I took my cat Shadow to the vet a few days ago, and found out that he has chronic kidney failure. I noticed that he was losing weight, and seemed to have an insatiable thirst for water, so I took him to the vet, and that was when I found out the sad news. Unfortunately, kidney disease is manageable but not treatable, so I have him on several different medications, special diet, etc. etc.

He seems a little better than when I first brought him home from the vet's, he's been more alert and follows me around the house (I call him my little soldier), but I know that I'm just putting off the inevitable (euthanasia). He goes back to the vet's today to get his blood checked again, as well as some hydration therapy since the poor guy is dehydrated.

He has not been eating anything, so I need to ask the vet if he thinks that if we keep giving him the meds if his appetite will return (I get the feeling that it won't). I'm going to wait a few days until the blood work comes back and to see if Shadow does start eating again before I make a decision as to whether to let him continue to live or if I should relieve him of his illness. The last 4 or 5 days have been rough, I haven't cried this much in years. Please keep Shadow in your throughts and prayers. Thanks.
[This message was edited Sat Apr 10 7:37:02 2004 by psychodelicide]
[This message was edited Sun Apr 11 8:16:45 2004 by psychodelicide]

this isn't meant 2 sound stupid...but can cat's have a kidney transplant?

Agent47 said:

Oh no, that doesn't sound stupid at all. Cats can have kidney transplants, but I read that they are not widespread yet. Also, Shadow is almost 15 years old, and has other medical problems going on right now, so even if I were to opt for a kidney transplant, who knows that would happen.

psychodelicide said:

true. ask yourself what would you prefer if u were Shadow...me personally, i'd turn off the switch if there was no hope

Agreed, that is why I need to ask the vet if he thinks that continuing with the meds will bring back Shadow's appetite (he may not even know himself, since all animals are different). I will wait until Monday, and if Shadow does not start eating again, I will do the right thing by putting him to sleep (even though it's rough, I hate to lose the little guy).

I ended up having my cat put to sleep for the very same reason. She was 16 and had a great life. Your post brought it back.My thoughts are with you at this moment.

I wish you and shadow the best.

Marrk said:

Awww, I'm sorry to hear that you lost your kitty, Mark. It's rough isn't it?

Tom said:

Thanks, Tom.

Oh I'm really sorry to hear bout this po lil pussy cat...

hope he gets better soon.

ohhh shadow nancy

JaneyPoos said:

Thanks. Like the vet said, we can only maintain the condition but not cure it.

violett said:

Thanks, violett.

Shadow must be feeling a little better, because he's fighting me when I try to give him his meds. LOL - I gave him a pill this morning, and thought he swallowed it, then found it stuck on his tail, so I had to do it all over again. Silly cat.

I'm so sorry to hear this!

i'm sorry for both of you. it's really really hard to have a beloved pet euthanized. i think you will be able to tell when shadow's quality of life is so bad that he would prefer death to suffering. he won't be able to follow you around and he will take no enjoyment from life. imo you would be doing him a loving favor by having him euthanized when he bgins to suffer that way. but, this is your decision and it's agonizing to have to make a decision like that without being able to ask shadow himself what he prefers.

my dad died of undiagnosed pancreatic cancer in july 2001. there was no hope of treatment, only of easing his suffering. it was the absolute worst thing in my life when on his last day my dad asked for poison. .. we could not help him in that way as the law forbids it .. .

to both of you. there IS a heaven for animals, you know
[This message was edited Sat Apr 10 8:18:43 2004 by XxAxX]

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[This message was edited Sat Apr 10 8:18:20 2004 by XxAxX]

N...

My thoughts are with you...

Psych,

If you have to put Shadow down, know that the kitty will be relieved. Well, dogs seem to understand, I am not sure about cats.. that attitude and all...

Anyway, take the day before and spoil the cat rotten. Give it anything it wants, feed it tuna and all the stuff it shouldn't have, (our previous dog, when having to be put down, had no appetite either, but nutter butter cookies were amazing incentive). Anyway, just tell it all the great times and all that.....love it ..to death. It will be good for you, as you deal with this.
And the kitty too.

i had 2 cats Blackie and tiger...Tig' was in the family since i was 4 and he was a kitten..he was a big ass boy.. i tell ya... lol he got older and became a grumpy fucker in late 1979 tiger was nearing 20..he passed away screaming in pain under my bed..., now Blackie was cool too, he used to sit up like a human andwatch tv with me lol.. he had to get put down because of a UTI, that was just to late to cure.. so i know what u are goin through...

we'll be thinking about you, Nancy!

me and Jinx send out positive vibes to you and Shadow.

Psycho, we lost our cat last Thanksgiving, she was 14 years old and also had
an unrelenting thirst. She had diabetes, for which we had to give her an insulin
shot every day. We did this for the last year of her life.

The last 2 days were the hardest, because she couldn't even lift herself up to
eat, drink, or go the kittylitter. She ended up having a heart attack
as the vet was giving her IV fluids, and died on the table. At least we
didn't have to make the choice for her.

It's heartwrenching, they really are family members, not pets.






[This message was edited Sat Apr 10 15:11:11 2004 by Revolution]

My cat lived with renal failure for the majority of his life and he lived to be 12 (he died 2 years ago from it).

He would get seriously ill, on the brink of death, and we'd take him to the vet and they'd pump him full of fluids, give him potassium, keep him for a few days, and he would always pull through every time. He would get sick like this maybe once every two years, and every time the vet would call it a miraculous recovery. Otherwise, he livd a really good life and seemed to be healthy except for these few relapses.

It is possible for your cat to live through this and be normal and healthy most of the time. I hope he pulls through this first setback, because he can live with it. The special diet is key though and it really does help.

Nani, I will keep Shadow in my thoughts.

poor little fella

I hope your dear cat gets better Nancy

I'm so sorry Psych ~ I know our kitties are our kids and I know how hard this is on you. big s and prayers for you and Shadow from both Thunder and I