Over the past few weeks we have been nursing Tinky, one of our earliest and elderly Bengal cats. Tinky has uncharacteristically been off her food and underwent a weight loss that alarmed me. It has been a very long time since we had an ill cat, as touch wood, our cats seem to be in good health on a raw diet.
Dreading the more fatal diagnoses, we took a very reluctant Tinky to the vet to get her checked out and discovered she has chronic renal failure. This is not an uncommon condition in cats and our course of action was to give her a special renal diet and monitoring regularly.
As always, Tinky impressed me with her co-operation at the vets and her willingness to be a good patient by taking to her new food. She has moved into our bedroom with us and chooses to let us know when she needs to use the litter box so we can let her out, she point blank refuses to use a litter box placed in the bedroom.
I have been worrying about her and dreading her condition worsening, as unlike humans there’s no extensive treatment for chronic renal failure and even if there was she would hate it, but Tinky seems to be putting on a bit of weight, is well hydrated and apart from being just a little more tired than usual, is getting better slowly but surely.
At 9 years old (52 cat years, I’m reliably informed), Tinky has a successful way of communicating with us and has been a model patient. I hope we can keep her well for as long as possible.
Tinky making herself at home in “her” bed.
Ajoobacats Blog 
I hope she gets well soon. 🙂
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Thank you, she’s a real trooper.
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Get well soon Tinky. I went through that with our cat, Taz. With adjusting his diet and good care he lived a very long and happy life.
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Thank you, we are hoping Tinky gets back to her old self.
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Oh I hope Tinky feels better soon. Poor thing. How awful. I love her bed.. adorable.
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She seems to be brighter now and she loves burrowing in my throws and blankets, she’s not at all interested in cat beds.
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I loved the navy throws.. esp. The polka dotted one 🙂
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Thankfully so does Tinky.
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She looks like such a sweet feline! My cat, Nova, had the same condition. With a special diet and, later implementing a few other things, she lived to be 22 🙂
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Thank you, I’m hoping Tinky’s resilience helps her with her health.
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It’s harrowing when your cats get sick. We have had awful bad luck with that. I pray your baby gets well.
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We’ve lost a few over the years but we have been spoilt over the last five years when everyone has been well, but Tinky seems to be better.
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Poor baby! Is she doing any better?
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She’s definitely got her appetite back and seems to be gaining weight on Hills renal diet.
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I am so sorry to hear this about your cat. I lost Czar (the angry grey cat pictured on my blog) to renal failure. It was so sudden. It is a good sign that he is putting some weight back on.
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Thank you, she seems to be improving and has her appetite back. So sorry to hear about Czar, cats are so good at hiding ill health.
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My Kit-Kat is going to be 15 in December and we worried when one of his tests came back with elevated levels. Happily he was okay once re-tested, but he’s considered geriatric now so we worry about him. I hope your Tinky will continue to adjust well and live a long, healthy and happy life.
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Thank you, she’s eating and drinking better but I just wish she would gain weight faster but I can’t complain as she’s coping so well with the new food.
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