Kidley Catton is ailing

[Lydia Leftcoast]

I took him into the vet earlier this week for a blood workup, and the kidney tests were abnormal. This could explain his lethargy and water drinking and eagerness to sit in the bathtub and drink water from that tap. (His usual cat sitter noted that a cat her family had developed an attachment to the bath tub when it had kidney trouble.)

The vet wants him to have a urinalysis to check for bacteria, but I just haven't had a chance to take him in yet. I suspect that this is more than an infection, though, because the symptoms have been building for a few months. (The bath tub attraction started in October.)

Apparently he'll need a special diet if he proves to have kidney failure.

But there's more. As I noted before, he grooms only on one side (I use a wire brush and careful plucking to get rid of mats on the other side) and has been losing his hearing. He used to be right at the door whenever I came home (evidently he heard the key in the lock), but now, I walk in, and if he's in the living room, he looks up as if to say, "Where did you come from?" He no longer responds to the radio signal to wake me up. It's also hard to get his attention.

When I described these symptoms to my brother, who's an MD, he said that if he had a human patient who came in with rapid hearing loss and neglect of one side of his body, he'd suspect either a brain tumor or a minor stroke, or at least something wrong with the brain. There's apparently a weird syndrome that occurs in people with damage in one part of the brain that makes men shave on only one side of their face or women put make-up on or comb their hair on only one side.

The vet did not seem interested in these neurological symptoms.

So far, Kidley still enjoys his food and being brushed and getting exercise in the hallway (although he now walks instead of runs), and he still likes to get sideways hugs (he's never been a lap cat) while sitting on the arm of my chair.

But he's just not himself.

If my cousin (his previous owner, who found him when the owners before that abandoned him upon moving away) is correct, Kidley is now 9 years old. But I'm not sure how she knew his age. He may be older.

[jillan]

1. Sending Kidley Catton good wishes. Hope it is nothing serious.

[virgdem]

2. The symptoms you describe...

sound like Kidley has Chronic Kidney Failure. The symptoms include drinking more water than usual and lethargy. One of my kitties was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Failure at age 9, so it can happen in cats that are not that old. We were able to medicate her for high blood pressure (with Amlodipine) and gave her subcutaneous fluids and she lived another 4 years. CKF is not an instant death sentence, but can be controlled with food, medication and fluids to help support Kidley's health and comfort. Let us know what the Vet has to say and good luck.

[CountAllVotes]

8. you are right -- sounds familiar

That is what took my old Flame last year around this time. He was just shy of 12 years old.

It was horrible and no, I still have not gotten over it.

[ginnyinWI]

3. 9 yrs is kind of young to be losing his hearing, imo

I'd look for that around 16 or older. Does he have clear, young eyes, or are they starting to get that cloudy look that elderly cats get? If so then I'd say he's much older than 9. If not, then the hearing loss is unusual.

Best of luck to you and your kitty!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. That's why my brother the MD wondered

if perhaps he has a brain tumor or had a little stroke.

I haven't noticed any change in his eyes.

[2theleft]

5. Hugs to you and Kidley

Sick babies are so hard. It's good he still seems to be enjoying life, though. Good luck. Fingers crossed for a manageable diagnosis and many more happy years.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. I would definitely have a urine check for infection.

That would be a possibility and something that can be dealt with easily. It will also show if there is kidney failure (that is what it showed with my cat). I am not sure if your vet really is not interested in the neurological problems, or if the kidney problem is the most important problem. I lost my cat to kidney failure, so that would be the primary issue that you have to deal with....besides that there is little that could be done to help with neurological problems. Kidney disease can be managed.

As to the hearing, or any other issues, kidney failure causes a lot of toxins to accumulate in the blood. This can lead to all sorts of problems, although I have never heard of hearing problems from it. My cat did go blind, but did really well getting around. The sooner you deal with this, the better.

And if the worst happens and it is kidney failure, it helped me deal with it to know that it is not painful for the cat. My vet and my MD both said that the toxins in the body cause a state of euphoria but no pain.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. Poor Kidley!

Have you considered taking him to the clinic at the vet school at the U for a second opinion? They are sort of like a Mayo Clinic for animals, and they might be able to help.