Welcome to our community - we’re brand new and building this together.
If you’re here, your cat may have been diagnosed with kidney disease, and you’re likely feeling overwhelmed, confused, or scared. We get it. Many of us have been in that same moment. This forum is a new, growing space created so caregivers have somewhere organized, calm, and supportive to talk through CKD and everything that comes with it. We’re regular cat people, not veterinary professionals, but we care deeply and want to help however we can.
Because the community is still small and taking shape, your voice genuinely matters. How we treat one another now will shape the long-term culture of this board. Our goal is simple: create a safe, respectful place to learn, ask questions, and support each other.
At its heart, all of this can be summed up with one guideline:
Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.
Summary of Community Expectations
We want this to be a space where people feel supported and where our cats’ well-being stays front and center. To keep FKMB helpful and welcoming, we try to follow these principles:
Be kind.
Be polite.
Stay curious and open to learning.
Don’t make personal attacks.
Remember that people may have different approaches to treatment.
Leave egos at the door - we’re all figuring things out together.
1. Introducing Yourself
When you register, using your name (first name or pseudonym) and your cat’s name helps everyone get to know each other. This is optional, but it makes conversations more personal and easier to follow.
To introduce yourself, start a new thread in the Health Forum. Let us know:
For privacy, please avoid posting your full name, phone number, email address, or home address.
2. What to Post About
This forum is primarily for anything related to feline chronic kidney disease, including:
Other types of posts are fine too, as long as they don’t overwhelm the health-focused conversations:
Topics not allowed, to keep the environment safe and focused:
3. What You Can Expect From This Community
Since this is a new forum, you’ll see it grow and evolve quickly. Here’s what you can count on as we build it:
4. What You Won’t Find Here
Because FKMB is a peer-support community, we want to be clear about what we cannot offer:
5. What We Ask From You
Respect. Everyone here is trying their best under stressful circumstances. Share relevant information. Lab results, medications, symptoms, diet changes - details matter with CKD. Stay informed. Ask questions, read, learn, participate. The more you understand CKD, the more empowered you’ll feel. You make the final decisions. We share experiences and opinions, but you know your cat best. Always work with a veterinarian as part of your decision-making team. Give back when you’re ready. You don’t need to be an expert to support others. Even a kind word or sharing your cat’s progress helps strengthen the community.
6. General Posting Tips
FKMB is a collaborative space, and our goal is to encourage discussion rather than debate. Everyone communicates differently - some people are direct, others softer in tone, and many members speak English as a second language - so patience and generosity go a long way when interpreting someone’s message. When offering advice, try to be clear about whether you’re sharing personal experience, something you’ve learned through research, an opinion you’re confident about, or something you’re unsure of. Phrases like “From my experience…,” “My opinion is…,” or “I’m not completely certain - let’s wait for more input,” help others understand the context of what you’re saying. Whenever possible, linking to trusted sources is helpful for those who want to learn more.
Differences in opinion are normal, especially with a condition as complex as CKD. Disagreements don’t have to be personal - simply explain your perspective respectfully and back it up when you can. A gentle approach goes a long way; instead of saying, “You’re wrong,” try framing it as, “I see it differently because…” This keeps conversations constructive. We also ask that discussions about veterinarians remain focused on ideas rather than individuals. We respect vets, but CKD can require specialized knowledge, and sometimes it’s appropriate to question or clarify guidance without criticizing the person delivering it.
7. Navigating Difficult Situations
If you see advice that seems incomplete or potentially incorrect, you’re encouraged to step in kindly, share your perspective, and explain your reasoning. This collaborative correction is how the community stays reliable. When you disagree with someone’s treatment plan, you’re welcome to offer your view once in a respectful way, but ultimately every caregiver makes the decisions they feel are best for their own cat.
If conflict begins to develop, try gently identifying the behavior and inviting everyone back toward a calmer, more productive direction. And if needed, use the report function so moderators can help. Occasionally, many people may respond to a single member with disagreement, and even if well-intended, it can feel overwhelming. If you notice that happening, consider holding back your reply or offering reassurance so the conversation remains balanced.
Sometimes discussions drag on long after they’ve stopped being useful. If a debate becomes repetitive, veers off-topic, or starts to generate tension, it’s fine to step away or report the thread so it doesn’t overshadow the forum. If you ever receive a hostile private message, please forward it to the moderators, since we cannot view PMs unless you share them. Harassment is not tolerated here. Finally, anonymous posting is not allowed. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable saying something under your usual username, it’s best not to post it.
If you’re here, your cat may have been diagnosed with kidney disease, and you’re likely feeling overwhelmed, confused, or scared. We get it. Many of us have been in that same moment. This forum is a new, growing space created so caregivers have somewhere organized, calm, and supportive to talk through CKD and everything that comes with it. We’re regular cat people, not veterinary professionals, but we care deeply and want to help however we can.
Because the community is still small and taking shape, your voice genuinely matters. How we treat one another now will shape the long-term culture of this board. Our goal is simple: create a safe, respectful place to learn, ask questions, and support each other.
At its heart, all of this can be summed up with one guideline:
Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.
Summary of Community Expectations
We want this to be a space where people feel supported and where our cats’ well-being stays front and center. To keep FKMB helpful and welcoming, we try to follow these principles:
Be kind.
Be polite.
Stay curious and open to learning.
Don’t make personal attacks.
