thing about Edna is that she has eaten nothing but dry food for her entire life. When she was younger, we tried every kind of canned food with no luck. She has never been interested in people food. So I doubt anybody could say the diet of dry food has shortened her life.

She's also the only one of our pets that is soley "mine." She's never been a lap sitter but she talks to me like a Siamese. We understand each other. Looking at her photo album, it is alarming how much we've all aged in 19 years. That's the cruel reminder, I think. Edna was a gift from a very special person. I've written the story before, but maybe will retell it when the time comes.

Thanks for all your good wishes.
Judy

tbred wrote:
I have often heard that feral cats don't suffer renal failure, I wonder if there is any truth to that. May also be due to the fact that feral cats don't live as long as our house kitties,or diet related?

With dogs, cars, and other causes of death, it's my understanding that ferals outside of a managed colony don't live long enough to develop rf.

I have often heard that feral cats don't suffer renal failure, I wonder if there is any truth to that. May also be due to the fact that feral cats don't live as long as our house kitties,or diet related?

dturm wrote:


Not really. If a cat lives long enough, it's the kidneys that will fail before most other organs. I think there is a fixed expiration on useful kidney life (probably genetic programed) and insults during life can shorten it and perhaps we can lengthen is some with good care and nutrition.

If cats were under consumer protection, they would be recalled for faulty livers and kidneys. :(

Doug, DVM

Thanks for the info, Doug. Have wondered about the 9 year old dying so soon of renal failure. Perhaps his genetics weren't up to it. He had an easy life compared to the old 16 yo tom cat who always came home with some new injury from another fight.

magnusfide wrote:
...Renal failure seems to be more prevalent these days. Either that or it's become a "go-to" diagnosis...

Not really. If a cat lives long enough, it's the kidneys that will fail before most other organs. I think there is a fixed expiration on useful kidney life (probably genetic programed) and insults during life can shorten it and perhaps we can lengthen is some with good care and nutrition.

If cats were under consumer protection, they would be recalled for faulty livers and kidneys. :(

Doug, DVM

I'm sorry for your Edna. Give her plenty of lap time while you can.

Renal failure seems to be more prevalent these days. Either that or it's become a "go-to" diagnosis. 19 years is a good long life for a cat. We had to put down our tom cat at 16 because he developed multiple issues. Prior to that, we had a 9 year old male that died of renal failure: too young.

Then there was our old gal who lived to 20 before her kidneys gave out. Correct me if I'm wrong, Doug, but genetics seems to be part of the profile?