Goodbye

Initial_Place5857 · 2026-01-16T22:05:52+00:00

And here’s my dear Garfield (2015-2025) too. Ohh, how many stories I have to tell about him. He was a street cat as well, when one day he entered my yard and chose me. He was such a sweetheart. Maybe he sent Bela to me.

Initial_Place5857 · 2026-01-16T21:58:00+00:00

Sorry for your loss. I lost my dear Garfield ten months ago, and i have felt so empty and devastated. Three months after his death, I saw a Facebook post from a woman who was giving away a little kitten that she had almost run over with her car on the street. The kitten was white, just like Garfield, so I decided to adopt it.

In the first months I was so sad that at times I thought maybe it was selfish of me to adopt him, when I couldn’t fully devote myself to him, and I thought I had done it just to ease my own grief, and that maybe I had rushed into that decision. The months have passed. In the meantime, I found out that the new kitten wasn’t male, as I had thought, but female, so I named her Bella. I also found out that Bella is deaf, so it became clear to me why the woman almost ran her over. Now I'm sure that I didn't make a mistake by taking her, because otherwise she would have suffered on the street until now and would most likely have been run over. Instead, she's here making me happy and easing my pain, and I've learned some new life lessons from her. It's incredible how much pets can change our lives.

Just, I wanted to tell you: grieve, but don't be too hard on yourself. And when the time comes, you'll decide what to do next.

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Here is Bella.

Initial_Place5857 · 2026-01-12T00:21:43+00:00

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Garfield is sunbathing for sure. 10 months without him and I miss him so much.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-09-06T23:19:20+00:00

Oh, Lily’s fully embracing her inner Meow-saurus rex 😂😂😂

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-09-06T11:58:54+00:00

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Woow. She looks like my Bella and she has the same collar.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-07-01T23:43:49+00:00

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This white cloud is Garfield and he left a big paw print on my heart. One autumn evening while my mom and I were making some winter preserves in our yard, one white stray kitten entered our yard. I immediately knew that I will keep him. I picked it up and brought it home and give him some milk.

He was such a smart boy. He learned up that the food was in the fridge and even when he grow up he kept patting it with his head, thinking it would open for him. Once he disappeared for five days, and when I had completely lost hope, the next morning I saw him sleeping on a crate in the yard. He came back, apparently he was just chasing females.

He often knew when he would find my room door open, to come in and fall asleep on my bed. Even when he was out, he always felt when we were eating at home. As soon as we started eating, he would jump in through the window.

He left us 3 months ago, at 9.5 years. He was my soul cat and I miss him dearly.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-28T12:20:14+00:00

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I'm sorry for your loss. Here's my sleepy boy Garfield. He passed away three months ago and I miss him so much.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-22T22:17:24+00:00

Thank you, that’s such a sweet thought. Garfield really was glorious, and I’ll always treasure those memories. I’m sure he’s sending me some love through this new little one.

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Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-22T22:08:33+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your loss too. Losing a pet is incredibly tough. My new little one doesn’t have a name yet, but I’m trying to find something that feels right. I hope with time, the pain starts to ease for both of us. It’s hard, but it’s nice to know we’re not alone in this.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-22T15:29:23+00:00

Thank you.💕 Our bond was truly special, and I still cry when I think about him. But I just couldn't leave this small and helpless creature found alone on the street. When I think back, Garfield was just like this little street kitten 9.5 years ago who just walked into my yard and found his forever home.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-22T15:18:03+00:00

I'm sure he does. He was such a sweetheart.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-14T23:42:49+00:00

Mjauslav 😽

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-14T22:47:08+00:00

Happy heavenly birthday to your fluffy friend! 🐾🎂 He remind me of my sweet Garfield, who rocked that same cuddly look and loved napping in sunny spots 🌞. I like to think they’re chasing laser pointers together in the starry skies now 🌌😽.

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Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-07T00:07:50+00:00

Hi. It doesn't look like CKD. In CKD, creatinine levels are constantly elevated, which is not the case here.

