What do you feed your cat?

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njohnson

Member Since 2013
Hello Everyone,

My name is Norma, my kitty Cleo was diagnosed with diabetes last week after we noticed she was having trouble with her back paws. She is nine years old. She went from weighing 20lbs to 13.7lbs over the last year because we changed her environment, stopped free feeding her, and gave her a lot more attention and playtime. She was eating 1/2c. dry food and one pouch of whiskas wet food per day before her diagnosis.
She was prescribed 1 unit of PZI 2x a day. I ordered a glucometer and will begin home testing her when I receive it tomorrow, and will also start Methylcobalamin to treat her neuropathy.

Once I learned she is diabetic and have done lots of research on what I should have been feeding her but I am still confused. What I learned is wet food (if you can't make your own) is best with low carb content, high protein, preferably not fish or mostly byproducts. My brain is spinning from all the formulas and charts and I still dont feel like I know what to buy when I go to the pet food store. I realize it is a lot about preference, cost and brand... but I would like to know which brand and type of food is the most used and well liked among the users of this forum. Which should I buy? Does anyone use the store bought raw food products?

So what do you feed your cat? How much should I be feeding my 13.7lbs furball?
 
While Bob was on insulin, he ate Fancy Feast classics and Friskees Pates. All are low carb, and won't break the bank. He is still on the same diet, and will be for life. He's now a "diet controlled diabetic".

How much your kitty eats... Find out what your vet thinks she should weigh, ideally. Once you know that, there's a formula or two for figuring out how many calories she would need to get to and maintain that weight. While she's just starting on insulin, she'll probably need a little more than normal, because diabetic cats can't metabolize their food efficiently. As she gets better, she won't need as much food to maintain her weight.

Bob weighs 14 pounds, and he eats about 250 calories a day. This food chart lists dozens of brands and flavors, and tells you the protein/fat/carbs data as well as how many calories are in a can. Look for carbs under 10%, and under 7% would be even better.

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/Food Chart Public 9-22-12.pdf

Carl
 
Fancy Feast classics and Friskies pates are popular, particularly if expense is an issue. Many who can afford the more expensive foods like Wellness and Merrick. It really is up to your cat :mrgreen: - what she will eat! Carl gave you a good food chart.

It sounds like you have a good plan in place. We will be interested in seeing what kind of blood glucose numbers you get. Are you all ready for testing? Have you played with his ears and warmed them up so he is ready when you are ready to poke? (You can use a rice sack or a pill bottle filled with very warm water.) Know that very few of us got blood on our first try, so if you have trouble, be sure to come on and ask for advice. We all have tricks that helped us.
 
With 14 cat (2 of which are diabetic) the food of choice here is Friskies pate specifically Turkey and Giblets, Mariner Catch, Poultry Platter, Country Style dinner, & Chicken & Liver...we do ocassionally mix up the fishy flavor for the week with Sea Captain's Choice, Ocean Whitefish & Tuna, or Classic Seafood Dinner.

It truly was a balancing act here to find food that was both good for my diabetics and something everyone would eat. :lol: I did try some of the more expensive brands like Wellness & EVO they were a no go with my crew, they also all loved the classic Fancy Feast but there is just no way mom was opening that many 3 oz cans. ohmygod_smile

With the diet of Friskies Maxwell has been insulin free now for 2 years and his recently adopted sister Autumn is well on her way there. Down from 1.5u of insulin to a mere .5u twice a day.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang
 
Thanks for the prompt replies Carl and Sue and MommaofMuse...

Cleo is at a good weight now so I dont want her losing any more weight. I have some experience glucose testing on humans and feel pretty confident about testing on her after watching a ton of videos and reading up on how. She is not a particularly picky eater, so I have been lucky on that regard. She loves food!

I hear you that Fancy Feast Classics and Friskees Pates are good options on a budget. But now I am freaked out after reading that fish and seafood options are not recommended more than once a week because of the high mercury levels. And that cats dont naturally eat vegetables or grains so those shouldnt be included in the cat food either. So that prettymuch leaves chicken since Cleo is sensitive to beef.

One more question... in the chart you gave the link to it has a column for Phos DM... what does this mean is Phosphorus good or bad? what does it do? is this better higher or lower?
 
Carl & Bob said:
This food chart lists dozens of brands and flavors, and tells you the protein/fat/carbs data as well as how many calories are in a can. Look for carbs under 10%, and under 7% would be even better.

http://www.catinfo.org/docs/Food Chart Public 9-22-12.pdf

Carl
Click to expand...

My diabetic cat, Michelangelo, is allergic to red meat (like venison and beef), so that limits selection significantly in my house. What I did was print out the above food chart and go through it, highlighting every food under 10% carbs (that didn't look like it contained beef, of course). I then took it with me shopping to various pet stores and grocery stores, buying a little of each that I found and calculating costs based on calorie content. (Mikey is also a kitten so he requires twice as much food, meaning twice as expensive). From there, I basically experimented to see which ones Mikey liked best. The ones he didn't like, I'd convince him to eat them anyway by sprinkling a little Parmesan on so I wasn't wasting perfectly good cat food and then donated the rest (if I had more cans) to my local shelter.

Regarding fish, I think it's suggested to limit it to twice a week, but I just stick with the once-a-week rule they give to pregnant women and only give them seafood on their "Fish Fridays."

So far, the favorites in my house for both my cats and my pocket book are Friskies Special Diet and Fancy Feast. I still haven't finished making my way down the entire list, so that may change. :smile:
 
I fed my diabetic cat mainly Nature's Variety Instinct and Innova EVO with a few other brands rotated in on occasion.

njohnson said:
My brain is spinning from all the formulas and charts and I still dont feel like I know what to buy when I go to the pet food store. I realize it is a lot about preference, cost and brand... but I would like to know which brand and type of food is the most used and well liked among the users of this forum.
Click to expand...

