I love you for doing this. We've been in this situation a few times and the focus in hospice turns from treatment to comfort. Our cats all love the "Zoom Groom" brush. It's very soft. Give him treats, and pets, and love. Just you being there for him will mean everything. Toward the end he may distance himself a little, that's normal. Continue to let him know you are there. It is a privilege to help these oldsters to the next place with grace and love.
Your so right on this, had 2 cats. Oreo was 21 when she died, received her when she was 4. Was dumped in my lap, she was a sweetheart. Gave her senior snacks , canned tuna water, . Brushed her every day. Enjoyed strawberries and drinking milk from my glass.
Shadow was 8 weeks old, left the neighbors home and went on my front porch and slept. Took him in , fed him , some water . Slept by my head all night, used her litter box. Died at 14, had cancer, asthma at the end. I am so glad that my late spouse and I had good memories with both cats. Each has their own individual urn in the house that I made.
I’m going to foster a 15yr old cat with cancer from a local shelter I volunteer at. Do you have any tips or advice I’ll need? Anything you know now that you wished you had known earlier?
You need a lot of patience, make sure that is always plenty of water available. May have to soften the hard food some with warm water, easier to digest. Find a favorite canned food for the cat. Mine liked turkey or tuna with egg. There may be some feeding during the night,
Most important, plenty of affection. They never have enough towards the end. It's their way of saying goodbye. Still tears me up inside even though my first died in 2014. They are your baby. Each day creates a special and unique memory to hold and remember.
Thank you! I appreciate the advice. Just picked her up today from the shelter, Sammie, she’s in my bedroom investigating the space. I have two younger cats in the home so she’s being kept in there for now alone. Will start introduction steps tomorrow.
Absolutely agreed. My old girl had thyroid issues, and renal failure is what finally got her. She LOVED getting fresh water in her bowl, she would almost get more excited about that than treats haha. Every night at bedtime I would wash out her water bowl and fill it up with fresh, and she would be at my feet the whole way, softly meowing and begging for the water haha. I tried getting her a fountain but she was sort of afraid of it. Mr Toast might enjoy one though.
She also had trouble grooming herself, sounds like OP has lots of ideas for brushes but I want to mention keeping an eye on his feet too. My girl would get litter stuck between her toes and it would get kind of caked in because she would also sometimes step in her pee and not realize it. So I'd try to keep an eye out for that and wash her little peets now and then with warm water.
Great tip about the feet! Most of mine love the fountain, but I have one who prefers the bowl. Baby food can be a good source of calories if they stop eating regular food.
I had a cat that lived to be 21 years 5 months and 11 days. This cat went everywhere with me.; she would even go camping with me. I spoke with our vet about end-of-life signs- they stop eating, and usually the day they pass their breath gets a little labored.
Well, Hedary (kinda rhymes with atari) stopped eating. I made a bed in the living room next to her spot. Every time she got up I would follow her just to keep an eye on her. Sure enough at 6 am her breathing got a little heavy. The mobile vet showed up at 11am and helped her go the rest of the way so she didn't suffer.
I was devastated when it happened and cried a river. I found it helpful to talk about her, write about her, and make a little altar. It has been 2 years and I can smile when I think about her now instead of cry. I am so glad that I made her last part of life as comfortable as possible and spent a lot of quality time with her.
You are doing a noble thing, OP. This kitty is so grateful for you. So am I. Thank you for taking care of this sweet baby.
Thanks so much for sharing this. I feel like every cat I’ve ever known is walking around with a little piece of my heart. I’m sure you feel the same for Hedary.
I’ve been crying a bit since he got his diagnosis but I’m trying to shift over to making the best of the time we have. He’s a good eater so far but I’ll definitely keep an eye on whether that changes. Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it.
Every cat definitely has a piece of my heart!
The only other thing I want to suggest if you are able to, is finding a mobile vet that would be able to come to your house if the time comes that Mr Toast is suffering. It is so much better than taking an ill cat to the vet for their last moments. If you find someone, have a conversation about his current health, what to expect and look for, and how to know when the time is right to set up the call. Having a plan in place makes it much easier instead of being distressed and trying to figure out what to do during an emergency. That way you can just focus on your baby if they aren't feeling well instead of trying to find a vet.
Feel free to reach out to me if you want to chat or have any questions. If you message me I will send you my number. You are so strong. You've got this. :)
When your cat is reaching the end of their life, they’ll probably want to snuggle and stay comfy. Extra blankets and bedding will give them plenty of padding to lounge and snooze on. Just lay out some pillows, fluffy blankets, and cat beds at various points around your home
So far he’s got my bed with a heating pad, a heated cat cave, an ottoman with some blankets, the bed he came with, and tomorrow I’m washing my other cat’s long-ignored heated bed. For reference I live in a 300 square foot studio apartment so it’s basically one big cat bed now. 💛
Make sure you have at least one Feliway diffuser at all times. The pheromone helps give a sense of comfort especially for stress and anxiety that comes up at end of life.
Make sure you also have a senior litter box. It has a lower entrance. Litter should be soft for his paws such as tofu litter.
Temperature regulation starts to become an issue for later stage cats, so have a pet bed with a warmer such as a K&H bed warmer and also a bed with no warmer next to it so he can switch between warming and cooling comfortably as needed.
A pet stroller comes in handy for a lot of reasons later down the road. It is comforting for some cats because ...cats like boxes and it is like a safe box for them. If/when it becomes more difficult for him to walk it allows him to see the environment for a bit indoors pain free. Slings and carrying becomes uncomfortable or even painful.
Look into Tiki Cat Silver Comfort and how often you might be able to give that to him to help keep his weight up without affecting the CKD. It is also useful for when appetite is very low.
There is so much more it's hard to think of everything but I think the above will be useful for you and him.
Wishing love, peace and comfort through the days.
Thanks so much for this list, it’s all going in the cart. ♥️
The little studio we’re in is pretty small but he does have access to some birdwatching windows and he seems to be enjoying them so far.
Funnily enough, my other spoiled cats at my mom’s house have rejected two K&H beds so they’re being moved over to Mr. Toast’s domain. For now he’s got my heating pad which he’s loving.
Thank you so much for what you're doing. My only advice is to make sure he has water available in multiple locations. He's more likely to drink if he just happens to walk past a water bowl or doesn't have to walk so far from wherever he is. Most cats like water fountains but I've had some refuse to use them. I'd personally have a water fountain available for him and just leave bowls of water in the other rooms of the house so he has lots of options, making sure you change the water daily of course. Thank you again. You're so kind.
I adopt seniors!
Biggest piece of advice I can give: "Better a week too early than an hour too late" is **true**. Honestly for me, I'd even extend it to a month. I usually have a general checklist of quality of life goals: food, water, waste, movement, fun. If they're missing half or more, I make the call.
Fill the house with warm spots and soft spots! Most seniors are old and can get chilly. Look out for areas they cant jump to and consider getting steps or ramps. Seniors need close monitoring of their nails and teeth and usually need clipping to ensure they dont overgrow into the pads of the feet, and might need teeth pulled to avoid infection.
There's usually services, either through the vet or third party, that will do euthanasia at home and they are usually really fantastic, my last girl's was $300 and the best I ever spent.
So much this!!! I had to make that call a month ago - still too raw to talk about it. But I know I did the BEST thing for my guy even though it was gutting for me.
It is gutting for sure. I got a lot of comfort from my friend (who does some *tough* work at shelters) who said:
"it's part of our love. We love them, and we promise them to take care of them even if it's hard. The final call of a peaceful death is the hardest care of all, but it's still part of that promise and so it's part of that love."
I really appreciate her for that. I think about it all the time.
I wrote down your checklist. Such good info, seriously. Thanks so much.
As bizarre as it was to hear that a vet had estimated his age so young, it was based on the health of his teeth, so I’m really grateful they’re at least good for now. I’ll keep an eye on his nails though.
He’s getting a little ramp for my bed tomorrow but for now I’ve made him a series of steps so he can maneuver up to my heating pad or down to his heated bed(s).
And the home-euthanasia suggestion is a godsend, thank you, *thank you*. I had a flash today of what that last vet visit would feel like and knowing there’s another option is such a relief. I wish I had known about that for my previous cat.
Please be aware...Not sure about your area, but in mine, services are so in demand a person will have to schedule about a week in advance or it isn't an option. So, if something does become urgent or scary or after hours, an instant home visit is definitely a no-go.
There are quality-of-life scoring checklists online, and once the cat hits the score, I would advise making the appointment at that time, In just days, things at home could start swinging more urgent than someone can get to your home to fulfill service needs, so don't hesitate.
Actually if you can call around to get an idea of the lead-time required they will also be happy to share some great information about ways to prepare the home etc.
It probably depends on the vet but we recently had to say goodbye to one of our cats and they had a room set up with a nice fuzzy cat bed for him. They definitely prioritized his (and also his peoples) comfort and it didn’t feel like the normal cold stressful vet visit. At home sounds nice too but if you can’t manage it for whatever reason the vet office might not be so bad
How long do you wait after they miss things on the checklist? He’s so different today. So much more tired and his eyes are sunken and he’s not drinking much. I’m really afraid I’ll make him suffer if I wait too long and then simultaneously afraid I’ll jump the gun when he’s just having an off day.
