Just Curious...

[Tonya and Tiki]

Did I do something to contribute to the fact that Tiki is diabetic (so I don't do it again)?

Before his diagnosis I had been feeding him Iams Premium Protection (the most expensive in thier line) which came with all sorts of bells and whistles that seemed healthy and a good choice. I fed him the Senior variety as it had more protein and less fat. He always had a great big bowl available to him and grazed at his leisure. I only bought a new bag about once per month. I will admit he got a little CHUNKY on this formula but I thought the fat content was worth the extra bells and whistles. I once asked the vet about his weight and if I should be concerned and her comment was, "He's a big cat, he wears it well." (My last cat was a 25lb tubby so trust me I knew the difference).

Just curious....

If I can get him regulated I surely don't want to go backwards and end up right where we left off...

 

[Anonymous]

Tonya,
Altho that may have been a good food as far as dry kibble goes...you will likely never want to serve it again. Dry kibble is still too full of carbs. And many ingredients that may look good, are not actuallly cat species appropriate.
Many cats develope diabetes after a steroid shot.

For whatever reason your kitty is diabetic, a diabetic he shall now always be. Extra sweet.
And whether on insulin or off the juice, is diet will be the most important thing you can watch to keep him healthy.
Lori

 

[KarenRamboConan]

The problem with most dry food that advertises itself as being lower in fat (like the weight loss foods) is that they tend to be extra high in carbs. Not a good combo for a senior, overweight kitty. Cats NEED fat. They don't need carbs.

Look at the ingredients :

Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Corn Meal, Corn Grits, Ground Whole Grain Sorghum, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor, Fish Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Potassium Chloride, Brewer's Dried Yeast, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), DL-Methionine, Fructooligosaccharides, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Dried Chicken Cartilage (Natural source of Chondroitin Sulfate and Glucosamine), Vitamins (Niacin, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Thiamine Mononitrate (source of vitamin B1), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of vitamin B2), Inositol, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid), Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Cobalt Carbonate), L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract.

It certainly was not a terrible dry food- after all, it does have chicken as the first ingredient! But canned or raw low carb food is the best food for all cats.

All that aside, cats need moisture. More than they can get from drinking. A cat's most vulnerable organ is their kidneys - kidney failure is the leading cause of death (by disease) in cats. Moisture intake is VITAL for good kidney health. Dry food is... well... dry. And cats have very low thirst drives, so never get enough water by drinking. The moisture has to be in their food. A cat at a water bowl is already dehydrated.

Here's my favourite website by a vet who has specialized in feline nutrition : http://catinfo.org/ Check out what she has to say about food for cats - it's eye opening.