This is very interesting. I appreciate you posting it. My previous cat (to the 2 we have now) was lost to a vaccination site sarcoma. Since that time I just about go into major anxiety mode when I have to get a pet vaccinated. Our cats have to be registered and rabies is obviously required, so there's no getting around that. Other than that I had them vaccinated every 3 years when we did the rabies booster, no more often than that. The last time I only had boy shot up for rabies though. He never goes anywhere and was routinely vaccinated until he was 10 or so. I feel in his senior years he doesn't need that stress on his body. Since the girl kitty is sick with kidney disease and hyper-t, the vet wrote her a waiver, so no more vaccinations for her ever. The thing is, it never dawned on me that her kidney disease might have been caused by the combo vaccine. Thinking back, it wasn't too long after she was vaccinated that her health started to dive a bit. She wasn't diagnosed for a little while after that. I think this is a very real possibility for the cause of her CRF. :( I always tell my DH if I ever have another vaccination site sarcoma cat, it will be the last cat I ever own- it was so hard to deal with the first time. It's depressing to me to think that my current kitty's health problems may also be the result of vaccinating. Some days I think I should not own cats anymore. As much as I love them, I feel like I keep failing them. Thanks again for the information. Education and information can only improve within the veterinary industry, I hope.

Also highly in favor of sub-cutaneous (fluids administered under the skin, nicknamed sub-Q fluids.) I would get a second opinion, ie see another vet and ask him/her to show you how to give fluid treatment to your kitty. Or else try to prod your current vet into giving fluids a try. Be sure to use size 20 needles. For some reason most vets prefer size 18 which is a bigger diameter and uncomfortable for the patient. However they will provide 20 gage needles if you request them. My current kitty is 18 yrs old like your cat, and she gets fluids once a week. The two cats I had before her both were on fluid treatment at home (per order of my vet) first once weekly, and later twice weekly. They both lived into their 20s and the therapy vastly improved their quality of life. I also gave my little sheltie fluid treatment twice weekly for her last two years when her kidney function began to deteriorate, again as mandated by my vets. In all my CRI (chronic renal insufficient) pets, the fluids alleviated nausea, improved appetites, renewed my animals' energy, and just made my pets SO much more comfortable. If you've ever suffered from dehydration (during an illness for instance) you know how miserable this is (headache, grogginess, nausea, etc.) Once an animal becomes accustomed to receiving the fluids, they will lie quietly for the treatment. My cats have all laid on my lap and purred. I think after a few times they began to connect the therapy with feeling better immediately afterwards. I give/gave fluids while watching TV and it is a relaxing experience, not painful or stressful for me or my pets. There are a lot of instructional web sites and CRF/CRI groups right here on yahoo that can help answer questions for you. These were invaluable to me when I was just learning to give fluids. A vet tech instructed me, but it helped to also have these resources. Also there are many places who sell at a discount lactated ringer solutions (the bags of fluid) as well as 20 gage turamo needles and the lines that attach the needle to the fluid bag. However with only one kitty to treat, you're probably better off just getting your fluid supplies from your vet. Don't assume there is nothing you can do for your cat. Sub-Q fluids should vastly improve both your cat's quality of life as well as longevity. Your cat cannot get the amount of fluids needed to help counter CRI simply by drinking. Good luck and hope kitty feels better. Nutrition is important, but it comes in a pale second when treating CRI. Sub-cutaneous fluids should be the first and foremost treatment.

Olychick, the doctor does not surprise me. Since Spectrum Health took over every hospital, every specialist, every doctor in West Michigan, health care has become a business and the patients? Well, too bad for them. The doctor that did her fistula is in Grand Rapid. She's 84 and does not drive, so I take her. He told her to take her pulse 3 times a day and come to his office IMMEDIATELY if she didn't feel it. I'm not sure she's even competent to take her pulse, so I told the doctor that she lived alone, did not drive and was an hour and a half away. Was there an alternative, like going to the local hospital? No. She would have to come there. But what if I'm out of town? What if she can't find a way there? Too bad, then the operation will fail. Well, thank you, doctor. I did ask the nurse on the way out and she said to call the office PA, and ask her. No one sees an actual doctor anymore, primary physicians are all Physician's Assistants. Primary doctors are all part time and only Specialists are full time employees. So, am I surprised. No, not really. And that's why I was doing my own "research" on the internet about kidney diets. To add to the fun, she's had Dr. Wang, Dr. Wong, Dr. Chowdhury. She doesn't understand a word they tell her and sometimes I struggle. They have thick accents AND are in a hurry. I usually just ask the nurse afterward to go over things with me "to make sure I understand". In the meantime, Stepmother will just go to sleep. (sigh) So, I'm battling stepmom, I'm battling doctors and physician's assistants, I'm driving an hour and a half for each of her appointments and I'm fighting the insurance company at every step. There is no one to help, so I'm it. My sister died last year of liver cancer. My brother has MS and lives with my mother. Stepmom has no children and her half sister is being treated for colon cancer. Dad, of course, has been gone for several years. My oldest daughter has seizures and has a son who is having seizures and his are not yet controlled. My youngest daughter had a stroke several months ago at age 27 and is dealing with residual issues. I'm the only healthy one in this entire group of people and I have grown to just hate the medical profession. Elery says the only difference between doctors and God is that God doesn't think he's a doctor! Annie

One of my cats had recurrent problems with cystitis. The dry special diet food I bought from the vet made it worse. I was already feeding mostly raw; lived near enough to a chicken factory to get bargains. Never any more issues with cystitis. I have five cats and each and the dog gets a piece of raw chicken every day. Evening feed I mix a tin of cat food( a variety and whatever is on offer as I live on a small pension) with warm water and some kibble. Interestingly the cat who was prone to cystitis laps the gravy immediately. I lost a beloved cat to kidney failure years ago and like others here when she hated special food preferred that she ate what she loved. Then the emphasis was on low protein ( Scotland years ago) They said to oil rice with eg liver then give her the rice only...