Kidney problem in cat...

My cat is about 6 years old now.

About 2 days ago he started vomiting yellow bile. We thought maybe it was just something he had eaten but he continued to do it for about 2 more days, and he didn't eat his food.

We took him to the vet and he checked him out, then we took him home. About an hour ago I got a phonecall saying that he had a kidney problem. Either a kidney failure or a kidney infection.

I have to give him antibiotics through water, and I have to get a urine sample in.

He won't drink. He won't eat, and I don't have a clue how I am supposed to get a urine sample. I'm frightened for his health, I have no idea what I'd do without him.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

First the urine sample, if you can get a small clean container then when he goes to the litter box place it under him if you can while hes peeing and you should get some, if that isnt possible your vet should be able to get a sample easy enough unless hes difficult to handle.
Does your vet know about him not eating or drinking for a few days? How dehydrated is he? Have you tried things like tuna fish, chicken or turkey baby food slightly warmed up will sometimes encourage them to eat, also you should be able to get a large syringe (about a 20cc) from a pet store or feed store and try syringe feeding and drinking.
I really think you should keep up with your vet on this, if its a kidney infection it should be manageable but if its kidney failure its a whole different ball game, there are special diets they can go on and with the right care many cats live for a long time after being diagnosed. We treated one cat on an outpatient basis for over 5 years, the owner was able to do a lot of the treatments at home when he needed them and the cat did really well, he was about 15 when he passed away.
That said you need to find out for sure what it is.
Take care.

 

I wonder if your cat might need to spend some time at the vet getting fluids to build him back up. You can also be taught how to do this at home.

I had a cat survive for 8 years with renal failure. She would have her spells but months would go by and she'd be fine. She did have to eat only Prescription CD food as anything else made her ill ill ill - anything containing protein would nearly kill her as her kidneys could no longer process the excess proteins in cat foods.

Tami survived quite nicely on the CD food w/no episodes of illness at all UNLESS she ate something else.

Now and then she'd go through spells where she would poop black tar like stuff and throw up a lot and she'd have to spend the day at the vets receiving fluids and she'd be fine for months at a time.

 

:m23: and welcome. I'm sorry about your kitty. Rene is in almost the same boat. She's been puking up yellow stuff or pink/brown stuff, blood I believe for a few days. When she first had the attack in Jan. The vet gave her subcutaneous fluids and gave her a prednisone shot for anti-inflammation. They believe she had gastroenteritis. She's been doing the same this week. I'm still waiting for a call back from the vet this morning. I hope your vet can give you a more definitive answer and prescribe the appropriate course of treatment.

http://www.scratching-post.net/the-litter-box/

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

Thanks everyone for your help. It seemed like an acute problem - it happened just 2 days ago, but I think it was chronic as he died last night sleeping next to me.

I just sometimes wish I could of done something. I had him for 6 years, and I'm sure you guys know how much it hurts to lose an animal.

It is the most common killer of domestic cats, Kidney failure.

I just know that he died peacfully, and that can give some ease to my mind.

 

I'm so sorry. *HUGS* :cry: My Pooky died of kidney failure as well many years ago. There's nothing either one of us could've done to prevent it. At least they are not suffering now.

 

I'm so sorry for your loss. :cry:

 

Thank you guys =)

I think it was best anyway. He died of a heart attack in his sleep, I realise now, but the heart attack was caused from the kidney failure.
He's not a skinny cat so I guess that was the main cause.

Its a lot better than him living another year of suffering, so I guess its for the best.