My kitty is diabetic and has Ibd. She has lost a lot of weight over the last year and I need to find a high calorie low carb diet or supplement for her that is diabetes safe She has been doing well on fancy feast classic pate but needs more calories in a day. Grateful for suggestions. I don't need to switch over entirely because she is a 18 and I don't want too much change but I need to add calories.
Need high cal diet
- Thread starter Dds35day
- Start date
- Status
Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)
Member Since 2019
Minnie also had IBD. I don’t know of any specific high cal foods but anything made for kittens would be. You’d just have to make sure it’s low carb. How much does she weigh and how many calories a day are you feeding her? Sometimes just increasing the amount will do the trick especially if she’s not a very active cat. Is her diabetes regulated? Do you have a spreadsheet setup?
Diane Tyler's Mom GA
Member Since 2018
Try looking at our food chart
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/
Would you like someone to set up your spreadsheet for you ?
@Dds35day
I did a search here on our site and found this posted by a member
This chart shows the the FF Kitten foods are about on par with the other FF low-carb foods
http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/dr-pierson-new-food-chart.174147/
Would you like someone to set up your spreadsheet for you ?
@Dds35day
I did a search here on our site and found this posted by a member
This chart shows the the FF Kitten foods are about on par with the other FF low-carb foods
http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf
Last edited:
Thank you for your help. I think feeding her more is helpful. I have a spreadsheet but stopped updating it because she was doing very poorly although her numbers have been so so. She lost weight consistently since last October. I have tried everything including IM vets, ultrasounds, chlorambucil etc to no avail. She also has Ibd which had been in remission until her weight loss returned. I have been beyond grief sticken but continue to do all of her medical care. She has a libre which we change every two weeks. I don't know if this is just a blip but for the last two visits she had not lost any weight. I have stayed home with her all the time because I thought she was dying but her behavior, purring eating etc have been good. She is just painfully thin. I asked the vet not to tell me her actual weight because I freak out. I can feel it. So now I am feeding her as much as possible and she is eating more than usual. I also give her some cheese which she loves. I know it's not good but she loves it and I wanted her to be endulged. Maybe it is high calorie. Any way I had given up hope but I am praying for a miracle.
Thank you
Thank you
I did some research and it seems that all meat baby food might be a good supplement. What do you think? I'm praying we can get her better. She is very old but... But sweet as sugar
Thank you. I am serving her as much of her FF as possible and she is eating it up. Giving a bit of cheese with pills. She loves and it is high calorie. Has anyone given little bit of cooked eggs?
I'm not going to make major changes because she is happy with her FF but would like to get more calories in her on the side. She doesn't much care for all protein treats. Thank you
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Member Since 2015
I am going to tag @Teetee (UK) as he helped someone else with a list he has of suitable foods.
Teetee (UK)
Member Since 2019
Hi Dayna
I have this list i created for another member but unfortunately they are UK foods and i don't know if any of these they are available in the US.
Regarding calories kitten food is usually high in calories, boiled eggs are ok, low in carbs and low in phosphorus and the white is high in protein which is good for building up muscle but they are also low in calories.
You will need to know her weight so you can calculate her daily calorific needs and to see if she's gaining weight, also you will need to weigh her weekly to check her progress.
I have found these Fancy Feast foods that are quite high in calories.
This has 96 cals per can and is only 5% carbs
https://www.purina.com/fancy-feast/wet-cat-food/timeless-favorites-classic-pate-chicken-senior-food
This Kitten food has 96 cals per can and is only 4% carbs.
https://www.purina.com/fancy-feast/wet-cat-food/classic-pate-turkey-kitten-food
Ideally you need foods that are in the 90/100 cals per 85 gram cans and low in carbs, there looks to be a few on the purina site.
I use this carb calculator.
https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/_gaconverter/index.php
They say that a healthy cat should eat about 20 calories per pound of body weight or more if weight gain is needed, so again you will need to know her weight, sorry.
I don't know what her BG is as you don't have a spreadsheet set up but if it's high then her body will be struggling to absorb the nutrients from the food.
High numbers will stop any nutrients being absorbed into her body resulting in weight loss, insulin acts like a key opening the cells in her body so the food can be absorbed.
You are doing the right thing by giving her more food, try giving her more at pre-shot and more at her mini feeds if she will eat it.
Is this the food you are feeding at the moment?
https://www.purina.com/fancy-feast/wet-cat-food/timeless-favorites-classic-pate-chicken
I have this list i created for another member but unfortunately they are UK foods and i don't know if any of these they are available in the US.
Regarding calories kitten food is usually high in calories, boiled eggs are ok, low in carbs and low in phosphorus and the white is high in protein which is good for building up muscle but they are also low in calories.
You will need to know her weight so you can calculate her daily calorific needs and to see if she's gaining weight, also you will need to weigh her weekly to check her progress.
I have found these Fancy Feast foods that are quite high in calories.
This has 96 cals per can and is only 5% carbs
https://www.purina.com/fancy-feast/wet-cat-food/timeless-favorites-classic-pate-chicken-senior-food
This Kitten food has 96 cals per can and is only 4% carbs.
https://www.purina.com/fancy-feast/wet-cat-food/classic-pate-turkey-kitten-food
Ideally you need foods that are in the 90/100 cals per 85 gram cans and low in carbs, there looks to be a few on the purina site.
I use this carb calculator.
https://secure.balanceit.com/tools/_gaconverter/index.php
They say that a healthy cat should eat about 20 calories per pound of body weight or more if weight gain is needed, so again you will need to know her weight, sorry.
I don't know what her BG is as you don't have a spreadsheet set up but if it's high then her body will be struggling to absorb the nutrients from the food.
