? Diabetic Update and Food Question

[Ashley O Waterhouse]

Hi All!

Been a while since I've been on here. Zeus had been doing so well on his treatments/food but unfortunately, he was diagnosed with bone cancer yesterday, and due to his MANY health issues we felt (while he was already under and comfortable), it was time to say goodbye.

I am here today to ask about food for my 2-year-old male, he is very overweight (21.3lbs) and has been on a diet for about 6 months now. He was on the same food as his brother (so they didn't fight) but I have been told by his vet that I should look into something high fiber in order for him to lose weight.

I've been feeding High Protein/Low Fiber for so long this just seems crazy to me. They obviously suggested the prescription Hills (which is out of my price range) or I can get Blue Buffalo Weight Management at Petco. I am personally a bit biased towards Blue Buffalo since I had been feeding that exclusively before Zeus was diagnosed so I'm hesitant to go back. I should also mention my boy (Theseus) had a littermate put down recently due to UTI crystals so I definitely want to keep him on a wet food diet.

I'm going to check over the new food update sheet before making any choices. But I wanted to see if anyone else had been in a similar position. *I should mention his recent blood work shows no diabetes or thyroid diseases he is just a very big boy - so we want to nip this in the bud ASAP* Thank you for all your help!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Welcome back but so sorry to hear the news about Zeus.

Forget the "weight control" foods...most of them are very high carb and a lot of them contain what the manufacturer's laughingly call "powdered cellulose"...which is basically a fancy word for sawdust (which is part of the reason they're so high in fiber). The Blue Buffalo Weight Control foods also have this added.

Weight loss in cats is a lot like weight loss in people...decreasing the calories and increasing the exercise. The basic formula to start at is 20 calories per pound of ideal weight and then weigh once a week and adjust as needed.

I would feed a low carb canned or raw food and just reduce the calories per day.

Getting more exercise can be a challenge, but if he likes laser pointers, those are a good way to get him moving. Wand toys like "Da Bird" are another option (This was the only thing that worked on China...something about it she just couldn't resist chasing after). I remember hearing one person who walked around her house with a string tied to her shoe that her cat would chase around and somebody else who'd toss a tiny bit of chicken to the bottom of the stairs so the cat would have to go down to get it and then come back up the stairs to get another tiny bite.

This is another toy that was "cat approved" in my house or this one

You want to shoot for losing about 2% a week...too fast and you risk hepatic lipidosis.

Good luck and keep us updated on how it's going!

 

[Ashley O Waterhouse]

Thank you so much! I've been researching foods for the past 3 hours and I just CANNOT bring myself to switch from Tiki Cat. I specifically mentioned the Tiki Cat to my vet and she said it was a "pure carb" food but with how great their proteins are comparatively (and he already loves it) and knowing cats are MEANT to have protein, not fiber-rich foods I've literally just felt at war with my mind.

I will definitely keep in mind the lower-calorie, we're currently feeding at a 15lb weight level (which is why it was crazy that he's gained 2lbs since his last check-up in Feb, going to have another check-up in Aug). He's pretty active overall, especially for his size, but I will pick up a few more interactive toys during my next Petco trip.

 

[Bandit's Mom]

Here's a thread with nutritional information for Tiki Cat collated by one of our members:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-luau-aloha-friends-and-velvet-mousse.248242/

Here's a very informative website on feline nutrition by a vet:
https://catinfo.org/feline-obesity-an-epidemic-of-fat-cats/

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I'm glad that Bandit's Mom posted the information on feline obesity from Dr. Lisa's website. She gives detailed information on safe weight loss. She's also a huge proponent of a species appropriate diet. In other words, a diet that's meant for a carnivore. Cats can't metabolize carbohydrates effectively so it's as though you're feeding your cat cookies! It's not a surprise that cats will gain weight on a "fiber rich" diet. Think of feeding your cat based on a keto diet. It should work.

One suggestion is to get a baby scale. It's the best way to know if your efforts are paying off.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I'm sorry to hear about Zeus, fly high sweet boy ♥