2/12 Cargo AMPS 134, 89@AM+4, PMPS 121, PM+3 76, PM+4 75

Cargo's SS looks so good! I'm curious, what we're you feeding him when he was first diagnosed with diabetes? I recently read that new information says some cats can get diabetes from dry food.

I sure hope Cargo keeps going in the right direction! :D
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Hi @JoyBee&Ravan! Yes, like so many others who put too much trust in vets, I fed Science Diet kibble to both my cats (Cargo is my sugar kitty, Tarmac is non-sugar) because that's what my vets always recommended. At age 5, Tarmac (Mac - who looks just like your Raven!) was my first to have medical issues due to the food - I came home from a trip (I travel for a living) to find him almost dead from a urethral blockage. Rushed him to the emergency vet and $9000 later he pees like a girl, but he's alive and a much happier cat! So I did my homework and found out I should be feeding wet food. I did what I could with the schedule I had and a few years later poor Cargo turned up diabetic. So upon further research, I decided to go (mostly) raw. I do still feed about half canned for the protein variety. But even now I'm thinking of changing to FF pates as so many people on here seem to have great luck with that, instead of the Merrick. Not sure. Your signature says you've raised Raven on raw - that surprises me that he went diabetic! What is his story?
 
Mel and Cargo said:
surprises me that he went diabetic! What is his story?
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I was "shocked" that he became diabetic. He came from a litter of 5 ,born in my garage. Mother cat was feral & hit by a car when the kittens were just days old. I kept all 5 & they were all fed a totally raw diet from the time they could chew. Two died of cancer. One had a heart defect .
Ravan has Diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure & seizures! He's 18 yrs 8 months old. His sister Alice, had kidney disease also. ( I guess it's just bad genetics :( ) I've never had so many kitties that were sick.

When Ravan got diabetes he went off his raw meat . I had never fed him anything else so that was a shock too. Now he eats raw sometimes & a variety of good quality canned food. Low carbs & low Phosphorus (for his kidneys)

I've learned my lesson & never give him any food or meds till I look up the ingredients / side effects. I've had some BAD experiences with Vets also.

Cargo is still a "young" kitty. I've had several live into their 20's My Daisy was 24 when she fell asleep next to me & died very peacefully.

I'll be watching Cargo & sending positive thoughts that he keeps getting beautiful green BG :D

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Wow! I'm pretty sure you're a saint to take on all those medical issues! Sounds like you got more of an education in feline problems than most vets! :p
Since you've done so much research into the canned food, I'm curious what you're feeding Raven? I saw the file on this site and it seems the Merrick Perfect Bistro is decently low in carbs with good protein, but there are others that are better. I've been using the Darwin's raw but because it has bone in the puree, it is a bit high on the phosphorus. Cargo's numbers have always thankfully been excellent, but with your experience, should I be more concerned with the phosphorus?
Thanks so much - sorry for so many questions! :)
 
Mel and Cargo said:
So upon further research, I decided to go (mostly) raw. I do still feed about half canned for the protein variety. But even now I'm thinking of changing to FF pates as so many people on here seem to have great luck with that, instead of the Merrick. Not sure.
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I recommend you stick with raw. Much better quality and lot more protein options. The reason people choose FF is because it's cheap and low carb. It's too high in phosphorus should your cat ever have kidney issues. If you want a low phosphorus raw, stick with ones that use egg shell calcium instead of raw bones. Not sure if Small Batch is available near you. Or you can make your own with a premix. When Neko got CKD I switched to making my own for the types of proteins that were higher phosphorus that I wanted to feed. FoodFurLife's EZComplete is one option, easy peasy to make your own.
 
That's a great recommendation @Wendy&Neko! I haven't heard of Small Batch but will look into it. I followed your FoodFurLife link and am curious which types of proteins you're feeding and where you are getting them? Sounds a lot cheaper than Darwins if I can find my own meat!
 
Mel and Cargo said:
am curious which types of proteins you're feeding and where you are getting them?
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I'm near Vancouver, Canada. I got meats at a local exotic, organic meats butcher (5 minutes away :)) and a raw pet food store that brings in plain meat. You name it, I could get it. Besides the usual boring ones, I made buffalo, elk, venison, kangaroo. And if I wanted to could get wild boar, goat, ostrich. Can't remember them all now, been a few years.
 
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