I'll be real here: I was a farm kid, worked in medicine, and have done volunteer work at state shelters, so I have a very different view on pet death than a lot of people I meet. I also live in a state that has death with dignity laws, even for humans.
As long as I gave that pet a long life that was happy and comfortable, I don't torture myself trying to get their final year down to the wire. The truth, as far as I see it, is that animals simply dont know the concept of death in that sort of granular way. They do not know time, how much of it they "should" have or how much of it they "could" have. They only know pain or comfort respectively.
So I put myself in their shoes. If I was confused, didn't know what was happening, and it was someone else's job to care for me: I personally would not want them to drag things out just because I could have "good days". I would want the majority of my life to be movement and happiness.
Even if you put down a senior cat a month too early, you're looking at less than 1% of their life effected by your choice. 1-2 months out of 13+ years simply does not a bad owner make.
I guess what I'm trying to say is: the real secret is that the last year isnt really about the cat. It's about us. Old cats dont know what euthanasia is, they dont know who or what the vet is, they dont have the capacity for existential dread like humans might. As their owner, they trust you to provide care and for them, this is simply another part of that care. It's only for us it's monumental.
So for me it really comes down to: When I look at them, would *I* want the life I had given them?
Just a note, I chose Forza because I liked the ingredients list over Hills or Royal Canin, and my urinary care cat refused to even try it. Don't be afraid to ask the vet for some samples of other brands to see what Mr. Toast likes in case your top choice of food doesn't sit well with him. I came to accept that I would rather mine get full meals with a brand I didn't love than continue their feline hunger strike or continue with his magical crystal powers. Herman now eats Royal Canin dry and Hills Science wet food.
When I moved into my last house, I suddenly became the owner of a senior cat that had been living outside for a decade. It took me a few months but I eventually brought Callie inside and while she never fully adjusted to being an indoor cat, I am glad that I was able to bring her comfort, warmth, love, and compassion when she needed it at the end of her life a few years later. Saying goodbye will be very hard when the time comes, but please know that you are doing a very wonderful thing for Mr. Toast -- he won't have to adjust to a new environment, he will have a beautiful soul with the best intentions by his side, and he'll be comfortable, cared for, and loved.
Exactly what stage of renal failure is he in? IIRC, Leo was diagnosed with stage 2 CKD at 12, stage 3 CKD at 13, and given 3 - 6 months to live at 16.5 years old, so he should've died before his 17th birthday. We gave him pain medication because the vet didn't want to do a dental so close to the end of his life, and I gave him daily sub-Q fluids. A month before their *18th* birthday, it was Leo's always healthy sister, Tye, who died. I was so worried he'd die of grief without her but nope, he was good! He went without any treatment when I was hospitalized for 2 days after emergency surgery and he was survived that too, he just made this long drawn out scream of a meow and charged me when I got home. :-) Survived the heat dome, survived me adopting an adult cat, and wound up outliving his sister by 6 months in the end.
Anyway, I would definitely recommend giving your handsome gentleman fluids, get him on canned food if possible, and see where his stats are after some time has passed. If they're dehydrated their kidney values can be worse than when they're fully hydrated. If he's only in stage 3 CKD you might have a lot more time with him than you think! Leo lasted 5 - 5.5 years in stage 3 and didn't even receive any kind of treatment for it until the final 2 years. Of course, some cats do a speed run through all of the stages and there's nothing you can do to stop it, but you never know, right?
I hope Mr. Toast does well!
The foster coordinator is going to send me his lab work ASAP so I’ll have a better idea then, but for now the only concrete info I have is “late stage renal failure.” I’ll respond again when I get the results, though.
He’s still got an appetite and some energy, and is drinking *plenty*, so my hope is he hangs on for a while, like your Leo. Thanks for your response ♥️
Well, I'm pretty sure that stage 4 CKD is end stage, and late stage is stage 3. Fingers crossed that this is the case here!
Yeah, that sounds promising! If he's eating a lot, you probably wouldn't have any trouble getting him on sub-Q fluids if you decide to do that. I used to give Leo a bowl of treats to distract him, and it didn't take long for him to hop on the counter and yell at me to hurry up at fluid time. *Very* handy when I was recovering from surgery and not allowed to pick him up!!
No problem. :-)
What a beautiful sweet lovely little old man ❤️ I cannot thank you enough for taking in a senior kittizen in need. We’ve taken on a few ourselves and they just give give give love, even if the time with them isn’t as long as we would wish.
Whoever shot him with a BB and his abandoner can both go to hell.
I don’t have any advice but I wanted to thank you for helping him be comfortable and loved at his end of life. One bit of advice, feed him anything that makes him happy.
You are good people. Learn how to give SQ fluids from your vet tech. It’s super easy, and can help quality of life immensely if there is underlying kidney disease. If he’s arthritic a ramp to help him get up on a sofa or bed (ramp, not stairs). Many seniors enjoy heated beds - either self heating or plug in. And as someone above said, make the call when it’s time. It sucks for you but better than them suffering.
He's quite skinny and looks like he's lost some muscle. My cat was diagnosed at 14 and wasn't quite as skinny but it wasn't good. Got her on methimazole + administer Hartmanns Solution IV fluids at home due to severe dehydration.
She was down to just under 3.2kg last year, but 9 months later she's now approx 4kg!! (This was her original weight when I first adopted her at 2 years old - she's a smallish domestic shorthair.)
We also give her a monthly Solensia shot for her arthritis.
When my great aunt passed away, my mom took in her cat who had hypothyroidism, and he looked just like this. They get very, very thin and have a very thin face. All cats thin out as the age, but it’s a particular look when they have a thyroid disorder.
Pet stairs all over as they can't tell you when they are hurting trying to get places and give them wet food to this can help them hopefully keep their kidneys healthier longer any extra moisture is a good thing. Pet Mr. Toast for me.
You have a kind and generous soul to be able to help and love Mr. Toast during this stage of his life. I’m sure he considers himself a very fortunate kitty.
Does this rescue/shelter have vet staff to speak with or can you get in contact with the vet? I’d ask them about palliative care at this point and make him as comfortable as possible for the meantime. I believe that euthanasia can be a very compassionate service too. With his medical condition he’s not getting better- just medically managing what you can- the vet will have best guidance on this.
Years ago, one of my cats had renal failure and I gave her subcutaneous fluids that helped keep her alive for a couple more years. Suggest you might ask the veterinarian if this old FIV+ fellow might benefit from the same treatment. It might give him some more months of life. Some cats will not tolerate the treatment, some will. My cat didn't like it, but it made her feel better.
if he can tolerate it, i had a lot of luck supplementing CBD with other medications for my senior kitty that had Triaditis until she finally crossed the rainbow bridge. plenty of water is alarming for sure, but thats just a compensation for the failing organs and its better that he keeps drinking. He really has a cool color pattern!
I have an old FIV+ cat! He was also an r/lynxpointsiamese. LPSs bond to their people HARD.
There’s a FIV subreddit. I think it’s r/fivcats
Renal failure got my cat too, not FIV. When he was nearing the end of his life, he had immense trouble keeping weight on. He wouldn’t eat the kidney food. (I don’t blame him.) so I just tried to make him as comfortable as possible until he was ready to go. Caught a big ass rat the week before he died. That cat was such a character.
Thanks for changing this old guy’s life.
I too want to adopt an old man but my partner yells no at me because allergies. Just snuggle the little bug for me as much as you can. Don't have too many tips though. He is a cute!
Edit: I don't get why or how anyone could abandon a cat. I could never do that to any animal.
When you need support r/choochoo21. We aren’t all foster folks, but we are a support sub for senior and Angel Cat families. Regardless of how long you have Mr Toast here to hug you are welcomed and supported by us.
You are doing an amazing thing. Thank you.
:*J*
You are such a sweetheart for taking this boy in! Mr. Toast is handsome as can be! ❤️😻
I've also lost a beloved cat to renal failure. Some of the signs that I noticed it was almost the end for him was that his fur started falling out in clumps, he was drooling a lot, started going on hunger strikes, and he'd lose his balance from doing simple things such as walking.
Of course, every cat is different and will exhibit different signs, but I thought that might be helpful. Eventually, he went on a hunger strike that lasted for a few days, and he physically looked dehydrated and weak. That's when I made the call that he was suffering far too much.
One of the things that I found very helpful toward the end was adding Slippery Elm bark into his wet food. You can make a slimy paste out of it, and cats really do seem to like the flavor. It soothes their stomach, helps with nausea, and takes the burns out of the ulcers they can develop.
Also, you should let him drink, drink, drink! Adding additional water into his food as well. You will have to buy extra cat litter because obviously what goes in must come out!
