Smacking Lips & Other Signs

Continued treatment:  September 2009

A classic sign of a CRF cat is thirstiness due to dehydration (excessive whizzing).  I noticed early in the treatment process that Simone would frequently lick her lips.  Fortunately, it wasn't difficult to get her to drink large amounts of water.  However, I decided to make fresh water as available as possible.  At one of the CRF websites, a pet fountain was recommended, in particular the Drinkwell  brand.  [See picture above.]  This item comes in different flavors:  regular and platinum.  I opted for the regular kind and also ordered a 70-oz reservoir (also shown in the picture; essential for multiple cats) as well as a pack of filters.  I think the total cost was around $45 on sale at one of the on-line pet stores.  At Amazon (direct link) the cost of the main unit is $33, the reservoir is $15, and the filter pack is $6 for a total cost of around $54.

After setting the fountain up in her favorite room in the house, Simone took to it immediately.  She loved to sneak up behind it and sip water from the bowl for several minutes.  She really seemed to enjoy it, and I think it made a difference in her rebounding from CRF.  Note that not all cats will react similarly.  Pickles won't go near it ... I don't think she likes moving water or maybe it's the sound of the motor.  But Twinkles, really got into it.  He wasn't just drinking the water, but loved to bat it around and soak himself with it.  That's why you see a tray in the picture above with a towel underneath it.  Twinkles would throw water around the fountain soaking the carpet with it.  I couldn't tolerate those antics for very long, so the tray was employed as a suitable solution.  He stills throws water around, but most of it is captured in the tray.  Even yet, when walking in the area of the fountain, I can wind up with wet socks.

Besides careening water, there are several downsides to the fountain.  Periodically (1 to 2 weeks), depending on the quality of the water and the deposition of cat dander/fur, the unit has to be taken apart and thoroughly cleaned, the filter rinsed or replaced, the unit re-assembled, and fresh water added.  It takes a few trials to learn how to disassemble and re-assemble the fountain properly.  There are areas of the fountain that are difficult to clean.  I later ordered a brush kit (Amazon $9) which helped some, but cleaning the unit is not a whole lot of fun.  Also, the charcoal filter, which helps to purify the water, will eventually get exhausted, so it's best to have extras on hand.  I try to get at least a month, maybe 6 weeks, out of a filter, by rinsing it off good at cleaning times.  To remind myself, I place a label on the unit with the date of installation of the filter.

There are other pet fountains on the market, but I have no experience with them.  The Drinkwell unit has lasted for 15 months now, so, other than the cleaning issues, I have no complaint with it.  It really has helped in hydrating Simone.  Readers, if you have experience with other fountains, let me know.

In Simone's case, here are some other signs of CRF that were noted in the months following her diagnosis.  Most of these diminished over time as the treatment ensued.

• Foul breath (uremic odor)
• Listlessness
• Sitting sphinx-like for long periods
• Hiding in dark areas like a closet or under the bed
• Increased shedding (combing out her fur every few days helped a lot with this)
• Increased vomiting (see next post)
• Tremors (probably due to low potassium levels)
• Large urine output in litter

That's it for today.  The next post will be on my least favorite subject - upchucking.  Purr on!!!

   

"I simply can't resist a cat, particularly a purring one. They are the cleanest, cunningest, and most intelligent things I know, outside of the girl you love, of course."
(Mark Twain)