I have a beautiful cat, a three year-old male white persian named Francois. I have three other cats as well, but Francois is special. He was my special buddy. He is always with me when I am home. His personality is absolutley hilarious. Last week he started acting different. He stopped eating, drinking, and he was lethargic. I took him to the vet, who ran blood work and did an ultrasound. He was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease which causes cysts to form in his kidneys, thereby killing his kidneys. It eventually leads to chronic kidney failure and then to death. I am in absolute shock. He is just a baby. Most cats with PKD don't have issues until seven years of age, and now I have very limited time with my cat. I am devestated. I have looked into kidney transplantation, but my husband and I can't afford it, though if I could I am not sure I would do it anyway because there are so many risks there as well. I am so angry at my breeder. She could have prevented this had she simply done a test on her cats before breeding them. But she was just out to make money. I had never heard of PKD before Francois got it, and so I did not even know to ask if she had the cats tested. I don't know what to do. I can't stop crying, and I want him home from the vet. It doesn't feel like home without him. I don't think alot of people get how I am feeling. I feel like a freak, but I think I am also lucky to understand how wonderful animals are. How do I move on from this? I am driving everyone nuts. I just don't get it. Why did the best cat I have ever known have to get this disease?

lindsay,
No you are not a freak. Anythng that you are feeling or say is fine. I also read your thread to oliver's mom. Sounds like you have a pretty positive attitude. I mean you know to spend as much time with him and enjoy ever minute to the fullest I know it must be so hard. My loss about 2 1/2 months ago was a sudden accident so i had no idea and i didn't get to say goodbye. And I would have spent so much extra time with her. I would not have let go of her. She too out of my four cats was MY special one.
Remember no one can tell you how you are supposed to act or how to handle your situation. Every person is different. There are many many great people here to talk to and hopefully we can offer each other comfort and help to heal one another. Anytime you want to talk or tell stories we are here.
Sending HOPE, HUGS, and PRAYER to you and Francois.

Would love to see pictures and hear stories of him.

Sissycat

"kim"

Thank you so much. I am so glad that there is a place where I can talk about this with people who understand what I am going through and are compassionate.

Oh what a beautiful cat Francois is!!!!!!!!!

Glad you found this site too. It has helped me so very much. My family did understand to a point, but people here understand completely. All of us here have a very special love and understanding for our furbabies. Some people just do not understand it.

Again that face is just precious!!!!!!!!!!

Hugs to you both!!!!!!

Hi, Lindsay, I am so sorry that your beautiful Francois has been diagnosed with PKD. Anticipatory grief is hard because you know your time is limited but you still have your beautiful furbaby with you to take care of and to share your time with. You are doing everything you possibly can for your Francois, and he knows this. Sadly our furbabies bodies are mortal, too, and because they are smaller than our bodies they have less defenses against illness. It overtakes them much faster, and by the time they start exhibiting symptoms the illness has reached a critical phase. They are masters of disguise about how they are feeling. It's part of the "survival instinct" they have inherited from their wild ancestors and cousins. Lindsay, call and talk to your vet about bringing your Francois home. Is the vet giving Francois IV fluids or other treament? You are Francois' mom, and he belongs with you unless you give your permission otherwise. Lindsay, please know you are in my thoughts and prayers, and please let us know how you and Francois are doing. We are here for your for as long as you need us.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

