Indoor/Outdoor cats with diabetes

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Bobbie And Bubba

Bobbie And Bubba

Member Since 2015
I just intercepted the second mouse from Bubba this morning. He is eating the calories I give him and who knows what else. I realize it will be harder to regulate him if he is eating more calories than I know about. What does everyone think about allowing sugar babies to go outside? He loves it so.....
 
I think it would be very cruel for a cat who is used to going outside to suddenly be shut inside all day. I have one diabetic cat who rarely comes in in nice weather and another who has very rarely wanted to go out. The outside cat caught a frog and a baby fieldmouse on Saturday and he is the one who is regulated.
 
Thanks for your response. I feel the same way. Bubba would be miserable in all day. Do you adjust the calories you give your diabetic hunter to be able to keep him/her regulated?
 
Bobbie, just a question. Does Bubba actually eat his catch, or just catch and kill? My mom had a cat that was a vicious hunter, but she would catch mice, bring them in the house and play with them until they died, then walk away from them.
 
Shiloh & Rhonda said:
Bobbie, just a question. Does Bubba actually eat his catch, or just catch and kill? My mom had a cat that was a vicious hunter, but she would catch mice, bring them in the house and play with them until they died, then walk away from them.
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He eats them. Sometimes all but some of the organs, sometimes just the head, (yuck) and sometimes all of it.....
 
As gross as it sounds, most of it is protein. Carbs from the bones if he eats those. I think that if he was to eat one just before a test, it might be an issue, but unless he is one of those cats that will eat anything that is put in front of him, whether he is hungry or not, he will probably regulate his diet himself. You may just wind up wasting a little food.
 
If your neighbors are feeding Bubba, there could be high carbs and no control over his diet. I had an outdoor cat that I quickly transitioned into being an indoor cat. He didn't like it at first but adapted well with catnip and cat toys.
 
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Mice and birds are perfect, low carb foods for our diabetics, so if he's eating his catch, there's no reason to worry about the carbs/calories. The bigger problem with having an indoor/outdoor cat is making sure the only foods they're eating are low carb in the first place.

Outdoor cats can be transitioned to indoor only...some do it fairly easily and some fight it, but it can be done. Making sure their new indoor life is full of fun is one of the big keys to success.
 
Thanks everyone for your responses. He is a cat/hog. Will eat everything put in front of him and then some. I was hoping he'd self regulate with Young Again but if I put out a bowl full, he'd eat a bowl full. If I can't get him regulated within a few months, I might have to transition him to inside only........
 
Smaller portions and controlling weight helps. I've been able to achieve that with CJ.
 
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If he is a binger, a timed feeder may help you out. Many of us use the Pet Safe 5 tiimed feeder, available on Amazon.
 
BJM said:
If he is a binger, a timed feeder may help you out. Many of us use the Pet Safe 5 tiimed feeder, available on Amazon.
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Thanks Cat Ma and BJM I will have to look into the timed feeders. Guess I will have to get one for my civvie cat as well and hope that Bubba lets Forrest have his portion.
 
Switching both cats to low carb, over the counter food will help, as will adding some water to it to increase the volume.
Spreading the food thinly across a large plate will help slow down the eating.
Some folks freeze part of the meal so it can't be eaten until it thaws.
Also, as his glucose gets more controlled, he won't be quite as hungry as he'll be able to use the calories he eats.
 
BJM said:
Switching both cats to low carb, over the counter food will help, as will adding some water to it to increase the volume.
Spreading the food thinly across a large plate will help slow down the eating.
Some folks freeze part of the meal so it can't be eaten until it thaws.
Also, as his glucose gets more controlled, he won't be quite as hungry as he'll be able to use the calories he eats.
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Good tips. They both are are the same diet 1% Fancy Feast Turkey. I like the idea of freezing some of the portion.
 
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