I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems...

G-Ram · 09-03-2009, 01:12 PM

During the summer months when it was hot. I noticed "Friskie" (Also known as "miss-whiskers" do to her long whiskers) was drinking a lot of water, didn't think much of it. But the last few days I noticed she wasn't eating well, then noticed she looked a bit thinner. Did some research and it seems like the symptoms to Kidney problems for Cats. She also seems weak, but not weak enough for her to still hunt oddly enough. But now she's not eating at all, I'm taking her to the vet today in hopes that we can catch things before they get too bad and can restore a healthy lifestyle for her again.

I've never lost a pet before and this was my only one so I don't even want to go there yet.

**doodlebug** · 09-03-2009, 01:51 PM

Drinking a lot of water and losing weight are symptoms of many 'senior' diseases, but the most likely are CRF and Diabetes. Have a full blood panel done at the vets. Both CRF and Diabetes are manageable for quite a long time, it's not likely that you'll facing losing her any time soon, especially since you've caught it before she's experienced any sort of major crash.

Good luck and keep us posted....

G-Ram · 09-03-2009, 03:42 PM

The appointment is in an hour and 25 minutes. I'll let you guys know as soon as I get home. I don't know if they'll be keeping her over night for tests or not, the only time I took her to the vet before, was to get her nurtured and when she had an ear infection.

I can get her to eat salmon or any kind of fish in small spirts if I chop it up. She had 2 small meals of that today, So that should at least get something in her stomach before she's checked on.

G-Ram · 09-03-2009, 09:48 PM

K guys the blood work it's to do with the Kidneys. But it's not at the point of panic, we caught it at a good time. I can treat her at home with an IV and they gave me some drops I have to give her twice a day. After she gains strength she should start eating again. Everything else from the tests came up very good.

So for now I'm just going to keep a good watch over her and try to feed her. I was also given different food to feed her.

Lilygirl123 · 09-04-2009, 03:15 PM

Hi. I didn't think it could be diabetes when I read your post because most diabetic cats have ravenous appetites. Diabetes and CRF have similar symptoms, but when they stop eating, it's most likey kidney problems, and that seems to be the case for your kitty too. But I've also heard that cats with kidney problems can live for many more years, so it's not the worst diagnosis. I remember freaking out when my cat was diagnosed with diabetes, but I also felt a sense of relief because it could have been something far worse.

G-Ram · 09-05-2009, 12:48 AM

She's improving after 1 day of her medicine. She's eating more. Not a lot but getting back to eating out of her dish with some scraps we make up for her.

laurief · 09-05-2009, 08:59 AM

What is the medicine she is taking?

G-Ram · 09-08-2009, 12:52 AM

I actually couldn't tell you the name, right off. She's taking it in drops twice a day.

She's starting to gain weight again (from eating), has the fight in her eyes all cats have. And is running around with more authority. She has to go back in on Thursday for more blood tests.

laurief · 09-08-2009, 01:39 AM

It's wonderful that she's doing better and eating again. I'd love to know what those drops are if you remember to ask your vet this week when you take her back for more testing. I suspect they are either antibiotics or perhaps B vitamin drops.

Congratulations on her improvement.

Laurie

Crystal211 · 09-09-2009, 03:40 PM

One of my cats has CRF and she was diagnosed with it in 2007. She's been okay the past two years - she had a bit of a turn last week and we have her on a more rigorous treatment to see if her numbers improved, but the only reason I noticed a difference was because of weight loss, she's acting fine. We do the IV fluids twice a week, which she doesn't like too much, but she deals.

I'm glad you caught it early - we've learned to live with it and she's still doing great.

09-03-2009, 01:12 PM	#1 (permalink)
G-Ram Kitten Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... During the summer months when it was hot. I noticed "Friskie" (Also known as "miss-whiskers" do to her long whiskers) was drinking a lot of water, didn't think much of it. But the last few days I noticed she wasn't eating well, then noticed she looked a bit thinner. Did some research and it seems like the symptoms to Kidney problems for Cats. She also seems weak, but not weak enough for her to still hunt oddly enough. But now she's not eating at all, I'm taking her to the vet today in hopes that we can catch things before they get too bad and can restore a healthy lifestyle for her again. I've never lost a pet before and this was my only one so I don't even want to go there yet.

09-03-2009, 01:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
doodlebug Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 17,700	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... Drinking a lot of water and losing weight are symptoms of many 'senior' diseases, but the most likely are CRF and Diabetes. Have a full blood panel done at the vets. Both CRF and Diabetes are manageable for quite a long time, it's not likely that you'll facing losing her any time soon, especially since you've caught it before she's experienced any sort of major crash. Good luck and keep us posted.... __________________ Onyx & Callie May forever in my heart.

09-03-2009, 03:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
G-Ram Kitten Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... The appointment is in an hour and 25 minutes. I'll let you guys know as soon as I get home. I don't know if they'll be keeping her over night for tests or not, the only time I took her to the vet before, was to get her nurtured and when she had an ear infection. I can get her to eat salmon or any kind of fish in small spirts if I chop it up. She had 2 small meals of that today, So that should at least get something in her stomach before she's checked on.

09-03-2009, 09:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
G-Ram Kitten Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... K guys the blood work it's to do with the Kidneys. But it's not at the point of panic, we caught it at a good time. I can treat her at home with an IV and they gave me some drops I have to give her twice a day. After she gains strength she should start eating again. Everything else from the tests came up very good. So for now I'm just going to keep a good watch over her and try to feed her. I was also given different food to feed her.

09-04-2009, 03:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lilygirl123 Jr. Cat Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 44	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... Hi. I didn't think it could be diabetes when I read your post because most diabetic cats have ravenous appetites. Diabetes and CRF have similar symptoms, but when they stop eating, it's most likey kidney problems, and that seems to be the case for your kitty too. But I've also heard that cats with kidney problems can live for many more years, so it's not the worst diagnosis. I remember freaking out when my cat was diagnosed with diabetes, but I also felt a sense of relief because it could have been something far worse.

09-05-2009, 12:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
G-Ram Kitten Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... She's improving after 1 day of her medicine. She's eating more. Not a lot but getting back to eating out of her dish with some scraps we make up for her.

09-05-2009, 08:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
laurief Cat Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: northern Minnesota Posts: 2,576	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... What is the medicine she is taking?

09-08-2009, 12:52 AM	#8 (permalink)
G-Ram Kitten Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 9	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... I actually couldn't tell you the name, right off. She's taking it in drops twice a day. She's starting to gain weight again (from eating), has the fight in her eyes all cats have. And is running around with more authority. She has to go back in on Thursday for more blood tests.

09-08-2009, 01:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
laurief Cat Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: northern Minnesota Posts: 2,576	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... It's wonderful that she's doing better and eating again. I'd love to know what those drops are if you remember to ask your vet this week when you take her back for more testing. I suspect they are either antibiotics or perhaps B vitamin drops. Congratulations on her improvement. Laurie

09-09-2009, 03:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Crystal211 Banned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 3,988	Re: I Think My 13 Year Old Has Kidney Problems... One of my cats has CRF and she was diagnosed with it in 2007. She's been okay the past two years - she had a bit of a turn last week and we have her on a more rigorous treatment to see if her numbers improved, but the only reason I noticed a difference was because of weight loss, she's acting fine. We do the IV fluids twice a week, which she doesn't like too much, but she deals. I'm glad you caught it early - we've learned to live with it and she's still doing great.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
CatForum.com Advertisement