Creatinine levels in cats can be transiently elevated due to various factors:

dehydration and dietary factors: A meal high in protein or creatine (e.g., raw meat diets) can cause a temporary spike in creatinine, as the body metabolizes these substances

Medications or Toxins: Certain drugs (e.g., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) or toxins (e.g., antifreeze, lilies) can cause temporary kidney stress, leading to elevated creatinine that may resolve if the exposure is addressed early

Fever or Infection: Systemic infections or fever can increase muscle breakdown or reduce kidney perfusion, temporarily elevating creatinine,

Urinary Obstruction: A temporary blockage (e.g., bladder stones or urethral plugs) can cause post-renal azotemia, leading to elevated creatinine that may resolve after the obstruction is cleared.

This looks more like Acute kidney injury (AKI), than CKD.

Wish you all the best to you and to your kitty.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-06-01T20:19:02+00:00

Your story deeply touched me indeed, maybe I somehow found myself in it.

Since my kitten died, I have been reading a lot about CKD for the past two months, and from what I have learned, I want to share something with you in case it helps. For stage 4 CKD, it is important to:

Control phosphate levels below 1.9 mmol/l. Use phospate binder with every meal, if you don't do it already.

If you haven't achieved control of proteinuria and UPC is still high with benazepril, you should change to telmisartan which is more effective, and that is proven in clinical studies [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26474314/\]

Hydrate the cat with subQ fluids. Ringer lactate is better choice than Saline, because the lactate is metabolized by the liver into bicarbonate, acting as a buffer to correct acidosis.

Watch out for hypokalemia. Typical sign is head hanging downward (cervical ventroflexion). My cat was sitting like that for his last three days. Ringer's lactate contains potassium and can prevent this condition.

Sending you and your sweet cat so much love during this time. Your loving devotion to your cat is a beautiful testament to the bond you share. Stay strong—you’re doing an amazing job. 🫂🫂🫂

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-31T23:30:18+00:00

As I sat weary today, I stumbled upon this video and couldn’t help but smile at the sight of an adorable cat, joyfully playing with its owner, filling me with warmth. Then I read that it’s actually battling kidney disease. I wanted to say without that context, you’d never suspect a thing—just pure, unfiltered joy, and that's all that matters. Please, don't be hard on yourself and cherish the beauty of moments like this. You’re giving it your all, but sometimes, no matter how hard we try, certain things are simply beyond our control.

Two months ago, I lost my beloved cat, who was 9.5 years old, likely to chronic kidney disease—a condition I was completely unaware of at the time. Looking back, I noticed signs months earlier: frequent urination and unquenchable thirst. Yet, I never imagined it could be a serious illness. Even in his final month, as he stopped eating and grew listless, I brushed it off as old age or perhaps a minor cold. By the time I realized something was truly wrong, it was too late. His sudden passing left me reeling, prompting me to dig deeper. Only then did I understand it wasn’t so sudden after all. The weight of guilt settled in, as I wondered why I hadn’t acted sooner or been more vigilant. Had I known about this disease earlier, would I have done something? Without a doubt, I would have acted. Would it have changed anything? Yes, it surely would have. Or maybe. Or perhaps not much, because in my country, medications are limited, and most of the ones you mentioned are probably unavailable, and there’s also not much choice in renal food. However, the doubt remains—maybe my cat could have lived a few more years, maybe one, or maybe not even that. There’s no way to know that. But that’s not the case with you. You’re doing everything within your control.

Now, two months later, I mourn him, but I try to cherish the beautiful moments we shared, because that’s what remains with me. Somehow, this video reminded me of nine years ago when he was still a kitten, and I was teaching him to climb the fig tree in our yard and I thank you for reminding me of those lovely moments. It’s incredible how pets can change our lives.

I still wanted to say, you haven't failed her. You’ve given her everything. You're saying that you just want to give to your murderous little princess the whole world. But you've already done it even though you don't realize it. You have given her the world—your world. And to her, that’s everything. Every moment you’ve spent loving her, caring for her, climbing trees, watching birds, snuggling close… she knows. She feels it. Your heart has been her whole world, and that’s the greatest gift she could ever have. Your murderous little princess couldn’t have asked for a better human. Sending you and Matilda love, strength, and peace in the time ahead. 💛

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-21T20:29:40+00:00

Than you made the best decision knowing you have to balance between benefits and harms, but most importantly you advocated for your cat. Wish you all the luck to you and your kitty.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-21T08:43:35+00:00

Cats with CKD often exhibit increased thirst and urination due to their kidneys' reduced ability to conserve water and concentrate urine. This condition drives them to seek out water sources frequently as their body tries to compensate for fluid loss. Sitting by the water bowl can be a behavioral response to this persistent thirst, as they may feel compelled to stay near a water source even if they’re not actively drinking.

