Unhappy Household

[Colette & Noodles]

Hello!

I've posted here before, about Noodles, who has been diagnosed around two months ago now. Her vet wanted her to lose weight, which she has done and she's getting the recommended food four a normal weight cat of her size. She's constantly hungry. She wolfs her food and is always looking for crumbs on the floor - yesterday she ate the stem of an orange. Pre diabetes, she wouldn't even eat cat treats, just her food. I had trouble with the blood tests, couldn't draw blood no matter what we did, so she went in for a curve. It was still high, so it was recommended that she gets an extra half unit, taking it to one and a half. She's not a happy cat, and I absolutely hate essentially starving her. Or at least, her thinking we're starving her. She screams the place down for food in the morning before she's due a feed and is absolutely frantic. I want the rest of her life to be happy, not utterly miserable and always seeking food. I can't ever see more than the same vet, and he always says the same thing. I don't know what to do.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

An unregulated diabetic cat can't use all of the calories she's taking in. It's why she had no trouble losing weight on her 'diet,' and why she's 'starving' now. The normal formulas of calories/day that you see for cats isn't accurate in her case.

If she were my cat, I'd feed her a bit more, and re-double my efforts to get her regulated.

We can help with the home testing BG. I'm sure you've tried a bunch of these things, but some things that can help to get blood (especially at first) are: really warm the ear before trying to poke, using large lancets (26 or 28 gauge), gentle massage of the ear.

The other thing you might want to consider is trying the Freestyle Libre. It's a sensor that your vet glues to your cat, and then you can get BG readings any time you want with no pokes. They don't always work great on cats (sensor falls off, etc.) and they are expensive to run (the sensors only work for 14days in the best of times, usually less, and each new one has to be put on by a vet). But, when they work, they can be a real lifesaver with difficult-to-test kitties, and even if you only do one round with them, they'll give you some insights into Noodles' BG normal BG patterns (no vet stress) and help you to get her regulated.

It's hard, I know. Keep asking questions, let us know how we can help!

 

[Critter Mom]

Nothing to add to what Nan has already posted. Just wanted to send you some of these:



Hang in there. We're always here for the two of you and we'll do all we can to help you both.


Mogs
.

 

[Colette & Noodles]

An unregulated diabetic cat can't use all of the calories she's taking in. It's why she had no trouble losing weight on her 'diet,' and why she's 'starving' now. The normal formulas of calories/day that you see for cats isn't accurate in her case.

She was overweight, so the vet wanted her to lose weight since that was why she had disbeyed. She's on diabetic food, Royal Canin for diabetic cats. At first, she was on much less food than a cat of her weight should have been on as she was supposed to lose some. She had, and he's happy with her current weight, so had allowed me to increase it to a 'normal' portion rather than an 'overweight' one. I have given her a few pieces throughout the day, but she always wants food.

If she were my cat, I'd feed her a bit more, and re-double my efforts to get her regulated.

We can help with the home testing BG. I'm sure you've tried a bunch of these things, but some things that can help to get blood (especially at first) are: really warm the ear before trying to poke, using large lancets (26 or 28 gauge), gentle massage of the ear.

The other thing you might want to consider is trying the Freestyle Libre. It's a sensor that your vet glues to your cat, and then you can get BG readings any time you want with no pokes. They don't always work great on cats (sensor falls off, etc.) and they are expensive to run (the sensors only work for 14days in the best of times, usually less, and each new one has to be put on by a vet). But, when they work, they can be a real lifesaver with difficult-to-test kitties, and even if you only do one round with them, they'll give you some insights into Noodles' BG normal BG patterns (no vet stress) and help you to get her regulated.

It's hard, I know. Keep asking questions, let us know how we can help!
I'll try again with the lancets, perhaps the different size. It's been a while, so could maybe try again. Her ears get really warm, but blood just doesn't come!

 

[Colette & Noodles]

Oh, sorry, I think I messed up my reply! It's in the quote message.

Has anyone noticed the insulin coming out sgsinz even though the needle is fully in and done slowly? It's happened a couple of times but just wondered if this can happen

 

[Critter Mom]

Delirium wrote:

Her ears get really warm, but blood just doesn't come!

Try massaging the ear before and after warming it, moving from where it joins the head towards the tip, and then do the poke.

Mogs
.