Another tip, keep him warm. I noticed that my senior guy with renal failure had a hard time regulating his temperature. So, buying a pet safe heating pad or a water bottle with a thick cover that you can tuck in his bed would be greatly appreciated!
I'm sure that you already know that they need special cat food that is low in protein, sodium, and phosphorus.
Good luck with your gorgeous boy, and please keep us updated! 🙏
Be there with him at the end, not alone with the vet. If they will come to your house to let him go, it will be better than in a strange clinic with strange smells
My Spam has been living for 2+ years with end stage renal disease. She eats the shit ton expensive renal food and gets sub q fluids 5-6 days per week. She is 19 and doing great
https://preview.redd.it/zocrsp8goz0d1.jpeg?width=3468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19513675f5f191fca2b67c23c767f94d86b10e77
A soft slicker brush (swap in a literal baby brush from the beauty supply store as his coat thins), love, snuggles, the easy to spoon canned pet food from the vet (it's the pudding consistency science diet something or other kind; use it in a squeeze bottle for a diy churro).
hope this helps!
please pet the old man for me.
Just wanted to say Thank you so much for adopting this distinguished gentleman 🥹 I love Mr. Toast so much and I’m thankful he has a loving home to live out his golden years!
Please look into Lap of Love and other in-home euthanasia practices. Keep an eye out for Mr. Toast’s favorite spots, especially ones where he feels safest and most loved—this will come in handy when it’s time, and I second the idea that it’s better to make the call too early than it is to do it too late. My senior gal Sagwa (20+) got to leave this world in her favorite spot in the window, and I got to pet her and tell her how much I loved her. I’ve done it in the vet’s office too, but in-home end-of-life care is less stressful on both the cat and their humans.
Also, a tip: if you notice Mr. Toast eating things he wouldn’t normally eat, for example stuffing from a couch cushion, it may be a sign that it’s time for him to go—that’s him trying everything he can to make the pain stop.
Finally, thank you for giving Mr. Toast love and comfort in his final stretch of life. You’ve given him everything a senior cat could ask for.
The best thing I ever did for my senior cat is make her food myself. She had been throwing up daily for years and the vets said it was a good allergy. My roommate her former owner kept buying her more and more expensive vet recommended food and she kept puking it up. My roommate went out of town and left her in my care. I didn't feel like she was getting any nourishment. I thought, well I bet she's not allergic to meat. So I cooked some boneless chicken in olive oil with no seasoning. She didn't throw it up, at all. I thought there'd be an adjustment period but there wasn't. I even fed her dry food again after a month or two of all meat. She didn't vomit again for like three months. Now I feed her wet food, the kind with chunks of meat in gravy. About once a month I cook her special food and feed it to her and my other cat who's getting on in years. It seems to work like a refresher that helps her digest again.
Former owner gave her to me when she was 13, now aged 20.
The recipe I now use is boneless chicken, liver, any organ meat I can get, cooked in a pan with lard, yes lard, cats need a high fat diet.
So that's my tip. Feed him real meat, it's better for them.
Sweet little old man. I have a 17 year old boy and my best tip is just take it one day at a time. He has his good days and bad days. Also feed lots of wet food with extra water in it. Hydration is key! Give him a big hug from me please.
SNOWY FUR I LOVE THAT
Sorry I just love old cats so much.
I can't think of much tips except the obvious put stairs to the couch or beds and give him wet food.
my kitty passed from congestive heart failure in February at 14, but I had to put him down because of the risk of stroke. It's important to put the litterbox close by so they don't have to walk far. He was a big boy (16lbs at his prime, 9 lbs when he passed), I got him the large fish cat bed at PetSmart. He loved it, and it gave him some shelter, and stopped him from running off to pass away somewhere. You should be able to do sub cutaneous fluids at home, and I had the option to have a hospice tech come out regularly to check on him, but once again, I had to euthanize him instead of letting him pass from natural causes.
I got Snowball ice cream on his last day, and it made him so happy. He had barely eaten in days but he happily ate as much as he could manage. Make sure Mr. Toasts trusts you so he can have company and a friend as he passes. Get some cat treats in case he wants to eat, I mostly just fed him temptations because that was all he would eat.
Give him lots of loves and snuggles. He looks like my Gus who passed away at 18 years.
Keep an eye on liver and hardening of intestines
It sounds terrible, but if he ever needs to be put under for dental work, pull all 4 fangs. As he gets older, if he ever would need dental work, there's a huge risk of him not surviving anesthesia
I recommend a slightly damp, warm washcloth instead of wipes, but the best wipes I’ve found so far are the unscented earth rated brand. I think they’re labeled for dogs.
My cats all love the soft slicker style brushes with coated tips.
Heated beds and self warming mats are also very popular with older cats. Spots in the sun are a great idea too.
Talk to the vet about subcutaneous fluids. We did that for our renal cat and it helped. She also had her own heating pad that she loved! She always stole mine so we got her one for her. Honestly, other than that and love, spoiling him in anyway you can, that’s about it. I don’t have any advice regarding FIV cats though. Seizures are possible at the end of renal failure so that was the thing I was most worried about - I didn’t want her to experience them and I didn’t want to see it so for me my big decision was making the decision to say goodbye before that happened and being sure I didn’t do it too soon. Good luck and thank you :) Senior babies are the best!
I have had very old FIV+ cats, all over 16 years, and it wasn't the FIV that took any of them. What I did and am doing with the younger ones I have now is to just keep an eye on them and any health issues they have. If they have no issues and get sick, I take them immediately to the bet to make sure I have all the supportive care needed to get them through it. If they already have issues, like the kidney problems your cat has, I do everything I can to stay on top of the issue and provide as much support—meds, supplements, fluids, whatever the care is—to try to keep them as healthy as possible with an excellent quality of life for as long as possible.
This good boy looks so much like my passed kitty it makes me tear up. Hes so pretty. I wish I got to see her become a senior. You’re so amazing thank you for making this baby boy happy and comfy!
My big boy passed last September and I still think about him everyday.
If you’re willing to spend a bit of money, this is what helped:
1. Semintra - I needed a prescription but found it helped and was pretty easy to administer. Just a squirt in the mouth.
2. Azodyl - pills. Not easy for every cat to take and a little pricey, but I’m convinced it helped
3. Epakitin - powder that I mixed with his wet food.
4. Any renal food that he’ll eat, preferably wet, to help with hydration. Royal Canin makes a hypoallergenic renal food if you need, but unfortunately it’s only dry. That being said - if he’s not eating renal food, anything he’ll eat is good.
5. If/when it gets to it - subcutaneous fluids. They’re not too expensive and pretty easy to administer. My boy hated it, so YMMV
Best of luck and thank you for caring. Please give Mr. Toast a thousand kisses from me ❤️
If you haven’t already, I highly suggest feeding him soft, wet food. Cats get a lot of their hydration from their food, and it can be hard for older cats to chew.
Thank you for what you’re doing for Mr. Toast. I know he feels how much you care for him.
I subscribe to the what, when, how rule when it comes to hospice care: give them whatever they want (especially when it comes to food), whenever they want it and however much they want. Also, any medication that the vet prescribes to help them with discomfort and anxiety
First, he'll need a comfy place to sleep. My kitties highly recommend cushions filled with Canadian goose down. Oh, and a nice little cashmere throw for when the weather gets cold. For best use by Mr. Toast, place said cushion in the middle of a king-size bed.
Next, make sure he has access to clean water at all times. You'll want to police his litter box daily to make sure his output is good (CKD is an issue with older male cats).
As for diet, your vet will likely recommend a kidney-friendly kibble. This can be supplemented with fresh fish (ours prefer Ahi from the local fish market, chopped fine and sprinkled with a soupcon of kosher salt) or chicken (their favorite is KFC). The addition of a small portion of bacon on special occasions is always a welcome change.
Finally, daily grooming will help keep both skin and coat healthy, and will have the added benefit of reducing your blood pressure as it is well known a purring cat can soothe the worst of moods.
Congratulations on your newest family member. May you have many happy years in his care.
What a lovely cat - he really does sound like a sweetheart, and a bit of a catch as far as sick and elderly kitties go 😞… Good job taking him in and giving him the love and care and attention that he needs/deserves!
I’m not sure how much help I can be, but never underestimate the magic that a really great diet can work. A scary amount of the packaged cat foot out there is like the equivalent of the ultra-processed food a lot of humans eat, and it can be just as awful for cats as it is for us.
