Need advice with feeding issues

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kattl8y

Member Since 2014
Jack was diagnosed with fd back in May, his glucose was over 600! After insulin therapy and a special diet (Canin diabetic) he responded so well that we got to stop the insulin because his glucose was dropping too low. I just added a new cat to our household, Ember. I'm having a problem with feeding. Jack is still on the diabetic food but likes to eat Embers food. I've tried separating them when they eat and putting Ember's bowl in a higher spot (Jack is a big boy and doesn't jump too often) with no success. I have them on a twice a day feeding schedule but they pretty much free feed. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Jack is doing so well and I don't want to compromise that.
 
Have you tried feeding both of them either Fancy Feast or Friskies pate flavors? They are low in carbs and would help prevent Ember from developing FD. I always kept my cats on the same diet.
 
If Jack's diabetic food is a prescription formula it may not be good for Ember. When our Eve started eating Purina DM my vet told me not to feed it to the other kitties. If you feed Jack low carb non prescription food (such as Fancy Feast or Friskies) then you could feed the same thing to both of them.

Also you may be able to stop free feeding both of them. Our cats eat 4 times a day and it was easy to convert them even though they had been free-feeding before. I feed them in separate rooms because Eve loves food so much she would wolf down hers and then eat the other kitties food too.

One other good thing about feeding them separately is I can monitor how much each of them is eating.
 
We have two grazers - one diabetic, one not. Upon Tasha's recent diagnosis, we converted both to Friskies pate and she now chows down. Apparently grazing is only for dry food in her mind. The civilian happens to be a Tubby Tabby and he needs to lose some weight so right now, we're OK with him eating less and wandering off. I'm hoping he'll learn to eat when it's available.

We originally started separate feedings/non-grazing early this year when Tubby Tabby Ripley had urinary issues and was on RX food. Having them on different foods was a nightmare. Also, that's when Tasha started losing weight and drinking more - we attributed it to the dietary changes implemented due to Ripley's urinary issues and almost missed her diabetes. Getting them on food that's healthy for both of them may be your easiest option.
 
Thanks for the advice! Jack's food is a prescription diet so I was leary of giving it to Ember because I was afraid it would cause health issues with her. I have them on a twice a day feeding schedule but leave the bowls down, I may try your suggestion and put them away between feedings.
 
With a household of 14 cats with only 1 diabetic, I put down Friskies pates twice a day. Initially, they eat a bit, then they graze on it the rest of the day. It may help the pancreas heal by not sending all the food at one time and allowing the glucose influx to be more gentle, to match the long acting insulins.

Other folks feed mini-meals, especially when steering the numbers on a Tight Regulation protocol.

And some meal feed. That is important if on a shorter acting insulin that hits hard and fast, such as Humulin/Novolin or Vetsulin/Caninsulin.
 
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