I have talked to the vet. Right now they are giving him antibiotics and fluids. I hadn't seen him eat or drink since last Tuesday, and they gave him subQ injections on Thursday that didn't seem to help at all. I have found out that his creatine and phosphorus levels are in the normal range, but his BUN level is elevated. My vet has been great. She has been calling me everyday with updates, and she told me that this morning was the first day where he seemed to have more energy. She said he was acting frisky, which gives me hope that this treatment has at least stopped the suffering for now. I am going to go in tomorrow morning to bring him home (thank god). But I am scared that I am going to do something wrong and hurt him. I have three other cats, and we keep the food down all of the time, and tomorrow I have to take it all up. I am nervous how they will react, but I have to do it or Francois will get even sicker, and it will shorten his life even more. What I am truly terrified of is that when I get him home he won't eat. The vet told me he won't eat, but that doesn't surprise me because he refuses to eat if my husband or I leave for just a few days. I can't stand to see him wither away and die. When will I know when the time has come to end his suffering? What if he won't eat this special homemade diet. He has never liked any kind of table scraps like my other cats, and he is a stubborn cat (which I love about the little guy). Everyone tells me to not consider the negative, but how can I not? Anyways, I just pray that he'll take the food I make him, and he's the same old crazy cat he has always been when I bring him home. And plus, isn't it a good sign that his creatine and phosphorus are in the normal range? I keep wavering between being optimistic and being heartbroken. This is just so confusing. I have lost pets before, but they were always older, and I had some idea that this was going to happen (not that that fact made it any easier). But I thought I would have Frankie for a long time to come. Last week I thought I was just taking him in for something that was easily curable, and I was bombarded with the fact that he had a fatal disease. Sorry I am rambling, but I have too many thoughts running through my head. I appreciate everything everyone has said. At least I can write this out and share it with others.

I'm praying you will see good results when you get him home. It's hard to describe, but if the time comes for him you'll know. Your heart will tell you. I lost my Arthur at 2 1/2. Like I said so many times, the hardest part is all those years ahead we could have had together. Please keep sharing updates and thoughts with us. We all understand here.. All the best Ann..

Hi, Lindsay. Yes, the news you got from the vet is good. I had a kitty diagnosed with renal failure who lived for 2 years. Certainly the special diet will help take the stress off his kidneys - - make it easier for him to digest his food and eliminate without discomfort. I also had kidney failure as a little girl (many eons of years ago), and it does take away your appetite. You may want to talk to your vet about appetite enhancers like NutriCal, etc. These are high caloric boosters that can help, but please talk to your vet FIRST before you try it with your precious Francois. Don't be afraid of hurting him. He still needs you to love him and hold him and cuddle with him. Your touch is going to be the most important thing to him, particularly now. You may want to feed Francois away from the other kitties - - make his meal time a special treat for the both of you (I say this because I had to do that with my Eli two years ago when he was diagnosed with end stage Lymphoma. His food had to be specially prepared and hand fed to him. And I had to teach my two other kitty kids that this was Eli's food only). If all your efforts fail to encourage him to eat, you have two options: A feeding tube surgically inserted into his stomach or down his esophagus (which has its own kind of potential hazards), or euthanasia. This is what finally led me to understand that it was time to let my Eli go home to the angels. I could not let him starve to death, and eventually Francois will stop using the litter box because he won't need to use it any longer. Your vet will talk to you about many things when you go tomorrow to pick up your precious baby, but the most important thing is that it sounds like he will be able to be with you for awhile longer, which is a blessing, and I am SO HAPPY for you. I do understand how you're feeling, Lindsay, and please know we are here for you as you need us. Please keep us posted as to how things are going, okay? And please know you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam

I am so sorry your baby is sick. I did read on the Internet about Pkd and I believe you were right about the breeder.
I did also read there are different reactions from different cats. I am sure your vet must have discussed it all with you.

Your positive thinking can be that I can't see your vet sending Francois home if he didn't think he would be okay there.
This is the discussion to have with him and also ask him what to look for so you know if he needs to come back or if you need to call to report certain things. This also helps find out when not to panic about something too.

I don't understand that your vet said Francois will not eat...that can't be right. A cat can go a short amount of time without food but they cannot fast. From what I read on the Internet...if a cat does not start eating within 24 hours or shows other signs of illness..go to the vet asap. If they don't eat for more than 48 hours, they can have serious liver damage, called "fatty liver disease" and must be taken to the vet right away. One member here almost lost her baby not realizing that but thank goodness, he was saved. If a cat stops drinking, that can lead to organ failure in a matter of hours. That is how serious it is if they have any problems eating and/or drinking. Again, your vet is your best source to ask questions.

I read PKD is genetic to Persians and some cats with it can live for a long time but they should not be bred because it is passed on to the kittens and you are right...all the breeder needed to do was have testing done before breeding the mom and dad.

