Cat won't eat for PM insulin

[Genopher]

My cat is NOT motivated by food. He has been free eating dry food for 12 years. I am able to get him to eat 1/4 of a can of wet food in the morning. But he will NOT eat for his evening shot. I skipped his shot last night because he did not eat. I only gave him 1 unit of vetsulin this morning (vet recommended 2 units twice a day but it seems to make him too lethargic!). I do not know how to get him to eat so I can give his pm injection! He does not like anything with chunks and will barely eat pate. I've tried tuna juice to no avail. For those that have had cats who've eaten dry food their whole life...and cats that are not motivated by food...HOW do you get them to eat to give their evening shot?!?! He has never been very excited to eat...has never run to the bowl to eat...and could care less when I put his food down.

P.S. I am not doing home glucose testing (yet) as giving injections is about all I can handle right now. Also, because my cat has been a dry food grazer his whole life...the vet said to continue leaving his dry food out and to give him his 2 units of vetsulin twice a day regardless if he eats. Just that I should keep the every twelve hours consistent. I have gone against their orders and lowered my cats dosage to 1 unit every 12 hours because he seemed too lethargic and not himself at that dosage.

I tend to give too many details...so my point/question is really this: For those that have had cats who've eaten dry food their whole life...and cats that are not motivated by food...HOW do you get them to eat to give their evening shot?!?! HELP.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

Try grinding up a bit of the dry (put some in a heavy duty bag and whack it with a rolling pin if you do not have a grinder) and sprinkle some on top of the wet food.
Other ideas:

sprinkle food with :
- forta flora -- a probiotic you can get at vets or online. is very smelly and cats love the taste of it.
- parm. cheese
- smashed crumbles of dry food
- bonito tuna flakes
- halo chicken treats -- crumble into dust over food -- my Wolfie loves this stuff.
- poor a little water from tuna in water over food ( I use low sodium/no sodium added as other kinds in water has veg. broth in it and I assume that means onions, which are toxic to cats-- check labels)
-powdered oregano. yep sounds weird . but some cats like it and it will entice them to eat.

Also: http://www.felinediabetes.com/TipsforTransitioningPDF12-18-09.pdf

 

[Genopher]

THANK YOU. I will try these! If he does not eat again soon...I just don't know if I should skip the evening injection again? Skipped it last night. Ugh...so hard.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

If it continues to be a problem getting him to eat at shot times, a switch to a gentler insulin that does not drop cats hard and fast might help.
If you are in the US, Young Again has a dry food that is low carb but you have to order online – if you ask, they usually will send you a sample. Dr Elsey's Clean Protein is another one.