Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Christina on February 08, 2008, 12:12:30 PM
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hi everyone.
Feeling really low at the moment. my brothers rescue cat, dear old arthur, was rushed to the vets lastnight. turns out he has kidney failure.The vet offered to put him down, but we refused, as he said arthur would not be in pain, and if he pulled through, he may have a few months left, but not much longer. we are waiting on news to see how he is at the moment.
Arthur came to us in october after i moved out my parents house and took our kitten with me. we also have 10 year old male mo. my brother was desparate for another cat, when he came across arthur at the local rescue. arthur has been terribly mistreated, he only has one eye, no teeth, his ears are ripped, his fur was matted, and he cant walk properly as his legs were broken and left to reset wrongly. well, we fell in love with him. we werre told hed been at the center for years as nobody would even give hima second look. i must admit he was a right old sight, but we see through that. anyway, turns out he is the most kind, loving friendly sole you would ever meet. all he wanted was lots of fuss. hed follow you round everywhere. just a real pleasure to have a round.ive never known a cat as lovely as him (no offence to my other two cats!!) i used to love going back home to see him.
weve only had him afew months, and i feel so sad, as he was just starting his new happy life, and now it will be taken away from him.it just seams so unfair that this poor mog has had such an awfull life, and finally he gets a fab life and this happens. When the rspca came to visit him after we had him five weeks they said they couldnt believe how well he looked and how happy he looked.
im sorry for chatting on, but i just feel i needed to talk to someone about this. i cant stop crying for him. its just so unfair. does anybody know how long he may have left if he gets strong enough to come home again? thanks for listening.
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Oh hunnie major hugs I am so sorry you are going through this and that Arthur is too, it is so heartbreaking for us all when our furbabies get ill. DOn't quite know what to say just wanted to give you a hug :hug: You talk away as much as you need hunnie x
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I think it depends on the seriousness of the kidney failure, there may be drugs to control it but if it's gone too far I would listen to the vet :( I know it's hard but you have to do whats best for the cat.
Anyway dont give up without a fight and keep strong for Arthur, hoping he can get better and have a few more months/ years.
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I was so sad to read about Arthur. I have no advice to give you but hope that he pulls through and has some more happy loving time with his new family. My thoughts are with you :hug: :hug:
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hi, thanks for your thoughts, its not looking good im afraid. the vet just phoned my brother, and arthur hasnt responded to treatment. the vet has said there is another more expensive drug they can try. we are going with that, as my brother has said he would rather spend a few more months with arthur if he can get better, rather then him never leaving the vet again and dying there. We will get a call this afternoon to let us know what has happened. if the second drugs have not worked then there is no more hope and we will haev to put him down today. if this is the case i dont think i will get to see him again as i couldnt be there when he is pts. my brother will be with him.
ive never had to gpo through this before, as the first cat i had when i was younger is still alive!
i know that even if he does respond, he still doesnt have long left, but at least it will give us a chance to say goodbye properly and come to terms with it, and give him lots and lots of love and fuss. not that he didnt get that anyway! thanks again.
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Sending you tons of positive energies hun x
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I so hope he responds to the drug. I know how you are feeling, truly I do and it isn't nice. Please keep us updated
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Hi Christina. I'm going to offer a little advice based on my experience. It may be as upsetting to read as it is heartwrenching to write but I have told people this story before and it may offer you some comfort in a strange way.
I hate kidney failure so much as it took one of my best feline-friends away from me. Before I start rambling, I must point out that I have helped many CRF cats to live long and happy lives. They can live for years if it's managed properly. Read on if you want to and I sincerely apologise in advance if I say anything to upset you.
My little angel cat, Hope was diagnosed with CRF in 2006. The vets were really encouraging and positive and I did all they advised. I gave her a special diet, Fortekor tablets and all the cuddles in the world. She didn't want to eat and got really upset at taking her meds. She was so sad but I kept trying. She didn't respond and I was on the phone or at the vets all the time. She kept on going for about four months.
Then there was that one evening. She had been even more sad in the morning. She kept coughing and falling over. I rushed home from work and cuddled her. We fell asleep together for about an hour and I felt that she was telling me she wanted to go. That night I resolved to take her to the vets in the morning. Sadly, she went to sleep in the night.
