Reply #33: My cat is 16

[Ramsey]

She is supposed to be on the renal diet but won't touch it, and I've tried 5 different brands. She's very picky and I figure it's better for her to eat something, so she gets Fancy Feast. She's really small to begin with and had gotten quite skinny, although she's packed a bit back on now that she's feeling better.

I give her Alternagel, which helps bind excess phosphorous, and the kitty version of zantac to protect her GI tract, and a blood pressure pill because the kidney failure causes hypertension. And her 100 cc of fluids every day. She's been feeling good on this regimen. Her creatinine and BUN have been pretty stable for several months now.

I put the pills in, hold her mouth closed and rub on her throat until she swallows, although sometimes she hides them in her gums. I try to get liquid meds as much as possible because I find the syringe much easier to use.