Introducing kitten and diabetic adult cat - advice?

[Aspen]

Hi there,

Any advice introducing a 3 month old kitten and a diabetic older cat (14 years old)? The main problem is food. I am feeding them separately but the diabetic cat is desperate to eat the kitten's food every time he smells it. The kitten isn't eating all his food at once so I'd love to be able to leave it out for him to graze at will but can't think of a way to keep the older cat away from it. :-(

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

The best thing you can do (for your kitten's future too!!) is to get them both eating a low carb/high protein diet

It also solves the problem of your diabetic getting into the kitten's food!

A lot of foods these days are formulated for all growth stages, so you can feed the same food to both the kitten and the sugarcat

Also getting them on a feeding schedule will help...it doesn't take long for them to learn if they don't eat it now, it isn't going to show up until next feeding time

If you're still only feeding twice a day (like it says in your signature) there's no reason you can't feed more often. It's actually easier on the pancreas to have several small meals instead of 2 big ones....and that would let your kitten get a little extra food in there too

 

[Aspen]

The best thing you can do (for your kitten's future too!!) is to get them both eating a low carb/high protein diet

It also solves the problem of your diabetic getting into the kitten's food!

A lot of foods these days are formulated for all growth stages, so you can feed the same food to both the kitten and the sugarcat

Also getting them on a feeding schedule will help...it doesn't take long for them to learn if they don't eat it now, it isn't going to show up until next feeding time

If you're still only feeding twice a day (like it says in your signature) there's no reason you can't feed more often. It's actually easier on the pancreas to have several small meals instead of 2 big ones....and that would let your kitten get a little extra food in there too

Thanks. I actually feed the older cat 5 times a day now. I would like to trim it down to 3-4 but that's where we are right now. He's eating half Friskies pate and half BFF. I wonder if those two are formulated for the kitten (he came home from the SPCA with Purina One Kibble and Fancy Feast kitten).

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

it should say on the label somewhere "for all life stages" (or something like that)

You can also call the manufacturer and they'll be able to tell you

 

[Aspen]

Good advice! Thanks.