Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Feb 19, 2019 - 12:29pm
sunybuny wrote:
We put sweet Des down on Saturday. Very fast and painless and he was very ready. Thank you to the cat/critter lovers who understood our pain.
I think he and Zack are lounging in Heaven together.
Sorry to hear that. We put our last cat down a couple of weeks ago. She was the last one of a group of 6 cats that came from the house behind mine. They liked my house because we actually have a yard with grass and trees. I took all 5 brothers and her to get "fixed" about 18 years ago. Slowly they disappeared... the neighbor took one when they moved... three of the other guys just where gone in a couple of years. "Cuda" hung around until we put down a year ago. He just fell apart. He was a good buddy... I miss him. CeeAtee was a non intelligent goof ball. Really a pest. I put up with her though. No more animals.
Their digestive and renal systems need time to process and recover between meals, otherwise the kidneys are stressed. Feed twice per day, approximately 12 hours apart. We feed dry food in the morning and smooshies in the evening. Also, a cat fountain encourages cats to drink more.
That is probably very solid advice. We are almost there but still over-feeding at least one of our cats. We feed 2 meals a day, a small amount of wet followed by dry, and then lift the cat food off the floor when they stop eating because otherwise, they will raid each others' food. I like to mix dental/oral care dry food with the more ordinary dry food. It is supposed to be good for the teeth and gums.
All three are outdoor cats.
One is a deadly, productive hunter — the Norwegian Forest cat with opposable digits — and we give here as much dry food as she wants. She can still climb up on the deck rafters and on to the roof, so, so far so good.
The youngest is a large ginger tabby male and he loves to eat. Tempest is currently overweight, no doubt. That situation has been exacerbated by the recent Polar vortex that came through.
On the other hand, the extra weight appears to have helped Tempest in his fights with a visiting male cat who earlier was harassing our passive female cats. I watched him once launch himself at the intruder from a metre away. It was quite something to observe, especially when you consider how cute and adorable he can be with his human caretakers. I have also watched Tempest tangle up with this aggressive male intruder, roll across the paved street and roll across the neighbour's lawn.
Before winter set in, his body was covered in scratches and small wounds.
Oddly, enough Tempest can be rather friendly with another ginger palomino male who will visit and hang out during the summer months.
Back to food: My wife and I are going to have learn to ignore his pathetic bleetings when he wants more food.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Sunbuny. 15 is a ripe old age.
Kidney failure is relatively common amongst older domestic cats, recognizing that these cats are living multiples longer than what would be a normal life span in the wilds.
We feed our three feline charges canned wet food, dry food and make water easily available both inside and outside of the house (when it is not -20C....). Our eldest cat "Dossie", has had thyroid surgery a couple of years ago. We often mix water with her wet food. She seems to like that.
In general, what can cat owners do to minimize kidney disease/failure at an older age?
Do not "free feed" your cats.
Their digestive and renal systems need time to process and recover between meals, otherwise the kidneys are stressed. Feed twice per day, approximately 12 hours apart. We feed dry food in the morning and smooshies in the evening. Also, a cat fountain encourages cats to drink more.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Sunbuny. 15 is a ripe old age.
Kidney failure is relatively common amongst older domestic cats, recognizing that these cats are living multiples longer than what would be a normal life span in the wilds.
We feed our three feline charges canned wet food, dry food and make water easily available both inside and outside of the house (when it is not -20C....). Our eldest cat "Dossie", has had thyroid surgery a couple of years ago. We often mix water with her wet food. She seems to like that.
In general, what can cat owners do to minimize kidney disease/failure at an older age?
This was soooo rapid.... and I am disappointed I didn't see it sooner. He was so big I was happy he was finally losing a little weight -uggg! We've had plenty of cats and lost them at all ages - but this guy was a jewel. He would head but your hand for more scratches and rubs but HATED to be held. All affections was at arm's length and there better had been plenty of it -LOL.
Thank you all for the good wishes. He'll be in Critter Heaven with Druid Lab's little guy this time tomorrow.
Sorry to hear of your troubles Sunbuny. 15 is a ripe old age.
Kidney failure is relatively common amongst older domestic cats, recognizing that these cats are living multiples longer than what would be a normal life span in the wilds.
We feed our three feline charges canned wet food, dry food and make water easily available both inside and outside of the house (when it is not -20C....). Our eldest cat "Dossie", has had thyroid surgery a couple of years ago. We often mix water with her wet food. She seems to like that.
In general, what can cat owners do to minimize kidney disease/failure at an older age?
This was soooo rapid.... and I am disappointed I didn't see it sooner. He was so big I was happy he was finally losing a little weight -uggg! We've had plenty of cats and lost them at all ages - but this guy was a jewel. He would head but your hand for more scratches and rubs but HATED to be held. All affections was at arm's length and there better had been plenty of it -LOL.
Thank you all for the good wishes. He'll be in Critter Heaven with Druid Lab's little guy this time tomorrow.
The female puma, known as Sarmiento, sits on the shore of the lake she was named after with one of her two cubs. Pumas are solitary creatures who only spend time with other pumas during mating season or when raising their youngâwhich females do alone. PHOTOGRAPH BY INGO ARNDT
The female puma, known as Sarmiento, sits on the shore of the lake she was named after with one of her two cubs. Pumas are solitary creatures who only spend time with other pumas during mating season or when raising their youngâwhich females do alone. PHOTOGRAPH BY INGO ARNDT
Sorry to hear of your troubles Sunbuny. 15 is a ripe old age.
Kidney failure is relatively common amongst older domestic cats, recognizing that these cats are living multiples longer than what would be a normal life span in the wilds.
We feed our three feline charges canned wet food, dry food and make water easily available both inside and outside of the house (when it is not -20C....). Our eldest cat "Dossie", has had thyroid surgery a couple of years ago. We often mix water with her wet food. She seems to like that.
In general, what can cat owners do to minimize kidney disease/failure at an older age?
as long as their quality of life is good, it is worth it. Fluid therapy works quickly. You should see results in a few days. Long term results can vary and there's really no way to tell which way it's going to go. one thing to do with the fluids is to stop feeding dry food. Wet food only and add water to it. it's better for them to ingest as much water as possible to keep the kidneys flushed.
Has anyone had an older cat with kidney issues and tried the 2-3 day IV hospitalization process?I am not asking for a friend - this is my loving 15 year old boy with issues.
yes on the kidney issues with several cats. we had varying degrees of success with in-home sub-q fluids to maintain after the initial hospital stay. it depends on how difficult you cat is to handle. we had some that were a breeze and lived another year or 2. Others that fought us and we had to let go earlier than I expected.
Location: i believe, i believe, it's silly, but I believe Gender:
Posted:
Feb 11, 2019 - 10:54am
sunybuny wrote:
Has anyone had an older cat with kidney issues and tried the 2-3 day IV hospitalization process?I am not asking for a friend - this is my loving 15 year old boy with issues.
Has anyone had an older cat with kidney issues and tried the 2-3 day IV hospitalization process?I am not asking for a friend - this is my loving 15 year old boy with issues.
Sending good JuJu your way. 
