Is Webster eating enough?

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Websterthecat

Member Since 2014
I'm trying to figure out whether or not my diabetic cat is eating enough.

Here's a quick recap of his history:

-Ate cheap dry food exclusively for 4+ years.
-we always filled his bowl, never had a "feeding time"
-Never really measured how much he ate. Just filled the bowl when getting close to empty
-He always seemed to be a grazer, eating all day.

Now that he is diabetic and I am trying to monitor his food intake I have no idea how much he should be eating. He slept all day and woke up an hour ago. He came out and ate a few bites of his dry food and a few bites of his new wet food. I also had him interested a tablespoon or so of Gerbers 2nd turkey and gravy. Aside from a small bit of each he doesn't seem interested. He didn't turn his face away or anything. He just ate a little and then walked away.

I have noticed that when I check his food in the morning that some food has been missing from his food bowls. Perhaps a 1/2 cup of dry and 1-2 tbs of wet. Not sure. I'm monitoring closely as of today to try and figure out whats going on. Maybe he just eats at night? I'm not sure if he's eating enough.

He needs his insulin in 30 minutes and I'm thinking that he doesn't have enough food on his stomach as of right now.

How much food should he be eating?
Should I take his food away until insulin time?

I am prepared to force feed him if that's what it takes but I don't want to if he is going to eat on his own late at night or in the wee hours of the morning. I just don't know if he's eating what he should be eating.

BTW, his BG's actually dropped a bit in the past hour. (check SS) I'm worried about the insulin making him drop hard because no food on the stomach. Also, hes 11 lbs, down from 15 since the diabetes and DKA came about.
 
I answered on your other post - about 0.5 ounces per pound of weight, for morning and for night seems to work for my cats.

So a 10 pound cat might get 5 ounces am and pm, if necessary, divided into mini-meals. Adjust up or down based on what the cat is doing (gaining, losing, or staying the same).
 
BJM said:
I answered on your other post - about 0.5 ounces per pound of weight, for morning and for night seems to work for my cats.

So a 10 pound cat might get 5 ounces am and pm, if necessary, divided into mini-meals. Adjust up or down based on what the cat is doing (gaining, losing, or staying the same).
Click to expand...

Thanks! I'm assuming this is for low carb wet food.

I started weighing Webster's food and water last night and have been documenting it in a spreadsheet (see link in signature) to figure out exactly how much he is eating and drinking. It's sad to say but even after 4 years of feeding him I have no clue how much he is eating and drinking due to filling his bowls and allowing to graze.
 
WalMart in Columbus, OH for $0.78/can.

You may find it from some online vendors, too.
 
BJM said:
WalMart in Columbus, OH for $0.78/can.

You may find it from some online vendors, too.
Click to expand...

Nice. Once I'm confident that he likes a particular flavor I'm going with that. Good price. Thanks!
 
BJM can get some fantastic prices on the Friskies pate 13 oz cans out there in OHIO. Here in Massachusetts, or just across the border in New Hampshire, my Wal-Marts charge 98 cents a can and the PetSmart is $1.19 a can for 13 oz.
 
Prices vary regionally, of course. The relative pricing is likely to be similar.
 
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