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This Hot Topic is one I had to deal with—chronic renal failure, or kidney disease. CRF is a very common disease among older cats. Some experts say screening for kidney disease should be done annually after the age of seven because symptoms are very hard to spot until the disease has progressed quite a bit. Read on for more information about this condition. Medical Information
There is also some concern now that dental health plays a part in the development and progression of kidney disease. Poor dental hygiene can lead to low-level infections which can lead to bigger problems. If possible, learn to brush Kitty's teeth (easier said than done, I know) and/or have her teeth cleaned regularly by the veterinarian. Helpful medical information sites include:
Home Health CareThe one thing that perhaps scares people the most when they find out their cat has CRF is the idea of administering subcutaneous (sub-q) fluids themselves at home. There are several good sources available that make the process a little easier by clearly explaining and illustrating the procedure. Most cats seem to tolerate sub-q fluids well, but some people find that their cat is so stressed by fluids injected this way that it starts to affect their otherwise loving, close relationship. One alternative is the GIF-tube, an implanted tube that lets you administer fluids without using a needle. It's safe to leave in the body for up to one year.
Support Groups and Personal StoriesThe Feline CRF Support Group has an email list that is extremely helpful to caretakers of CRF cats, with advice, details of other people's experiences, and sharing of information and comfort that makes dealing with this chronic disease much easier. There is also an archive of documents on issues such as administering subcutaneous fluids. The GIF-Tube group is specifically for users of that device.
There are many individual sites set up by people taking care of CRF cats. These are just a few personal stories and tributes:
ProductsFoodTalk to your vet about what dietary restrictions your cat should have. Many vets recommend food lower in protein and phosphorous than regular commercial foods. Some of these foods may be prescription diets, meaning you can only get them through a veterinary office. Others are available in some pet supply stores or online. These two charts help you find out which foods might be more appropriate for your CRF cat:
Some of the non-prescription premium foods that show well on the above charts are available from online stores such as:
Medical SuppliesBefore you purchase medical supplies, you need to talk to your vet about your cat's particular needs and find out if they will write you a prescription for the fluid bags, needles, and IV admin sets you'll need for giving subcutaneous fluids at home. David Jacobson put together this invaluable reference to sources for CRF supplies:
Incontinence SuppliesCRF kitties, and other cats from time to time, may have problems with missing the litter box. Some people have found that large bed pads, sold as incontinence products, can protect the area around the box. Don't use the "piddle pads" sold for housebreaking puppies—these are scented to attract animals and make them want to wet on the pads. Your goal is to keep the wetting inside the litter box but protect the area around it when that doesn't quite work. You buy in bulk from some of these sources, but that can save you a lot of money:
And here's a product designed specifically for cats:
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Stay At Home Cats
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Testing is especially important for management of CRF because symptoms
sometimes aren't noticed until the disease is fairly far along. There are several indicators in a cat's blood and urine that lead to an
initial
diagnosis of chronic renal failure (or renal insufficiency, the earlier stage of
the disease) and understanding of the progression of the
disease. Especially if your cat is over seven years old, consider screening her today for kidney disease and
get a
