Help Choosing New Food

[Buddy’s Ma]

So Buddy is just about finished his course of metro, was taken off probiotics, and has been started on the Chinese herbs San Ren Teng for his pancreas and colon along with a Sulcrate Suspension, more Cerenia that’s starting again today, and Buprenorphine as needed.

The herb worked quite quickly and Buddy’s glucose curve is now between 11 - 7 so we’ve minimized his dose to 2.5U as well.

His 2 week checkup since hospitalization was this week and his blood work came back looking good so at this point we’re looking at changing foods because despite the above, the diarrhea has returned. This current canned food (Hills AD Urgent Care) has a lot of grains whereas Buddy’s usual diet doesn’t so we think that could be the culprit. He was eating Go! Limited Diet Pollock dry kibble before all of this.

My vet recommended a prescription food but Buddy still isn’t eating on his own so I’m wondering what other tempting diabetic friendly foods you’ve had success with? Any that guarantee your cat will eat would be very helpful.

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

Vets recommend prescription food mostly because it puts more money in their pockets. It's not an evil conspiracy, our non diabetic cats eat RoyalCanin SO because two have recurring urinary tract problems but there is no magic food for diabetic cats. Our two sugar cats ate Fancy Feast, mostly because I knew they'd eat it every time. That's one of many options, it just happens to be a cheap one.
I am an Alberta boy, lots of Canadians here. As long as you're not from Calgary you'll love it here.

 

[Buddy’s Ma]

No way @Noah & me (GA)! I’m from Edmonton haha, what a small world.

My vet doesn’t even carry the prescription food she recommended and I trust her fully so I don’t think it was a money grab, ironically she did advise against Fancy Feast specifically.

I just hate that he’s still not eating on his own and I’m sure Fancy Feast Pate is one he’d be more enticed with, that’s what I was going to pickup before she said that. Now I’m thinking maybe I’ll try some of the BLUE/Natural Instinct/Tiki Cat cans.

 

[Beck and Philly]

I've been told that AD is great for short term recovery, but should not be fed longer than needed. We've had luck with Tiki Aloha and Soulistic can foods. The Tiki Crab and Ahi Tuna and the salmon seem to be a good fit so far with my diabetic who doesn't really like wet food and my senior girl

 

[Buddy’s Ma]

I've been told that AD is great for short term recovery, but should not be fed longer than needed. We've had luck with Tiki Aloha and Soulistic can foods. The Tiki Crab and Ahi Tuna and the salmon seem to be a good fit so far with my diabetic who doesn't really like wet food and my senior girl

Yeah he’s been on it for a very long time now so it’s time to say buh bye me thinks! Will pick up that flavour today. Thank you!

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Iiiii dunno Fancy Feast always kept Troubles numbers in more a normal range. The clincher was ...HE GOBBLED IT. I'm sure there are other options that could be better but the trial and error thing got too costly. The only thing that benefited from that, was the shelter we donated all that rejected food to.

 

[Buddy’s Ma]

Iiiii dunno Fancy Feast always kept Troubles numbers in more a normal range. The clincher was ...HE GOBBLED IT. I'm sure there are other options that could be better but the trial and error thing got too costly. The only thing that benefited from that, was the shelter we donated all that rejected food to.

I know, I can’t believe how quickly the costs wracked up over these last two weeks. Between everything, I’ve spent over $500 already. Much better than my baby still being in the hospital though, that’s priceless

Le sigh...my gut is telling me to still try Fancy Feast...do I dare go against my beloved vet’s advisement hahah.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

I know, I can’t believe how quickly the costs wracked up over these last two weeks. Between everything, I’ve spent over $500 already. Much better than my baby still being in the hospital though, that’s priceless

Le sigh...my gut is telling me to still try Fancy Feast...do I dare go against my beloved vet’s advisement hahah.

What does your vet have against FF specifically? Maybe you can educate him/ her? I mean I dont know if it was the FF alone that got Trouble OTJ but thats ALL he ate. He enjoyed a good 2 years post insulin and was STILL eating FF.

I totally understand you not wanting to go against Vet advice, especially,if this vet is one you actually like. Troubles Vet was all on board with FDMB protocols. I gave her the link from this site and she did a LOT of reading here and actually tells her other FD clients to come here. So the information here cant be all bad. just sayin.

I wish you luck with your decisions whatever they become. We are family here and will ALWAYS you.
j

 

[Dusty & Roe]

I know, I can’t believe how quickly the costs wracked up over these last two weeks. Between everything, I’ve spent over $500 already. Much better than my baby still being in the hospital though, that’s priceless

Le sigh...my gut is telling me to still try Fancy Feast...do I dare go against my beloved vet’s advisement hahah.

