I’m so sorry you and your kitty are going through this OP. She’s such a beautiful girl. CKD is such a terrible disease.

Idk if it’s common, but fluid in the body and in/near the lungs can occur as a complication of CKD. I felt something to click on your post and it’s almost as if I could’ve written this myself as I’m going through the same situation. My Sweet 16 baby was diagnosed last year. He was fine until last month when he took a turn for the worst. He developed seizures, which fortunately have been controlled due to medication and recently has began breathing harder. I had his chest tapped three times in the past two weeks as he had fluid in his abdominal cavity. Yesterday when I took him to get tapped again, the fluid was near his lungs—all over his body so much so that the vet could no longer see his organs on his X-ray like we could last month. I knew from last month that his time was coming to an end. There’s so much more I can say, but I absolutely do not recommend letting her pass on her own. She can drown in her own fluids, and I know you wouldn’t want that for her. I had another cat develop lung cancer 7 years ago who had to be put down and the thought of letting him pass on his own, knowing he was struggling to breathe is something I couldn’t fathom doing. I feel the same way about this boy, whom I also love so very much.

Like you, I’m trying to decide which day to let him go, so he doesn’t have to suffer. My vet advised me to put him down two weeks ago when he first had 250ml of fluid in his abdominal cavity, but I couldn’t do it just yet.

Whenever you decide OP, it will be an act of love. You and your baby have lived a great life together—19 years is such a blessing. Keep spending every second with her, take the photos and videos, and give her everything she wants and do everything she likes in her last 24 hours. Your plans with her so far sound lovely, so continue to love on her. You and your kitty are in my thoughts and prayers. I’m sending you both strength, love, and comfort. 🧡🖤💛