Help with Abigail gaining weight

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mdmnore88

Member Since 2013
I am trying my hardest to home test Abigail but I am not always so lucky. I don't want to stress her out. I only try a few times and if I do not get any blood I just stop bothering her. She is just so skinny and ALWAYS hungry. Does anyone have any recommendations to help her gain weight. I do realize getting the diabetes under control is key. But are there any supplements I could give her to help with weight gain and the hunger? What have any of you done in the past to help your kitties?
 
Have you seen Dr. P's Food Chart?
http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf

Your signature says you're feeding DM, and are trying to switch to canned? If so, her chart contains calories per can info for all the flavors and brands listed. It has a few types of dry and calories (I think it's per cup) also. I guess the trick would be to find a type of food that is less than 10% calories from carbs, and with the higher number of calories?

I found this thread from last year that might help too.

http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=83559&p=898135&
 
If she is very hungry and needs to gain weight, just let her eat.
When she is regulated, her hunger will lessen.
One of my cats was eating around 30oz a day before he was regulated and then got down to around 10oz a day,
Feed her more.
 
Low carb kitten food may help - extra protein and fat for development.

Per Cat Info, you may replace about 1/6 of the food with just plain meat, to up the protein content further.

While you continue to work on blood testing, check my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools for some additional strategies in monitoring her health. Ketone testing, in particular, is important.
 
Good job sticking with trying to test her! Make sure to give her a treat any time you even try testing, especially if you don't manage to get any blood. She gets a "reward" for every try. At some time, not too distant future, she will do what most cats do....when it's time for a test, she'll remind you of that! Once they associate the treat with your attempts, they seem to look forward to the ritual, knowing a yummy treat is on the way.
 
This cat thinks she should get a treat for gracing you with her presence. She is the most spoiled cat in the world. I only have myself to blame. I never had a kitten in my life. My husband had an older cat and I wanted a kitten. I get Abigail when she is 6 weeks old. I picked her up and carried her all over the house. She slept on my pillow. I wanted to snuggle and play all of the time. She, unlike my other cats, has never had a hard life. She has been given toys treats and love since she was a baby. But she is a very "people cat" and I think it's because she was always treated so well. She greets visitors at the door and demands to be pet. She will not leave you alone until you give her a little scratch on the head. Two of my cats were not treated so well. One thrown out of a car in front of my house and the other stuck in the shelter for months after being returned twice! My fourth cat belonged to a friend so I know she was treated well. Just toward the end of her stay with my friend she started having accidents and was forced to stay in the bathroom. Now she has free reign of the house at MY house so I think she is happy.

Anyhoo I will not give up on Abigail because she is like a baby to me!
 
Great job on the testing! As well as feeding her more, you could try cold pressed pure organic coconut oil to help her gain weight. 2ml a day to start assuming she doesnt get diarrhea.

Edited to add: to help regulate her do you want to start posting on the tight regulation forum? Its got a lot of experienced eyes who will look at your posts and readings (many people post daily) and help advise you - if you do - start your first thread with "newbie" : http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewforum.php?f=9
 
I work a LOT of hours. About 9 or 10 M-F. Then I work from home in the evening and do craft shows etc on the weekends. I do try to get in a mid day test and today I was successful. I could sneak away to home during lunch but that's about all I can do during the day. And that's not going to be every day. I am afraid to try tight regulation since I can't test enough.
 
Its not so much for the protocol as much for people to help advise you so I wouldnt worry about all the testing ! but you could also post in relaxed forum although it isnt as active.

And honestly your testing isnt that bad - I would just ensure you always get a preshot test and maybe a before bed if you cant get one during the day.
 
I have been posting in the Relaxed Lantus. Everyone is really nice! And in the few weeks I've been on here I have done more for my cats than I ever knew to do.
 
One of the best canned low carb, high calorie foods out there is EVO cat and kitten. It is 3% carbs and 480 calories per 13.2oz can. That is just over 36 calories per oz of food.

I have two elderly kitties here. One is 17 y/o and now on Lantus insulin, he was on insulin 5 years ago, but went diet controlled for the last 4 year's.... The other is 22 y with hyperT. Both are CRD babies.


In January, right before heStormy went back onto insulin, he was down to barely 6lbs. Today, he is at 8lbs, even.

Last month, the 22 y/o got a sinus infection and stopped eating very well. Sugar has been skinny for years now, but her getting sick really sent her onto decline. She has been on antibiotics now for 10 days and her weight was down to 4.8lbs. I've been force feeding her 3oz of EVO per day for 10 days and she has gained 5oz back so far.
She also eats about another 2oz per day on her own.


Feed Abigail EVO cat & kitten canned food. She will gain weight. Mine are proof of that.

~M
 
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