High numbers will stop any nutrients being absorbed into her body resulting in weight loss, insulin acts like a key opening the cells in her body so the food can be absorbed.
You are doing the right thing by giving her more food, try giving her more at pre-shot and more at her mini feeds if she will eat it.
Is this the food you are feeding at the moment?
https://www.purina.com/fancy-feast/wet-cat-food/timeless-favorites-classic-pate-chicken
Thank you very much. She is on FF and is eating it very well. I feed her as often and as much as she will eat. She lost weight every vet visit for six months except the last month for some reason she didn't. Her weight has gotten very low. I told the vet not to tell me because it really upsets me but it is under 7 pounds. I am going to do everything possible to help her. She has a libre and I am home all week now so I can scan and feed her. On weekends I work long days so I can't watch her bg. I was giving her little pieces of cheese which she loves with her pills. Maybe it is high calorie but I don't want to overdo. I was hoping to find something to supplement her FF to get her daily calories up but most gels have lots of carbs. Meat baby food? She is nearly 19 and my best friend. I am going to spend my week watching her bg and feeding her as much she will eat. She has Ibd and is on budesonide and also methimazole.
Thank you very much
Thank you very much
Teetee (UK)
Member Since 2019
Hi Danya
There is some good info here that might help you with getting her to gain weight.
https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-health/how-to-calculate-your-cats-daily-calorie-intake/
This is taken from the above site.
How to Calculate Calories for Weight Gain
Some cats can be too thin and may need to put on some extra pounds. Thin cats have a body condition reflected in a narrowed waist, protruding rib cage, and exposed bony processes of the spine.
Here is an example of how to calculate calories for weight gain. Let’s say you have a 6-pound cat and you want to calculate the energy requirements for weight gain. When we look at Table 1, the basic RER requirements for a 6-pound cat is 149 calories. When you look at Table 2, you see a factor of 1.8 x RER for ideal weight.
The calculation is 149 calories x 1.8 = 268.2 calories. This 6-pound cat needs to eat approximately 268 calories to gain weight.
Also i have found a section about baby food and eggs on the CRF site that might help.
https://www.felinecrf.org/persuading_cat_to_eat.htm
Bear in mind that this is a site for CRF cats but it's a fantastic site and there is a lot of good info there including things about helping an elderly cat with weight and muscle loss.
https://www.felinecrf.org/nutritional_requirements.htm
There is some good info here that might help you with getting her to gain weight.
https://www.petplace.com/article/cats/pet-health/how-to-calculate-your-cats-daily-calorie-intake/
This is taken from the above site.
How to Calculate Calories for Weight Gain
Some cats can be too thin and may need to put on some extra pounds. Thin cats have a body condition reflected in a narrowed waist, protruding rib cage, and exposed bony processes of the spine.
Here is an example of how to calculate calories for weight gain. Let’s say you have a 6-pound cat and you want to calculate the energy requirements for weight gain. When we look at Table 1, the basic RER requirements for a 6-pound cat is 149 calories. When you look at Table 2, you see a factor of 1.8 x RER for ideal weight.
The calculation is 149 calories x 1.8 = 268.2 calories. This 6-pound cat needs to eat approximately 268 calories to gain weight.
Also i have found a section about baby food and eggs on the CRF site that might help.
https://www.felinecrf.org/persuading_cat_to_eat.htm
Bear in mind that this is a site for CRF cats but it's a fantastic site and there is a lot of good info there including things about helping an elderly cat with weight and muscle loss.
https://www.felinecrf.org/nutritional_requirements.htm
This is fabulous! Thank you so much. Really on target and eye opening.. I just printed the article on Skinny Old Cats
She has Ibd, diabetes and hyperthyroidism all of which can cause weight loss. But when I saw that old age can contribute it really seemed logical. She is almost 19. She has always been a chonker. In two years she went down from 16 pounds. I am going to study this and do everything humanly possible to keep her bg ok and to eat. Thank you very much.
She has Ibd, diabetes and hyperthyroidism all of which can cause weight loss. But when I saw that old age can contribute it really seemed logical. She is almost 19. She has always been a chonker. In two years she went down from 16 pounds. I am going to study this and do everything humanly possible to keep her bg ok and to eat. Thank you very much.
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Member Since 2015
I’m so glad @Teetee (UK) has been able to help you.
Would you like to set up a SS? We may be able to help you with dosing which can help with weight gain if we can get the best dose happening.
Would you like to set up a SS? We may be able to help you with dosing which can help with weight gain if we can get the best dose happening.
Teetee (UK)
Member Since 2019
No problem Dayna,
I don't know if you noticed the Cat food data in the column on the left hand side of the page as there is lots more info in there including a list of US canned food data, although most are too high in carbs for diabetic cats there's quite a lot of low carb foods in there as well.
The food list also states the calorie content.
https://www.felinecrf.org/canned_food_usa.htm
I was curious about the hyperthyroidism as i don't really know much about it so i had a little look about and found this page about hyperthyroidism which i found interesting, especially the link to the Long beach animal hospital article.
https://www.felinecrf.org/hyperthyroidism.htm#what_is_it
JL and Chip
Member Since 2009
In addition to what was already mentioned … When was her thyroid level last checked? Sometimes they need a dosage adjustment on the methimazole.
If her IBD causes diarrhea, I’d be very cautious about offering too many different new foods.
Has she has a GI panel done (blood is typically sent to Texas A&M University)? I’m wondering about B-12 levels and whether supplementation might be helpful.
If her IBD causes diarrhea, I’d be very cautious about offering too many different new foods.
Has she has a GI panel done (blood is typically sent to Texas A&M University)? I’m wondering about B-12 levels and whether supplementation might be helpful.
- Status