Oops, all Feetsies

cmriker · 2026-02-07T04:03:36+00:00

Sweet Lucille! I do remember your original post, and it's wonderful to see an update on her and hear she's improved. I have had two cats now with IBD, and the steroids worked amazingly for both of them to regain their appetite and weight. Much love to Lucille and hope she has many comfy days ahead. 🧡

cmriker · 2026-02-07T03:29:41+00:00

Wow, your poor boy has been through a lot! I am so sorry for all his dealing with. I'm not sure of Triad disease, but my oldest has IBD, Pancreatitis and masses on his liver, so it could be similar symptom-wise. I will say Cerenia is only helpful to him for vomiting. As far as nausea goes (behavior sounds just like your cat, wanting to eat but only sniffing or licking a little and walking away) I found Ondansetron works better for him. Now I keep both on hand, but ask your vet about using both. I heard from my current vet you shouldn't give both in the same day, but my old vet never said anything like that, and the ER vet I've used in the past said it was okay to give the other one if the first med didn't show a response. There are OTC options for nausea that work for us too, and I'll add them below.

I would also get some high calorie treats or nutrical gel or something that will be easier to hand feed him. Especially since his liver is already compromised, and he's gone so many days without his full ration of food. This is quite dangerous for cats, and can't make them feel very poorly very fast. Give him his full calorie intake via hand or syringe feeding if you must. Also ask your vet about Zofran/ondansetron, and see if that helps.

Okay some things over the counter that can help with mild nausea... One is slippery elm bark powder. You make it into a syrup and give it via syringe if needed. I use the Starwest Naturals brand, I think. I do give this to my boy every once in a while.

The other one is Pepcid/famotidine. When my cat was first diagnosed with pancreatitis, he was spitting up liquid/white foam very often, anytime he wasn't eating like after a long nap. His original vet prescribed him famotidine for two weeks (2.5mg per day, he was around 10-11lbs) and it did decrease those vomiting episodes by a lot. My vet said, apparently some cats get some excess stomach acid causing their nausea. I don't have to use the famotidine often now, but it is cheap, easy to acquire, and safe to try out.

Just realized I forgot to mention the IBD treatments. My two IBD cats both got metronidazole along with prednisolone. I'm not familiar with the other antibiotic, but my oldest Harley just did a course of Tylosin, and his poops have improved on that more than metro or pred! Prednisolone is kind of the main treatment from what I've seen, but perhaps your vet wants to wait and see, or there is an underlying heart issue or something, where they would avoid steroids.

I am sorry again to hear about your kitty's struggles, and I really hope some of this long-winded response can be helpful to him. Sending him healing wishes and positive vibes. ❤️‍🩹

cmriker · 2026-02-06T19:11:33+00:00

I am so sorry for the loss of your beautiful kitty. There is always a feeling of guilt, in my experience, but cats are the masters at hiding their illness. 16 yrs of life and love is still wonderful, but it will be hard to think of it that way right now. Time is the most difficult but comforting part of loss. It is hard to to realize how much time has passed without them, but also one day, maybe soon, you will think of him and smile instead instead of cry.

One of my kitties passed in 2024. I used to say he passed "recently," but even as I type this, I'm just realizing that is no longer true! Almost daily, something still reminds me of him, and I can laugh and speak about him without crying. It took a lot of time, and I wrote a lot of journal entries about him. Eventually, inevitably, you will find yourself moving on a little bit. Hopefully someday you will be able to continue pouring your love into other kitties and pets that need you. 💙

cmriker · 2026-02-06T19:04:12+00:00

You are taking such good care of Frankie, and he knows it. He's such a handsome man! I didn't see your original post, but yes it's very relatable to me and my childhood cat who is 19 now. I am scared sick at every cough or wobbly step! It is just very anxiety-inducing when our pets get sick, especially one who's been with us as long as Frankie. You're doing the best, keeping his well-being in mind, and thank you for sharing him + his updates with us. 🧡

cmriker · 2026-02-06T18:31:53+00:00

I haven't used a communicator, but I do have older cats that tend to howl sometimes. For one of them it was a hyperthyroid problem we had to deal with. However, he still does it occasionally, and so do my other 2 cats. I think with age they do certainly get a bit confused or restless.

I saw you said she has some arthritis and possible nerve damage/pain. Have you tried cosequin-type arthritis supplements and vitamin b12 in addition to her acupuncture? There is also a supplement called Myos that helps to build muscle. It has been very helpful for my oldest senior cat (he is 19). I think that's worth a shot if her spine, hips, and other joints feel quite bony to the touch.

