We must not forget that Tabs is also a CKD patient, but at Stage 2.
Her case is most likely due to the fact that she has some pedigree in her (she’s definitely mixed), so she has had PKD (Polycystic Kidney Disease) all her life without us knowing about it.
I mean, who would simply go do an ultrasound on a young cat, right? So, we never knew and it looks like it never bothered her before too.
But the thing with PKD is that it would slowly lead to CKD because the multiple fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys will gradually grow in size and numbers and these cysts will take the place of healthy kidney cells thereby destroying them.
We only knew about Tabs’ PKD when I took her for a random blood test in December last year. Her creatinine and urea were high and based on those readings, she was diagnosed at Stage 3 CKD. We still didn’t know about the PKD yet until I took her within days back to our regular vet for a thorough check-up including the ultrasound. That’s when we saw the frightening number of cysts in our kidneys – that was the PKD. Tabs’ blood pressure was also high. Her kidney readings have been gradually creeping up over the years.
Talking about kidney readings, Cow Mau never had any kidney problems all his life right up until the end. At 18 years old, his kidneys were fine and so was his blood PCV. Imagine that. What an Iron Cat! It was his heart that failed. Just that one organ…sigh.
So back to Tabs now…Tabs was put on high blood pressure medicine and all the kidney supplements immediately. There was no proteinuria yet but the urine SG already shows definite kidney impairment. Our vet diagnosed her at Stage 2. Tabs was given stem cell therapy in January this year.
There is no cure for PKD; only palliative care. But our vet did some research and found that oligosaccharide chitosan might help, so my pharmacist helped me source for one from iherb.com and Tabs is on 200g twice daily. Fish oil also might help as it’s anti-inflammatory. But the bottom line is, there is no cure for this.
Tabs, on the other hand, has a mild heart issue, but it doesn’t need any intervention at this point. Her pro-BNP readings are still normal.
Tabs is generally a quiet cat who doesn’t get along easily with other cats at all. When the Monsters were born, Tabs was so, so stressed that she migrated upstairs and lost a lot of weight. She started shedding badly too.
Even when Cow Mau was in the house in his final weeks, Tabs migrated upstairs.
It has taken her a long time now (more than year) before she is comfortable with Riley’s presence. The credit goes to Riley for being such a good and easy-going cat who obviously poses “no harm” to Tabs.
For months now, Tabs would run away to hide when it’s time for her kidney supplements and her high blood meds. It was only in the past few days that she no longer runs away. She hates having any food placed into her mouth or rubbed on her mouth. But she is okay with capsules. So I have to put all her powdered supplements into capsules and pill her. But I still have to syringe in the liquids.
Tabs has arthritis too; she has a spinal spur. It’s been there for quite some time now.
She loves sitting with me all day.
Tabs is human-friendly but cat-unfriendly.
Now, she has finally agreed to share the Safehouse with Riley and each one can sleep on either side of my pillow at night.
We don’t know exactly how old Tabs is, but she came to our old house two weeks before we moved (wearing an oversized a red collar with a bell) and asked for permission to stay (from Bobby) on 16th December 2011. When I took her to the vet’s, the vet said she was already in heat and was probably seven months old. If that’s correct, it means Tabs is estimated to be 13 years old this year.
The day Tabs came: https://animalcare.my/2011/12/16/a-new-kid-on-the-block-2/
I thought she was the new neighbour’s cat, but later found out she wasn’t. The new neighbour said she shoo-ed Tabs away. Tabs had tried to ask to stay there before coming to our house. So we took her in and in early January 2012, Tabs came along with all our cats to our present house!
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