Thank you for all the kind words. I know that many of you have been through it before and are always so generous with your stories and thoughts. My husband and I are doing OK, it's hard to lose two beloved pets in a month, but we are happy for the time that we had together. And know they together again, curled up so it looked like one cat with two heads and tails like they used to be. Diva loved Cameron and vice versa. We had a smile about the personalities of the cats and how they each passed. Cameron was a sweetie, super laid back. She didn't let us know she was sick and waited until we were happily settled into our new house to quietly pass away at no inconvenience to us. While Diva was more of a ...well....diva. So of course she wants to make sure that she is in charge until the end. I loved both of those girls. I'll miss them. I am hugging my puppies extra tight tonight.

Put the collar on, and keep it on. Yes, they go nuts, but they adapt. I've had several cats I had to collar. Buster kept trying to back out of it. It was a couple of day before he stopped walking backwards. LOL! Just make sure the collar is the correct size - that he can reach his water and food dishes. They learn to navigate with it. My cats have had to wear them for 7-10 days and they all adjusted to it. It's better than having the wound pop open and have to be restitched, possibly infected. About the pills - sometimes a pill popper works. You can slide it into the side of the mouth and it pushes the pill far back down the throat so they are less likely to spit it out. I have never had luck with masking meds in food. One thing that I do that almost always works - pulverize the pill into powder (but check first to make sure it isn't a coated pill that shouldn't be dissolved until it hits the stomach). Squirt a little canned food gravy from some dog or cat food into a small shot glass or coffee measure cup, mix the powdered pill in with it, pull it up in a 1 or 3 cc syringe (without the needle) and squirt into the mouth. Your vet should be able to give you a 1 or 3 cc syringe. Sammy says this too will pass!

After my kidney surgery, I was on a morphine drip machine, where I had a button to push to reLease medication for the pain. The doctors got mad at me because I pushed the button too often, so after a day it was taken away. I was given Oxycodone pills instead, as needed. I went home with a bottle of Oxycodone pills 60 mg. I was having terrible dreams, which I discussed with my doctor. He suggested I go cold turkey and throw out the meds. Within three days I was feeling much better, and found the pain was tolerable. I don't take OTC pain pills, not even aspirins, because they are bad for my new transplanted kidney. I don't want to jeopardize it in any way. My daughter told me Oxycodone pills sell for $50 each "on the street". But I'm glad I chucked them. If you are itchy, take some Benadryl. They make me sleepy and relieve itching.

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.