High calorie supplements - are they okay for sugar cats?

[shelaghc]

I've been trying to get weight back on my Jester for a couple of months now. His weight at his last appointment in early December was 9 pounds - pre-diagnosis weight in summer of 2016 was about 12.5.

Mostly I've been pushing Jester to eat at least 2 cans of 5.5 ounce cat food a day - preferably more. But I'd like to explore some kind of supplement that would add calories without so much emphasis on volume. Sometimes I feel like Jester is almost weary of me pushing so much food at him....

I've tried "flavor enhancers" but they don't seem to appeal to Jester. In fact, when I used fortiflora, he turned his nose up at the food. (Bastian, my other health-issue kitty seems to love it though.)

I'd almost rather some kind of additive to his current foods that doesn't change the flavor. Since he's generally happy eating his regular foods and I can't get him to eat a lot of low carb stuff, it seems logical to do something with that does work.

Has anyone ever tried any supplements such as I'm describing?

I found one on Amazon - is anyone familiar with this product?
https://www.amazon.com/Tomlyn-Calor...-Cal/dp/B00WKO46JA/?tag=felinediabetesfdmb-20
The kitten version is fish flavored, adult is malt flavored.

Is there a way to find or figure out if it's safe for diabetic cats? Is there an alternative anyone knows about?

Thoughts and other suggestions?

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

It's hard to say if is adequate for diabetic cats since they do not list their actual ingredients in their web page ( http://tomlyn.com/cats/vitamins-high-calorie-supplements/#1499728124032-48330281-988a) a lot of this supplements have some kind of syrup corn, maple,etc. to make them palatable you could try and ask the manufacturer about it and see what he answers before trying it

It takes a long time after a kitty gets regulated or at least on more o less normal values before they actually start gaining weight again ( it took Babu over a year to regain some ), some times as long as he doesn't lose more weight it's ok you don't want him to start rejecting his food that would actually make things worse

 

[Squalliesmom]

I am not familiar with that particular product. I used Xtrabloom Wate for my underweight Bengal; it was recommended to me by several Bengal breeders. It's just powdered fat, basically, but it does have corn syrup solids in it, so it might have an impact on blood glucose.

 

[Sylvie]

i just don't know why they consider that product a 'high calorie' supplement, what my vet had me get for a kitten that wasn't gaining weight and it did nothing for his weight, was just useful for extra nutrients and for sick cats that don't want to eat much.. 1 tsp (6 grams) is only 25 calories, tube has like 21 servings in it, so a whole tube is only like 500 calories. you are better off buying that high calories prescription can food and giving him a tbsp of that! either-way, i wouldn't give it to a diabetic cat, first two ingredients are corn & malt syrup.. for tux, our diabetic cat, i let him graze on YA & evo dry and he gained his 4lbs back already so maybe you could buy a small bag of YA zero carb formula, ground a tbsp up and mix it into his wet food. i done deleted my calculations but, i think i recall 10g/1tbsp of kibbles was 50 or 60 cal.

 

[shelaghc]

you don't want him to start rejecting his food that would actually make things worse

That's been one of the problems. At one point, when I was encouraging Jester towards low to zero carb canned food, he basically quit eating completely for about a week and a half. That's one of the ways he lost some of the weight.
One of the scarier times for me since he was diagnosed.
I don't want to do much experimenting with different foods because of that experience.

you are better off buying that high calories prescription can food and giving him a tbsp of that! ...

I've tried the high-calorie canned food and he absolutely won't touch it.

for tux, our diabetic cat, i let him graze on YA & evo dry and he gained his 4lbs back already so maybe you could buy a small bag of YA zero carb formula,

While I appreciate the rec of YA, I can't give Jester any non-prescription dry food at this point.

When he was much younger, he had a blockage. The only dry food he can eat safely is Hill's CD to prevent further blockages. Unless YA is available in a formula that is safe for blockages, I can't risk it with Jester.

Finding some kind of acceptable, and affordable, alternative that simply adds calories without pestering him to eat more is a real challenge.

 

[Sylvie]

am not sure if YA is safe for blockage or not, it does mention something about being formulated to maintain a heathy urinary tract??

yes, it was hard to find something to add calories in lowest volume when i needed it for kitten and a sick cat, never did really.. the cat i ended up grounding kibbles and mixing it with kmr milk. the kitten i ended up making homemade food by partially slow cooking 100% grass fed ground chuck (15% fat) in water and adding tcfeline supplements, each 3oz meal ended up 173 calories, not including supplement calories or extras i added in later. would your cat eat something like this, maybe mixed at half with half his current food till he gains some weight back? would give you the extra calories he needs without technically upping his food amount. if so, i have an extra bag of the TCfelinevchicken & liver supplements you can have.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Good idea to stay away from dry food. Which high calorie foods did you try before? We might have some alternate suggestions. I also liked raw food, because it was smaller volume but more calories, so kitty didn't feel full. Did you t y kitten food?