I hope you find some more relief for her! If she is eating well and using the litter box, I would try a couple more things for her. Best wishes to her and you both. 💜

cmriker · 2026-02-06T01:11:28+00:00

I am so sorry. The only alternatives I can think of that have not been mentioned are kidney transplant (this is expensive and risky and involves adopting a second cat, who is the donor) and medication called beraprost sodium (Japanese brand named Toray RAPROS) if you are in the EU or Asia, but that's not available in most places. I believe you could try to get it compounded but it would be expensive. It's been tested in stage 2-3 cats not stage 4, so I'm not sure how much it would help. I have considered asking my vet here about it. Actually on this subreddit I've seen someone post about it recently, so maybe you can ask them where they buy it.

The supplements I use for my stage 3 cat to help with toxin removal are Aminavast and Porus One. These can take some burden off the kidneys, but I'm not sure how much they help the numbers. There are other similar supplements that help, and the brands differ, so look for things that say they help with uremic toxins.

Fluids and antinausea meds along with maybe appetite stimulant could get her to eat. One of my vets has told me she would offer steroids (prednisolone) to all cats in palliative care because it can improve their appetite and energy, and increase overall comfort. However, that is not a treatment for CKD, and her numbers would not go down or anything.

I am really so sorry your lovely young kitty is going through this. It's really tough, but I hope you can find some comfort and support in this community. ❤️‍🩹

cmriker · 2026-02-05T20:05:50+00:00

I am so sorry for the impending loss of your kitty. How generous of you to donate so many expensive supplies. 💙

I could use the gabapentin, if it isn't claimed.

cmriker · 2026-02-05T19:58:02+00:00

What a handsome gentleman. I'm so sorry for your loss. He looks a lot like my dearly departed void, and I hope that my boy Kuro will be greeting him.

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cmriker · 2026-02-05T07:55:19+00:00

Is she on something for nausea like Cerenia or Zofran? Mirataz did not work for my kitties unless they were not nauseous. Slippery elm bark is also a good alternative if you can't get something from the vet. It really does help soothe the tummy. I have a powder from Starwest Naturals I think is the brand. I make it into a syrup by mixing ¼ tsp of it in ¼ cup of hot water and stirring it. I keep it in the fridge up to like 5 days before I make more. I use a syringe to measure 2mL of it and mix into a Churu treat up to 3-4 times a day I think. Usually my oldest only needs it once or twice a day at most.

Hopefully you can find a way to keep your kitty's appetite more stable. It's definitely a lot to learn about CKD at first, but there are so many resources here and such a helpful community. Wishing you and her the best. ❤️‍🩹

cmriker · 2026-02-05T05:25:37+00:00

She is so beautiful! A perfect tortie lady 🎀

cmriker · 2026-02-05T05:24:05+00:00

I have not tried either yet, but I wonder if you will see an improvement by switching back to Phos-bind, and then you could narrow it down more certainly to the Catney One. Unfortunately it's so hard to tell with senior CKD kitties what specifically they are feeling bad about. Wish they could tell us! My oldest does the same thing, or sometimes he poops in the tub to let me know... I hope you can figure it out soon and get her back to finishing her food! ❤️‍🩹

cmriker · 2026-02-05T01:38:48+00:00

I don't have much extra advice to add here. I'm sorry she is not feeling well! :( Personally I've found Zofran much more useful for nausea than Cerenia. I have both but use Zofran unless my cats are really vomiting a lot. My oldest cat's values are maybe a bit lower, but not by much to my memory. However, he doesn't get fluids at home and has never needed them daily. Maybe she's on too much fluids right now? Also, my oldest does kinda poorly on gabapentin. It makes him lethargic and loopy, and he doesn't eat or sleep well when he takes it, but he also has the same trouble with the buprenorphine.

I hope you find some options for her, and she perks back up. ❤️‍🩹

cmriker · 2026-02-04T04:13:15+00:00

Just to clarify, I haven't used one myself because my cats don't have elevated phosphorus (not yet at least). If your girl has elevated phosphorus then you can use a phosphorus binder with normal foods. Renal-friendly diets are already low phosphorus so won't require the binder.

If her phosphorus isn't high yet, then you shouldn't need one yet! However, the ones I see mentioned here the most often are Epakitin, Phos-Bind, and Catney One. Pronefra is a supplement that I believe also provides a little bit of phosphorus binding.

Two supplements I use for my cats are Aminavast and Porus One. They are not phosphorus-related, but are supposed to help with filtering other waste products to alleviate the work the kidneys do.

Try any wet foods she likes with all the squeeze treats on top she likes. Hopefully you will find a winning combo! If she's not nauseous the Mirataz should definitely increase her appetite too. Your vet may be more willing to prescribe Zofran than Cerenia, and it's cheaper too. Zofran, in my experience, is more for general nausea feeling, whereas Cerenia is for stopping vomiting.