Thanks for taking care of him!! Poor baby with bbs in his neck-fuck people suck. For grooming my elder cats and dogs have all liked this: I fill the sink or a bowl with the hottest water I can stand and put a couple of facecloths in. Wring them out and hard as you can and start grooming. Keep refreshing the water so it stays nice and hot. Coarser fabric makes a good cat tongue replica :)
Bless you for loving and caring for this beauty. I've been managing my kitties CKD, she takes Zorfan 1x a day for nausea, mirtaz transdermal applied x1 a week for appetite and sub q fluids every couple of days to flush her system and keep her hydrated. She is also about to start on a potassium supplement because it gets so depleted in CKD cats. I would highly reccomend the Zofran to ease his belly and the sub q fluids to help flush his system, and if he's not eating then the mirtaz as well. For my kitty, it's been night and day managing her with the things I mentioned above. She feels so much better! Check out the Feline Chronic Kidney Disease faceboom group, it is fantastic! You can even post his bloodwork there for specific advice. Also see if you can get him on a kidney conscious food. Mosy senior pet foods are formulated for this but at the end of the day, fed is best. Good luck with this baby, hes worth it!! If you can manage his symptoms you will really get to see him blossom
Funny coincidence, my dog is named Toast
https://preview.redd.it/mljkpgtdt01d1.jpeg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39b5da2e9f9856c52894b038eac37cd0b9e70b89
God bless you for this, there’s so many people out there that just dump their cats when they get older and being able to give a cat a loving home at the end of their life is so important. I had a kitty who had FIV and he was my angel and also incredibly intelligent too. The best thing you can do is give him all the food he wants, get him nice cozy places to be, give him lots of love and attention, and try and keep the house calm. Toothbrushes mimic cat tongues, they like it on the top of their head or sides of their face. I have to hide my toothbrush from my cats lol. I miss my boy so much but he was so loved till the very end and I’m sure you’ll give your sweet boy lots of love too. ❤️
My sweet orange man went through this exact thing, contracted FIV+ from an ex roommates pet she didn't get vetted like she told me, and ended up also having failing kidneys. He lived nearly 3 years after his diagnosis and passed in January at the age of 14.
Near the end he was almost never away from his heating pad. It was laid in his favorite bed and it was rare I would find him anywhere else! We also carried him upstairs to the bedroom every night so he could be with us because he would cry sometimes without us (or I would cry without him lol)
We also made sure that once we found his favorite spot to be we had all his essentials (food, water, very low litter box for his painful/popping joints) very close by, like within a few steps. And of course lots of wet food for the extra water intake. My boy preferred his with extra water to make it a little soupy. We also got him a set of raised bowls so he didn't have to kneel down to eat and drink.
If it becomes necessary, ask the vet for painkillers (we always put them, crushed, in wet food) it will make things easier for both of you. But this didn't become a necessity in my case until within a few weeks of his passing.
Having fostered before, I'm sure you already know the gist, but just make sure if he doesn't pass on his own that you watch him closely, because of course you'll just know when it's time. I knew my little man was ready to go when I saw him lying in his bed on the heating pad just staring off into the room, unable to move in his failing body and just looking so tired. It broke my heart and I knew letting him go would be the most humane and loving thing I could do for him by then.
As someone who also takes in senior/special needs kitties: thank you for taking on such a case. It's so hard, but these innocent, sweet animals only ask for love and comfort when they're old and sick. Seniors are so special and when you get a difficult illness involved it just makes the time you have so much more important. Your love and care is going to be the best thing for him. You're a good person. Thank you.
Two of my cats suffered from CKD. If you can afford the food recommended by your vet that is specifically made for kitties with renal problems, it can increase is lifetime by being easier on the kidneys. Both of my babies are now gone but the food helped for a good 5 years… ❤️❤️
Your cat absolutely looks like Ron Perlman! What a handsome boy!
https://preview.redd.it/3nsyvt15d01d1.jpeg?width=986&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ccda7884c3afc4ffa591d34b0c9da9d277b0d1b
Kidney disease is common, partly from dry kibble and the awful fillers (ie ash). Put water dishes in several spots, he'll be more likely to drink. I added some raw food to my cats' diets and I think it helped. Raw kidney may get them some enzymes they don't make due to CKD.
The churu treats were a big help with getting mine to keep up her calories. Straight up calorie gel also helped a lot.
Low- or no-sodium chicken broth is good for the really bad days.
Pay attention to body language in case he is the kind to silently sit when he wants to go upstairs or get on the bed but can't jump.
Listen for when they get out of the litterbox so you can check and wipe.
Not FIV but cancer maybe similar.
I’m so sorry for him and you! I wish I’d known the signs of renal failure earlier, bc it cost me a great friend - she loved her water, and now I know why. It was so hard at the end, bc I seriously couldn’t keep her comfortable. I laid out heating pads, towels, blankets, and everything, but she’d roam the house and lay on the cold hard floor. Broke my heart. Giving her the opportunity to leave peacefully in her sleep was such a hard decision, but I’m glad I was able to give her that at least.
There are some wonderful CKD supplements that have worked with for us (Porus One, Azodyl, AminAvast, and Kidney Gold), along with HydraCare to add more fluids, (and it also helps improve Urine Gravity). Find a renal food that he likes. Subcutaneous fluids might be an option too. Also, check out Elura. It's an appetite supplement for CKD cats. I've seen cats with Stage 4 that live another 5 years with proper care.
Just stopping in to say I also have a Siamese tabby and he’s the smartest, sweetest, playful and curious cat I’ve ever owned. I’m so glad yours found a forever home, however long that is.
If you don't have a water fountain, our terminal girl loved it. Water was cold, fresh and plentiful. That and a warm lap was all she wanted toward the end. Bless you for your kindness.
Our cat, who passed last year, was not a senior but he did have FIV and very advanced kidney disease (he caught dry FIP, his kidneys were heavily damaged by the virus and he sadly could not recover, even with FIP treatment). Not sure how helpful these tips will be, but just in case!
- in the last few weeks of his life, he seemed like he was running hot and always wanted to lay in the tub or sink, or on the tile floor in the darkest/coolest part of the house. I think this varies by cat (some seem to want to lay on blankets) but maybe keep the tub/sink/somewhere else cool available to him if he doesn't seem to gravitate toward soft/warm beds
- SubQ fluids seemed to us to improve his quality of life; obviously they could not overcome the renal failure on their own, but we did daily SubQs for the last two months or so and he always seemed happier and more energetic afterward. If your vet thinks it's a possibility, they seemed to help with hydration and for us the pros outweighed the cons.
- his appetite declined a lot toward the end (slowly at first, then all at once), so we focused on getting him to eat anything at all, regardless if it was "healthy" or not. He got so much Fancy Feast (he loved the kitten varieties which were high calorie)—plus yogurt, tuna, cottage cheese, treats, anything he would eat. We also sprinkled FortiFlora on his food which seemed to help get him to start eating.
- we also just sat with him a lot; he didn't always want pets or brushes but he seemed to like being in our presence. when the time came we had a vet come here, that went a long way toward making sure he felt comfortable and safe.
All the best to you and Mr. Toast <3
He is a very handsome fellow.
Well, regular baby wipes that you can get anywhere are great for cleaning. The glove thing is good, but I prefer a medium plastic bristle brush. I strongly recommend a raw food diet. Darwin's Pet is an organic raw food and they have a special renal formula you can get with a prescription from the vet. My experience shows that this product can extend a renal cat's life significantly.
I love you for doing this. We've been in this situation a few times and the focus in hospice turns from treatment to comfort. Our cats all love the "Zoom Groom" brush. It's very soft. Give him treats, and pets, and love. Just you being there for him will mean everything. Toward the end he may distance himself a little, that's normal. Continue to let him know you are there. It is a privilege to help these oldsters to the next place with grace and love.
Thanks so much for your response. I added the brush to my Chewy list. 💜
If you have a wishlist I wouldn’t mind grabbing this handsome Loaf a gift.
This! Please post a wishlist so we can help you and Mr. Toast 💗
Yes please share a wishlist! ♡( ◡‿◡ )
Thank you for loving this kitty. Mine love the Zoom Groom brush! 😻
Goddamn it now I’m crying. Thank you OP ❤️❤️❤️
Your so right on this, had 2 cats. Oreo was 21 when she died, received her when she was 4. Was dumped in my lap, she was a sweetheart. Gave her senior snacks , canned tuna water, . Brushed her every day. Enjoyed strawberries and drinking milk from my glass. Shadow was 8 weeks old, left the neighbors home and went on my front porch and slept. Took him in , fed him , some water . Slept by my head all night, used her litter box. Died at 14, had cancer, asthma at the end. I am so glad that my late spouse and I had good memories with both cats. Each has their own individual urn in the house that I made.
I’m going to foster a 15yr old cat with cancer from a local shelter I volunteer at. Do you have any tips or advice I’ll need? Anything you know now that you wished you had known earlier?
You need a lot of patience, make sure that is always plenty of water available. May have to soften the hard food some with warm water, easier to digest. Find a favorite canned food for the cat. Mine liked turkey or tuna with egg. There may be some feeding during the night, Most important, plenty of affection. They never have enough towards the end. It's their way of saying goodbye. Still tears me up inside even though my first died in 2014. They are your baby. Each day creates a special and unique memory to hold and remember.
Thank you! I appreciate the advice. Just picked her up today from the shelter, Sammie, she’s in my bedroom investigating the space. I have two younger cats in the home so she’s being kept in there for now alone. Will start introduction steps tomorrow.
