from FAQs do u practice this?

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George&Bert

George&Bert

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please see highlighted sentence.....

Q2.4. Can I free-feed my cat?

A2.4. Generally, you want your cat to eat around the time he receives his insulin injections. Some people have set meal times, and others use free-feeding. Still others put down food at meal times only, but let the cat eat at his leisure. Insulin type is an important factor in this decision. Short-acting insulins, such as N (NPH), can be dangerous if the cat has not had a solid meal about half an hour or so before the shot; on the other hand, a cat on a long-acting insulin such as Lantus (insulin glargine) or PZI can follow a "grazing" schedule much more safely.
Most people here would agree that feeding a cat between the time insulin peaks and the next shot is unwise, although a small high-protein, zero-carbohydrate snack such as chicken or tuna should not substantially affect blood glucose. Whatever you decide, be consistent.
 
I practicve free-feeding.

Webber would get wet food at shot times AM/PM (1 hours apart for Lantus) but he would not eat alot at any one time. There was always food out 24 hrs a day for all 4 cats. However, every cat is different. I know there are some kitties here that have to be watched not too eat too much or helped to eat at all.
 
The point is that if you feed after nadir, you are providing more fuel as the insulin's effectiveness decreases so you are working against yourself..... do people practice this? Depends on the kitty I'd guess...
 
We give fresh food at meal times, and the quantity is sufficient that there is some left at the next meal time - sometimes not much...

So - the food is available 24 hours a day. We don't run over and scold if Tiggy approaches the food bowl after a certain time. We just make a mental note (or even jot a note in the log) it we saw Tiggy snacking within two hours of test time.
 
Ennis free feeds FF wet 24/7. Both he and my previous diabetic always keep/kept a smoother curve with frequent, small meals. Both Levemir and PZI.
 
Our timed feeder is set at +3 and +7, with one full can of Fancy Feast (3oz) in each compartment. I also have the feeder set for +10 so that it rotates to an empty spot 2 hours prior to shot time.

But it took testing (Lantus) to reach those times. When we were using Vesulin we were set to rotate every 4 hours.
 
I feed at insulin (or when I *would* shoot if BG is high enough) which is 5am and 5-630pm. I have a feeder that opens at +6 when I'm at work. I put out a small amt of food at *my* bedtime (+4 maybe?).

When Cricket is closed up in the laundry room, there is always food left from meal-to-meal. If Cricket is loose, then there's no food left and there's cat-barf everywhere. (Cricket gets dry food in the laundry room.)
 
Moochie is free fed. She did fine with that on PZI Vet and she does fine with it on Levemir. I have always shot her at the same time as I put the fresh food out.

I believe that the feeding "schedule" might possibly be more important with the faster acting insulins like Vetsulin(Caninsulin) and Humulin N than with a more intermediate insulin like PZI or a longer lasting insulin like Lantus or Levemir.
 
My five diabetics and 4 civies are fed at 12 hour intervals. Usually there is some food left for them to graze on between feedings. They are all on Lantus so I have a little flexibility in feeding.

If I notice that they have cleaned the dishes bare in less than 1/2 hour, I will put some frozen raw medallions down to "tide them over."

Claudia
 
Mine get their insulin when the yhave finished about half their food. They get feed bid with none left out. Four are on Lantus, one on U and the other on N.
 
Mine are all fed twice a day. But that is mainly due to my work schedule. Every once in a while when I am home, they will get a meal in between their normal ones. Mainly that is just to keep them from stealing food from my plate. haha_smiley
 
We found that we shot Caesar shortly after feeding (Twice a day Fancy Feast 3oz can). Since I am retired, our best timings were 9am and 9pm.
If he was shot without any food on board, he would not react very well, usually throwing up anything he did have in his stomach. He was on Lantus 0.5u B.I.D. That was all he required, but he did need that amount or his numbers would shoot up to the heavens.
He was a Type I Diabetic.
 
Cody has acromegaly, which is frequently linked to a voracious appetite. If I opened 10 cans of food, I think he would inhale 10 cans of food (and look like a basketball).

So I use a timed feeder, which opens at 8, 12, and 4 AM and PM. Shots are at 8:00 after meals. Total about 12 ounces /day

After reading this I'm thinking of doing what Sherri does, and set it for +3 and +7....
After using it for approx 10 days, today he managed to break into it early - aaaaaaaahhhh
 
We strictly free feed and are on less than 1u of ProZinc.

Normal cats should eat approximately 10-20 small meals per day. Timed feeding juices the curve [which may be needed for shorter acting insulins]. But for PZI the best policy is free feeding or the most approximate thing [as many smaller meals as possible] the owner can manage.

Nancy, that's funny about your little food thief. I didn't know.
 
:-D Gator if you're bored sometime, go back to my first post or 2 around Jan 1-2. Some pretty funny stories. Cody is super sneaky and fast, and we can't leave ANYTHING edible out on our counters or sink or table etc EVER!

Over Christmas with company here, he snuck pecan pie, chocolate cake, 2-3 BEEFSTEAK tomatoes (yes the lg ones), styrofoam and the leftovers inside (that was in the covered trash can), loaf bread and the plastic around it, dog food on several occasions, choc chip cookies, Tenderfoot's food, submarine sandwich and the bag. I've found him IN a soapy cake pan in the sink, in the trunk of my car while unloading groceries, and on the wire shelves of my pantry. We're all constantly jumping up because we hear some strange sound coming from the kitchen. He's torn into the 30# bag of dog food and I'm sure I've forgotten lots of others....

Yes he's been tested for thyroid, and yes he is unregulated and yes he has acromegaly and yes I've wanted to give up. :sad: The timed feeder has been a blessing, because now he sleeps next to it 24/7 waiting for the next meal. It sounds like I starve him, but he gets about 12 ounces /day which is probably twice what most cats here eat. He weighs about 11 pounds. We went to 9u 2 days ago and now his bg is higher and flat. Can you see me pulling my hair out? :shock:
 
thepeach80 said:
I put out a set amount at meal time and just leave it down.
Click to expand...

Us too. He gets food every 12 hrs. Today I gave him wet MD and there's plenty left so I guess we won't use that anymore.
Click to expand...

Don't give up on the wet MD right away -- it can take a week or so for a cat to accept a new food.
Using wet low-carb food is important regardless, though, so please don't go back to a dry food regardless. Please see my signature for links on diets that work.
 
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