First, it would be helpful to have some knowledge of how far along the kitty is in kidney failure.
Its been my experience with near all of my CRF, CKD cats that with some understanding and assisted therapy most have made a bit of a recovery that gave them more time and made them more comfortable before the end. What I have experienced with some cats is a improvement in their blood chemistry lasting as long as 8 - 10 months with 2 Cats. With two others, they crashed badly shortly after finding they were suffering renal failure. Two more had other problems with other vital organs. With 2 other cats it was hyperthyroidism first with low CKD for few years and AKD shortly before the end. Your Vet hopefully cleared the cat for hyperthyroidism?
Suggest you talk with your Vet about how you can help your cat with dehydration. Dehydration has been in my experience the most up front cause of the cats refusing to eat. I never found it very difficult doing fluid therapy. Second most common causes of the cat refusing to eat I have found to be suspected excess stomach acid and high phosphorus levels. Both the latter can be fairly easily dealt with through diet supplements and assisted syringe feeding in the beginning. Watch the liver values and discuss with your Vet.
A few food suggestions here:
But first I want to say that my Vet and I no longer agree with the need for a reduced protein diet here, most important is to have the cat eat something and stall the wasting.
1.NO MORE DRY FOOD
2.I feed mostly or about 1/3-2/3 total my own home made cat food. That way I KNOW its quality protein without all the silly fruits, veggies, grains and plant starches. You can ask me for details but I will simply say what I sourced was fresh chicken thighs, turkey thighs, lamb shoulder chops, egg whites, one Vet prescribed supplement to lower phosphorus levels, thaurine. As needed a oral antiacid tablet crushed. All my home made cat food was cooked by steam and processed with an multi-speed hand blender. All made in batches that can be kept for 3-5 days refrigerated.
3.Used lots of Gerber 2nd foods meats mostly beef and turkey.
4.Hills Sciencediet prescription AD
5."most recently I am now using" Radcat raw frozen formulas which I process in the blender for assisted feeding and after the cat is willing its served up plain slightly warmed. It depends on the cat but I am very highly recommending Radcat frozen raw lately.
6.Honest Kitchen "Prowl" dehydrated, very good but only I only use for assisted feeding. Cats were not likely to eat freely.
Something my Vet told me some years past and has repeated which I will never forget. "cats with chronic kidney disease, death or euthanasia results directly or indirectly from starvation". When he said that I got motivated and acted though now I have some misgivings about how I did it and I continue to adjust.
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