Always hungry? Thyroid problems?

[Melissa & Tiger]

Hi guys! I wrote my first post a few weeks ago with much support from everyone that was very appreciated. In my post I touched on a question about my guy being ravenously hungry and I have a few more questions.

He gets fed one can of food with his insulin around 5 am and 5 pm. Recently he's been waking me around 4am hungry and ready to eat and is the same when I get home from work and if I'm home all day. Be follows me around the kitchen, sticks his head in the fridge, licks the empty can if its left on the counter. Just always hungry! I was given the advice to spread out his meals and buy an automatic timed feeder. I'm looking into buying one now. But I'm wondering when the best time to feed is. I feel I will benefit the most if he is getting a snack a few hours before his main meal time so that he isn't begging for food too early. So this would be around the 8-9 hour mark. But I read it's best not to feed while the insulin is coming down which happens right around those exact hours!

So I'm looking for advice on what has worked for others? Best feeding times? Ways to prevent hungry cats from pushing for food earlier then their regular schedule? (My ideal feeding times would be 530-6 rather then 4-5) And should I feed him a little more then he is getting now or just spread out his two cans through the day?

When I talked to the vet about it she mentioned getting a blood test to check for (hyper/hypo??) thyroid problems. Does anyone have experience with this? Is this a likely reason for his ravenous hunger or is it really just that he isn't regulated and his body isn't quite metabolizing his calories properly at the moment? A big blood test is a little out of the budget at the moment so I'm hopping more food spread through the day can help us!!

Thank you in advance!

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Yes, hyperthyroid cats can be very hungry. However, being an unregulated diabetic is probably the cause right now. I'd work on that for a bit before paying for an expensive blood panel. What size cans of food are you feeding - the small Fancy Feast size or the regular Friskies size (not the large ones)? A diabetic cat needs more food because they can't get enough calories from what they eat when unregulated. So, maybe up Tiger's daily ration. Many people split the daily ration into two larger meals just before shots and the rest as snacks through the day (and maybe night if you get an auto feeder). You just have to make sure to take food away at least 2 hours before preshot BG testing.

 

[Melissa & Tiger]

Yes, hyperthyroid cats can be very hungry. However, being an unregulated diabetic is probably the cause right now. I'd work on that for a bit before paying for an expensive blood panel. What size cans of food are you feeding - the small Fancy Feast size or the regular Friskies size (not the large ones)? A diabetic cat needs more food because they can't get enough calories from what they eat when unregulated. So, maybe up Tiger's daily ration. Many people split the daily ration into two larger meals just before shots and the rest as snacks through the day (and maybe night if you get an auto feeder). You just have to make sure to take food away at least 2 hours before preshot BG testing.

I'm hoping it's not a thyroid problem! He gets two cans the size of friskier normal size. I was wondering if I should add a smaller fancy feast size can and split up to make two small snacks through out the day. Is that too many calories though? And as long as I don't feed him 2 hours before his injection it's ok to feed around 8-9 hours after last injection? Thank you for your response!

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I'm hoping it's not a thyroid problem! He gets two cans the size of friskier normal size. I was wondering if I should add a smaller fancy feast size can and split up to make two small snacks through out the day. Is that too many calories though? And as long as I don't feed him 2 hours before his injection it's ok to feed around 8-9 hours after last injection? Thank you for your response!

I feed Teasel 2.75 cans a day of the regular Friskies size. That's 0.75 cans more than I fed him before his diabetes diagnosis. He's gained some weight back but isn't overweight. If you think Tiger is at a good weight for his size now, you could weigh him, increase his daily ration for a couple of weeks and reweigh after that time. If he hasn't gained weight, you'd know you're not overfeeding. A digital baby scale works well for kitties. Yes, feeding at +8 or +9 is fine, assuming the next shot is at +12.