I am glad to hear your vet said Francois was feeling frisky...always a good sign. There is a lot of information about PKD on the Internet if you want to research it. So as long as your baby is eating and drinking...those are good signs.
You have been given some good advice here in previous posts. The member I spoke about did have to have a feeding tube put in her cat....he wound up pulling it out and actually started eating on his own afterwards. It was a miracle so they do happen.

As to know when to make any decision...a discussion with the vet helps. I asked one years ago how to know when and his answer was...when there is no quality of life....and we do know our own babies and we can tell if they are not right and if there is no cure and no quality...then a discussion should be held with the vet as to any hope at all. They are entitled to every chance they can possibly have to be okay. My main concern on mine was I have always been determined they will not suffer just to be with me....and I have always tried my best to be true to that and them.

Good luck....we are here listening. Give Francois a hug and kiss from all of us here. Our prayers are with you and your sweetheart.

Judy

Hello,
Was just wondering how Francois is doing today? Did you get to bring him home. Hope to hear from you soon.

Thanks to everyone who posted. It really means alot to me. I just got Francois home a couple of hours ago. I got him to eat a little bit, but not a whole lot, but he never was a big eater to begin with. He loves to play with his food before he eats it, and I used that to my benefit. At first he wasn't interested, but I started throwing the food down on a plastic mat, and making it roll like a ball would. That grabbed his attention, and he ate a little bit of food that way. The other cats are wonderful. My cat Jasper is very worried about his brother. He is his shadow, and he is coming up to Francois and giving him licks. Unfortunately, I think I was too hopeful. My husband had warned me that Francois probably wouldn't be the same, and he isn't. Though he seems to have more energy this week than the last half of last week, he is different. He was always so graceful, and able to make even the most difficult jumps with agility and a simple elegence. He could hardly make an easy jump tonight. But I can tell he is so happy to be home. He is walking around, and he's telling me every five minutes that he wants his old food. He is also giving me and my husband a lot of love. I thought he would be mad at me about the vet, but I think he missed us so much he can't help himself. He is taking every opportunity to give us love. I am glad that he is happy, even if it does turn out to be shortlived. The vet gave me a copy of the ultrasound, and explained it to me. My poor Francois doesn't really have any kidneys left. They are almost completely overtaken by cysts. But she also told me not to give up hope. She said there are many things that medical science cannot explain, and that we really have no idea how the CRF will affect him. But I have the wierd feeling that he knows he is dying. I don't know why, but I just sense it in him. Maybe that's why he is so loving; he's just like me and doesn't want to waste a single moment that we have left together. Who knows, I may have five days or five years left with my baby, but I am so glad I had him in my life, even if it was short. I would take these three years gladly over the alternative of not knowing him at all. But I am not throwing in the towel yet. The vet says I need to put him on a soy protein diet, and that he cannot have any kind of recipe with meat in it. I did a quick search and didn't find anything, but I will keep looking. I have put him on Prescription k/d diet (both hard and soft food). My vet is an allopath, but she says she works alot with another homeopathic vet, with whom I made an appointment next week. I hope to get him on some vitamins and minerals, and I think we will try acupuncture and see if it helps. Thanks again to everyone.

Thanks for the update.
So glad he is home with you! I can just see all the love between you two.
Lots of HUgs to the both of you!!!!

{{{{{{{Lindsay}}}}}}} I wanted to let you know that I'm sending hugs, kisses and winging many Angels to you and your precious fur baby Francois. Please know that you both are in my daily thoughts and prayers. Virtual candles have been lit and I'll keep them going for you and Francois. Please click on the image below to see where you may light candles online also if you wish. It's free and you may light as many as you want and as often as you desire, Dear One.



Big Tight Hugs and Lotsa Love to You Both!!!

Always,
Dottie xoxoxox

Hi, Lindsay, I'm here at work and am the only one covering the phones during lunch so I thought I'd check in to see how things are going for you and Francois. I am SO GLAD to know he is back home with you now. I can imagine how good it feels for both you and Francois. You are absolutely right about not giving up. Homeopathic medicine is always good to check into. Francois is not feeling good, but the loving quality of life you can continue to give him now will mean so much to you, your husband, and Francois. Thank you so much for sharing pictures of your handsome fellow with us. Please let us know how things go with your precious furbaby, and please know you and Francois are close in thought and prayer.

Peace and blessings,
moon_beam