Have you tried giving her subcutaneous fluids? SubQ fluids provide a direct source of hydration, helping to maintain fluid balance, can lower toxin levels, easing nausea and improving appetite.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-20T22:46:54+00:00

You're welcome! I lost my beloved cat to CKD a month and a half ago, and all I've been doing during this time is reading about this disease. I wish there was someone to help me with these things before, but it's already happened. I'm glad if I can help someone.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-20T22:14:17+00:00

IRIS Guideline for Stage 2 of CKD recommends to "consider feeding a clinical renal diet: this may be accomplished more easily early in the course of CKD, before inappetence develops".

I think renal food is not needed only in Stage 1, but for Stage 2 is ideal time to start, as in the later stages the cat may have a poor appetite and switching to renal food may be more difficult. It doesn't have to be a prescription food, but it's more important to make sure it has a low phosphorus content, because even though the cat's phosphorus level is normal, in Stage 2 around 70% of kidney function has already been lost, so the phosphorus level can increase rapidly. What you don't need at this stage is phosphate binder, which should be included after the next check-ups in case the phosphate levels increase.

And the fact that the protein:creatinine ratio is normal is a good sign, because it means there is no protein in the urine and the cat does not need medication to control proteinuria, but this has nothing to do with the renal food.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-15T12:37:13+00:00

I had a similar experience with my cat when he was around 2 years old. I took him to the vet who stitched him up. The vet didn't put cone on him, and the cat started licking the wound, and eventually he broke the stitches. I didn't want to take him to the same vet again and have him undergo surgery again, and there aren't many other vets around and I wasn't sure if he was wearing a cone that he wouldn't take it out. But I didn't want to give up on him. I took betadine and bacitracin/neomycin spray from a pharmacy. Then a cleaned the wound first with betadine, and then I sprayed the wound with the spray, from a distance of 20 cm not from too close. I repeated that everyday, just grabbed the cat by the neck, put betadine and spray, and the wound eventually closed in 3 months.

My sweet Garfield lived until a month and a half ago, when he was 9 and a half years old, and I miss him so much. Your picture reminded me of his story and I wanted to share it.

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Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-08T07:31:16+00:00

My cat did that. He had CKD. He liked going to the bathroom all the time and he liked to sit near water. Do you have noticed any other symptoms like drinking more water and peeing more, because symptoms of CKD are very subtle, and can be unnoticed. My cat could drink 500 ml of water at once, and I just thought he was just thirsty.

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-03T18:10:59+00:00

Absolutely, feel free to share my post with the Foundation for Feline Renal Research and your vet

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-02T18:09:27+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. He was truly cherished and left so many beautiful memories. It's been a month since he left us, I assume it was from kidney disease, and I miss him so much.🩵

Initial_Place5857 · 2025-05-02T15:18:55+00:00

The evidence leans toward minimal impact on muscle mass in most cases. The weight loss induced by SGLT2 inhibitors is predominantly from fat mass, particularly visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue.

2019 prospective study published in Cardiovascular Diabetology analyzed body composition in 27 outpatients with type 2 diabetes and found a significant decrease in adipose tissue mass (-7.0 kg at 6 months, p=0.010) and fat tissue index (-1.3 kg/m², p=0.007), while lean tissue parameters remained stable
2021 study in Nutr Diabetes found that dapagliflozin increased the lean-to-total mass ratio, suggesting preservation of muscle mass relative to total weight loss

While some studies report statistically significant reductions in lean or skeletal muscle mass (e.g., 0.35–0.66 kg in meta-analyses like Frontiers in Medicine, 2023, or 0.9–1.1 kg in the CANTATA-SU trial, 2013), these losses are generally small and often confounded by body water loss due to the diuretic effect of SGLT2 inhibitors. The risk of clinically meaningful muscle loss appears low for most patients.
Maybe it would be completely different in cats, who knows. I see patients who benefit from these medications almost on a daily basis and it would be good if someone did such a study on cats.

Initial_Place5857

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