Archive for the ‘Just Jake and Micah’ Category

The difference between the Catit fountain and the Drinkwell Platinum is that the Drinkwell fountain operates more like a faucet. Some cats (like Jake) prefer to drink from a stream of water like this. So here’s a quick rundown:

• Both fountains filter water and add oxygen.
• The Drinkwell holds one full gallon of water so it doesn’t require as frequent refilling as the Catit which has a three liter capacity.
• The Catit is a little easier to clean (I think) and has a more eye pleasing design in my opinion but it really comes down to how your cat prefers to drink water. (Jake prefers the Drinkwell but Micah likes both)
• The Drinkwell utilizes a stream of water while the Catit has water that runs over a plastic dome into a bowl.

We put the Drinkwell fountain in the family room and this new location combined with the novelty of running water makes it the main attraction in the house. After meals there’s a queue of cats waiting to get a turn to drink. All in all both fountains get plenty of use which is what really all that matters.

Jake’s blood test results came back abnormal. Jake has been diagnosed with Feline CRF due to his elevated BUN and Creatinine levels. CRF stands for Chronic Renal Failure or Kidney Disease. Despite being extremely personal to us, I want to share CRF with all of you so that you can be made aware of the disease that is one of the most common diseases diagnosed in middle-aged to older cats, and is the leading cause of death in geriatric cats. Many people only realize their cat has it after it’s progressed to an advanced stage. Luckily, we noticed something was different with Jake and were able to get Jake diagnosed in the early stages. Jake is 13 yrs. and most cats are diagnosed with CRF between the ages of 12+. It’s estimated that around 10% of cats over the age of ten will develop CRF, with as many as 30% of cats over the age of 15 having the disease. Read more about CRF at the Feline CRF Information Center Website.

Now Jake has a wonderful new Vet who specializes in treating Feline CRF. We spent all last week doing online research into CRF and interviewing Vets until we found one we’re comfortable with. Jake’s prognoses seems good. We’ve identified his condition to be in the earlier stages and can work on slowing the progression with a change in diet and daily medication. There is no cure for CRF but you can learn to manage the disease by slowing progression and improving quality of life. Jake was back to the Vet last Thurs to get a urinalysis and blood pressure test done. His blood pressure is normal and we’ll have the results of his urinalysis this week. In the meantime, keep your paws crossed for us that things continue to go well. Jake’s weight is good as well as his phosphorus, potassium and sodium levels and his appetite is as hearty as ever.

Having a cat diagnosed with a medical special need is emotionally trying. One minute I’m happy Jake is feeling great the next I’m in tears anticipating the limited time I have left with him. I expect it to get harder for me at times when Jake is feeling more sick and easier to accept over time, maybe. To be honest it’s a roller coaster of feelings. Why didn’t I get my cat checked out sooner?, I feel like it’s my fault my cat ended up sick, How could I not have known sooner? ending in, Why does MY cat have to have CRF at all? Joining a CRF support group is the best thing I’ve done. It’s a relief to find other cat parents who have been through what I’m going through and are going through what I’m feeling. I found Feline CRF Support and the Catster CRF Group to be especially great for meeting other CRF parents. I have no way of knowing how long Jake will continue to be with us but for now I’m taking advantage of every precious moment.