 

[JanetNJ]

Hello!

I've posted here before, about Noodles, who has been diagnosed around two months ago now. Her vet wanted her to lose weight, which she has done and she's getting the recommended food four a normal weight cat of her size. She's constantly hungry. She wolfs her food and is always looking for crumbs on the floor - yesterday she ate the stem of an orange. Pre diabetes, she wouldn't even eat cat treats, just her food. I had trouble with the blood tests, couldn't draw blood no matter what we did, so she went in for a curve. It was still high, so it was recommended that she gets an extra half unit, taking it to one and a half. She's not a happy cat, and I absolutely hate essentially starving her. Or at least, her thinking we're starving her. She screams the place down for food in the morning before she's due a feed and is absolutely frantic. I want the rest of her life to be happy, not utterly miserable and always seeking food. I can't ever see more than the same vet, and he always says the same thing. I don't know what to do.

How much does she weigh and how much are you feeding.

 

[Colette & Noodles]

How much does she weigh and how much are you feeding.

She's about 4.5kg. On the more, she gets 23g of dry food (the royal canin diabetic one) and same type wet food, half a pouch. In the evening, she gets 22g and the other half of the pouch. She maybe gets the odd couple of dry pieces a couple of times a day if she's being particularly frantic about asking, not that many though. The vet said that was okay, as long as her two main meals are 12 hours apart

 

[Colette & Noodles]

Delirium wrote:


Try massaging the ear before and after warming it, moving from where it joins the head towards the tip, and then do the poke.

Mogs
.

Thanks. That's why I try, it's just... She doesn't give up the blood!

 

[JanetNJ]

Thanks. That's why I try, it's just... She doesn't give up the blood!

The more you try the faster the new capillaries will grow. I had trouble getting blood in the beginning, now i just look at it and it bleeds.

 

[JanetNJ]

She's about 4.5kg. On the more, she gets 23g of dry food (the royal canin diabetic one) and same type wet food, half a pouch. In the evening, she gets 22g and the other half of the pouch. She maybe gets the odd couple of dry pieces a couple of times a day if she's being particularly frantic about asking, not that many though. The vet said that was okay, as long as her two main meals are 12 hours apart

Ok so that's about 10 lbs. So just to maintain weight she will need at least 200 calories. But being unregulated she may need a much as 300 calories. Most of us find several smaller meals to be more effective than 2 big meals. I feed four times a day. The dry food, even though marketed for diabetics, is much higher in carbs than she should get. Stick with low carb, no gravy wet food. This will bring her numbers down and that will make her less hungry and better regulated.

Don't give up on testing. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home

 

[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

What size lancets are you using? You should start with the ones that have larger gauges like a 28 or even 26 until you get the hang of it. The smaller the harder it is to get a decent size blood droplet so stay away from the 30s for now

 

[Colette & Noodles]

What size lancets are you using? You should start with the ones that have larger gauges like a 28 or even 26 until you get the hang of it. The smaller the harder it is to get a decent size blood droplet so stay away from the 30s for now

I actually don't know... It doesn't say on the packet. I'll order the bigger ones.

 

[Colette & Noodles]

Ok so that's about 10 lbs. So just to maintain weight she will need at least 200 calories. But being unregulated she may need a much as 300 calories. Most of us find several smaller meals to be more effective than 2 big meals. I feed four times a day. The dry food, even though marketed for diabetics, is much higher in carbs than she should get. Stick with low carb, no gravy wet food. This will bring her numbers down and that will make her less hungry and better regulated.

Don't give up on testing. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home

We think she probably gets closer to 300 calories with the extra bits in between. She's been pretty bad at asking for food today. I thought maybe if she could eat meals more regularly she'd be better, but the vet said it must be 12 hours. Immediately after she licks the bowl dry, she's looking for more, so not sure that would help anyway. I'd have thought she'd be settled with the less food than before, but she isn't getting any better.

 

[JanetNJ]

We think she probably gets closer to 300 calories with the extra bits in between. She's been pretty bad at asking for food today. I thought maybe if she could eat meals more regularly she'd be better, but the vet said it must be 12 hours. Immediately after she licks the bowl dry, she's looking for more, so not sure that would help anyway. I'd have thought she'd be settled with the less food than before, but she isn't getting any better.

I would ad a mid day and late evening meal.