The other reason I’m not all full of happiness and sunshine is that my good old man, Spot, has an elevated creatinine level. Now, it’s not terribly high. He’s just barely into the danger zone.
It seems from everything I’ve read, that the danger zone means his kidneys are already failing. You cannot bring back the broken parts, they are gone forever.
Our vet doesn’t want to give him medication – but he seemed a bit unsure about that, and might change his mind. He did say to do our best to raise the amount of fluids Spot takes in. So far, I’ve had resounding success in just adding some of his special (expensive!) Prescription Diet C/D dry kibble to water. He drank for two solid minutes, and ate the waterlogged kibble, too.
We have C/D “wet food” on order – it is prescription after all – but in the meantime I am going to add extra water glasses, bowls, whatever all around the house so he can have a lap or three whenever he is surprised by water being right there. I already knew that cats love surprise water – this is why I have to have a lid on my bedside water glass! I didn’t like drinking fur and the occasional bit of litter that was stuck between his toes (he always sticks his arm all the way into a glass of water first, the nutter).
We will go back in three months for another blood test, to see if the extra hydration helps. The vet himself might be a bit more worried about that than we are, as Spot bit the hell out of him! This was after a mild sedative… Doc said they nearly put him all the way under as he was fine and happy…until he wasn’t. I get the feeling that next time, he will be more cautious around Spottie than he is around our big dog!
I did find it odd that when he said Spot bit him, my response was, ‘Oh shit! I’m so sorry!’ and he laughed – do people not apologise for such things? I raised him better than that…. I do wonder if he’d have been easier to deal with if I were there with him. Doc wanted to do it alone, as he is such a wiggly cat, but I think he’d have been happier with one of his people there.
He is 11 and a half, I don’t want to think that’s old but I suppose it is. He is always so happy and playful! Just this morning he was leaping around like a kitten and attacking imaginary foes. He loves to be loved on, and follows me around every morning when I make my coffee – standing on his hind legs and holding on to my thigh for dear life, while chatting away at me and expecting the head scratches to continue.
I love this cat so much, and I know he won’t last forever. I will do my best to make sure he gets as long as possible to have all those morning head scratches.
heretherebespiders 
Feel the same way about Methos, especially after what I went through with Neeners. I just love the big, stupid bastard so much and unless I am very unlucky, I know there will come a day when I have to say goodbye to him. I just hope both our boys live to happy, ripe ol’ age.
Yes. I have had many many cats, and I’ve loved them all in just a slightly different way. Does that make any sense? But after I lost my good dog, I know that losing Spot will fuck me up in all kinds of bad ways. I can see why older people might choose not to give their hearts away to fur-persons; it gets harder and harder when they leave us.
It IS hard, but I TRY to look at it, like, whether we have them and love them or not, they still only live so long, so if we can make their lives better while they are here…
I know. And if the furry ones didn’t have such short lives, we’d never meet and love other furry ones.
Still.
Oh, big hug, I know this is a sad line to cross — been there with sweet Apricat, and yet he lived three more years after the vet detected his kidney disease, and my gentleman friend’s Bob for four. It is a very slow decline in function, usually, and yes just get him to drink. If you can find one of those cat waterers that you tip a soda bottle upside down so that the water glugs down into the bowl as it’s emptied, I find my cats all love to play with water and Bengals are the champions of that. We never used meds, just the extra hydration — Bob got fluid with a needle under the scruff, which is easy to do yourself at home because the scruff doesn’t feel the needle, ou vets just supplied the necessary. Ask about that, though it’s too early for that to be appropriate, probably.
Yes, I’ve been reading about the subcutaneous fluid injections. It is too early for him, he’s just barely ‘bad’. I’ve lost a lot of furbabies, but never to this. Please tell me that they don’t suffer horribly when it gets bad?
They really don’t notice, or at least ours did not seem to. Apricat was just an old, arthritic cat who one day clearly didn’t know where he was or what he was doing, and the vet’s guess was that his kidneys had gone toxic enough to addle his brain and it wouldn’t get better. Bob got really thin, and they both got off their feed because their stomachs get delicate from the extra toxicity, but you never saw any sign that either was in pain or even discomfort from it; they just ate very little at a time. I had to take Apricat for the last vet visit, but Bob just went to sleep on his own as always one day and didn’t wake up.
I guess I’ve caught it really early. I was worried as he has lost weight, is peeing more (or Lokii is) and suddenly wants treats and people food all the time. He has lost weight – but not a lot. They do it in kilos here – three years ago he was 4.25 and now he’s 3.95. (9.37 lbs to 8.71). I could see it, hubby didn’t. We put off the visit for ages, as we’re pretty broke and only I was worried. But I’m glad I put off getting MY new glasses in favour of having him checked out.
If it’s any comfort at all, more cats end with kidney failure than anything else and it seems to be the kindest end, since none of us live for ever. I have lost many too, but the ones who had dicky kidneys lived longest and seemed to notice least that anything was wrong. And Spot is so perky and pretty in his pictures! Look at that bad boy in the sink!!!
He surely is, runs around like a kitten all the time. Which is why I delayed the vet visit so long. No personality changes at all. Hope that stays the same. He had a load of raw turkey gizzard, heart, liver and skin today, along with a tiny bit of milk and wet food – and STILL asked for treats.
GOOD!!
I am so sorry about Spot. My heart goes out to you. Sometimes I wonder if it’s not harder for us to watch our beloved non-human family in pain or with an illness than it is to have it ourselves. When we lost AJ to a large tumor in his chest cavity in December last year, it was so heartbreaking for me. He was 12 and a half and I don’t know who adored who the most, him or me.