 

[Marlena]

Melissa, your Tiger looks so much like Rocky! Are his eyes blue or green - difficult to say from the picture.
First thing you could assess is Tiger's weight, that would be your baseline and feed according to that assessment.
Second thing would be time of feeding: diabetic cats and I think cats in general should eat small portions of food quite often. Four times in 24 hours would be manageable for most people. Feeding large portions is too hard for their digestion and would spike BG quite a lot, it is also very taxing on the pancreas. Your cat's stomach is a size of a walnut, something to consider. Another thing to consider is that they are diabetic and receiving insulin so you need to make sure that you have some food available at times of nadir in case they go too low.
I feed Rocky 4x at very regular intervals and I use a feeder at night but if you don't have a feeder you might want to consider setting your alarm clock for the night time meal, I used to do that!
Rocky always has been a very hungry cat and would eat anything including green vegetables, asparagus, broccoli and French beans are his favourite not to mention mashed potatoes! He got fat from eating too much because he was stealing food and I kept feeding him to just have a bit of peace! He lost some weight due to uncontrolled diabetes for some time but I put him on a strict diet and he is not fat any more. He accepted smaller amount of food as norm now. He was tested for thyroid problems and the results are fine. Some cats are just so greedy! Has Tiger always been like that? If he is not drinking too much water, not urinating a lot, is not overweight or too skinny then probably you can postpone the vets visit for some time.
I hope it helps.
Take care.
Marlena&Rocky

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Do you have a scale at home? You can weigh him weekly to see if he's gaining, losing or maintaining weight and use that as a judge on how much to feed him.

One other condition that one in four diabetic cats have is called acromegaly. It's a benign tumour on the pituitary gland, that sends out excess growth hormone. Think teenager appetite! My Neko has it and I had to put all food in the kitchen into lockdown, or she'd help herself to it.

 

[Melissa & Tiger]

Melissa, your Tiger looks so much like Rocky! Are his eyes blue or green - difficult to say from the picture.
First thing you could assess is Tiger's weight, that would be your baseline and feed according to that assessment.
Second thing would be time of feeding: diabetic cats and I think cats in general should eat small portions of food quite often. Four times in 24 hours would be manageable for most people. Feeding large portions is too hard for their digestion and would spike BG quite a lot, it is also very taxing on the pancreas. Your cat's stomach is a size of a walnut, something to consider. Another thing to consider is that they are diabetic and receiving insulin so you need to make sure that you have some food available at times of nadir in case they go too low.
I feed Rocky 4x at very regular intervals and I use a feeder at night but if you don't have a feeder you might want to consider setting your alarm clock for the night time meal, I used to do that!
Rocky always has been a very hungry cat and would eat anything including green vegetables, asparagus, broccoli and French beans are his favourite not to mention mashed potatoes! He got fat from eating too much because he was stealing food and I kept feeding him to just have a bit of peace! He lost some weight due to uncontrolled diabetes for some time but I put him on a strict diet and he is not fat any more. He accepted smaller amount of food as norm now. He was tested for thyroid problems and the results are fine. Some cats are just so greedy! Has Tiger always been like that? If he is not drinking too much water, not urinating a lot, is not overweight or too skinny then probably you can postpone the vets visit for some time.
I hope it helps.
Take care.
Marlena&Rocky

Thank you so much for the response! Tiger does look like rocky! Rocky has beautiful blue eyes, tigers are green he was a little overweight before his diagnoses and since then has dropped quite a bit on the scale. I don't have my own scale but last time he was at the vet they said his weight was good and consistent over the last few months, so he isn't gaining or losing.
He use to free feed dry kibble so he was never needy with his food in the past. He is also a little picky. He won't eat any human food, even tuna and has denied every freeze dried, low carb treat I have tried. He does love his wet food though! And eats it without a problem. That is so funny to hear Rocky eats all the human food!! I've tried with tiger and he just walks away!
I had no idea about the size of their stomachs and how feeding such large meals could affect them. Thank you so much for that info!! I am planning on buying a timed feeder and would gladly set up a feeding while I'm at work and again in the middle of the night. The only thing I was nervous about was spiking his blood glucose too high after the feedings.
Tiger seemed to be drinking and urinating often for quite some time after his diagnoses and actually just recently I noticed a major decline, so I'm hoping that's good news! And like I mentioned, the vet believes he's at a good weight, so that's good news as well I'm going to try the multiple small meals and see if his hunger mellows out.

