What is CRF?

Feline Chronic Renal Failure or cat CRF is a disease of the kidneys, and in the long run it normally leads to loss of life. The disease is actually an ongoing one, with a number of differant stages, with gradual deterioration taking place as kidney function fails. The speed of deterioration though changes from cat to cat. Some cats will only survive a number of weeks before you may have to make that painful decision (this is the point that I am dreading most), others may carry on for months, if not years. Because of the large amount of reserve kidney function, signs of renal failure are not usually seen until more than 75 per cent of the kidney's functional capacity has been lost. Even at this point, changes may be very subtle with few (if any) outwards signs, the kidney disease only being apparent on blood testing.

Many of the symtoms listed below are appropriate to some or all of the stages of CRF:

Increased Urination, Increased Drinking, Dehydration, Constipation, Urinary Tract Infections, Incontinence, Inappropriate Elimination, Weight-Loss, Weight Gain, Coughing, Dull Coat/Dandruff/Spiky Fur, Feeling Hot, Loss of Appetite, Vomiting and Nausea, Hunched over Water Bowl, Lip Licking, Yawning and Howling (Particularly at Night), Bad Breath, Mouth Ulcers, Body Odour, Itching, Twitching, Hoarseness, Weakness and Muscle Wasting, Stiff Neck.

Vets suggest that CRF can be broken down into 3 stages, based on the bloodworks (The main indicators of CRF are levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) : -

Renal disease, when clinical signs are usually absent - between 66% and 75% of kidney function is lost by this time.

Renal insufficiency, when levels are Urea: 70-225 , Creatinine: 210-350 - between 76% and 90% of kidney function has been lost.

Renal failure, when levels are Urea: over 225, Creatinine: over 350 - there is now a 90% loss of kidney function.

If you even suspect that your cat has CRF have blood tests done by your vet to confirm your suspicions. A cat with CRF does not automatically have to be put to sleep, and can go on (sometimes with a little help) for a number of months, if not years. Some vets advocate treatment with steroids, but in my own case this made my cat worse not better. Play everything by ear, and do what is best in the long term for you and your cat.

Some of the above information comes from the following highly informative site http://www.felinecrf.org/

The following websites may also be useful:

http://www.fabcats.org/is46.html - a Feline Advisory Bureau factsheet

http://www.catclinic.co.uk/health/crf.htm