Advice needed for cat with renal failure

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sonjafoers

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I hope it's ok to ask for non-horsey veterinary advice here, I didn't want to put it in Soapbox.

My 16 year old cat has just been to the vet to have his teeth done & been diagnosed with renal failure. Unfortunately he has decided to make his home elsewhere for a few months and I rarely see him. He does come in from time to time for food but often it's overnight so I don't catch sight of him.

He has been put on a special diet and although it's only been a few days he does seem to be eating it when he ventures in.

The problem is I know when he has been home because of the smell. There is a very strong smell when he has been around, it's very much like cats' urine but a slightly more toxic smell. I can't work out of he is spraying when he comes home (which he has never done before) or if it is actually him that smells because he is poorly. Even if he only goes into the kitchen for his food it can be smelt around the whole house. When I wake up in the mornings I can tell if he's been in overnight before I even go downstairs because of the smell.

My vet says he isn't suffering but if he's giving off such a smell I think he must be.

Does anyone know if this is normal in such cases, or is it likely to be his is spraying?

Will the special diet help with this as it removes the toxins from him?

Any thoughts much appreciated, thank you.
 
Hi,
Both of my elderly cats (16 and 19) have renal failure, the younger one has just developed it. I haven't noticed a smell with either of them (they're female), but it might be worth checking if he has cystitis? Have you noticed any urine with blood in it?

I expect your vet will put him on Fortekor - it's important that he gets his drugs in order to prolong his life, so hopefully you can encourage him to live at home more. It's probably not much consolation, but apparently cats are very prone to renal failure.
Good luck.
 
Thank you guys, I think I need to speak to my vet again so I will go up today. He assures me he isn't suffering but he will be feeling like he has a hangover. Apparently that's what renal failure feels like if not treated.

Notamule I can't guarantee to give him medication daily as I don't see him so the vet hasn't given me any. He has given me Royal Canin Renal diet which he says is just as effective. Unfortunately it's quite expensive but if it helps him it's worth it.

Jessica_555 thank you for your reply, I will look up the FightBack and I'm glad Snoopy is feeling much better.

I'm not sure of the prognosis for my cat but I can't see him suffer so I have everything crossed for the Wonders of Royal Canin.
 
Ask your vet about using a product called renalzin which can help by binding the phosphorus found in the diet , which could be usefull if he is eating elsewhere so not always having kidney food . It is a supplement which you add to his food. Good luck
 
OP is he neutered? Male cats will often spray whether neutered or not but the sprayed urine of an entire tom cat is instantly recognisable. A cat with wanderlust will often start spraying just because of the need to maintain and mark "his" territory. It certainly sounds as if you need to get him to the vet for a check up and the easiest way to do this is via your cat flap, assuming you have one as he can come and go so easily. Adjust the little coloured sliders so that the door will open INwards (ie cat can enter) but not OUTwards (ie cat can't go out again). If your flap hasn't got the sliders on it, and providing it's the sort that swings both inwards and outwards (ie not the old fashioned sort where the cat has to lift up the flap with its nose to come in), it's easy enough to rig up something that will stop the flap from swinging outwards but allow it to swing inwards.
 
i have two 17 yr olds - one has chronic renal failure and has had it for last two yrs - she is on cosequin and fortekor and touch wood has had no issues really since being on those drugs - she has a renal diet but also does eat some normal iams dry food that is down for our other cat - my other cat has bowel cancer and again about 2 yrs ago was diagnosed - she wont eat anything other than iams dry food - never has never will! - So cant have special food. She also recently has been disgnosed with renal failure too - so is also having fortekor - she is skinny hence her food down all the time. But they are both doing well and are happy at moment.
Mine both girls and dont do outside (always been indoor cats) and they dont have a smell sorry.
 
I lost a cat to Renal failure... It was heartbreaking as he was only 5yrs old.
He was treated with Fortecor which helped. But you really need to get him on it to bind and remove the toxins.
I don't agree that your cat is not suffering. We all know what a hangover feels like, but the toxins canalso make them feel sick.
I spent many times trying to tempt my boy with food when he couldn't eat. The lowest point being when he was so hungry but the smell of freshly cooked chicken made him vomit (and yes I know it's got too much protein, but I'd reached the point that something was better than nothing)
He survived on treatment for about 7 months from initial diagnosis, and I called it a day and had him PTS at home whilst he was still quite bright.
He rid have an aroma, but i wouldn't set he strongly smelt of wee.
Please try and get him on the Fortecor, I know this won't be straight forward but it will make him feel better. My vet said tome they do feel pretty written with a toxic build up.
Hope all goes well for you, renal failure is so common in older cats, and it's quite stressful for the owners going through it (well it was for me)
 
16 yrs is a fair age. I'd get another vet opinion and some Ab's to be on the safe side in case of cystitis.
The diet wont make much of a difference at that age and with that damage, if indeed it is renal failure, which incidentally IS painful. As he had any tests?
 
My cat is 18, she has kidney problems so is on Fortekor, she has thyroid problems so is on Falimazole, her back legs are wonky as she has a bit of arthritis but they "have to go" she tears through the cat flap and up the stairs or up and down the garden path and chases shadows. She also needs all her teeth out but vet said she wouldn't stand the op.

HVet is amazed at her and said she must be very very happy living with us, which I know she is. We live in her house and we are bossed and ordered about the whole time. Milly (the cat) eats 3 pouches a day (ordinary Waitrose own) weighs about 6 or 7lbs and quite frankly is unbelievable. She wont eat the "very expensive" perscription food, cant say I blame her as it looks awful.

Good luck with your cat and I hope it goes on well. I found getting Milly of biscuit a good thing, she got cystitis as she got older when eating biscuit.
 
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