5/24 Gizzy Amps will be 300+

[pistull]

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=43568

A disappointing morning after our day yesterday. I was so hoping the good #'s would continue! :sad:

I started testing him at +10 and +12, because I suspected that his #'s were still falling when I was dosing him at +12. I thought that was perhaps causing the bounces.... After today's bounce, I realize that's not the case in all instances. Last night he was clearly rising when I dosed him.

He also started grooming himself like a madman! Pulling his fur out and everything! He's never done that before so something is bothering him. I talked to the vet and she said it's most likely stress and not diet. The only thing I can think of is that it really stresses him out to go without food the whole day (really stresses our other cat out too). I started giving him 1 small Tbsp raw food at +3.5 to take the edge off and then giving him his full helping at +12. That seems to have helped.

Poor guy! I hate these huge swings, they wear him out.

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

Good morning! I bet Gizzy is stressing about the food. Are you not able to free feed or just trying to cut back? I give them each a can for breffis and then put out one can between them for the day. It is usually gone when I get home and then I give them each a can for supper and put out a can for the night. We feed FF classic / flaky.

Hope you have a great day!

 

[pistull]

I was feeding 4 meals a day (every 6 hours) of FF classic, but we thought the food during the day might be screwing up his #'s. It was suggested that I try feeding only at +12. I think it has helped some. I switched over to raw food + a daily vitamin + a fish oil supplement now and obviously that has very low carbs so I think it's ok to feed a bit during the day too.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Most of us feed "mini-meals" -- we spread food out over a few hours. Is there a reason you can't portion out Gizzy's food over the first half of the cycle?

 

[Melissa & Tarragon]

That would make sense. We had to swtich from completely dry to canned and Tarragon was dry addicted so I have never went the extra step to pull free feed. That would probably be enough to stress him beyond belief. He is a skittish guy anyway and does not like change. Plus, I am gone during the day and worry that they will starve. :roll: Good for you trying to do it! I would think a small snack at some point would be ok, it is just finding the perfect timing.

 

[pistull]

He seems to be doing well with the snack at +3.5 or +4. We have auto feeders so that works well when I'm not home. The only problem is that he eats the other cat's food too....so he's getting double the snack! He's such a piglet.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

hahaha i read "he's such a piglet" and right next to that is the face of an angel! he looks like he would NEVER be a piglet! silly kitter. i give 1 can at shot time and 1/2 can 3 hours later. i could imagine going all day without feeding would be stressful. could you give him a little more than the tablespoon and see if that helps with his stress?

 

[pistull]

He is an angel! Truly the love of my life (don't tell my hubby!!) Hee hee hee
Maybe I'll go back to how I was feeding him and see what happens!

 

[Laurie and Mr Tinkles]

I started testing him at +10 and +12, because I suspected that his #'s were still falling when I was dosing him at +12. I thought that was perhaps causing the bounces.... After today's bounce, I realize that's not the case in all instances. Last night he was clearly rising when I dosed him.

Whether he is falling or rising when you shoot has nothing to do with the bouncing. It's good to see which way he is heading so you can make sure it's safe to shoot, but it's really two different issues. The bouncing is coming from the pretty green numbers he is seeing...his liver is reacting to them, dumping a stored form of glucose and counter regulatory hormones to protect him from numbers that it thinks is too low. It's a normal, if frustrating, part of the sugar dance.

I agree with Sienne's suggestion....try to feed smaller meals over the first half of the cycle rather than one big meal twice a day if possible. It's best to avoid feeding after nadir unless your kitty is close to OTJ, or you need to in order to manage low numbers. It only serves to push up the PS numbers with most kitties. (Many people free feed, if that works for your kitty, that's fine.)