Hopefully you’ve caught it early enough that he will be able live happily for many years to come. If you just want to talk or talk and cry I’m in, so just let me know.
So sorry to hear about AJ – I’ve not gotten a chance to go back through your blog yet.
Spot isn’t a young guy, even if he still acts like it. No sign of grey fur, even. I had people visiting in August and they said he only seemed like he was five.
I might take you up on that offer – I’m having a hard time today and my instinct is to clam up and hold it in… stupid me.
Hi Spiders, Yesterday, you said to me you feared it was diabetes. But…. I think this is worst…
I don’t know if you tried to talk to me, I totally forget I had a dinner planned. My thought was with Spot all day, and I hope for the best. I checked my emails as soon as I arrived, and when I saw the title of the post all that came out of my mouth was “oh no” (in English). I feared the worst, but your post sounded better than my imagination.
About two years ago, my dear friend lost a cat to kidney failure (or liver? I think it was kidney — I never remember which does what). She detected a problem way too late. Nothing has been apparent until it was too late. The vet evaluated the cost of a surgery in the 4 digits, and even with that thought the chances of recovery were extremely small. So Cowboy had to be delivered. It wasn’t my cat, but I had known him for a while already, I had played with him. He was such a great boy.
His death was not in vain. The event prompted me to learn more about cat food and water. It wasn’t a coincidence if I tried raw food soon after.
Spiders, do you have a water fountain? Both Dianda and I mentioned these on our respective blogs. Ask me about it if you don’t. Ignore this if you do.
Do you still drink from the baby bottle?
Oh my god! I screwed every single verbs in that one! I should really read myself *before* posting! and I don’t think “delivered” works in that sense, I meant “relieved”.
No worries. I don’t think there is a single English word for it – put to sleep is the usual euphemism. I knew what you meant, every word.
Yeah, this is worse. Unless something even worse worse comes along, this is what will take him from me.
Spot does have health insurance, all our furry ones do (we humans do not, how bad are we).
I have seen that feeding raw from birth can prevent this. But there are SOOO many theories out there.
We do not have a fountain, we just turn on the taps for them when they ask. We will be looking into it however. I have a much better water glass now than the baby bottle! But I still don’t want him putting his feet in my water! Drinking litter just once was enough. He can have his own glass at my bedside š
Oh Spot š¦ we have Dinnermintz on the science diet tinned food for constant urinary probs,she is only young but can’t even have the vet science dry food ..none at all..or she just wees pure blood.Nothing worse than the worry of bad tests with your babies,Forrest has had some dodgy numbers with his renal function on and off for the last two years..the last one was fine..we keep our fingers crossed and just know that we love him now and tomorrow is not promised to any of us..it’s all you can do..they mess with your hearts in ways you never thought possible..sending big hugs to you and smooches to Spot.Fozziemum xx
Oh no! Poor Dinnermintz. That sounds terrible.
My best friendliest a dog to kidney disease, I hope Forrest will be okay.
I currently have both boys on my legs, swapping spit and enjoying the fire. Cleanest ears in the world, these two. Ewww š
Thanks i am sure he will be fine ..we just keep up on vet checks etc..it’s all we can do..sounds like the way to go getting a good ear clean hahhaa…ewwww indeed š
With ya….
Thanks. It sucks. I’m worrying more than I think I am, too.
Oh Spot you are so gorgeous.
Sounds like you have caught this early. (cat foods better if low in phosophorus their entire life evidently
Old TIger struggled with this in later years (17) and got very thin. Many animals don’t care for the Prescriptives diet. Tiger wouldn’t even look at it. We had some luck with Royal Canin Renal LP as supplemental feeding.(I can’t help it, I was holding a spoon up to his mouth trying to get him to eat – and I’m not a cat person, but he was here for so long and such a dear creature)
Purrs to you both!
I’m going to try to give him more raw meat – of course it will be people quality meat. But he never minded his C/D food, and even after having treats he will go and have a munch. We keep the kibble full all the time. Sorry about your Tiger, he sounds like a good old man.
I’m so sorry to hear this. My heart goes out to you ans Spot. It sounds like he loves you as much as you love him and that is a wonderful thing. I hope you have many more mornings with him. Bug hug across the miles.
Thank you – he has been with me since he was born and travelled many miles and seen many things. I just want more.
hugs and purrs to Spot and you. I have had several kitties over the years with chronic renal issues and the key is catching it early, which is what you have done. subcutaneous fluids really make a huge difference.
I’m sure if and when that is necessary, our vet will let me do it at home. It’s a long stressful drive for him, he loves the car but only when under 30mph! I will do whatever it takes.
Thoughts and hugs to you and glorious Spot. Those babies wend their way into our hearts and take up residence. You got it early and you care deeply. Lucky Spot! Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks to you, too. He’s my good old man, for sure š
Great big gorgeous boy! Sounds like you’ve caught the problem early. Keep that water flowing – sounds like he’s enjoying your approach to this.
Kidney disease, damnit! I hope Spot is going to be okay, or his kidneys are going to be okay! I hope with lots of fluids and drinking he’s going to be better again. 11,5 is not THAT old. Sure, he’s old, but some cats grow to be 18! You have put a lot surprise-water around, have you? š
I have. He seems a bit slow and tired tonight, didn’t eat his wet food – but neither did Lokii. Maybe it smells funny.
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