? Struggling to get weight off my cat

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chowaniec

chowaniec

Member Since 2022
I know many of your cats struggle with weight loss as a symptom of diabetes, but I'm sort of having the opposite problem: I've been trying to get my cat down from 15 lbs to ~10-12, and the needle will not budge. I've reduced her calorie intake from 300 cal/day to ~180 over the past year, but had no success. Some questions I have are:

1.) I know many cats gain weight after getting regulated - is it possible she's regaining some muscle mass and "breaking even"?
2.) If the above is true, will she eventually reach a point where she metabolizes food more effectively and begins to lose weight?
3.) If #1 isn't true, do I continue to reduce food amount, or do I re-evaluate food content?

Regarding #3: She's currently on Hill's W/d prescription dry food, and while I've seen some positive changes (less constipation, pooping in her litter box more frequently, less vomiting), weight loss hasn't been one. I'm considering switching to kibble in the morning and canned for dinner if I don't see progress soon. 100% canned gave her chronic loose stools (from a cat who won't consistently poop in her litter box - think about that), but I think she could handle a partial wet diet.
 
The first problem is the food you are feeding. W/D is supposed to be for weight management, but it doesn't work. I worked for a while in an animal shelter where we put all the fatties in a common room and just gave them W/D (wet and dry). Not a single one lost weight. So back to regular low carb wet food for the lot of them. I adopted one who was 17lbs at the time, and managed to trim him down on low carb wet food. You might want to read the website Catinfo by a vet specializing in feline nutrition.

Is there a medical condition the W/D is supposed to address? Maybe we can suggest alternatives.
 
Getting their diet right for their individual systems can be a struggle. With a household of several cats, I will sometimes get 3 doing well on a specific food and the 4th one scratching and vomiting with occasional diarrhea. I had not heard that diabetic cats gain weight when regulated. I think I assumed most things would normalize. Sister was weaned off Lantus in September 2022. With the help of low carb dry food (she loathes wet and will only lick off the juices), I got her extra poundage off (down from 14 pounds to 12 as recommended by her vet). She eats Dr. Elsey's CleanProtein dry (turkey or chicken; other flavors upset her tummy).

I did a lot of experimenting with foods/treats with Sister when she was on insulin because I was fighting to get her on wet food. Just did not happen, and along that journey I found that she is fine with eating the exact same food each day and does not miss treats. (Nobody else gets them anymore either.) So my suggestion is to feed something else, but switch gradually. I would be thrilled if Sister liked any wet food. Start there and find one that does not upset your girl's tummy.
Hugs,
 
I agree that the dry food may be the problem. I think if you could get her switched to either a canned food or a low carb dry food, you may see better results.

Are you home testing? What dose and insulin are you using? Changing to a low carb diet will significantly lower glucose levels. If you are not testing, I recommend you start. Most likely the dose will have to be reduced also.
 
I agree with changing to canned/raw AND reducing calories. I feed two of my cats about 150 cal/days. For one it is maintaining her weight. I adopted her as an untreated who was diagnosed diabetic after going from 18 pounds to about 12. With me she lost some more weight and is stable and in remission. For the other she is losing weight which is desired. She was obese @17 lbs and diabetic when I adopted her. She now 11-12 lbs and herer insulin needs have drastically decreased.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
I feed two of my cats about 150 cal/days.
Click to expand...

(Sorry, haven't been on in a while.) This is really striking and helpful information. I've been worried about underfeeding because I'm so far under the food manufacturer feeding guidelines - 260 kcal/day for dry, or 350/day for wet (?!!). I've been feeding her canned food for dinner and dry in the morning for a few weeks now, still ~180 kcal/day, but I'll be cutting back more if she doesn't budge.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
The first problem is the food you are feeding. W/D is supposed to be for weight management, but it doesn't work. I worked for a while in an animal shelter where we put all the fatties in a common room and just gave them W/D (wet and dry). Not a single one lost weight. So back to regular low carb wet food for the lot of them. I adopted one who was 17lbs at the time, and managed to trim him down on low carb wet food. You might want to read the website Catinfo by a vet specializing in feline nutrition.

Is there a medical condition the W/D is supposed to address? Maybe we can suggest alternatives.
Click to expand...
The fatties
(=^ェ^=) haha
 
chowaniec said:
(Sorry, haven't been on in a while.) This is really striking and helpful information. I've been worried about underfeeding because I'm so far under the food manufacturer feeding guidelines - 260 kcal/day for dry, or 350/day for wet (?!!). I've been feeding her canned food for dinner and dry in the morning for a few weeks now, still ~180 kcal/day, but I'll be cutting back more if she doesn't budge.
Click to expand...
I have the same issue with my big boiii (18 lbs). I dont even come close to the suggested amount of food and i weigh Lando 2-3 xs a week. He doesnt budge. I guess what i am saying is that your girl is in good company ;)
 
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