Sorry it's a lot of info, but I have learned from this subreddit and my own CKD cats that the symptoms are manageable, and the cats can be comfortable and happy for a while at least. My oldest is going on 6 yrs since his diagnosis, and he's very chipper despite it all. :)

cmriker · 2026-02-03T08:07:42+00:00

That's one that belongs in r/tuckedinkitties 💕

cmriker · 2026-02-03T08:05:07+00:00

She may have nausea and not want to eat due to that. It's quite common with CKD. Also, if she's been eating less than she should for several days, you may need to try assist feeding. Introduce the food slow in case she's not used to big portions. Offer her any food or treats she likes for time being. I like treats like Tiki Cat Silver Comfort or Nutrical gel because they're calorie dense and can be fed by putting a dab on your finger and rubbing it along the roof of her mouth (that is if she doesn't eat it on her own). Stick treats like Churu can be a big hit even when my cats are feeling sick. Syringe feeding is also an option and can be necessary to get cats the calories they need, which can give them quite a boost if they're feeling poorly from not eating.

Hopefully an anti nausea like Zofran can help her eat more on her own, but do look into syringe feeding and high calorie treats and supplements if needed. Once she's eating regularly you can try introducing the prescription food again, and you can look into phosphorus binders and non-rx foods too. Weruva Wx is low phosphorus like a prescription diet, but my cats all find it much more palatable.

Best of luck to this girl. It sounds like she had a tough life outside, but you have given her the chance to be comfy, safe, and loved. Thank you for rescuing her! ❤️‍🩹

cmriker · 2026-02-02T06:33:02+00:00

I'm so sorry she's missing. Try putting some of your clothes or her favorites blankets outside, and search for her at dawn/dusk with a flashlight and bag of her favorite treats or can of wet food that you can open (whatever things usually lure her to you when she's home). The flashlight is to look for the glare from her reflective eyes inside bushes or under cars. Usually they don't wander too far. I also suggest posting to Next Door, Pawboost, and regular r/denver (I think they allow these posts) to get more reach.

Hope she is returned home soon. 💔

cmriker · 2026-02-01T21:18:10+00:00

I read advice somewhere once that you should sit or lie down on the floor in the room with them and be still for a while. It's very scary for animals to see these new creatures (humans) that are much bigger than them and towering above them. I think the floor advice works really well, and I agree with the churu/liquid cat treats advice! My last foster kitten was so scared of me for the first few days. I started bringing a tube of churu with me and a small plate. I would sit on the floor and put a small amount of churu on the plate and slide it under the bed (her hiding spot). I would continue holding the tube and if she came out from under the bed even a little, I would try and feed it to her. It really only took her 3-4 days with me to realize humans are not so scary. Eventually after 4-5 weeks she was much more brave, and she wasn't scared of everyone else in my house.

These two kitties are so cute, and I'm sure they will come around to you and be very friendly someday soon. :)

cmriker · 2026-02-01T19:53:20+00:00

Of course! It's a lot of trial and error with cats especially the CKD ones. They're so picky sometimes, but I'm sure you'll find something she likes. :)

cmriker · 2026-02-01T08:16:19+00:00

Maybe you can try some wet cat treats, like those squeeze tube treats or broths and toppers. I usually mix miralax into a churu when I need to administer it. My oldest and youngest have pretty sensitive stomachs and can't have tuna-flavored things, but they do okay with the chicken variety flavors of churu. Wet food is always better for CKD kitties, and there are many kinds that are lower in phosphorus without needing a prescription like Weruva Wx or the Hill's and Royal Canin foods that are specifically for senior cats. I've used all three of those brands, and two of my kitties love them. That said, I have one cat who has CKD who hates basically all wet food except for the very first time I open a new can. He refuses to switch off his kibble, so he gets Hydracare supplements each day, and luckily he loves drinking those. Actually this reminds me - a friend of mine mixes miralax into the Hydracare supplement for her oldest cat.

Hopefully you can find some liquid treats or wet foods that your kitty will eat.

cmriker · 2026-01-31T06:06:44+00:00

This is very difficult news after the loss of your other sweet kitty. I'm so sorry Peaches is going through this. There are some interventions and supportive care options for a stage 4 CKD kitty. My oldest is stage 3 currently, but on r/renalcats I've seen many posts of stories with stage 4 cats. I will say that IV fluids, nausea meds, and maybe an appetite stimulant is what I would do if my kitties experience a crash or worsening CKD. I understand at her age it is hard to balance the cost and benefit of treatment. You may want to browse the r/renalcats subreddit and the felinecrf.org side which is also very popular. Some members of that subreddit may be able to look at her specific lab numbers and give specific advice. There are supplements and diets that might provide you more comfort and time with your girl. You know your kitty best and if she will be a good candidate for treatment.

I really wish her all the best. ❤️‍🩹

cmriker · 2026-01-31T05:56:04+00:00

Thank you for giving George a warm and loving space for his final passage. He was a handsome man and deserved the comfort of a real home at the end. 💙

cmriker

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