Thanks again for all the helpful info!

 

[Melissa & Tiger]

Do you have a scale at home? You can weigh him weekly to see if he's gaining, losing or maintaining weight and use that as a judge on how much to feed him.

One other condition that one in four diabetic cats have is called acromegaly. It's a benign tumour on the pituitary gland, that sends out excess growth hormone. Think teenager appetite! My Neko has it and I had to put all food in the kitchen into lockdown, or she'd help herself to it.

I don't have a scale but I'll look into getting one! I don't want him to be starving but I also don't want him to gain back all that unwanted weight. And thanks for the heads up on acromegaly, I've never heard of it nor has the vet brought that up. I'll look into it a little more to see if any of the signs and symptoms are there with tiger. My best to Neko, that teenage appetite is the real deal!!

 

[Ria]

Melissa I an new to having a diabetic cat but have had a lot of hyperthyroid kitties. Just in case.. they can do just a thyroid panel w/o an entire blood panel to save you some money. Hopefully you won't need it though, as it does sound like it is more related to his diabetes.

 

[Marlena]

Thank you so much for the response! Tiger does look like rocky! Rocky has beautiful blue eyes, tigers are green he was a little overweight before his diagnoses and since then has dropped quite a bit on the scale. I don't have my own scale but last time he was at the vet they said his weight was good and consistent over the last few months, so he isn't gaining or losing.
He use to free feed dry kibble so he was never needy with his food in the past. He is also a little picky. He won't eat any human food, even tuna and has denied every freeze dried, low carb treat I have tried. He does love his wet food though! And eats it without a problem. That is so funny to hear Rocky eats all the human food!! I've tried with tiger and he just walks away!
I had no idea about the size of their stomachs and how feeding such large meals could affect them. Thank you so much for that info!! I am planning on buying a timed feeder and would gladly set up a feeding while I'm at work and again in the middle of the night. The only thing I was nervous about was spiking his blood glucose too high after the feedings.
Tiger seemed to be drinking and urinating often for quite some time after his diagnoses and actually just recently I noticed a major decline, so I'm hoping that's good news! And like I mentioned, the vet believes he's at a good weight, so that's good news as well I'm going to try the multiple small meals and see if his hunger mellows out.

Thanks again for all the helpful info!

You're most welcome, please ask any questions, I'll be so happy to help keeping your beautiful pussy cat healthy.
I'm into nutrition and supplement (that's my passion). I feed Rocky raw homemade diet and give him lots of supplements. Regarding thyroid problems in cats - hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is very common in older cats and it is postulated that feeding cat commercial food which has fish or fish by product is responsible for that, another theory is that in old age their immune system is not working properly and attacks their thyroid gland which would produce too much thyroid hormone and cat will lose weight despite huge appetite. Hyperthyroid cat would also drink a lot of water and urinate a lot. Autoimmune disease like that is also very common in people but hyperthyroidism is much rarer, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is very common and is usually caused by immune system attacking and destroying thyroid glad ability to produce hormones.
The fact that Tiger does not want to eat tuna makes me rather happy.

Melissa I an new to having a diabetic cat but have had a lot of hyperthyroid kitties. Just in case.. they can do just a thyroid panel w/o an entire blood panel to save you some money. Hopefully you won't need it though, as it does sound like it is more related to his diabetes.

Ria, did those kitties with hyperthyroidism eat a lot of fish based cat food? Just curious.

