Indentification

• Chronic renal failure/insufficiency in cats, often abbreviated CRF or CRI, occurs when the kidneys are unable to clean the blood properly. This is usually due to cell or tissue death in the kidneys which diminishes the kidneys' ability to clean and filter the blood in sufficient quantities. This causes toxins to be left in the blood that can damage the different tissues and organs of the cat, resulting in various symptoms.
  
  

Early Symptoms

• Early symptoms of CRF include a need by the cat to drink lots of water, frequent urination, inadequate urination, loss of appetite, constipation, desire to eat its litter, and/or vomiting a clear or foamy liquid (with or without food). These are initial reactions by your cat's body to the toxins present in his or her body. Also, these symptoms are similar to other conditions and diseases common in cats. Therefore your cat should visit the veterinarian for a diagnosis as soon as possible.
  
  

Later symptoms

• As the condition worsens, your cat may have an ammonia smell on her breath (ammonia is the pungent chemical that gives cat urine its distinct smell). Also, your cat may lose weight, become emaciated, dehydrated, develop ulcers in its mouth, become weak and listless, and/or begin losing its fur. These are signs that your cat's body is experiencing significant damage that will eventually cause your cat to die if not treated properly.
  
  

Prevention and Treatment

• There is no way to completely prevent CRF/CRI, but ensuring adequate water and a correct, nutritionally balanced diet does help stave off its onset. Treatment of CRF/CRI usually involved a multi-pronged approach which includes changing of diet, adequate hydration, subcutaneous (under the skin) liquid therapy and possible dialysis (mechanical filtration of the blood).
  
  

Considerations

• Treatment of CRF/CRI is one of long-term, intensive care which may include educating yourself on methods of administering some treatments (such as subcutaneous fluids) as well as comforting your cat when he is in pain from dialysis or other treatments. Treatment regimens can add years onto the life of your cat. Some people feel the emotional roller coaster is worth the extra time it gives them with their cat. Some of these people have gone on to set up informational websites which offer education and support for the guardians of cats with CRF/CRI (see Resources).