Timing of mealtimes

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Michele&Errol

Michele&Errol

Member Since 2013
I test, feed & shoot at 07h30 & 19h30 because that is when I have help to shoot and am always at home at those times and therefore would always be able to give shots at the exact same time each day. However, kitty wants breakfast when I get up, which is sometimes 05h00. I can't feed him then because it's too far away from shot time. What do you all do to get around this not-uncommon problem, I'm sure?

[I have 3 cats, 2 non-sugar, so I can't leave food out overnight for them unless I separate them all at night. I have to make sure they all eat their food when they're given it. Also, I'd have no idea when and how much my sugarcat has eaten if I gave food ad lib.]
 
I put down the exact same food for all of my cats with enough to last roughly 10 hours. They've learned that food will be available and graze on it until its finished.

Timed feeders may work if you have more than one, set in different locations, so that the diabetic has no competition.

Some folks freeze part of the food so it is nibbled as it thaws.
 
I can't put food down food for all of them, as he will eat it all (when he's feeling better). I've had to separate them for mealtimes for years now because of that. Also, wet food will deteriorate very quickly in our climate so can't leave that ad lib either.
I was told by various vets that one should put down enough for them to eat in 5 minutes and then remove it until the next feed time to stop overeating? I've kind of done that, because I don't want the 2 with a propensity to put on weight to get overweight as one is a grazer, the other 2 are demolishers.
 
As you get the diabetes under control, the ravenous hunger will calm down to normal appetite. Until then, feed him about 50% more that he 'should' eat, with a bit of added water for volume and offsetting the increased urination from the diabetes.

Low carb canned food is much less calorie dense than dry food due to the moisture content (around 78%). Adding a bit of water keeps it moist. I had 2 civvies lose weight without food restriction when I changed the household over to this.

You could place it on a chilled or refrigerated tray like they use for buffets to deal with the environment issue.

Putting out part frozen means it has to thaw before it can be eaten. Slows the scarfing and deals some with the environment. It works in timed feeders such as the Pet Safe 5. If you have 2 or more of these, he can't get to all of them before the others.
 
I am confused - why can't you feed him at 5, take the food up and then feed him some more at shot time? Maybe half quantities each time? Just make sure he is finished eating by 5.30am so you get two clear hours without food prior to shot.
 
Because when I feed him at 5, he won't eat anything again just before shot time. If his appetite was normal, it wouldn't be a problem.
So, reading this it seems as though he needs to not have eaten for 2 hours BEFORE shots? I had no idea! Wasn't told by the vet! I read on this board that someone tests, feeds and shoots all in 15 minutes?
 
Test, feed, shoot.
Leave food down for 10 hours.
Pick food up up at +10 hours.
Repeat.
 
Thats right -no food for 2 hours before the shot. Because you want to know for sure that the test number you get at shot time is not influenced by food.

Wendy
 
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