Newbie: should I feed my ravenous kitty?

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Jubata

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Hey there. I'm new to this site. Six months ago, my eight year old female cat, Lola, was diagnosed with kidney stones and diabetes. She is about 10 pounds. We give her subq fluids every few days for her kidney issues, and she is on 3 units of Lantus twice a day. I've had her on all sorts of food, as she (like many cats I suspect) goes through days when she won't eat anything but fancy feast. She does not get any dry food. The vet prefers she eat a lower protein diet for her kidneys, but this isn't helping her diabetes.

Anyway, she's ravenously hungry, and I never know how much I should feed her when she gets this aggressive for food. I know I need to test her, so I ordered a kit. But for now, I want to feed her, but I don't know if it's best for her. She's already had about 8 oz of food today.

Thanks for any advise you have.

Lesley
 
Hello and welcome to the board!

While they are unregulated they can't process food so feed as much as you need to maintain weight.

What kind of fancy feast is it? Flavours, type? Many can be too high carb if your goal is tight regulation or remission.

Home testing is important. Let us know when the kit arrives and we can help with testing..

Wendy
 
Are you home testing the glucose levels?

As Wendy mentioned, if the diabetes is poorly controlled, the cat cannot use the calories from what it eats. Home testing will help identify if this is the case, or if additional vet work is needed to test for hyperthyroidism (which can be treated with an inexpensive medication).

All you need is a decent human glucometer, test strips for the glucometer, and 27-28 gauge lancets to do the pricking for a sample of blood. The Arkray USA Glucocare 01 or 01 mini, available from our shopping partner ADW (link at top of page) works pretty well, only uses a tiny drop of blood, and best of all, is inexpensive for both the meter and the test strips. A branded version of this may be purchased from WalMart as the ReliOn Confirm or Confirm Micro. They're a shopping partner too, with a link at the top of the page, if you prefer to order online.

We don't recommend the AlphaTrak meters, for although they are pet specific, they and their test strips are very pricey, and you can't get test strips in the middle of the night, the way you can with retail meters.
 
Did the vet discuss the need to low phosphorus diet with you to help the kidneys? Typically you want to feed under 250 mg phosphorus and sadly, Fancy Feast, while some are low carb, none are low phosphorus.

What you really need to do is put her on a different food that will help both kidneys and diabetes.

One option is to give her Friskies, Special Diet - turkey & giblets pate - this is both low carb and low phosphorus.

If you check out www.catinfo.org - you will see food chart on the right side of the page

Phosphorus in Cat Food - Chart

Protein/Fat/Carbs Chart

You may find that feeding her a raw food diet will work out best. You can buy it or make it yourself. This website offers one recipe for making raw food.

Yes you may need to give her more food, because of the diabetes, she is probably not regulated and needs to eat more food as a result.

Be sure to add extra water to the wet/raw food you give her - this will help with the kidneys and may even fill her up a bit.
 
Hi Lesley and sugarbabe Lola to welcome to the FDMB. Lot's of experience here to help your with your extra sweet kitty Lola.

Here is a shortcut list off all the commercial foods on Dr. Lisa Pierson's food chart, that are both low carb and <250 Phosphorus.

Shortcut shopping list <250 phosphorus. Adapted from Rhiannon & Shadow’s shortcut list
all values are from Dr. Pierson's updated list, September 2012

carbs in % . . last number is phosphorus ( FKD cats need under 250 phosphorus)

5% - Friskies Special diet Beef and Liver entree 241
5% - Friskies Special diet Turkey and Giblets dinner pate 189
5% - Friskies Special diet Beef and Chicken Entree pate 242
7% - Friskies Special Diet with Salmon 228

3% Weruva Paw Lickin' chicken 196
9% Weruva Green Eggs & chicken 230
4% Weruva On the Cat Wok 163
5% Weruva Steak Frites 118
7% Weruva MidEast Feast 202

Weruva Cats in the Kitchen canned food
3% La Isla Bonita 166
8% Funk in the Trunk 250
4% Fowl Ball 180
8% Lamb Burger-ini 236
2% Chicken Frick 'A Zee 174
8% The Double Dip 248

5% - Merrick Cowboy cookout 202
8% - Merrick Grammy's pot pie 237
3% - Merrick Surf n Turf 229
9% -Merrick Turducken 219

1% - Merrick Before Grain cat 96% beef – 163
2% - Merrick Before Grain cat 96% turkey – 178

5% - Wellness Kitten 216
4% - Wellness chicken 219
4% - Wellness turkey 201
4% - Wellness Beef and chicken 226
6% - Wellness beef & salmon 207


8% - Wellness Core chicken/turkey/chicken liver 215
5% - Wellness Core Beef , Venison & Lamb 171

3% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Beef – 248
1% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Duck 191

