If she hates the renal prescription diet, then just feed her what she likes - its far more important that she eats something than holding out in the hope she might it some of the renal diet which has questionable benefits - and in fact there is evidence that these diets are far too low in protein and in some cases can actually cause muscle wastage due to lack of protein.

Cats have a high protein requirement, even those with CRF - most cats with CRF only need to reduce protein/phosphorus in advanced stages of CRF. Her blood tests will show if her phosphorus levels are high - if they arent, there is no need to reduce phos. If they are high, she can still eat whatever she likes, and you can add a phosphorus binder (Renalzin, Ipakitine are a couple of phos binders) which will reduce the overall phos load - ask your vet about phos binders.

Do look at the felinecrf site that a couple of peeps have posted, its one of the best sites around about CRF. I would also recommend getting a copy of the blood test results from your vet and even ask them to go through them with you so you can get a better idea of how advanced the CRF is.

With regard to pilling - would she take the pills disguised with any of the following?: Webbox treats (Sainsurys have these, they are meaty sticks and I just push the pill in and squish the meat around), cheese (any!), wafer thin ham/chicken, cubes of meat (cooked or raw, beef, chicken etc). My Sam has to take Fortekor and he always eats his tabs in the Webbox treats - he just thinks he's getting a treat twice a day LOL!

OH yes, absolutely it is far more important that a crf cat eats something!, also its equally important the they drink to avoid dehydration.when i first gave it to Perry i mixed a little of his normal food in with it as most cat owners are aware cats can be reall picky eatera at the best of times,Perry was prescibed Forekor and he took it well but in his last few days was not as happy about it.

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hey there
thanks for all the help
over the weekend she ate only ham- but lots of it which was encouraging as i just want her to eat
then last night i tried a royal canin renal pouch and she loved it! she also ate some KD dry food which is encouraging!

tonight we will try and give her the tablet
i hope she doesnt get too upset
she is very much herself in all other aspects and is acting the same as always
i hope its just early onset and she isnt too advanced

i will ask the vet for more details
he seemed so vague before tho
saying it was hard to tell and that it looked quite early like an abnormality

thanks for all the help
this forum is wonderful
i wish i had known about it last year when my beloved 14 year old persian cat scampi had cancer

xxxx

I'm very glad to hear she's eating (and proper food!) well done!
Don't worry about giving her the pills, she'll forgive you Just be firm and as quick as you can x good luck!
Just one little thing - it hadn't occured to me when I suggested marmite to coat the pill but as someone pointed out, salty food isn't very good for poorly kidneys so perhaps ham isn't the best thing to continue giving her - but it seems to have stimulated her appetite which is brilliant and woot woot! now she's eating the proper food you should give yourself a pat on the back chick xx

thanks for the tips
i just want her to be ok and last as long as possible pain free etc

shes so pretty! bless her

i will let u know how i get on with the tablet
argh!

royal canin stuff seems good so far! hope she doesnt go off it!

xxx

Attached Images

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tried to give marmite her tablet last night and was a disaster
we just couldnt get it down her no matter how hard we tried
she squirmed and scratched and we were worried we would hurt her etc]]we tried to mash it up but no luck again

really disheartening

and this morning she wouldnt eat her renal food

xx

Oh sorry to hear that, don't worry, try again.
Try with the butter if you like, or just don't bother coating it and follow the instructions my cat has bad kidneys, please help :( here but ignore the picture. swaddle her tight like a baby with a towel and if poss have one person hold her nice and tight while the other opens her mouth and drops the pill down. Close her mouth tight and hold it shut with your fingers and keeping her chin pointing right up in the air stroke right down her gullet repeatedly. maybe offer a little tiny bit of ham straightaway so she doesn't try regurgitating it.

In your sutuation I'd definitely ask the vet if its possible to get the same medicine in paste or syrup form...

So is the renal food wet or dry? it just kind of seems back to front to me to give a cat with kidney probs dry food, whatever research has gone into it! Are there not wet renal foods available? Sorry if I'm being thick and that's what you're feeding x
You'll have to chat to someone who's more clued up about raw food for cats with kidney probs to check this, but I thought that you could cut the phosphorous levels in raw diet by giving less bone and more fat. My kits love it as much as the dog when I come back from the butcher with some yummy bones, and if you ask him he'll give you the fatty ones, I chop them off bits about the size of a small drumstick and they demolish them.

Another thing, perhaps a bit of steamed freshwater fish might tempt her - a small bit of trout or something... smellier and more tempting than some of the goop they are supposed to eat. My kits go mental for a bit of tuna in springwater as well, though again check the salt levels etc with the vet or someone who's well versed in feline crf nutrition before using it as a regular diet.

Best of luck x and yes, your cat is a very pretty lady xxx

Aarg sorry forgot to mention that with one of my old cats who didn't take pills well we used to give her a syringe full of water straight after to help it go down. Have you managed to give her the pill yet? And is she eating? xx

Have you tried any of the methods for pill giving I posted before? (below)

I got my cat from the RSPCA when she was 13 - she had just been diagnosed with kidney disease but, with the right kidney diet food and the occasional blood test to see how she was she died last year aged 19! I think I was very lucky but as far as I know there are 2 types - 1 you can give kidney diet to, the other a pill every day. Either way, it's doable and helps them alot. Her coat shone and she became a different cat after that, it's not a death sentence (depending on how far advanced it is obviously, but she had apparently seemed to have it for several years).

Take the advice of the vet and practice giving them their pill - stroking the throat has always worked for me, also being wrapped in a towel so they don't freak out as much. They will never like it, but they soon start forgiving you for it much faster when they realise it's over much quicker if they don't try to get away.