To all the other posters on this thread mentioning cats with kidney problems, I can recommend a supplement that may help, especially if their condition is not too severe.

My cat has had kidney problems for coming up to a year now, and for a number of months now she has been taking Kidney Support made by Native Remedies. It seems to be helping her quite a lot.

Only a cat thread on DS could make you sob with emotion one minute and roar with laughter the next! How great are cat owners?

Chris' description of Barney's last moments was heart rending but isnt that the way we would all like our pets to go? And yes, the reason I couldnt have a cat fountain is because I too would need to turn it off, and I have to come back home enough times to make sure I turned the hair straighteners off, without adding a fountain to the mix.

Hi, my 1st post here- absolutely agree, broke my heart to read of Chris's last post- however, the kind of end I believe most of us would like.
I'm currently going through the trauma of it with Wiggy (14.4 yrs old). Bought him a fountain last year and he took to it within a few days and drank loads- to the point where I was concerned that this was a possible problem- he was diagnosed with Hyperthyriodism and issued tablets. He got very stressed each time he was tableted- and started to vomit regularly - after much researching, I told my vet to refer him to Bristol small animal hospital for radio iodene treatment- now Wiggy does not have thyroid issues, but his crf has emerged!- more research has led me to feed him a high quality protein (organic free range chicken) Low Phosphorus diet and so far, so good. One thing I have learnt through months of stress & upset, is research and question everything- my vet (a large practice here in Plymouth) was not even clued up on radio iodene treatment- and like many, was more than happy to just issue the Hills KD & fingers crossed.
just an added bit of info for anyone interested, I also feed him Beaphar wet from Zooplus- taurine flavour appears to be the best.
Well, my apologies for making my first post an epic novel- my heart goes out to everyone who like myself are going through lots of difficult times in order to protect the ones we love.
Russ.

One mistake people make is when they buy tinned tuna to feed the cat they often buy it in brine (salt water) or sunflower oil (preservative).

No no no. Salt esp. overloads the kidneys.

Buy fresh fish/tuna.

I can only speak with relation to dogs so please don't take this as gospel. My `14 year old collie has a liver condition and blood tests also revealed high kidney values - not uncommon in an older dog I believe. I read somewhere that a taurine supplement might help lower creatinine so I tried that and when next tested her creatinine had dropped a lot. But beware as too much taurine can raise liver values so we walk a tight rope!
I also give her sweet potato and I believe cats can have this as well - though I've seen recommendations to drain the water it is cooked in to minimise phososphorus.

If your pet is on something like furosemide for fluid build up, you need to keep checking the kidneys as diuretics can adversely affect kidney function.