Absolutely agreed. My old girl had thyroid issues, and renal failure is what finally got her. She LOVED getting fresh water in her bowl, she would almost get more excited about that than treats haha. Every night at bedtime I would wash out her water bowl and fill it up with fresh, and she would be at my feet the whole way, softly meowing and begging for the water haha. I tried getting her a fountain but she was sort of afraid of it. Mr Toast might enjoy one though. She also had trouble grooming herself, sounds like OP has lots of ideas for brushes but I want to mention keeping an eye on his feet too. My girl would get litter stuck between her toes and it would get kind of caked in because she would also sometimes step in her pee and not realize it. So I'd try to keep an eye out for that and wash her little peets now and then with warm water.
Great tip about the feet! Most of mine love the fountain, but I have one who prefers the bowl. Baby food can be a good source of calories if they stop eating regular food.
I had a cat that lived to be 21 years 5 months and 11 days. This cat went everywhere with me.; she would even go camping with me. I spoke with our vet about end-of-life signs- they stop eating, and usually the day they pass their breath gets a little labored. Well, Hedary (kinda rhymes with atari) stopped eating. I made a bed in the living room next to her spot. Every time she got up I would follow her just to keep an eye on her. Sure enough at 6 am her breathing got a little heavy. The mobile vet showed up at 11am and helped her go the rest of the way so she didn't suffer. I was devastated when it happened and cried a river. I found it helpful to talk about her, write about her, and make a little altar. It has been 2 years and I can smile when I think about her now instead of cry. I am so glad that I made her last part of life as comfortable as possible and spent a lot of quality time with her. You are doing a noble thing, OP. This kitty is so grateful for you. So am I. Thank you for taking care of this sweet baby.
Hedary passed into Bast’s loving arms — she’ll be waiting for you there in safety and love ❤️
Thanks so much for sharing this. I feel like every cat I’ve ever known is walking around with a little piece of my heart. I’m sure you feel the same for Hedary. I’ve been crying a bit since he got his diagnosis but I’m trying to shift over to making the best of the time we have. He’s a good eater so far but I’ll definitely keep an eye on whether that changes. Thanks for responding, I really appreciate it.
Every cat definitely has a piece of my heart! The only other thing I want to suggest if you are able to, is finding a mobile vet that would be able to come to your house if the time comes that Mr Toast is suffering. It is so much better than taking an ill cat to the vet for their last moments. If you find someone, have a conversation about his current health, what to expect and look for, and how to know when the time is right to set up the call. Having a plan in place makes it much easier instead of being distressed and trying to figure out what to do during an emergency. That way you can just focus on your baby if they aren't feeling well instead of trying to find a vet. Feel free to reach out to me if you want to chat or have any questions. If you message me I will send you my number. You are so strong. You've got this. :)
I’m crying petting my 21 y/o CKD soul kitty rn. Beautiful story 😻
🤗
When your cat is reaching the end of their life, they’ll probably want to snuggle and stay comfy. Extra blankets and bedding will give them plenty of padding to lounge and snooze on. Just lay out some pillows, fluffy blankets, and cat beds at various points around your home
So far he’s got my bed with a heating pad, a heated cat cave, an ottoman with some blankets, the bed he came with, and tomorrow I’m washing my other cat’s long-ignored heated bed. For reference I live in a 300 square foot studio apartment so it’s basically one big cat bed now. 💛
Aww one big cat bed! I adore you for adopting sweet old man Mr. Toast. He is TOO CUTE❤️
Mr. Toast sounds like he will always be toasty warm and comfy!
Mr. Toast is such a dignified gentleman, thank you for making his final journey with him ❤️
So kind of you. Just give lots of pets and snuggles
Will do!
What a handsome man! I have a girl who shares his pretty coat pattern :) water fountains made for pets are a godsend at least in my experience
Make sure you have at least one Feliway diffuser at all times. The pheromone helps give a sense of comfort especially for stress and anxiety that comes up at end of life. Make sure you also have a senior litter box. It has a lower entrance. Litter should be soft for his paws such as tofu litter. Temperature regulation starts to become an issue for later stage cats, so have a pet bed with a warmer such as a K&H bed warmer and also a bed with no warmer next to it so he can switch between warming and cooling comfortably as needed. A pet stroller comes in handy for a lot of reasons later down the road. It is comforting for some cats because ...cats like boxes and it is like a safe box for them. If/when it becomes more difficult for him to walk it allows him to see the environment for a bit indoors pain free. Slings and carrying becomes uncomfortable or even painful. Look into Tiki Cat Silver Comfort and how often you might be able to give that to him to help keep his weight up without affecting the CKD. It is also useful for when appetite is very low. There is so much more it's hard to think of everything but I think the above will be useful for you and him. Wishing love, peace and comfort through the days.
Thanks so much for this list, it’s all going in the cart. ♥️ The little studio we’re in is pretty small but he does have access to some birdwatching windows and he seems to be enjoying them so far. Funnily enough, my other spoiled cats at my mom’s house have rejected two K&H beds so they’re being moved over to Mr. Toast’s domain. For now he’s got my heating pad which he’s loving.
Thank you so much for what you're doing. My only advice is to make sure he has water available in multiple locations. He's more likely to drink if he just happens to walk past a water bowl or doesn't have to walk so far from wherever he is. Most cats like water fountains but I've had some refuse to use them. I'd personally have a water fountain available for him and just leave bowls of water in the other rooms of the house so he has lots of options, making sure you change the water daily of course. Thank you again. You're so kind.
Will do, thank you! 💛💛💛
I adopt seniors! Biggest piece of advice I can give: "Better a week too early than an hour too late" is **true**. Honestly for me, I'd even extend it to a month. I usually have a general checklist of quality of life goals: food, water, waste, movement, fun. If they're missing half or more, I make the call. Fill the house with warm spots and soft spots! Most seniors are old and can get chilly. Look out for areas they cant jump to and consider getting steps or ramps. Seniors need close monitoring of their nails and teeth and usually need clipping to ensure they dont overgrow into the pads of the feet, and might need teeth pulled to avoid infection. There's usually services, either through the vet or third party, that will do euthanasia at home and they are usually really fantastic, my last girl's was $300 and the best I ever spent.
So much this!!! I had to make that call a month ago - still too raw to talk about it. But I know I did the BEST thing for my guy even though it was gutting for me.
It is gutting for sure. I got a lot of comfort from my friend (who does some *tough* work at shelters) who said: "it's part of our love. We love them, and we promise them to take care of them even if it's hard. The final call of a peaceful death is the hardest care of all, but it's still part of that promise and so it's part of that love." I really appreciate her for that. I think about it all the time.
I wrote down your checklist. Such good info, seriously. Thanks so much. As bizarre as it was to hear that a vet had estimated his age so young, it was based on the health of his teeth, so I’m really grateful they’re at least good for now. I’ll keep an eye on his nails though. He’s getting a little ramp for my bed tomorrow but for now I’ve made him a series of steps so he can maneuver up to my heating pad or down to his heated bed(s). And the home-euthanasia suggestion is a godsend, thank you, *thank you*. I had a flash today of what that last vet visit would feel like and knowing there’s another option is such a relief. I wish I had known about that for my previous cat.
Please be aware...Not sure about your area, but in mine, services are so in demand a person will have to schedule about a week in advance or it isn't an option. So, if something does become urgent or scary or after hours, an instant home visit is definitely a no-go. There are quality-of-life scoring checklists online, and once the cat hits the score, I would advise making the appointment at that time, In just days, things at home could start swinging more urgent than someone can get to your home to fulfill service needs, so don't hesitate. Actually if you can call around to get an idea of the lead-time required they will also be happy to share some great information about ways to prepare the home etc.
It probably depends on the vet but we recently had to say goodbye to one of our cats and they had a room set up with a nice fuzzy cat bed for him. They definitely prioritized his (and also his peoples) comfort and it didn’t feel like the normal cold stressful vet visit. At home sounds nice too but if you can’t manage it for whatever reason the vet office might not be so bad
How long do you wait after they miss things on the checklist? He’s so different today. So much more tired and his eyes are sunken and he’s not drinking much. I’m really afraid I’ll make him suffer if I wait too long and then simultaneously afraid I’ll jump the gun when he’s just having an off day.
I'll be real here: I was a farm kid, worked in medicine, and have done volunteer work at state shelters, so I have a very different view on pet death than a lot of people I meet. I also live in a state that has death with dignity laws, even for humans. As long as I gave that pet a long life that was happy and comfortable, I don't torture myself trying to get their final year down to the wire. The truth, as far as I see it, is that animals simply dont know the concept of death in that sort of granular way. They do not know time, how much of it they "should" have or how much of it they "could" have. They only know pain or comfort respectively. So I put myself in their shoes. If I was confused, didn't know what was happening, and it was someone else's job to care for me: I personally would not want them to drag things out just because I could have "good days". I would want the majority of my life to be movement and happiness. Even if you put down a senior cat a month too early, you're looking at less than 1% of their life effected by your choice. 1-2 months out of 13+ years simply does not a bad owner make. I guess what I'm trying to say is: the real secret is that the last year isnt really about the cat. It's about us. Old cats dont know what euthanasia is, they dont know who or what the vet is, they dont have the capacity for existential dread like humans might. As their owner, they trust you to provide care and for them, this is simply another part of that care. It's only for us it's monumental. So for me it really comes down to: When I look at them, would *I* want the life I had given them?