Hi My cat was not big on Pate so Fancy Feast was not a her go to . She did like Tiki Cat and also Weruva the chicken looks like shredded chicken same with Tiki Cats chicken .
I also research what brands were recalled and the 3 mentioned were never recalled .
Tiki Cat has 0 carbohydrates Weruva has very low but you can look them up to see which are higher . Example stay away from Weruva pouches for some reason they are high carbs .
Fancy Feast with Gravy is also higher You can look up the wet food carbohydrates from this list http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf
I can not tell you how many cans my cat turned her nose up at lol . Keep asking questions or if you just need to talk or vent feel free Roe

 

[Liang & Nathan]

Iiiii dunno Fancy Feast always kept Troubles numbers in more a normal range. The clincher was ...HE GOBBLED IT. I'm sure there are other options that could be better but the trial and error thing got too costly. The only thing that benefited from that, was the shelter we donated all that rejected food to.

I have bought all 12 flavors of FF classic pate. So far I have tried 8 of them and Nathan only eats 1 of the 8!

But I have 5 cats now (one has CKD so she is on special diet too), so 3 other cats will eat what nathan doesn't eat.

If unfortunately none of my cats eat some certain food, there are two neighbor outdoor cats come to my front door every day and they will eat whatever I give them.

 

[Liang & Nathan]

What does your vet have against FF specifically? Maybe you can educate him/ her? I mean I dont know if it was the FF alone that got Trouble OTJ but thats ALL he ate. He enjoyed a good 2 years post insulin and was STILL eating FF.

I totally understand you not wanting to go against Vet advice, especially,if this vet is one you actually like. Troubles Vet was all on board with FDMB protocols. I gave her the link from this site and she did a LOT of reading here and actually tells her other FD clients to come here. So the information here cant be all bad. just sayin.

I wish you luck with your decisions whatever they become. We are family here and will ALWAYS you.
j

From what I know, somehow Fancy Feast has a not good reputation in pet owners because they use "cheap by-product" for many of their products.

Google "fancy feast cat food good or bad", and you will see other people's opinions.

It could be prejudice though. The classic pate seems to be ok in their ingredients.

 

[Dusty & Roe]

I have bought all 12 flavors of FF classic pate. So far I have tried 8 of them and Nathan only eats 1 of the 8!

But I have 5 cats now (one has CKD so she is on special diet too), so 3 other cats will eat what nathan doesn't eat.

If unfortunately none of my cats eat some certain food, there are two neighbor outdoor cats come to my front door every day and they will eat whatever I give them.

I understand so much I would open so many cans thinking you have got to be kidding me lol

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

From what I know, somehow Fancy Feast has a not good reputation in pet owners because they use "cheap by-product" for many of their products.

Google "fancy feast cat food good or bad", and you will see other people's opinions.

It could be prejudice though. The classic pate seems to be ok in their ingredients.

I guess until there is better brand with the same carb count I'll stick to FF.

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

I have bought all 12 flavors of FF classic pate. So far I have tried 8 of them and Nathan only eats 1 of the 8!

But I have 5 cats now (one has CKD so she is on special diet too), so 3 other cats will eat what nathan doesn't eat.

If unfortunately none of my cats eat some certain food, there are two neighbor outdoor cats come to my front door every day and they will eat whatever I give them.

Well that figures! lol I did get Zoe some Merrick rabbit she devoured it. So we are trying that now. She doesnt have diabetes so I guess a higher carb food wont hurt. I was shocked she ate the Merrick. We use to have ferals around here I fed. Zoe was one of them. but she is NOT feral just a stray. We TnR'd our ferals as soon as we released them they ran for the hills.

 

[Liang & Nathan]

Well that figures! lol I did get Zoe some Merrick rabbit she devoured it. So we are trying that now. She doesnt have diabetes so I guess a higher carb food wont hurt. I was shocked she ate the Merrick. We use to have ferals around here I fed. Zoe was one of them. but she is NOT feral just a stray. We TnR'd our ferals as soon as we released them they ran for the hills.

We have some Merrick purrfect bistro canned food too: beef, chicken, duck. They are all low in carbs and Nathan is ok with them.

We also bought some cans of Merrick purrfect bistro: Beef Wellington, Tuna, Surf & Turf to see how Nathan like them. They are low in carbs too. If he likes, then we will have more options to feed.

 

[Buddy’s Ma]

What does your vet have against FF specifically? Maybe you can educate him/ her? I mean I dont know if it was the FF alone that got Trouble OTJ but thats ALL he ate. He enjoyed a good 2 years post insulin and was STILL eating FF.

I totally understand you not wanting to go against Vet advice, especially,if this vet is one you actually like. Troubles Vet was all on board with FDMB protocols. I gave her the link from this site and she did a LOT of reading here and actually tells her other FD clients to come here. So the information here cant be all bad. just sayin.

I wish you luck with your decisions whatever they become. We are family here and will ALWAYS you.
j

I think it was the grain and carb amounts if I remember correctly? I picked some up anyway but no such luck with the first can already Salmon & Shrimp Feast.

Hi My cat was not big on Pate so Fancy Feast was not a her go to . She did like Tiki Cat and also Weruva the chicken looks like shredded chicken same with Tiki Cats chicken .
I also research what brands were recalled and the 3 mentioned were never recalled .
Tiki Cat has 0 carbohydrates Weruva has very low but you can look them up to see which are higher . Example stay away from Weruva pouches for some reason they are high carbs .
Fancy Feast with Gravy is also higher You can look up the wet food carbohydrates from this list http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf
I can not tell you how many cans my cat turned her nose up at lol . Keep asking questions or if you just need to talk or vent feel free Roe

Thanks for this! I'm going to pickup some Tiki and Weruva cans as well. I picked up all the seafood varieties because I'm worried him and his brother may have a chicken or beef sensitivity since they both had problems on food with those ingredients before.

