Very Skinny Diabetic Kitty?

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Lauren and Lucy

Lauren and Lucy

Member Since 2017
Hello all!

So basically my baby Lucy is 14 and diabetic (as the title reads). She's been on insulin for a little over a year now, right now she's at 3 units twice a day. Over the course of 2 years, Lucy's lost a lot of weight. She used to weigh about 15 pounds and as we regulated her diet, ranged to about 10-12 pounds. Then, of course, she kept dropping weight. Lucy now sits at about 7 pounds. She hasn't been this skinny in about 11 years-and that wasn't on purpose (long story, she ran away, came back a skeleton).

I was just wondering the best way to get her to gain some weight? The vet said it might be helpful to just feed her more to have her gain a pound or two. He's happy with her size but admits that it'd be better for her to gain in case she loses some due to old age or something. But it seems that she's eating all the time, and I hate to think she can sometimes (though not often) get sick because she eats too much. I was seeing if anyone had any thoughts on how to do that! This week we started her on some kitten food since it helps in growth and it might do something to kick start anything. I'm still rather new to this so...feel free to give advice as you see fit!

Any other information...she's an outdoor cat with no foreseeable future of changing that, and drinks a LOT of water. Lucy could sit at the waterbowl all day if the other cat didn't want a turn.

Thank you so much! I hope that's enough info,
Lauren (and Lucy)
 
Welcome to you and Lucy! Diabetic kitties lose weight despite eating voraciously because the lack of sufficient insulin prevents them from getting enough glucose from their food into their cells. Once a diabetic kitty is better regulated their appetite normalizes and they can gain or maintain weight. It's quite possible that Lucy needs to have her insulin dose assessed and adjusted.

Please let us know:
  • when Lucy was diagnosed
  • what insulin she's on
  • whether you test blood glucose at home and, if so, what meter you use
  • what food she eats
  • any other health issues/meds she has.
 
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Hi Lauren (and Lucy!) Welcome! It sounds like Lucy could use some help getting better regulated. Once you are able to answer Kris' questions, we can better direct you to the information that will help. I love that you have an instagram account for your cat!
 
Hi again Lauren and Lucy! I already bombarded you on your introduction post :smuggrin:. Thought this might help you with figuring how much she should eat to gain some weight: Cat's weight (or desired weight in lbs) x 13.6 + 70 = Required calories per day. Divide the total calories by how many meals you feed per day :)
 
It's on her introduction post :). I can't help with any more than that lol. I'm old school GenX :D, my friends give me funny looks because I don't get into all the social media stuff, hee hee. FDMB is my social media! :cat:

Add-on: Ok I lied, I probably could help you figure it out for Phoebes ;)
 
Chuck was really skinny when we first started insulin.
If her blood glucose isn't controlled very well she can't get the nutrients from the food. This has been Chuck's struggle the whole time. He gained 2 pounds in 6 or 7 months. I feed him two 5.5oz cans of 9Lives and an extra ounce of food.
I found her on IG and followed!:cat: She is quite skinny! At this point I'd feed her as many small meals a day that she'll eat before she gets sick.
You will probably have to adjust her insulin to cover the extra food but she needs the food.
Do you test before each shot? That might be the best way to see if she's anywhere near regulation/normal numbers. If you increase her dose I would try to get a mid cycle test as well so you know if she's going too low.
Knowing what insulin she's on will help us help you better.
 
Phoebes said:
How do you know this? And how would you do that? I am interested!! :) plz and ty
Click to expand...

Yes, it was in her introduction post. You can make an Instagram account for anyone you want to. Or you could just add pictures of your cat to your regular instagram account.
 
Some foods are more calorie-dense than others, check labels. One I know is fairly high in calories but still okay for sugar kitties is Wellness Grain-Free (the ones with the little yellow triangle).
 
Lauren and Lucy said:
Hello all!

So basically my baby Lucy is 14 and diabetic (as the title reads). She's been on insulin for a little over a year now, right now she's at 3 units twice a day. Over the course of 2 years, Lucy's lost a lot of weight. She used to weigh about 15 pounds and as we regulated her diet, ranged to about 10-12 pounds. Then, of course, she kept dropping weight. Lucy now sits at about 7 pounds. She hasn't been this skinny in about 11 years-and that wasn't on purpose (long story, she ran away, came back a skeleton).

I was just wondering the best way to get her to gain some weight? The vet said it might be helpful to just feed her more to have her gain a pound or two. He's happy with her size but admits that it'd be better for her to gain in case she loses some due to old age or something. But it seems that she's eating all the time, and I hate to think she can sometimes (though not often) get sick because she eats too much. I was seeing if anyone had any thoughts on how to do that! This week we started her on some kitten food since it helps in growth and it might do something to kick start anything. I'm still rather new to this so...feel free to give advice as you see fit!

Any other information...she's an outdoor cat with no foreseeable future of changing that, and drinks a LOT of water. Lucy could sit at the waterbowl all day if the other cat didn't want a turn.

Thank you so much! I hope that's enough info,
Lauren (and Lucy)
Click to expand...
Good idea giving her kitten food as long as it's low carb. Her numbers are still way too high. I know you said she's an outside cat, but would she let you handle her to test her bg? Would you like help to learn how to do that? It's really very easy! The real key to her putting on weight and helping with thirst is getting the diabetes under control. It sounds like her dose needs adjusting.
 
Hi everyone! Let me try to get through all of this and thank you in advance! :)

To answer the primary questions:
When Lucy was diagnosed: November 2015
Insulin she's on: Prozinc (3 units twice a day)
I don't test blood glucose at home, though might be interested in learning. Lucy's a "problem child" and is fussy enough with just the shots I'm not sure if I'd be able to! As of now once every other month to two months Luc gets the curve done at the vet
The last time she was tested her number was 350 I believe. Much better than it has been but still very high, clearly (when she was first diagnosed, her blood sugar was so high it couldn't be read).
What she eats: Right now she's on 1/4 cup of Wellness kitten food (grain-free) about three times a day (depending on how much she wants to eat).
With the diabetes she's had UTIs once or twice, but as of right now she doesn't have any other health issues beside just being 14!



As for her Instagram, it's lucy_the_diabetic_cat and features her and her "siblings" Felix and Winnie the dog! It's not that hard to make, you just set up an account the way you would a person. People love a good cat account, she has 60 followers in a month!
 
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Yong said:
It's on her introduction post :). I can't help with any more than that lol. I'm old school GenX :D, my friends give me funny looks because I don't get into all the social media stuff, hee hee. FDMB is my social media! :cat:

Add-on: Ok I lied, I probably could help you figure it out for Phoebes ;)
Click to expand...
You crack me up Yong!!:D:D
 
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