Cat Food Recommendations

[Mary Hendricks]

Hi All! I’m thinking about switching my cat’s food. The RX food is getting expensive. She’s currently on Royal Canin Glycobalance; mixture of wet and some dry. Thoughts?

 

[SashaV]

Are you monitoring her bloodglucose? If not, do it before you change her diet.
Depending on where you are located there's different recommendations for food, but first step is always to test BG and then throw away the dry.

 

[Mary Hendricks]

Are you monitoring her bloodglucose? If not, do it before you change her diet.
Depending on where you are located there's different recommendations for food, but first step is always to test BG and then throw away the dry.

She won’t allow me to home test. She goes to the vet Saturday for a glucose test.

 

[SashaV]

She won’t allow me to home test. She goes to the vet Saturday for a glucose test.

Who won't? Your cat?

 

[Mary Hendricks]

Who won't? Your cat?

Yes. She freaks out and hides the hours.

 

[KyraCat]

Hi Mary,

Not sure how long you've been trying or what techniques you have attempted with your fur baby but there are some really good tips here

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

(hope that works, I've never shared a link on here before)

Testing really is a huge benefit but of course it takes time to get both you and your fb used to it. Once you can get on to testing it would be much safer to start phasing out the old food for lower carb options.

 

[Mary Hendricks]

Hi Mary,

Not sure how long you've been trying or what techniques you have attempted with your fur baby but there are some really good tips here

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

(hope that works, I've never shared a link on here before)

Testing really is a huge benefit but of course it takes time to get both you and your fb used to it. Once you can get on to testing it would be much safer to start phasing out the old food for lower carb options.

Have you ever done the urine tests strips for glucose? She’s going to her vet this Saturday for her check up so I’ll know more then but I’ve been reading that the blood glucose isn’t the only way to test. Thanks so much for the link!!!

 

[Panic]

I’ve been reading that the blood glucose isn’t the only way to test.

The only other way is using the Freestyle Libre monitor, it's expensive and only lasts 14 days ... usually less. Kitties get used to testing, it just takes time.

Back to your original question though - I would not switch to a better low-carb food if you're not able to test. This is for safety reasons because the BG can lower by 100 points, lowering the insulin needs significantly. You would be putting her in danger of hypoglycemia (can be fatal). HOWEVER once you are (hopefully) testing regularly, anything under 10% from this list is good. Most of us go for Fancy Feast Classics or Friskies Pate, but anything under 10% works, ideally under 5%.

Again, please don't switch to low-carb until you're able to test daily.

 

[Mary Hendricks]

The only other way is using the Freestyle Libre monitor, it's expensive and only lasts 14 days ... usually less. Kitties get used to testing, it just takes time.

Back to your original question though - I would not switch to a better low-carb food if you're not able to test. This is for safety reasons because the BG can lower by 100 points, lowering the insulin needs significantly. You would be putting her in danger of hypoglycemia (can be fatal). HOWEVER once you are (hopefully) testing regularly, anything under 10% from this list is good. Most of us go for Fancy Feast Classics or Friskies Pate, but anything under 10% works, ideally under 5%.

Again, please don't switch to low-carb until you're able to test daily.

Thank you, all, for your help! I’ll work on home testing.

 

[KyraCat]

Have you ever done the urine tests strips for glucose? She’s going to her vet this Saturday for her check up so I’ll know more then but I’ve been reading that the blood glucose isn’t the only way to test. Thanks so much for the link!!!

I haven't but I did look in to it a good amount when I thought I would never get to do the blood glucose test. I even looked as some ridiculously expensive litter that the urine just sat on in order to do the test. If would never have been feasible, cost wise, as the bags were so small and we have 3 cats.

The blood glucose testing is hard going for the first week but perseverance really is the key. I believe in @JanetNJ 's video you can hear her cat purring and I thought well that will never happen for us....Kyra now purrs during most of his tests....

If you do struggle, or have bad days trying to test always come and post on here. The people are so amazing at picking up your spirits when you need it most!

 

[JanetNJ]

Thank you, all, for your help! I’ll work on home testing.

I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.