I have bought all 12 flavors of FF classic pate. So far I have tried 8 of them and Nathan only eats 1 of the 8!

But I have 5 cats now (one has CKD so she is on special diet too), so 3 other cats will eat what nathan doesn't eat.

If unfortunately none of my cats eat some certain food, there are two neighbor outdoor cats come to my front door every day and they will eat whatever I give them.

WHICH ONE!? Haha I just picked up the seafood varieties and just tried the Salmon and Shrimp one...so far 0/4...bah humbug. I just saw your post about the Merrick foods, will also add that to the shopping list tonight.

Everyone cross your fingers for me pleeeease!

 

[Dusty & Roe]

I think it was the grain and carb amounts if I remember correctly? I picked some up anyway but no such luck with the first can already Salmon & Shrimp Feast.



Thanks for this! I'm going to pickup some Tiki and Weruva cans as well. I picked up all the seafood varieties because I'm worried him and his brother may have a chicken or beef sensitivity since they both had problems on food with those ingredients before.




WHICH ONE!? Haha I just picked up the seafood varieties and just tried the Salmon and Shrimp one...so far 0/4...bah humbug. I just saw your post about the Merrick foods, will also add that to the shopping list tonight.

Everyone cross your fingers for me pleeeease!

Crossing fingers here . I really understand what you are going through so many times I say are you kidding me to my cat lol . I believe Weruva has a lamb recipe I never tried it .

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Finger crossed GOOD LUCK!

 

[Liang & Nathan]

I think it was the grain and carb amounts if I remember correctly? I picked some up anyway but no such luck with the first can already Salmon & Shrimp Feast.



Thanks for this! I'm going to pickup some Tiki and Weruva cans as well. I picked up all the seafood varieties because I'm worried him and his brother may have a chicken or beef sensitivity since they both had problems on food with those ingredients before.




WHICH ONE!? Haha I just picked up the seafood varieties and just tried the Salmon and Shrimp one...so far 0/4...bah humbug. I just saw your post about the Merrick foods, will also add that to the shopping list tonight.

Everyone cross your fingers for me pleeeease!

It is Fancy feast classic pate COD SOLE SHRIMP FEAST.

My cat also likes PRO PLAN - Savor Beef & Carrots Entree Classic and PRO PLAN - Savor Chunky Chicken. They are both low in carbs.

But every cat is different...

 

[Dusty & Roe]

I think it was the grain and carb amounts if I remember correctly? I picked some up anyway but no such luck with the first can already Salmon & Shrimp Feast.



Thanks for this! I'm going to pickup some Tiki and Weruva cans as well. I picked up all the seafood varieties because I'm worried him and his brother may have a chicken or beef sensitivity since they both had problems on food with those ingredients before.




WHICH ONE!? Haha I just picked up the seafood varieties and just tried the Salmon and Shrimp one...so far 0/4...bah humbug. I just saw your post about the Merrick foods, will also add that to the shopping list tonight.

Everyone cross your fingers for me pleeeease!

How did the new food go ?

 

[Buddy’s Ma]

How did the new food go ?

Sorry I've been in exhausted, catch-up on life and sleep mode.

I had one more pill of the appetite stimulant left so I gave him that yesterday, he ate two pieces of his fav freeze-dried food (Stella & Chewy's Duck Duck Goose), a tiny morsel of the FF Seafood Feast, was interested in all the other cans I open but didn't bite. So frustrating.

I've bought 6 different brands and 19 flavours so far...

 

[jt and trouble (GA)]

Zoe NOT diabetic is currently in love with Merrick's duck, wabbit. I dont know the carb count but shes on a FF strike

 

[ReneeM787]

Prior to trying Tiny Tasters chicken/turkey, my cat would barf every moist food offered. We’d tried Fancy Feast pates, Sheba, numerous more expensive brands, even cooking for her. I pray our luck holds and she continues to eat it.

 

[Buddy’s Ma]

SUCCESS!

Not ideal, but after speaking to our vet, she said that since Buddy was on mainly kibble before, I would likely have more success with trying to get him to eat dry and it would be ok in the short term just to get him back to eating on his own.

So, I tried one of his old favourites which is really well put together and vet-approved, Acana's Pacifica (I think it's only a Canadian brand but it is amazing if you can get it in the US!) and -bingo- he's eating more and more on his own today.

Glucose numbers are hanging steadily around 10-5mmol/L so we're looking at dropping his dose yet again.

YAAAAY, BUDDY

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

The Stella & Chewy's is fine.

If you need novel proteins, check out the ZiwiPeak line. It's pricey but there are no gums or carrageenan in it. They make a canned food variety and a freeze dried that looks like kibble (or jerky-type treats) but isn't.