I'm telling you this because I firmly believe with CRF that a sufferer will tell you how they feel in their own way. If you're close enough to Arthur, he will let you know what's best for him. If you feel he is fighting, let him fight and help him all you can but I think if you feel him letting go, be there for him, tell him how much you love him every night he's still there and don't feel guilt when he goes to play on the bridge.
You feel every emotion in the book with CRF. You feel intense love, anger frustration and sometimes people even blame the cat. These are all normal feelings and you're not alone. I wish I had known about Purrs when I went through it, I felt like there was no-one there and the vets were annoyed with me (in hindsight they weren't).
One piece of advice I was given was to keep a diary. Take pictures, note down appetite and general mood. It's very methodical but in the long-term may prove comforting. If you feel Arthur is letting go, you can look back and see how happy he was compared to now.
The saddest thing is letting nature take its course. The end of kidney failure is a very sad one. I won't go into detail, I'm already in tears but it's much kinder with a little help from the vet.
Like I said at the start, this is so difficult for me to type and probably you to read but there are people on here who've been through it and are going through it and you can call upon us anytime for advice and support.
Take care and I'll keep Arthur in my prayers :hug:
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thanks for that. its comforting to know your not alone when you talk to people like on here. were all praying he will pull through. its the circumstances of his life that are even more upsetting for us. he is more my brothers cat then mine, but i love him just as much, and go see him all the time. whenever i go home, arthur always comes to sleep with me on my bed. infact last sataday i stayed there the night after going out with friends and he was by my side all nite purring away in bed. that is the way i want to remember him if he has to go today.
i cant help feeling slightly annoyed, as he had a vet check up when we got him afew months ago, and the looking back the vet missed all the signs of kidney failure. arthur was sick a lot, had bad breath, a dull coat and afew other symptoms of early signs of the illness, but nothing was said so just thought he was ok. now it was only when he practicaly collpased that we knew he was ill and rushed him to vet that we found this out. cant help thinking if this was pickedup afew months ago, he might have got the treatment he needed and not be so ill now. but i suppose feeling like that will njot help arthur now.
i will let you know what happens later. hopefully it will be good news. (arthur is the black cat on my picture for my posts here on the forum bless him)
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:hug: Christina and :hug: Corporal Smokey
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Same thing happened here hun. Hope was constipated for 2 years and had other somewhat trivial symptoms that should've been obvious to someone in the know. I only found out because I moved house and took both of my cats to the new vet to get them registered and MOTd.
The new vet looked at my little Hope and said "Sorry Miss Harris, I think this cat may be suffering with renal failure". By this time I had done enough research to suspect that myself so it was no shock but it made me so angry that a vet can take one look at a cat and know but another can't tell after two years of her being a patient >:( . I firmly believe that with an earlier diagnosis, she may have still been here today.
But here's a cruel irony. If she hadn't gone to the bridge I wouldn't have met cpl Smokey, wouldn't be doing what I do in rescue and wouldn't know what I know about CRF. I have had two cats in the shelter diagnosed with it since because I spotted the signs early. They are both living as normal cats and you wouldn't know they were sick. I lost a special friend but I believe it has helped me to save two lives and help many more cats.
:hug: Christina and :hug: Corporal Smokey
Thanks Nikki! :hug:
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Sending hopes and Prayers over to Arthur :hug:
Its terrible the diagnosis wasn't made sooner, and Amy, I'm sorry you had to go through the same experience :hug: At least you know the signs now hun, I definintely think that for every bad thing that happens, good things also so happen, and you are now helping other furries by knowing the symptoms.
Its only through being on here that I've learnt to do bloods etc on cats of a certain age, and its only by doing Max's last week that I've found out (hopefully early enough) about his early CRF to hopefully manage it for a while.
Keep us posted Christina, and really do pray that Arthur responds to the other treatment :hug:
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Oh Christina, I really feel for you. It's so unfair isn't it but at least you have given Arthur lots of love and purrs. I'm hoping and praying for some good news for you both and send you a big hug.
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Sending lots of good wishes and I am sure the right choice will be made for Arthur :hug: :hug:
You are among so many friends here and we all know what you and your brother are going through. Arthur has known love , warmth and care for such a short time but he will always been so happy he met you both and his pawprint will be in your hearts for ever.
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I and all the rest of us are sending thoughts for Arthur. I have also had to deal with the consequences of misdiagnoses - and missed diagnoses. I just hope and pray he will find his way to overcome this. He deserves better!