2% - Natura Evo 95% chicken and turkey 155
4% - Natura Evo 95% beef – 234

2% Hounds & Gatos chicken 241
9% Hounds & Gatos Beef 250
3% Hounds & Gatos Lamb/chicken/salmon 225
3% Hounds & Gatos Lamb & Duck Liver 244

8% -Holistic Select chicken & lamb 222

3% Soulistic Polynesian Picnic 239
4% Soulistic Celestial Feast 250
7% Soulistic Upstream Dream 234
8% Soulistic Nautical Nirvana 228

9% Max Cat Chicken Supreme 173
8% Max Cat with savory duck 197
8% Max Cat with Savory Venison 214

8% Avoderm Chicken Chunks/gravy 234
2% Avoderm Tuna % chicken w/ veggies 241

9% Halo Succulent Salmon 227

1% Eukanuba adult Entree with gourmet chicken 239
8% Eukanuba adult Entree with Lamb and Rice 230
3% Eukanuba adult Entree with Pacific Salmon 241

7% Evolve -chicken 214
6% Evolve turkey 244

0% Natural Balance O'Fischally Scampi 244

5% Pinnacle Chicken and Ocean fish 175
5% Pinnacle Chicken and Tuna 221
4% Pinnacle Ocean Fish 231

3% Authority Chicken 238
7% Authority Turkey & Giblets 222
8% Authority Beef 249


BFF (Best Feline Friends ) also made by Weruva
BFF 2% Tuna and Chicken 234
BFF 2% Tuna and Salmon soulmates 236
BFF 2% Tuna and Shrimp Sweethearts 236
BFF 2% Tuna and Bonito Be Mine 240
BFF 2% Tuna & Tilapia Twosome 240
BFF 5% Tuna & Pumpkin Valentine 243
BFF 2% Tuna & Chicken Chuckles 234

8% Dr Fosters and Smiths Chicken 204

2% ZiwiPeak Lamb 224
Click to expand...
 
Welcome Lesley and Lola! :YMHUG:

Jubata said:
Anyway, she's ravenously hungry, and I never know how much I should feed her when she gets this aggressive for food. I know I need to test her, so I ordered a kit. But for now, I want to feed her, but I don't know if it's best for her. She's already had about 8 oz of food today.
Click to expand...

Here's a great discussion on how much to feed unregulated/newly diagnosed diabetics that you might find interesting. One other thing that might help is to add water to the food if you're not already doing so. Add as much water as the cat will eat and this should also help with flushing out the kidneys. I can usually get about a half can water to a full can of food before my cats turn their noses up at it.
 
Hey there folks. First, I can't thank you enough or the information you all provided. I heard these message boards had super helpful people, and I'm so glad I started reading and posting.

Here's what I've done and found:

1- the Lantus Lola was on was almost three months old. I concluded it just went bad. Now Lola has new Lantus, and in the pen form, which is working for us all. She takes it well, and seems to act more satiated after eating.

2- I went shopping, based on the list of food options you all gave me. So far, she's eating the Wellness the most. If she gets too finicky, we're using 'chicken water' from cooking chicken thighs in a pot over the stove. She absolutely LOVES this. We also give her some of the cooked chicken.

3- I found out my pharmisist has a diabetic cat and tests her, and gives her insulin based on the results. He said he'd help me learn more about this.

Lola gets subq fluids every three days, warm water in her food every time she eats, and takes raw or cooked, clean meat readily. I think that if we decide to transition her to a raw diet, I think she'd love it. I don't know how long I have with her because of her mess of health issues, but my baby seems more like herself tonight.

Thank you for your help!
Lesley and Lola
 
Hi there

Thats great she loves the Wellness.. it will help with her diabetes. You need to start testing ASAP though as her blood sugar could already be dropping!

Did you keep the Lantus in the fridge (not the door)? If you kept it there and didnt roll or shake it, it should keep for up to six months.

Here is a shopping list for testing - your pharmacist may be able to help you get some of these items - and once you have them let us know and we can help you learn how to test your kitty!

1. Meter ie Walmart Relion Confirm or Micro. (cheap and reliable)
2. Matching strips
3. Lancets - little sticks to poke the ear to get blood . new members usually start with a larger gauge lancet such as 28g or 29g until the ear learns to bleed. Optional - lancing tool.
4. Cotton balls to stem the blood
5. Neosporin or Polysporin ointment with pain relief to heal the wound
6. Mini flashlight (optional) - useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats, and to press against
7. Ketone urine test strips ie ketodiastix - Important to check ketones when blood is high
8. Sharps container - to dispose of waste syringes and lancets.
9. Treats for the cat - like freeze dried chicken
10. Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey if you dont have it at home - for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast
11. A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers or other high carb gravy food- for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast

wendy
 
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