Can my cat live a normal, healthy life with only one kidney?

Hello. A known congenital defect is probably an indication to avoid this kitten. She will require very regular checks of her remaining kidney function to make sure any issues are addressed early on. If the breeder is willing to present this kitten to you free of charge, you must make it your business to factor in at least some additional care for the life of this kitten. She may do quite well, but without a more definitive diagnosis of what the abnormal kidney is, it is impossible to say how she may do. BUT, people & animals can certainly live long healthy lives with just one kidney. You will just need to be more proactive with her lifelong health care if you decide to take her. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Unfortunately there is no way for us to know how long it will be before a pet starts having issues with 1 kidney. Problems may never arise. So you will have to just see how she does. Hopefully she doesn't have any problems and she can get on insurance to cover most of her needs going forward. Best of luck and take care. : )

Hello sorry to hear about Ashton but I am glad he is recovering well from his surgery. Polycystic kidney disease is typically one which affects both kidneys, however, because his other kidney is working well there are some things you can do to help promote that kidney's health. You should feed Ashton wet food and allow him free access to water. You should check his kidney values atleast every 3-6 months with bloodwork. A kidney diet may be considered if there is evidence that his other kidney may have increased values. Finally, ensure that the rest of his health is also good. I hope this helps and best of luck.

Sorry to hear about your kitty. It sounds like he is in the advanced stages of kidney failure. Unfortunately kidney damage can not be reversed once it occurs - only managed. Once cats get to this stage of kidney disease, most treatments are focused on trying to make cats feel as good as possible for as long as possible. Sometimes treatments that are prescribed include SQ fluids (water given as an injection under the skin to increase hydration), anti-nausea medications, blood pressure medications, antacids, and other therapies to manage complications associated with kidney failure. It is hard to give a prognosis without knowing the specific details of your cat's bloodwork and history, but if he is not eating or drinking, he may be suffering and can quickly decline. If you are concerned about your kitty's quality of life, have a discussion with your veterinarian.

Hello. The presence of only 1 kidney is a birth defect that can occur. If that kidney is fully functioning, as demonstrated by normal blood kidney values, & a normal urinalysis, then there is no reason that anesthesia will be any more of a concern then for a cat with 2 kidneys. I am not sure what you mean by an indifferent colon, other than if there is one congenital birth defect, other defects are possible. We had a case of a puppy born with a deformed hind leg, & when he was old enough for neutering, also found a completely abnormal reproductive tract as well as a deformed kidney. This dog is now 13 years old & going strong. Your kitty may require periodic blood work to make sure the kidney stays healthy, & possibly some type of special diet depending on how the colon actually affects the kitten's overall well being. But, accidents in nature happen. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. I would not recommend removing the kidney until you are absolutely sure it is the cause of all the problems. I assume all blood work & a urinalysis show the kidney problems & I assume at least an ultrasound was performed on the kidneys. I would suggest that you consider having an excretory urogram or nuclear scintigraphy performed to assess the functionality of both kidneys before putting Randi through surgery only to have the good kidney fail. A needle biopsy can also be done to see if the "dead" kidney truly needs to be removed.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! To be safe, I would recommend blood testing the second cat. If she's not in failure, it would give a good baseline for future blood testing. It will not hurt both cats to be on the special diet. They are safe for all pets and could help stave off renal changes. Good luck and kisses to both kitties!