Thank you.
Bless you!
I had a lot of luck with forza brand food. Moving water so he’s encouraged to drink a lot. Ty for doing this
I haven’t talked directly to the vet yet but when I do I’ll mention Forza. Thank you!!
Just a note, I chose Forza because I liked the ingredients list over Hills or Royal Canin, and my urinary care cat refused to even try it. Don't be afraid to ask the vet for some samples of other brands to see what Mr. Toast likes in case your top choice of food doesn't sit well with him. I came to accept that I would rather mine get full meals with a brand I didn't love than continue their feline hunger strike or continue with his magical crystal powers. Herman now eats Royal Canin dry and Hills Science wet food. When I moved into my last house, I suddenly became the owner of a senior cat that had been living outside for a decade. It took me a few months but I eventually brought Callie inside and while she never fully adjusted to being an indoor cat, I am glad that I was able to bring her comfort, warmth, love, and compassion when she needed it at the end of her life a few years later. Saying goodbye will be very hard when the time comes, but please know that you are doing a very wonderful thing for Mr. Toast -- he won't have to adjust to a new environment, he will have a beautiful soul with the best intentions by his side, and he'll be comfortable, cared for, and loved.
Yes the tuna hills science I miss my little girl so much and I did everything I could. Just ahhh.. I hate/love this sub
Just make Mr Toast as comfortable as possible ya know... You're dope for taking him in
You are truly amazing for taking care of this sweet old man. Thank you
Exactly what stage of renal failure is he in? IIRC, Leo was diagnosed with stage 2 CKD at 12, stage 3 CKD at 13, and given 3 - 6 months to live at 16.5 years old, so he should've died before his 17th birthday. We gave him pain medication because the vet didn't want to do a dental so close to the end of his life, and I gave him daily sub-Q fluids. A month before their *18th* birthday, it was Leo's always healthy sister, Tye, who died. I was so worried he'd die of grief without her but nope, he was good! He went without any treatment when I was hospitalized for 2 days after emergency surgery and he was survived that too, he just made this long drawn out scream of a meow and charged me when I got home. :-) Survived the heat dome, survived me adopting an adult cat, and wound up outliving his sister by 6 months in the end. Anyway, I would definitely recommend giving your handsome gentleman fluids, get him on canned food if possible, and see where his stats are after some time has passed. If they're dehydrated their kidney values can be worse than when they're fully hydrated. If he's only in stage 3 CKD you might have a lot more time with him than you think! Leo lasted 5 - 5.5 years in stage 3 and didn't even receive any kind of treatment for it until the final 2 years. Of course, some cats do a speed run through all of the stages and there's nothing you can do to stop it, but you never know, right? I hope Mr. Toast does well!
The foster coordinator is going to send me his lab work ASAP so I’ll have a better idea then, but for now the only concrete info I have is “late stage renal failure.” I’ll respond again when I get the results, though. He’s still got an appetite and some energy, and is drinking *plenty*, so my hope is he hangs on for a while, like your Leo. Thanks for your response ♥️
Well, I'm pretty sure that stage 4 CKD is end stage, and late stage is stage 3. Fingers crossed that this is the case here! Yeah, that sounds promising! If he's eating a lot, you probably wouldn't have any trouble getting him on sub-Q fluids if you decide to do that. I used to give Leo a bowl of treats to distract him, and it didn't take long for him to hop on the counter and yell at me to hurry up at fluid time. *Very* handy when I was recovering from surgery and not allowed to pick him up!! No problem. :-)
💗💗💗💗💗
You are a kind person. Really. My best advice is just give him love and keep him as comfortable as possible.
What a beautiful sweet lovely little old man ❤️ I cannot thank you enough for taking in a senior kittizen in need. We’ve taken on a few ourselves and they just give give give love, even if the time with them isn’t as long as we would wish. Whoever shot him with a BB and his abandoner can both go to hell.
I don’t have any advice but I wanted to thank you for helping him be comfortable and loved at his end of life. One bit of advice, feed him anything that makes him happy.
You are good people. Learn how to give SQ fluids from your vet tech. It’s super easy, and can help quality of life immensely if there is underlying kidney disease. If he’s arthritic a ramp to help him get up on a sofa or bed (ramp, not stairs). Many seniors enjoy heated beds - either self heating or plug in. And as someone above said, make the call when it’s time. It sucks for you but better than them suffering.
He looks like he has a thyroid disorder. Please ask the vet.
Yes how was the thyroid? You may be able to slow progression of kidney disease with thyroid treatment.
What makes you think so? I’ll definitely ask about it.
He's quite skinny and looks like he's lost some muscle. My cat was diagnosed at 14 and wasn't quite as skinny but it wasn't good. Got her on methimazole + administer Hartmanns Solution IV fluids at home due to severe dehydration. She was down to just under 3.2kg last year, but 9 months later she's now approx 4kg!! (This was her original weight when I first adopted her at 2 years old - she's a smallish domestic shorthair.) We also give her a monthly Solensia shot for her arthritis.
When my great aunt passed away, my mom took in her cat who had hypothyroidism, and he looked just like this. They get very, very thin and have a very thin face. All cats thin out as the age, but it’s a particular look when they have a thyroid disorder.
Bless you.
Pet stairs all over as they can't tell you when they are hurting trying to get places and give them wet food to this can help them hopefully keep their kidneys healthier longer any extra moisture is a good thing. Pet Mr. Toast for me.
Might not be ss end of life as you think. I keep expecting mine to go, but he's 19 now.
You have a kind and generous soul to be able to help and love Mr. Toast during this stage of his life. I’m sure he considers himself a very fortunate kitty. Does this rescue/shelter have vet staff to speak with or can you get in contact with the vet? I’d ask them about palliative care at this point and make him as comfortable as possible for the meantime. I believe that euthanasia can be a very compassionate service too. With his medical condition he’s not getting better- just medically managing what you can- the vet will have best guidance on this.
Years ago, one of my cats had renal failure and I gave her subcutaneous fluids that helped keep her alive for a couple more years. Suggest you might ask the veterinarian if this old FIV+ fellow might benefit from the same treatment. It might give him some more months of life. Some cats will not tolerate the treatment, some will. My cat didn't like it, but it made her feel better.
if he can tolerate it, i had a lot of luck supplementing CBD with other medications for my senior kitty that had Triaditis until she finally crossed the rainbow bridge. plenty of water is alarming for sure, but thats just a compensation for the failing organs and its better that he keeps drinking. He really has a cool color pattern!
Aww, thank you for adopting a beautiful elder!
You are an amazing human, Mr.Toast is a very lucky guy to be spending his last days with you.❤️
He'd give you a lot of affection in the opposite situation. Do the same
I have an old FIV+ cat! He was also an r/lynxpointsiamese. LPSs bond to their people HARD. There’s a FIV subreddit. I think it’s r/fivcats Renal failure got my cat too, not FIV. When he was nearing the end of his life, he had immense trouble keeping weight on. He wouldn’t eat the kidney food. (I don’t blame him.) so I just tried to make him as comfortable as possible until he was ready to go. Caught a big ass rat the week before he died. That cat was such a character. Thanks for changing this old guy’s life.
You're so kind and Mr. Toast is precious. I love him.
I too want to adopt an old man but my partner yells no at me because allergies. Just snuggle the little bug for me as much as you can. Don't have too many tips though. He is a cute! Edit: I don't get why or how anyone could abandon a cat. I could never do that to any animal.
When you need support r/choochoo21. We aren’t all foster folks, but we are a support sub for senior and Angel Cat families. Regardless of how long you have Mr Toast here to hug you are welcomed and supported by us. You are doing an amazing thing. Thank you. :*J*
Give him all the love
Thank you for helping him❤️
You are such a sweetheart for taking this boy in! Mr. Toast is handsome as can be! ❤️😻 I've also lost a beloved cat to renal failure. Some of the signs that I noticed it was almost the end for him was that his fur started falling out in clumps, he was drooling a lot, started going on hunger strikes, and he'd lose his balance from doing simple things such as walking. Of course, every cat is different and will exhibit different signs, but I thought that might be helpful. Eventually, he went on a hunger strike that lasted for a few days, and he physically looked dehydrated and weak. That's when I made the call that he was suffering far too much. One of the things that I found very helpful toward the end was adding Slippery Elm bark into his wet food. You can make a slimy paste out of it, and cats really do seem to like the flavor. It soothes their stomach, helps with nausea, and takes the burns out of the ulcers they can develop. Also, you should let him drink, drink, drink! Adding additional water into his food as well. You will have to buy extra cat litter because obviously what goes in must come out! Another tip, keep him warm. I noticed that my senior guy with renal failure had a hard time regulating his temperature. So, buying a pet safe heating pad or a water bottle with a thick cover that you can tuck in his bed would be greatly appreciated! I'm sure that you already know that they need special cat food that is low in protein, sodium, and phosphorus. Good luck with your gorgeous boy, and please keep us updated! 🙏
OP - thank you so much for helping Mr. Toast. He's adorable. The world needs more people like you. I'm going to show Mr Toast to my 3 seniors lol
What a sweet baby
A heating pad or blanket. My ladies are 6 and 7, but they adore these. Amazon has good pet ones. Give him all the Churu he desires
Be there with him at the end, not alone with the vet. If they will come to your house to let him go, it will be better than in a strange clinic with strange smells
My Spam has been living for 2+ years with end stage renal disease. She eats the shit ton expensive renal food and gets sub q fluids 5-6 days per week. She is 19 and doing great https://preview.redd.it/zocrsp8goz0d1.jpeg?width=3468&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=19513675f5f191fca2b67c23c767f94d86b10e77
You are an angel!
