Hello, I last posted here I think last Feb. or March, about my 12-year-old cat Riley.

[LiberalElite]

At that time Riley was in bad shape, very anemic. After lots of tests and an ultrasound it was determined that Riley had some kind of abdominal cancer. Standard treament would be some kind of chemo pill and prednisone. I couldn't afford the chemo pill (and can't pill him anyway) but decided to keep giving him prednisone (I grind it up and mix with a chicken flavor hairball preventative and smear it on his paw). The vet thought he'd live only a few months but - Riley's still here. Very fat from the predisone but acting normally (for what that's worth because cats hide illness). More good news is that as of a blood test last week, he's no longer anemic.

The bad news is he's now in stage 3 kidney failure and isn't cooperating with the sub Q fluid routine. The first few times I tried it while he was distracted with food. I got some of the dose into him, never all. Yesterday and today he wouldn't tolerate it at all and just walked away. I have no one nearby to hold on to him. I purchased an iv pole with wheels and will try it this weekend hoping I'll have more options, like maybe wheel it up when he's asleep.

Can anyone suggest what I can do? I've read on line about syringes and also read a little about some kind of port that's implanted and would avoid using needles but need more info. Thanks in advance for any ideas.

[shenmue]

1. Hugs tiem

[LiberalElite]

6. Thanks!

[CurtEastPoint]

2. I wish I had advice, but can only offer thanks for your caring kindness. Love to Riley.

[LiberalElite]

7. I'm trying but

I do beat up on myself - it helps to "talk" to other animal lovers and people with "CRF" (chronic renal failure) cats. It helps to know others have the same problems. I'd post a pic of him but I don't know how. Do you? Thanks!

[CurtEastPoint]

9. To post a photo here, upload a photo from your PC to a site like Photobucket

(Free) then get the URL of the uploaded photo and paste it in your message. Easy peasy.

[LiberalElite]

10. Do I download Photobucket or go to a website? Tks.

[CurtEastPoint]

12. photobucket.com

register w/your email address (I think). As I said it's free and they have NEVER sent me email.

[LiberalElite]

13. Thanks! -

I know some internet things but I don't keep up with all of it.

[TorchTheWitch]

14. let us know if you have any problems with photobucket

We can walk you through it.

Best of luck with Riley. Maybe the vet has some suggestions?

[Voice for Peace]

3. I also have no information except that the love is the most potent medicine of all

and it sounds like you're doing that part just fine.
Love love love love love.

[LiberalElite]

8. I'm trying but it's

frustrating and upsetting when he gets stubborn. Riley can be very willful to his own detriment. (of course that can describe me too HA) Thank you.

[Voice for Peace]

15. If and when a beloved friend is near the end of life, I say

you can do whatever you want, my beloved friend.

I don't think I could force a cure. The frustration and
stress undoes the good. I know it's very hard. But your
heart knows the right way so look there for answers.
Some answers come only as a feeling, not in words
or thoughts. Just a feeling.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. You have done wonders with Riley.

I had a cat with renal failure and had to give her sub-q fluids daily. I was able to do it easily, so I am not sure if my experience will help you since each cat is so individual. I am also alone, so there was no one to help me. My cat loved to be on my lap, so I would sit with her on an afghan on my lap. I had a hook that was above the chair and was perfect for hanging the bag, and if you have a pole, that would work the same way. It did not seem to bother her to have the needle inserted under the skin at the shoulder. She didn't even flinch. So I would just hold her on my lap and pet and love on her while it was going in. I suppose if your cat doesn't like to be held, that might make this a problem.

The problem with implanting a port would be that you would have to have Riley go under anesthesia to have that done. And you still would have to have the cat settled down in one place for long enough to have the fluid get in. I would not be willing to have Riley go under anesthesia with his problems unless it was absolutely necessary.

I am sorry that you have to deal with this, especially after you have done so well getting him in better health.

[LiberalElite]

5. I've been hanging the bag from a kitchen cabinet but it isn't high enough - line drags on floor -

I have hopes for the iv pole which I'll try over the weekend. I work full time and I'm pooped right now. Can't do it when I'm tired. He does want to jump into my lap still (at 18 pounds I'm not eager for the little bonecrusher LOL) Maybe he'd take it if he's on my lap - I never considered that. He doesn't lie but stands on my lap though so it's not going to be fun for me (shoe will be on the other foot HA!) He was under anesthesia earlier this week so they could shave off mats - they gave him a lion cut. I fell behind on the brushing and would just think when I looked at him "boy he's fat!" Thank you!

[Curmudgeoness]

11. Good luck.

I understand all about the mats. When they start to get sick, they just don't take care of themselves as well and it happens.

Just try to get Riley to relax for the time it takes to get the fluids in. I was afraid to do it, and I was afraid that I would hurt her or do it wrong, but I didn't have the problems I expected. The worst that I had was sticking myself with the needle a few times because I am a klutz. Let me know if you need to know anything else about renal failure cats. I learned a lot but in the end, I still lost my baby to it.

[roody]

16. Let him go. Love him to the end.

[LiberalElite]

18. We're not at that point yet-

he's still alert and interested in life around him (I have 4 other cats). He still jumps up onto my lap (18 pounds - ouch!).

[mockmonkey]

17. I found this on Youtube on how to do it alone (video)

It's in Chinese and the cat is understandably angry so I would turn off the sound. They use a mesh laundry bag and a towel with a bit of shoelace or rope to tie it. That cat was pretty docile the whole time other than the horrible noises. I don't think it would work with my cats.

I found the video disturbing but you do what you have to do to keep them healthy.

[LiberalElite]

19. That's the key -

that cat was docile. Riley can be very mellow and laid back - it's easy to get him into the carrier - just toss a toy in first and he follows it. But when medication or the vet is concerned.... At the vet's they call for help from the technicians and the big cat rawhide gloves that reach up to the shoulders.