 

[Ria]

You're most welcome, please ask any questions, I'll be so happy to help keeping your beautiful pussy cat healthy.
I'm into nutrition and supplement (that's my passion). I feed Rocky raw homemade diet and give him lots of supplements. Regarding thyroid problems in cats - hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is very common in older cats and it is postulated that feeding cat commercial food which has fish or fish by product is responsible for that, another theory is that in old age their immune system is not working properly and attacks their thyroid gland which would produce too much thyroid hormone and cat will lose weight despite huge appetite. Hyperthyroid cat would also drink a lot of water and urinate a lot. Autoimmune disease like that is also very common in people but hyperthyroidism is much rarer, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is very common and is usually caused by immune system attacking and destroying thyroid glad ability to produce hormones.
The fact that Tiger does not want to eat tuna makes me rather happy.

Ria, did those kitties with hyperthyroidism eat a lot of fish based cat food? Just curious.

Marlena...they actually didn't eat fish based foods they were chicken based. Most of became hyperthyroid once reached 13 or 14. Unfortunately I was not so knowledgeable then & didn't know how bad commercial foods were or about dry vs wet feeding. Those kitties have taught me a lot. I am also into animal nutrition & holistic healing treatments...so awesome to know someone else...our numbers are growing.

 

[Melissa & Tiger]

You're most welcome, please ask any questions, I'll be so happy to help keeping your beautiful pussy cat healthy.
I'm into nutrition and supplement (that's my passion). I feed Rocky raw homemade diet and give him lots of supplements. Regarding thyroid problems in cats - hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) is very common in older cats and it is postulated that feeding cat commercial food which has fish or fish by product is responsible for that, another theory is that in old age their immune system is not working properly and attacks their thyroid gland which would produce too much thyroid hormone and cat will lose weight despite huge appetite. Hyperthyroid cat would also drink a lot of water and urinate a lot. Autoimmune disease like that is also very common in people but hyperthyroidism is much rarer, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) is very common and is usually caused by immune system attacking and destroying thyroid glad ability to produce hormones.
The fact that Tiger does not want to eat tuna makes me rather happy.

Ria, did those kitties with hyperthyroidism eat a lot of fish based cat food? Just curious.

That's so cool! I love to study human nutrition but know little to nothing about cat nutrition. Sadly, apparent by the fact I fed tiger cheap, carb filled dry kibble for all his life up until now the prescription food he is on has very little fish product but before that if I ever bought him canned food as a treat it was usually some sort of fish so I'm glad I know to stay away from it in the future! Tiger is only 7 so old age shouldn't be a factor at the moment. But I will keep an eye on his drinking and urinating as well as his weight! And my automatic feeder from Amazon should be arriving tomorrow so I'm excited to hopefully get him on a routine of more frequent smaller meals throughout the day!!

 

[Melissa & Tiger]

Melissa I an new to having a diabetic cat but have had a lot of hyperthyroid kitties. Just in case.. they can do just a thyroid panel w/o an entire blood panel to save you some money. Hopefully you won't need it though, as it does sound like it is more related to his diabetes.

Thank you for the advice! I'm sure that would help the bank account a lot

 

[Wendy Weatherby]

My cat kept losing weight and waking me several times during the night. So I told the vet this and she suggested putting him on Purina Kitten Chow at night before bed. He's gained weight, but his numbers are over 300 for the last 4 days.

 

[StephG]

My cat, Chuck, is always "STARVING"! He's had his thyroid panel done and is not hypo/hyper thyroid. I swear the ONLY time he's satisfied is the hour or two after he eats his 4.5 oz at each feeding. He is underweight but we are working on getting him back up to weight. But my cats went from free feeding to scheduled and controlled feeding. I have noticed that when his BG readings are closer to "normal" levels he isn't quite as bossy about being hungry.

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

My cat kept losing weight and waking me several times during the night. So I told the vet this and she suggested putting him on Purina Kitten Chow at night before bed. He's gained weight, but his numbers are over 300 for the last 4 days.

Purina kitten chow dry food is higher in calories BUT it is also very high in carbs...about 30%. This is not a good choice for a diabetic kitty and will cause glucose levels to go much higher.