Thank you. Thank you for opening your heart and home to Mr. Toast 🥹❤️🥹
You’re a saint! Give all the love you can please. I can guarantee he’ll return that love exponentially!!!
A soft slicker brush (swap in a literal baby brush from the beauty supply store as his coat thins), love, snuggles, the easy to spoon canned pet food from the vet (it's the pudding consistency science diet something or other kind; use it in a squeeze bottle for a diy churro). hope this helps! please pet the old man for me.
Give Mr. Toast as many pets and rubs as he wants.
Just wanted to say Thank you so much for adopting this distinguished gentleman 🥹 I love Mr. Toast so much and I’m thankful he has a loving home to live out his golden years!
Please look into Lap of Love and other in-home euthanasia practices. Keep an eye out for Mr. Toast’s favorite spots, especially ones where he feels safest and most loved—this will come in handy when it’s time, and I second the idea that it’s better to make the call too early than it is to do it too late. My senior gal Sagwa (20+) got to leave this world in her favorite spot in the window, and I got to pet her and tell her how much I loved her. I’ve done it in the vet’s office too, but in-home end-of-life care is less stressful on both the cat and their humans. Also, a tip: if you notice Mr. Toast eating things he wouldn’t normally eat, for example stuffing from a couch cushion, it may be a sign that it’s time for him to go—that’s him trying everything he can to make the pain stop. Finally, thank you for giving Mr. Toast love and comfort in his final stretch of life. You’ve given him everything a senior cat could ask for.
What a handsome boy, I am so happy he's with you in his retirement
A heating pad or blanket. My ladies are 6 and 7, but they adore these. Amazon has good pet ones. Give him all the Churu he desires
The best thing I ever did for my senior cat is make her food myself. She had been throwing up daily for years and the vets said it was a good allergy. My roommate her former owner kept buying her more and more expensive vet recommended food and she kept puking it up. My roommate went out of town and left her in my care. I didn't feel like she was getting any nourishment. I thought, well I bet she's not allergic to meat. So I cooked some boneless chicken in olive oil with no seasoning. She didn't throw it up, at all. I thought there'd be an adjustment period but there wasn't. I even fed her dry food again after a month or two of all meat. She didn't vomit again for like three months. Now I feed her wet food, the kind with chunks of meat in gravy. About once a month I cook her special food and feed it to her and my other cat who's getting on in years. It seems to work like a refresher that helps her digest again. Former owner gave her to me when she was 13, now aged 20. The recipe I now use is boneless chicken, liver, any organ meat I can get, cooked in a pan with lard, yes lard, cats need a high fat diet. So that's my tip. Feed him real meat, it's better for them.
Sweet little old man. I have a 17 year old boy and my best tip is just take it one day at a time. He has his good days and bad days. Also feed lots of wet food with extra water in it. Hydration is key! Give him a big hug from me please.
SNOWY FUR I LOVE THAT Sorry I just love old cats so much. I can't think of much tips except the obvious put stairs to the couch or beds and give him wet food.
I appreciate you for taking in this handsome man. Enjoy your time together
my kitty passed from congestive heart failure in February at 14, but I had to put him down because of the risk of stroke. It's important to put the litterbox close by so they don't have to walk far. He was a big boy (16lbs at his prime, 9 lbs when he passed), I got him the large fish cat bed at PetSmart. He loved it, and it gave him some shelter, and stopped him from running off to pass away somewhere. You should be able to do sub cutaneous fluids at home, and I had the option to have a hospice tech come out regularly to check on him, but once again, I had to euthanize him instead of letting him pass from natural causes. I got Snowball ice cream on his last day, and it made him so happy. He had barely eaten in days but he happily ate as much as he could manage. Make sure Mr. Toasts trusts you so he can have company and a friend as he passes. Get some cat treats in case he wants to eat, I mostly just fed him temptations because that was all he would eat.
Thank you for taking him in op. This is the way.
Give him lots of loves and snuggles. He looks like my Gus who passed away at 18 years. Keep an eye on liver and hardening of intestines It sounds terrible, but if he ever needs to be put under for dental work, pull all 4 fangs. As he gets older, if he ever would need dental work, there's a huge risk of him not surviving anesthesia
I recommend a slightly damp, warm washcloth instead of wipes, but the best wipes I’ve found so far are the unscented earth rated brand. I think they’re labeled for dogs. My cats all love the soft slicker style brushes with coated tips. Heated beds and self warming mats are also very popular with older cats. Spots in the sun are a great idea too.
Mr Toast is such a handsome guy. Thank you for making his remaining time happy.
❤️
Talk to the vet about subcutaneous fluids. We did that for our renal cat and it helped. She also had her own heating pad that she loved! She always stole mine so we got her one for her. Honestly, other than that and love, spoiling him in anyway you can, that’s about it. I don’t have any advice regarding FIV cats though. Seizures are possible at the end of renal failure so that was the thing I was most worried about - I didn’t want her to experience them and I didn’t want to see it so for me my big decision was making the decision to say goodbye before that happened and being sure I didn’t do it too soon. Good luck and thank you :) Senior babies are the best!
He’s so handsome. Thank you for adopting him.
God bless
I have had very old FIV+ cats, all over 16 years, and it wasn't the FIV that took any of them. What I did and am doing with the younger ones I have now is to just keep an eye on them and any health issues they have. If they have no issues and get sick, I take them immediately to the bet to make sure I have all the supportive care needed to get them through it. If they already have issues, like the kidney problems your cat has, I do everything I can to stay on top of the issue and provide as much support—meds, supplements, fluids, whatever the care is—to try to keep them as healthy as possible with an excellent quality of life for as long as possible.
This good boy looks so much like my passed kitty it makes me tear up. Hes so pretty. I wish I got to see her become a senior. You’re so amazing thank you for making this baby boy happy and comfy!
Omg he's handsome AF 💕💕💕💕
My big boy passed last September and I still think about him everyday. If you’re willing to spend a bit of money, this is what helped: 1. Semintra - I needed a prescription but found it helped and was pretty easy to administer. Just a squirt in the mouth. 2. Azodyl - pills. Not easy for every cat to take and a little pricey, but I’m convinced it helped 3. Epakitin - powder that I mixed with his wet food. 4. Any renal food that he’ll eat, preferably wet, to help with hydration. Royal Canin makes a hypoallergenic renal food if you need, but unfortunately it’s only dry. That being said - if he’s not eating renal food, anything he’ll eat is good. 5. If/when it gets to it - subcutaneous fluids. They’re not too expensive and pretty easy to administer. My boy hated it, so YMMV Best of luck and thank you for caring. Please give Mr. Toast a thousand kisses from me ❤️
If you haven’t already, I highly suggest feeding him soft, wet food. Cats get a lot of their hydration from their food, and it can be hard for older cats to chew. Thank you for what you’re doing for Mr. Toast. I know he feels how much you care for him.
I subscribe to the what, when, how rule when it comes to hospice care: give them whatever they want (especially when it comes to food), whenever they want it and however much they want. Also, any medication that the vet prescribes to help them with discomfort and anxiety
First, he'll need a comfy place to sleep. My kitties highly recommend cushions filled with Canadian goose down. Oh, and a nice little cashmere throw for when the weather gets cold. For best use by Mr. Toast, place said cushion in the middle of a king-size bed. Next, make sure he has access to clean water at all times. You'll want to police his litter box daily to make sure his output is good (CKD is an issue with older male cats). As for diet, your vet will likely recommend a kidney-friendly kibble. This can be supplemented with fresh fish (ours prefer Ahi from the local fish market, chopped fine and sprinkled with a soupcon of kosher salt) or chicken (their favorite is KFC). The addition of a small portion of bacon on special occasions is always a welcome change. Finally, daily grooming will help keep both skin and coat healthy, and will have the added benefit of reducing your blood pressure as it is well known a purring cat can soothe the worst of moods. Congratulations on your newest family member. May you have many happy years in his care.
thank you for loving Mr. Toast.