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hi, thanks for your thoughts, its not looking good im afraid. the vet just phoned my brother, and arthur hasnt responded to treatment. the vet has said there is another more expensive drug they can try.
Not sure what the drug is you are referring to, maybe Fortekor? although I wouldnt say that was excessively expensive, but whatever it is I hope it will help. Have you had a look at the felinecrf website? it may help, it certainly helped me when my Suzie had kidney failure, and I was actually able to give her fluids myself at home, which, whilst not a cure, really made Suz feel better - you could see the difference in her after fluids, http://felinecrf.org/ . My Suz was a very good patient and didnt mind (too much!) me giving her the fluids under her skin, and my vet was very good about showing me how to do it properly before I did it myself at home.
My Jasper also has kidney failure, and he's on Fortekor and seems to be stable at the moment.
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Just to let you know I am thinking about you all especially the lovely Arthur :hug:
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Oh, poor Arthur... all my best wishes and positive vibes being pumped out in your/Arthurs direction!! :hug: :hug:
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Oh, i am so sorry Christina. I do pray that some thing can be done for Arthur . Poor little guy :( I feel for you and Arthur :hug: :hug:
But remember Arthur got the chance to get a home of his own and love and care. :hug:
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Sending positive vibes for Arthur and yourself~~~~~~~~~ :hug: :hug: :hug:
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Sending lots of vibes for Arthur. I don't know a lot about CRF but I did look at the felinecrf site that Gillian mentioned when I found out that Jaffa's kidney function wasn't brilliant (he's high end of normal) and it is an excellent site. A lot to take in but well worth the time trying to absorb it. I get the impression that CRF is very variable and some cats can improve and go on to live for quite a long time, while for others it doesn't work out so well. I also think that lots of vets are unnecessarily pessimistic upon a diagnosis of CRF. Lots of hugs and get well vibes from me and the boys.
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Any news on Arthur?
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arthur didnt make it. cant really describe how im feeling. my dad has just rung to say the vets have rung and he has taken a turn for the worse. my dad and bro are on their way now to have him pts. i just cant believ it. my bro is in bits. he really loved arthur. we all did. i didnt want to go. im sitting here in bits crying my eyes out as it is. im in state to go. at least he will have the people there that loved him. im so happy and sad at the same time, sad for poor arthur, but happy that we gave him the best gift ever in his last few months, a family and a home to call his own. its so cruel he has been taken fro us. he suffered so much, and was so happy. RIP arthur, you were the kindest, best most gentle soul i ever knew. love you loadsXXXXXXXXX
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So sorry to hear about Arthur :hug:
:RIP: Arthur Nit Nite xx
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:RIP: Dear Arthur. :'(
So sorry Christina. :hug: :hug:
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oh i am so sorry to hear this, RIP Arthur you were much loved, God Bless.
:hug: to you and your family Christina.
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Very sorry to hear about Arthur. Thinking about you all :hug:
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So sorry. :hug:
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Awwww I really am so sorry hun x
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thanks for all the words of suport. it really means a lot. im just glad we were able to give this wonderfull cat a fab last few months. we will always remember him.
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Christina I'm so sorry to hear about Arthur please pass on my sincere condolences to your brother and family.
RIP Arthur ... play hard at the bridge little man.xxxx
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So Sorry :'(
RIP Arthur xxx
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so very sorry :hug: :hug:
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I am so sorry there wasn't a happy ending to this, but he was well loved and that is important. RIP little one.
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I'm so sorry and send you big hugs and to your poor brother too. At least Arthur knew love and kindness in his last months. RIP little Arthur.
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I am so sorry Christina. Arthur has left pawprints on your heart forever but be glad that he had you in his final days and that you all cared so much about him that you relieved him of his pain and took it for yourselves. RIP Arthur your family will miss you lots :hug: :hug:
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I am so sorry to here the sad news about wonderful Arthur :hug:
RIP Arthur, you were loved so much
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I'm so sorry :hug:
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What a sad story it has me in tears at least as the others have said he had plenty of love and affection in his final days.
R.I.P Arthur
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:hug: So sorry Christina, take care of yourself and your bro. Arthur will be happier of the bridge now with mended legs and ears and kidneys!
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Really sorry to hear about Arthur Christina, :hug:
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SO sorry to hear about Arthur, RIP little one! :hug: