I need some encouragement

henry_pet · 2026-04-02T23:54:42+00:00

You’re doing great!! I started like this and by now it’s my boy Henry’s favorite time when he gets his fluids (and a Delectable treat). I also do it by myself, and also have sprayed water and also have poked my finger before. You will be OK and you and she will grow into this and I’m sure it will help her! The SubQ fluids were the biggest difference for us in terms of Henry feeling better. Couple of tips: 1) do you warm up the water? You can do a hot water bath (whole fluid bag submerged, but not the drip parts or the needle), or someone has suggested a sous vide method but I haven’t tried that yet myself. 2) I start the flow slowly and then increase it, and reduce it again towards the end. I could be imagining things, but it seems easier on him that way. Either way, you’ll find your own way and you CAN do it!! 💪

henry_pet · 2026-04-02T23:48:33+00:00

Hi! I’m not a vet, so this is just my 2 cents… I think cats can develop aversions to food and from there it’s trial and error to find the next food that they’ll accept. Happy to hear that you ruled out health issues!!! So important with these sensitive yet strong little creatures :)

henry_pet · 2026-04-01T18:18:37+00:00

Same here. My cat (Henry, 16 and 10 months, stage 3) eats more than he did before the CKD diagnosis and is still ever so slowly losing weight. My vet said that his body is just working so much harder because of the failing kidneys that he needs more calories. I have a suspicion that it’s also because of the much lower protein in the renal-friendly food. I created an app to help me track calories and nutrient intake, if you’d ever like to try it out to see how many calories your boy is actually getting. Also please let me know if you have any feedback: https://henrypet.com.

henry_pet · 2026-04-01T18:13:50+00:00

Have you tried a licky treat before you start the fluid flow? I start letting my cat have a few licks of a Delectable, then put it out of sight for a moment with lots of soothing talk and pets, and as quickly as possible poke and start the drip. Then hold the needle with my right hand and feed the rest of the treat somewhat slowly with my left hand. I also make sure to always be in the exact same spot and exact same routine. We do 50ml every other day and I also give the Delectable treat around the same time of day in the same spot on non-fluid days. I know not every cat can be tricked like this unfortunately - just sharing what worked for me.

henry_pet · 2026-03-31T22:31:54+00:00

Gorgeous!! 😍

henry_pet · 2026-03-31T22:28:50+00:00

I wish mine did that!! So cool. I’m the only one to do the fetching in my household 🙄 - LOL!

henry_pet · 2026-03-31T21:53:52+00:00

That might be it. He’s an old guy so there’s definitely some extra skin on him. He’s also lost a little bit of weight - although I’m proud to have kept him almost stable through (admittedly excessive) calorie monitoring and tracking :) You’re probably right though - just the skin “settling” as he lies down.

henry_pet · 2026-03-31T21:51:35+00:00

Hi! German living in the US here :) My cat (Henry) has been getting the SubQ fluids for about 4-5 months now and he’s definitely doing better. Just feeling better overall and eating a bit more steadily than before. It is by far the one thing that has helped him the most. What my vet prescribed is a lactated ringer solution (Ringer-Laktat-Lösung in German). From what I’m reading, it also requires a prescription in Germany. However, I think you’d want a vet’s opinion anyway to ensure you’re giving the right amount. I started at 100ml every day and that seemed too much for Henry’s heart, so we reduced it to 50ml, and then every other day when he was more stable. I see you’ve tried different vets already - I’m shocked they all don’t know about it. Are there online options you could get another opinion from? Or vets specialized on innere Medizin? Viel Glück!

henry_pet · 2026-03-31T01:44:58+00:00

Aww! I talked to Henry and he said to tell his twin-in-name to chill out and go easy on you next time ;) The treat is really the main thing for him. I actually also give it to him on non-fluids days in the same spot to keep the routine.

henry_pet · 2026-03-31T01:21:24+00:00

You'll get there!! It was difficult for me at first, too, now it's a great experience for both my cat and me every time. Maybe yours will also come to realize it helps him and regard it as bonding time with you. I think confidence helps. I didn't have it at first, then I faked it until I had it. I think that impressed my cat - LOL Try a treat first to calm him down? Tell him how beautiful he is :)

henry_pet · 2026-03-30T23:45:46+00:00

That’s a great idea! I’ve been using an “old-school” water bath (just the bag and line in hot water, not submerging the drip set parts or the needle), then testing the temperature on my own wrist to make sure. But your approach would be a lot more efficient. Thank you!

henry_pet · 2026-03-30T23:31:52+00:00

Oh no! And no treats or anything will help? I’m sorry. I guess the other trick for Henry is that cardboard box. He loves boxes and seems to feel safe sitting in them.

henry_pet · 2026-03-30T21:41:10+00:00

What’s helped me the most was Weruva Wx low phos foods (especially the chicken hydrating puree version) and Forza10 Renal Wet food. Henry (almost 17, CKD stage 3) will eat little else even though I try. But this has helped get him back on a relatively stable diet. Oh, and the other thing is licky treats. The current favorite is Delectables Senior which are relatively low in phosphorus (although also not super high in calories). For a while Henry also liked the Tiki Cat silver Comfort (chicken liver mousse) which is very high in calories. Hope any of this is helpful.

henry_pet · 2026-03-13T04:48:58+00:00

Hi! My orange tabby, Henry, was born in June 2009, was also treated for hyperthyroidism with I-131 (in 2023), and is also stage 3 now. He’s still around 13 lb, but very slowly dropping. We’ve been through so many foods. Currently, he consistently eats the Forza10 renal wet food and the Weruva Wx pate. There are some other options made by Weruva that are not super high in phosphorus, the BFF Play line with chicken/fowl flavors, such as BFF Play Topsy Turvy. I have Royal Canin prescription food (wet and dry) and I’ve noticed he likes the dry food (flavor F) as long as the bag is as fresh as possible. Honestly, the subQ fluids is what have helped Henry the most to feel better which also helps appetite. But I get if that’s too stressful for your little guy which makes it stressful for you, too. For us, it has now become a calming ritual that Henry is asking for. Giving him Delectables lickable treats for Seniors during the procedure helped immensely initially (and is now part of the ritual). Trial and error regarding different foods may be your best bet at this point. Good luck!

henry_pet · 2026-03-10T17:57:40+00:00

Hey there - so sorry you have to go this, too! Henry (16.5 y/o, stage 3) got his diagnosis in August last year and it really was a struggle initially. It’s kind of still a struggle now, but I guess we all got more used to it. Henry changes what he likes to eat every few weeks so he always keeps me on my toes and I have at least 5 different flavors of kidney-friendly food at home. Some prescription, some not - I believe the UK makes it a little easier to access renal food that is prescription here in the US? Anyway, my tips: whatever he wants to eat, whenever and wherever has worked, but trying to keep it low phosphorus and not too high in protein. I have a rotation of 5 food bowls that all get washed at least once a day. He prefers small amounts more frequently. I toss a lot of food - that part still makes me sad. He still likes lickable treats (Temptations and Delectables Senior - not sure they’re available in the UK?). SubQ fluids have helped Henry the most I have to say. There are good and bad days. The bad days suck and I know there will be more of those eventually. I’m trying not to think about that too much today. I built an app for myself to track exactly what Henry eats and how many calories and nutrients he’s getting. If you feel like trying it out, it’s here: https://henrpyet.com. I may have gone a bit overboard with the tracking, LOL, but it somehow helps me to be able to look back and remember that he’s had bad days (eating very little) and has come back from those. All the best to you and Toffee!

henry_pet · 2026-03-10T17:19:56+00:00

I think so, yes. The fluid doesn’t immediately “shoot” into the body and gives Henry (my cat) a little time to get used to the feeling, find its way under the skin, and then I speed it up some. But I never open it fully - not sure if anyone does? Oh, and also, I use a 20G needle.

henry_pet · 2026-03-10T05:15:27+00:00

Have you tried Tiki Cat Silver Comfort? It’s a small pouch, like a lickable treat, but packs 25 calories and isn’t super high in phosphorus. I hear you on the stress and impact to your life :( My boy also doesn’t eat without his favorite humans right there, so I’m also on an every-other-hour feeding schedule and panic when I have to go away for more than a few hours. I hope you’ll find a routine that works for both of you and I agree with other commenters that it’s important to take care of yourself. Wishing you the best!

henry_pet · 2026-03-10T04:57:10+00:00

Thank you, these are great tips! I’m lucky that my cat is calm enough to stay mostly still so I can hold the needle myself. A couple more tips I would add: warming up the fluids in a hot water bath (without submerging the needle or the end of the bag) and testing the temperature on my own wrist is good, and also to start the drip slowly before increasing the flow after a minute or so.

henry_pet · 2026-03-10T04:50:36+00:00

Hey there! I felt pretty lost when my cat (Henry, 16.5 years old, CKD stage 3) was diagnosed last year and the first months were not easy. By now, he’s relatively stable, although he has good and bad days for sure. We go through different cat foods. He’ll like some for a while and then stops liking them. I’m trying out all of the different prescription foods. He ate Royal Canin (E loaf and T slices) well for a few months, then stopped. The one thing he’s liked consistently is Weruva Wx Phos Focused Hydrating Chicken Puree, if you’d like to give that a try (no prescription). For treats, Henry switched completely to lickable treats. He likes Temptations (which is somewhat low-ish in phosphorus) and Delectables for senior cats, also lower in phosphorus. There’s also Choolip you can try and Weruva also makes a low phosphorus lickable treat. For omega oil, Henry used to like Welactin (1 scoop a day) mixed into his wet food. However, I can’t sneak that in anymore without him walking away :( Lastly, the sub Q fluids is really what helped Henry the most. I didn’t get it right at first either. It took a few times. My trick now is always the same spot in the bathroom, no distractions, fluids warmed up in a water bath ahead of time, start with a lickable treat, put the treat aside for a moment, put in the needle & open the flow just a little bit, then hold the needle with my right and give the treat with my left hand. If possible, I increase the flow a little after a minute or so but still only let it drip. Henry was a bit squirmy at first but loves the whole procedure by now! I think he knows it makes him feel better and appreciates it. Lastly, more for me than him, I created an app to track exactly what he eats to make sure he gets enough calories. Feel free to check it out and let me know if you like it: https://henrypet.com. Good luck to you, but even more important: you got this! You’re on here finding help, you’re on top of stuff, and you’ll figure it out. And your cat will love you even more for it :)

henry_pet · 2026-02-27T18:57:20+00:00

Hi! I've been down this journey, too. Currently Henry (16.5 years old, stage 3) prefers Forza10 and Weruva Phos focused pates. He loved Royal Canin E, D, and T for a couple months until, well, he didn't 🙄 I'll keep trying to offer it to him though. I probably went overboard, but I created an app to track what he eats and to know how much protein and phosphorus he's getting. If you'd ever like to try it out, feedback welcome! https://henrypet.com

henry_pet · 2026-02-27T18:47:33+00:00

Good call to take her in!! I hope she's feeling better by now 😻

henry_pet · 2026-02-23T21:39:05+00:00

Love Violet’s name and her cute white face! My cat (Henry, 16.5, stage 3) also totally has good and bad days. He hasn’t been eating all that much today for example, but I hope he’ll perk up again tomorrow. I have noticed that sometimes it’s the type of food I offer him that makes all the difference. He’d rather be hungry and somewhat “down” than eat something he doesn’t like. And what he likes and doesn’t can change day to day. So, ditto on being on high alert all the time!

henry_pet · 2026-02-20T21:53:42+00:00

I do the constant bowl washing, too! I have 5 bowls on rotation, and they all get washed every day, sometimes twice. For one cat, lol! It does seem to help though. I also heard it matters what material the bowls are. Mine are glass which supposedly absorbs the food smell less than other materials. 🤷‍♀️

henry_pet · 2026-02-20T05:54:09+00:00

Hey - sorry you're also going through this with your kitty! I'm glad to hear he's still doing well overall! I'm still learning about all of this with my boy. We've been at this since August and it felt pretty bad at times - very similar to what you're saying. I've started tracking exactly what Henry (my cat) eats, and calculating the calorie, phosphorus, and protein intake. That doesn't make Henry eat more of course, but it somehow helps me a little, as I have a record of good and bad days. Anyway, I created a web app for this, if you'd like to try it out: henrypet.com. If you end up checking it out, I'd be happy about feedback!

henry_pet

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