Simon's Story

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Simon'sMommy

Member Since 2013
Hello everyone!

I was just thinking about my sweet kitty and all that he has been through and how he continues to be so sweet and loving. He is the smartest sugar boy too. I have had cats all of my life (and probably always will) and although all of them except my Simon have gone on to the Bridge, I still have my all black smart sweetie pie.

When he was diagnosed with diabetes a few short weeks ago, I was beside myself with worry and very upset. We lost Jack three years ago to cancer and we went to the same shelter that we adopted Jack from and Simon was in a cage. They had a kitty room where most of the cats were able to roam freely, but Simon had been in the cage for a whole year (to the day of when we adopted him!) because they told us he had food allergies and would eat the food they put out for the cats in the cat room and break out in huge sores so he had to be segregated.

They were feeding him a "prescription food" called Hill SD DD food (duck and peas) which was 23.00 for a 3 lb bag that you could only buy from the vet so no one wanted to adopt him cause he was "special needs" We saw how sweet and smart he was immediately. My DH had an immediate bond with him and I was not feeling it as much but went with hubby's gut instinct. So glad we did! Simon is amazing. DH began feeding him waaaaay too many "Temptations" treats and he had some serious dandruff and was always thirsty and gaining weight at the speed of light. He was 12 pounds when we got him and gained up to 16+ pounds. He also had outbreaks of the skin issues fairly often requiring Benadryl and vet visits. The vet insisted that if we did not give him treats and stuck with the DD food, he would clear up. WRONG!

We have been feeding Simon FF classics for two weeks and his fur has NEVER looked better. It is shiny and has no dandruff. Also, he is not scratching or screaming and begging me to brush him like he did constantly! The culprit was not food allergies to specific foods, it was DRY cat food that was the culprit. Not sure what ingredient was the aggravating factor, but it is no longer an issue. He looks and feels great now! cat_pet_icon

So, the reason for his post is two fold. I want to thank this community for helping my baby to feel so much better with all of the information I have gotten about food and to tell you that Simon is also losing weight and getting down to a more normal weight for a cat his size which will only be healthier for him. Also, thanks to all of you, I did not give my baby too much insulin as the vet wanted him on 3 units as of last Friday and thankfully after that one time causing what had to be a Somogyi affect as he was high all day until night when it wore off, I lowered his dose and have been getting his best numbers.

The last chapter has yet to be written, but I think that my sweet sugar boy will soon be heading to the falls. I feel it in my heart.

Thanks to all of you and if you read this very long post, thank you as well. Dry food is truly not the best way to go and if you can get your cat off it, you will see what I see. A healthier cat!
 
Yeah for Simon and you and your husband for providing such a good home and good care.

What a hugh difference that diet change to wet food made for Simon. As he continues to lose weight, that will help with the diabetes also.

What is he eating now that does not cause any of the skin issues he had before?
 
He is eating Fancy Feast classics. Apparently ALL dry food gives him skin reactions. It was really awful before he went on the Hills Science Diet single protein dry food though cause I guess the shelter fed whatever donated dry cat food they had to all of the cats until he had his first outbreak of sores. Then the vet put him on the Hills SD prescription DD. That at least helped a little bit. BUT, his coat was still really dry and dull and he had bad dandruff although no open sores to speak of on the Hills SD duck and peas. Now that he is eating ONLY canned FF, his fur looks fantastic. Shiny, silky and no more dandruff and he isn't begging to be brushed all the time like he was before. I have never seen his coat look better in the 3 years since we adopted him and it only took less than two weeks of feeding FF! Amazing if you ask me.
 
Im so happy for Simon. For his parents also! He looks just like my Chicken Little. She was a stray and was going to be left to fend for herself in the woods. She was feral and let me tell you - one thing positive did come from her getting diabetes. We have now bonded. After trying to hold that cat for 10 years plus she will now let me pick her up for her shots!! I get to brush her now as well. Never has she sat in my lap but one day I think she will!! I think black cats are the cats meow!!
It is wonderful to read a story like yours!! I'd love to continue to get updates on how hes doing.
 
Maybe it was some kind of gluten sensitivity or a grain allergy. Since the Fancy Feast food is working, I'd stick with that. Friskies has a bit of rice in it and Simon may not be able to tolerate rice either. I had a cat with IBD and food allergies that could not eat food with rice in it.

Part of that shiny, silky coat is getting the diabetes regulated.

He sure does sound like a happy boy these days. :smile:
 
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