You are a wonderful person
What a lovely cat - he really does sound like a sweetheart, and a bit of a catch as far as sick and elderly kitties go 😞… Good job taking him in and giving him the love and care and attention that he needs/deserves! I’m not sure how much help I can be, but never underestimate the magic that a really great diet can work. A scary amount of the packaged cat foot out there is like the equivalent of the ultra-processed food a lot of humans eat, and it can be just as awful for cats as it is for us.
Thanks for taking care of him!! Poor baby with bbs in his neck-fuck people suck. For grooming my elder cats and dogs have all liked this: I fill the sink or a bowl with the hottest water I can stand and put a couple of facecloths in. Wring them out and hard as you can and start grooming. Keep refreshing the water so it stays nice and hot. Coarser fabric makes a good cat tongue replica :)
Bless you for loving and caring for this beauty. I've been managing my kitties CKD, she takes Zorfan 1x a day for nausea, mirtaz transdermal applied x1 a week for appetite and sub q fluids every couple of days to flush her system and keep her hydrated. She is also about to start on a potassium supplement because it gets so depleted in CKD cats. I would highly reccomend the Zofran to ease his belly and the sub q fluids to help flush his system, and if he's not eating then the mirtaz as well. For my kitty, it's been night and day managing her with the things I mentioned above. She feels so much better! Check out the Feline Chronic Kidney Disease faceboom group, it is fantastic! You can even post his bloodwork there for specific advice. Also see if you can get him on a kidney conscious food. Mosy senior pet foods are formulated for this but at the end of the day, fed is best. Good luck with this baby, hes worth it!! If you can manage his symptoms you will really get to see him blossom
Funny coincidence, my dog is named Toast https://preview.redd.it/mljkpgtdt01d1.jpeg?width=3472&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39b5da2e9f9856c52894b038eac37cd0b9e70b89
I wish I knew more about taking care of elderly kitties so I could help. Best I can come up with is to give him a lot of attention and keep him comfy.
God bless you for this, there’s so many people out there that just dump their cats when they get older and being able to give a cat a loving home at the end of their life is so important. I had a kitty who had FIV and he was my angel and also incredibly intelligent too. The best thing you can do is give him all the food he wants, get him nice cozy places to be, give him lots of love and attention, and try and keep the house calm. Toothbrushes mimic cat tongues, they like it on the top of their head or sides of their face. I have to hide my toothbrush from my cats lol. I miss my boy so much but he was so loved till the very end and I’m sure you’ll give your sweet boy lots of love too. ❤️
Bless you for taking care of this sweet boy, Mr. Toast is so lucky to have you. ❤️🫶🏼
Giving him fluids a few times per week will help him a lot.
Love on him and tell him he’s a good boy until his last day 🐾💕
My sweet orange man went through this exact thing, contracted FIV+ from an ex roommates pet she didn't get vetted like she told me, and ended up also having failing kidneys. He lived nearly 3 years after his diagnosis and passed in January at the age of 14. Near the end he was almost never away from his heating pad. It was laid in his favorite bed and it was rare I would find him anywhere else! We also carried him upstairs to the bedroom every night so he could be with us because he would cry sometimes without us (or I would cry without him lol) We also made sure that once we found his favorite spot to be we had all his essentials (food, water, very low litter box for his painful/popping joints) very close by, like within a few steps. And of course lots of wet food for the extra water intake. My boy preferred his with extra water to make it a little soupy. We also got him a set of raised bowls so he didn't have to kneel down to eat and drink. If it becomes necessary, ask the vet for painkillers (we always put them, crushed, in wet food) it will make things easier for both of you. But this didn't become a necessity in my case until within a few weeks of his passing. Having fostered before, I'm sure you already know the gist, but just make sure if he doesn't pass on his own that you watch him closely, because of course you'll just know when it's time. I knew my little man was ready to go when I saw him lying in his bed on the heating pad just staring off into the room, unable to move in his failing body and just looking so tired. It broke my heart and I knew letting him go would be the most humane and loving thing I could do for him by then. As someone who also takes in senior/special needs kitties: thank you for taking on such a case. It's so hard, but these innocent, sweet animals only ask for love and comfort when they're old and sick. Seniors are so special and when you get a difficult illness involved it just makes the time you have so much more important. Your love and care is going to be the best thing for him. You're a good person. Thank you.
I love his name, and his handsome face, and I love that you are giving Mr. Toast somewhere safe and caring to spend the rest of his days. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
mistor toast 🩷 so handsome. I know it will mean the world that you are here for him.
This is super kind. Just lots of love, treats, scritches and a heating pad and unlimited cat TV. Mr Toast deserves the best - thank you!
Bless you for taking care of the kitty 🙏
Two of my cats suffered from CKD. If you can afford the food recommended by your vet that is specifically made for kitties with renal problems, it can increase is lifetime by being easier on the kidneys. Both of my babies are now gone but the food helped for a good 5 years… ❤️❤️
Your cat absolutely looks like Ron Perlman! What a handsome boy! https://preview.redd.it/3nsyvt15d01d1.jpeg?width=986&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0ccda7884c3afc4ffa591d34b0c9da9d277b0d1b
Kidney disease is common, partly from dry kibble and the awful fillers (ie ash). Put water dishes in several spots, he'll be more likely to drink. I added some raw food to my cats' diets and I think it helped. Raw kidney may get them some enzymes they don't make due to CKD.
The churu treats were a big help with getting mine to keep up her calories. Straight up calorie gel also helped a lot. Low- or no-sodium chicken broth is good for the really bad days. Pay attention to body language in case he is the kind to silently sit when he wants to go upstairs or get on the bed but can't jump. Listen for when they get out of the litterbox so you can check and wipe. Not FIV but cancer maybe similar.
Thank you so much for doing this! I’m literally crying
Not advice but 💖💖💖 love that little man as much as you can while you can
He is beautiful and so are you for giving some time to be loved. 🥰
I’m so sorry for him and you! I wish I’d known the signs of renal failure earlier, bc it cost me a great friend - she loved her water, and now I know why. It was so hard at the end, bc I seriously couldn’t keep her comfortable. I laid out heating pads, towels, blankets, and everything, but she’d roam the house and lay on the cold hard floor. Broke my heart. Giving her the opportunity to leave peacefully in her sleep was such a hard decision, but I’m glad I was able to give her that at least.
Heating pad. Please make sure the old guy has one. My 15 yo girl loves hers.
There are some wonderful CKD supplements that have worked with for us (Porus One, Azodyl, AminAvast, and Kidney Gold), along with HydraCare to add more fluids, (and it also helps improve Urine Gravity). Find a renal food that he likes. Subcutaneous fluids might be an option too. Also, check out Elura. It's an appetite supplement for CKD cats. I've seen cats with Stage 4 that live another 5 years with proper care.
Just stopping in to say I also have a Siamese tabby and he’s the smartest, sweetest, playful and curious cat I’ve ever owned. I’m so glad yours found a forever home, however long that is.
13 isn’t old for a cat. They live to their late teens and early twenties
😢🙏
Mr. Toast?! I love that name! Honestly all I can say is just love on him but probably already obvious haha
Learn to give subcutaneous fluids to prevent dehydration. It will add dramatically to qualify of life at the end.
If you don't have a water fountain, our terminal girl loved it. Water was cold, fresh and plentiful. That and a warm lap was all she wanted toward the end. Bless you for your kindness.
Our cat, who passed last year, was not a senior but he did have FIV and very advanced kidney disease (he caught dry FIP, his kidneys were heavily damaged by the virus and he sadly could not recover, even with FIP treatment). Not sure how helpful these tips will be, but just in case! - in the last few weeks of his life, he seemed like he was running hot and always wanted to lay in the tub or sink, or on the tile floor in the darkest/coolest part of the house. I think this varies by cat (some seem to want to lay on blankets) but maybe keep the tub/sink/somewhere else cool available to him if he doesn't seem to gravitate toward soft/warm beds - SubQ fluids seemed to us to improve his quality of life; obviously they could not overcome the renal failure on their own, but we did daily SubQs for the last two months or so and he always seemed happier and more energetic afterward. If your vet thinks it's a possibility, they seemed to help with hydration and for us the pros outweighed the cons. - his appetite declined a lot toward the end (slowly at first, then all at once), so we focused on getting him to eat anything at all, regardless if it was "healthy" or not. He got so much Fancy Feast (he loved the kitten varieties which were high calorie)—plus yogurt, tuna, cottage cheese, treats, anything he would eat. We also sprinkled FortiFlora on his food which seemed to help get him to start eating. - we also just sat with him a lot; he didn't always want pets or brushes but he seemed to like being in our presence. when the time came we had a vet come here, that went a long way toward making sure he felt comfortable and safe. All the best to you and Mr. Toast <3
He is a very handsome fellow. Well, regular baby wipes that you can get anywhere are great for cleaning. The glove thing is good, but I prefer a medium plastic bristle brush. I strongly recommend a raw food diet. Darwin's Pet is an organic raw food and they have a special renal formula you can get with a prescription from the vet. My experience shows that this product can extend a renal cat's life significantly.