Remember that people may have different approaches to treatment.
Leave egos at the door - we’re all figuring things out together.
1. Introducing Yourself
When you register, using your name (first name or pseudonym) and your cat’s name helps everyone get to know each other. This is optional, but it makes conversations more personal and easier to follow.
To introduce yourself, start a new thread in the Health Forum. Let us know:
- your first name
- your cat’s name
- a little background (age, symptoms, diagnosis story, anything relevant)
For privacy, please avoid posting your full name, phone number, email address, or home address.
2. What to Post About
This forum is primarily for anything related to feline chronic kidney disease, including:
- understanding lab results
- diet and nutrition
- fluids, medications, symptom management
- home care questions
- emotional or practical support
- general CKD discussions
Other types of posts are fine too, as long as they don’t overwhelm the health-focused conversations:
- Community & Connection
- Light personal updates, milestones, humor, or general conversation that helps us get to know each other.
- Off-Topic Chat (in the designated off-topic area)
- Things like stories about your other pets, birthdays, etc.
Topics not allowed, to keep the environment safe and focused:
- Politics, religion, or other polarizing topics
- Personal attacks or criticism of other members
3. What You Can Expect From This Community
Since this is a new forum, you’ll see it grow and evolve quickly. Here’s what you can count on as we build it:
- Emotional support
- Most of us know how overwhelming CKD can be. You’re not alone here.
- Shared experience
- Many members have cared for CKD cats or dealt with related health issues. Others have spent a lot of time researching treatments and best practices. People will share what they’ve learned.
- Different perspectives
- There is rarely one “right” answer in kidney disease. Different cats respond differently. Expect to see a range of experiences and ideas.
- A respectful, safe space
- We aim to keep this forum calm, supportive, and welcoming. If conflict arises, we address it quickly.
- Honest feedback
- If something seems risky or unsafe for a cat, members may gently point it out - even if the suggestion originally came from a veterinarian. We always encourage working with a vet, but we also encourage being an informed, proactive caregiver.
4. What You Won’t Find Here
Because FKMB is a peer-support community, we want to be clear about what we cannot offer:
- Veterinary care or emergencies.
- If a situation sounds urgent, people will tell you to go to the vet — and they’ll mean it.
- Support for refusing treatment.
- This community is built around helping CKD cats live well. If someone cannot or does not want to treat the disease, we may encourage rehoming or other responsible options.
- Support for euthanizing a treatable newly diagnosed cat.
- CKD is not an immediate death sentence. Many cats live full, happy years with treatment.
- If a cat truly reaches a point where quality of life is gone due to advanced disease or other conditions, you will find support during that difficult time.
5. What We Ask From You
Respect. Everyone here is trying their best under stressful circumstances. Share relevant information. Lab results, medications, symptoms, diet changes - details matter with CKD. Stay informed. Ask questions, read, learn, participate. The more you understand CKD, the more empowered you’ll feel. You make the final decisions. We share experiences and opinions, but you know your cat best. Always work with a veterinarian as part of your decision-making team. Give back when you’re ready. You don’t need to be an expert to support others. Even a kind word or sharing your cat’s progress helps strengthen the community.
6. General Posting Tips
FKMB is a collaborative space, and our goal is to encourage discussion rather than debate. Everyone communicates differently - some people are direct, others softer in tone, and many members speak English as a second language - so patience and generosity go a long way when interpreting someone’s message. When offering advice, try to be clear about whether you’re sharing personal experience, something you’ve learned through research, an opinion you’re confident about, or something you’re unsure of. Phrases like “From my experience…,” “My opinion is…,” or “I’m not completely certain - let’s wait for more input,” help others understand the context of what you’re saying. Whenever possible, linking to trusted sources is helpful for those who want to learn more.
Differences in opinion are normal, especially with a condition as complex as CKD. Disagreements don’t have to be personal - simply explain your perspective respectfully and back it up when you can. A gentle approach goes a long way; instead of saying, “You’re wrong,” try framing it as, “I see it differently because…” This keeps conversations constructive. We also ask that discussions about veterinarians remain focused on ideas rather than individuals. We respect vets, but CKD can require specialized knowledge, and sometimes it’s appropriate to question or clarify guidance without criticizing the person delivering it.
7. Navigating Difficult Situations
If you see advice that seems incomplete or potentially incorrect, you’re encouraged to step in kindly, share your perspective, and explain your reasoning. This collaborative correction is how the community stays reliable. When you disagree with someone’s treatment plan, you’re welcome to offer your view once in a respectful way, but ultimately every caregiver makes the decisions they feel are best for their own cat.
If conflict begins to develop, try gently identifying the behavior and inviting everyone back toward a calmer, more productive direction. And if needed, use the report function so moderators can help. Occasionally, many people may respond to a single member with disagreement, and even if well-intended, it can feel overwhelming. If you notice that happening, consider holding back your reply or offering reassurance so the conversation remains balanced.
Sometimes discussions drag on long after they’ve stopped being useful. If a debate becomes repetitive, veers off-topic, or starts to generate tension, it’s fine to step away or report the thread so it doesn’t overshadow the forum. If you ever receive a hostile private message, please forward it to the moderators, since we cannot view PMs unless you share them. Harassment is not tolerated here. Finally, anonymous posting is not allowed. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable saying something under your usual username, it’s best not to post it.