My cat Kitten (12 years young in August) was diagnosed last year with Stage 1 Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). We were told that while there is no cure, it’s still in its early stages and is managable with a few years to go before we notice any progression. Unfortunately, and in between scheduled vet visits, her CKD progressed to Stage 4 in the span of 6 months.

Kitten spent the weekend at the hospital hooked up on IV fluids and taking medication (her values were off the charts). She’s already a tiny cat that never even reached 3 kgs in her entire life span. She lost a significant amount of weight and was at 1.9 kgs when she was admitted.

Today, her values are a little less scary and we were given the go ahead to take her home and manage her there, with vet follow up. We were given medication and subcutaneous fluids to administer at home, and she was also prescribed a renal diet to manage her condition.

We were told to have realistic expectations. And I’m not delusional about the fact I may end up losing my companion of 12 years any day. But we’re so glad she is home where she belongs, surrounded by people (and cat sister) who love her, in her safe and familiar space. We’ll manage this the best we can and do our best to give Kitten all the care she needs, for better or for worse.

CKD is a silent killer in pets. And cats are four times more likely to get it than dogs. You often won’t know your pet even has it until they’ve rapidly deteriorated. And although incurable, the disease can be managed and you can slow progression if detected early.

Make sure you take your pet to the vet regularly. And if your cat is 7 years or older, please make sure you check for chronic conditions including CKD.

May your furry friends remain safe, healthy, and happy 🙏🏽

(Photos of Kitten back home today 💕)
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#chronickidneydisease #pethealthawareness #catckd

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