Hi -- my housecat, who is approximately 14 years old, has lately developed bad breath and is drinking more water than I'm used to seeing, based on both the water level in his bowl when I get home from work and from the size and number of litterbox clumps. He is otherwise apparently healthy and as active as normal. He is eating the same quantity of food (Purina indoor formula, with an occasional wet pouch as a special treat) as usual. He is not an outdoor cat. The last time I could get a good look at his teeth and gums they seemed typical for him -- clean but somewhat yellow with what I'm guessing is plaque. I'm a smoker and smoke inside, but I do keep a huge HEPA filter running or open windows in good weather, so secondhand smoke is a worry. I've read a lot of messages on this forum, and am worried he's experiencing some kind of organ failure, or cancer. He's a bit touchy about being handled so it's not easy for me to check him for lumps. Are there any other things or signs I can look for? At the moment I am ill prepared to handle a big vet bill. It will be a month or two before I have enough spare cash to pay for a vet visit, let alone treatment. (And then I have to convince him to get cozy with his old cat carrier...) Thanks in advance for any advice.https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7686#msg-7686Thu, 25 Jun 2026 05:41:13 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,27602#msg-27602 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,27602#msg-27602 Willie Ask The VetFri, 19 Feb 2016 02:15:53 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,14080#msg-14080 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,14080#msg-14080
Dio not feel bad about feeding your cat a commercial diet especially prepared for cats with renal failure - it will have all the necessary ingredients which obligate carnivores require.

W]]> Walter Beswick Ask The VetTue, 11 Aug 2009 07:56:32 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,14073#msg-14073 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,14073#msg-14073
I just thought I'd weigh in to say that my cat experienced the same thing at age 14. Shortly after turning 14, he got a blood test revealing that he was in the early stages of kidney failure.

My vet started him on a diet of "Iams Renal Stages" and also a little blood pressure pill each night.

As of March 09, my cat's "numbers" were the same as they had been at the time of the earlier bloodtest (March 08).

He continues to lose weight, but all I can do is continue to have him checked, at least twice a year, and give him this diet and pills.

I feel badly as cats are apparently extreme carnivores and this "Iams Renal Stages" is apparently a vegetarian meal! I feel guilty for putting him on a diet that may lessen his quality of life.....all the same, I know I might not still have him today had I not gotten him on this program.

Best of luck ---

rb]]> rb Ask The VetTue, 11 Aug 2009 02:20:15 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,10139#msg-10139 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,10139#msg-10139
Euthanaia is a perfectly acceptable form of treatment in cases like this, and there is no question about your feeling guilty about it. It is far preferable to leaving it until your cat dies from his illness, suffering and in considerable distress.

W]]> Walter Beswick Ask The VetFri, 03 Oct 2008 09:42:38 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,10093#msg-10093 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,10093#msg-10093
Lately my cat, who is still well hydrated thanks to twice-daily fresh water (which I know he loves), twice-daily wet food, and twice-daily litterbox cleaning, has taken to urinating in my clothes hamper, and urinating / defecating on my bed.

I have become extremely frustrated with this behavior and don't know what to do about it.

I love my cat very much, but I cannot continue to discard clothing, bedclothes, mattresses and accepting damage to my condo floors with his behavior, despite keeping his litterbox cleaner than ever before.

Does anyone have suggestions? It is getting quite frustrating. I know he is well hydrated and spend time with him every day to keep him entertained and happy, yet he is taking over my life and my wallet. I've been finding myself wishing he would pass on so I can be done with this but that is a horribly cruel thing to wish. I don't know what to do.

Thanks for any suggestions.]]> davids Ask The VetThu, 25 Sep 2008 03:55:07 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,9419#msg-9419 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,9419#msg-9419 Tammy B. Ask The VetTue, 29 Jul 2008 14:35:26 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7796#msg-7796 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7796#msg-7796
For those who have found this thread and want more information about CRF, just type "Feline CRF" into Google and you will get lots of links to websites stuffed with information. The two I found most helpful were www.felinecrf.org and www.felinecrf.com -- apparently unrelated entities but both chock full of information.

Meantime I'm keeping Jasper's purr engine running for longer periods of time, and more often ;)

David]]> davids Ask The VetSun, 03 Feb 2008 22:51:10 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7754#msg-7754 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7754#msg-7754
Best of luck with kitten.]]> Susan Ask The VetThu, 31 Jan 2008 14:39:34 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7747#msg-7747 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7747#msg-7747
Thank you for that. I hope your cat has a reasonable quality of life for a little longer.

W]]> Walter Beswick Ask The VetThu, 31 Jan 2008 13:00:04 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7721#msg-7721 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7721#msg-7721
I secured money for a vet checkup. The vet confirmed your diagnosis. Specific gravity of his urine was low, and various measurements from his blood and urine were higher than normal, all confirming CRF.

I appreciate the heads' up you gave me. We're going to start some medications and a change in diet to attempt to keep him hydrated and ensure he remains at least comfortable while the disease progresses. We've chosen not to prolong his life, but rather let nature take its' course, but to at least make him more comfortable while it happens.

The service you are providing online has proven beneficial. We caught this in the early stages (although 70% or more of his kidney functions are clearly lost else the symptoms would not have shown up). I appreciate the "heads' up" that you were able to give me.

Best wishes,
David]]> davids Ask The VetMon, 28 Jan 2008 23:53:12 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7703#msg-7703 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7703#msg-7703
I think that is your best course of action. Please let me know how you get on.

W]]> Walter Beswick Ask The VetSat, 26 Jan 2008 12:33:42 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7697#msg-7697 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7697#msg-7697 davids Ask The VetFri, 25 Jan 2008 19:08:25 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7690#msg-7690 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7690#msg-7690
Your cat almost certainly has renal failure - the commonest cause of chronic illness and death in older cats.
There is little you can do for him. Antibiotics ( I am not sure why, and theoretically should not be used) do, in my experience, help in the short term in these cases.

W]]> Walter Beswick Ask The VetFri, 25 Jan 2008 09:16:20 +0000 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7686#msg-7686 https://www.vetclickforum.co.uk/read.php?7,7686,7686#msg-7686
I've read a lot of messages on this forum, and am worried he's experiencing some kind of organ failure, or cancer. He's a bit touchy about being handled so it's not easy for me to check him for lumps.

Are there any other things or signs I can look for? At the moment I am ill prepared to handle a big vet bill. It will be a month or two before I have enough spare cash to pay for a vet visit, let alone treatment. (And then I have to convince him to get cozy with his old cat carrier...)

Thanks in advance for any advice.]]> davids Ask The VetFri, 25 Jan 2008 02:05:29 +0000