Advice: How often to feed diabetic cat?

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ewest

ewest

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My 17 yr old cat was just diagnosed with diabetes and is back home with me. I've been feeding her for years a raw meat diet designed for CRF but am getting different opinions about how often to feed her now that she has diabetes. Usually she'd eat 2x a day. One nurse said that is hard on diabetic cats and tends to cause more spikes and crashes in blood suagar. What are folks opinions on this?

Thanks.
Elizabeth and Munchie
 
since you are feeding her raw already, the diabetes isn't diet induced, so you can keep feeding her as you have.

Don't know how often others feed but mine have food out all day.
 
My sugarcat Bob has always gotten fed canned twice a day. Before diagnosis, when he was eating dry, we'd leave some in a bowl all day and he'd graze at will. (he 'willed" a lot apparently, because he topped out at 20 pounds, which probably had a great deal to do with his eventual illness). Now he weighs 14 lbs.
Since ditching the dry, I feed him at 6am and 6pm right after I test him. Right after he eats, he gets his insulin (if he needs a shot). Occasionally, I'll swing by the house during the day and give him an ounce or two as a snack, but I always do so pre-nadir. If I feed him a snack too close to the next test, his BG is higher for the test, which can lead to too high a dose at shot time.
If you are going to be doing home testing and treating, at some point you'll do a "curve" on him and see when his BG is the lowest and highest. Assuming it's about half-way between tests as it usually is with a long-lasting insulin, then you can probably keep on the way you have with two meals a day, and possibly toss in a snack before his BG goes to its low point.

Carl in SC
 
Re: Advice: How often to feed diabetic cat? When cat wants!

I always keep food out for Ragnar all the time, so he can eat whenever he wants. This way, he has a steady intake of small amounts of food.

This is not only good for diabetes, but natural for cats. Think about it - in the wild, our little cats are grazers - there are not many calories in a mouse or gopher, so they eat one and go in search of another. They eat small amounts spread throughout the day. (Yes, a lion gorges itself after killing a wildebeest, but not too many of us have lions -- the little domestic-type cats are grazers!)

Ragnar regulates himself and doesn't eat too much. I think most cats will do this if they know the food will be available. If your cat begins to show signs of obesity, of course, you will have to take the food away or feed smaller amounts, often, than s/he really wants to eat.

Blessings!

Shirley and Mr. Beautiful

(Edited to add:) This is strictly wet food. I keep the can cold after opening and try not to put more out than he can eat in an hour or two - or longer if I am away - and keep it in a cool part of the house. And yes, some does spoil in the summer and get thrown away, but not too much. He's worth it. :mrgreen:
 
Since I've joined FDMB, I've been advised that cats should be fed small meals before they hit the lowest point of their cycle (called nadir). It's usually 5-8 hours after your shot.

You should try not to feed after nadir as it may spike up their next pre-shot number. If their number spikes, you don't know if it's because of food or if it's truly related to diabetes.

Having said that, it's hard for my cat to eat all his daily caloric requirement in a 3-4 period. I do think it's because he's a grazer and that his tummy is just small. Sometimes I'll go past nadir but absolutely no food 2-3 hours before the next shot.
 
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