Here are easy shopping lists you can print out and take to the store:
Dr. Lynne's Wet Food list
List of low carb gluten free Fancy Feast
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=84885
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=81687
http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=84512

Here are the more extensive food charts:
Dr. Lisa's new food chart http://www.catinfo.org/docs/Food Chart Public 9-22-12.pdf
Binky's canned food charts
Pet Food Nutritional Values list
Hobo's Guide To Nutritional Values

Look for foods under 10% carbs on the above four charts.

Any low carb food that your cat likes to eat and you can afford is just fine :-D Fancy Feast is often suggested because it is a big brand name that everyone knows. But thsoe teeny cans add up in cost over time since many diabetic cats need several of those teeny cans per day. It's much more ecoenomical to buy a brand that has larger sized cans.

Limit seafood based foods to once in awhile meals. Many cats get addicted to eating fish and will refuse to eat anything else. Seafood tends to be low protein and high phosphorus as well.

Does anyone use the store bought raw food products?
Click to expand...

There are people who do buy commerical raw food. I buy Nature's Variety Instinct frozen raw for my civies. Dr. Lisa's food chart (link above) has a few commerical raw food brands listed towards the end of the chart. All raw food is low in carb. Some frozen raw food are not complete diets, only supplemental foods. So be sure to read the label. Nature's Variety Instinct raw bison formula is one such supplement only food for some reason.

Most freeze dried raw foods are supplement only. Stella and Chewy's is pretty much the only complete diet for cats. Primal Pet is another one but it's ridiculously expensive, over $30 for a 12 oz bag :shock: Ideally freeze dried raw food should be rehydrated in water before serving to a cat. Water is essential for proper body function and many cats don't drink enough water from a bowl to meet their needs.

Don't use dehydrated raw food products, such as The Honest Kitchen. These are pretty high in carbs to be fed to a diabetic cat even though they are grain-free.

How much should I be feeding my 13.7lbs furball?
Click to expand...

Unregualted diabetic cats are always hungry so the general rule is to feed as much as teh cat will eat but without causing a huge weight gain. Start with a 5 oz can split into mini meals throughout the day and adjust as needed. Many people use a programmable timed feeder to allow thier diabetic cats access to canned food during the day.
 
I feed fancy feast classic pates. I have seen people here feed those,as well as Friskies pates and Wellness grain free. No dry.. not even treats. Freeze dried chicken treats are popular here. See below for a shopping list of foods under 10% carbs that are good.

Are you going to set up and post a spreadsheet to track your numbers? ie http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207

By the way be careful with the methylcobalamin you buy - make sure it doesnt have xylitol in it as thats toxic to cats.. also be good if it didnt have any sucrose or other sugars. Many people here use Zobaline as its designed for cats in mind.

Wendy

carbs in % . . last number is phosphorus ( FKD cats need under 250 phosphorus)
4% - fancy feast CLASSICS chicken feast- 546 - stay away from any that are not classics
4%- fancy feast chopped grilled feast pate -569
2%- fancy feast cod, sole & shrimp feast pate – 787
4%- fancy feast Ocean Whitefish and tuna pate 823
1% -fancy feast Savory Salmon feast pate – 369
5%-fancy feast Tender beef feast pate -637
5%-fancy feast Tender beef and chicken feast pate -502
5% - fancy feast Tender beef and liver feast pate – 525
4% -fancy feast Tender liver and chicken feast pate -598
3%- fancy feast Turkey & giblets feast pate – 355

8% - Friskies flaked with tuna and egg 415
9% - Friskies Poultry platter – 438
5% - Friskies Special diet Turkey and Giblets dinner pate 189
5% - Friskies Special diet Beef and Chicken Entree pate 242

5% - Merrick Cowboy cookout 202
8% - Merrick Grammy's pot pie 237
3% - Merrick Surf n Turf 229
4% -Merrick Southern delight -328 this one has crawfish in it.
8% -Merrick Ocean Breeze 420
9% -Merrick Turducken 219

1%- Merrick Before Grain cat 96% beef – 163
2% - Merrick Before Grain cat 96% chicken – 341
2%- Merrick Before Grain cat 96% turkey – 178
2%-Merrick Before Grain cat 96% quail and chicken – 506
2%- Merrick Before Grain cat 96% salmon 439
2% Merrick Before Grain cat 96% tuna 450

4% - Wellness chicken 219
4% - Wellness turkey 201
5% - Wellness turkey and salmon 299
4% - Wellness Beef and chicken 226
6% - Wellness chicken & herring 303
6% - Wellness beef & salmon 207

8% - Wellness Core chicken/turkey/chicken liver 215
5% - Wellness Core Turkey & Duck 265
5% - Wellness Core Beef , Venison & Lamb 171

0% - TikiCat Koolina Luau 421 ( chicken with egg)

3% - Nature's variety Instinct Grain free Chicken – 302
3% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Beef – 248
2% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Lamb 262
1% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Duck 191
0% - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Venison 330
? - Nature's Variety Instinct Grain free Rabbit ?

0% - Natura Evo chicken and turkey 155
5% - Natura Evo 95% duck 251
6% - Natura Evo 95% venison – 416
4% - Natura Evo 95% beef – 234

8% Holistic Select chicken & lamb 222
8% Holistic Select Salmon & shrimp 264

6% Nutro Natural Choice Mature Health Chicken & Turkey Formula chunks in gravy 204

8% Soulistic Shrimply Divine 270
4% Soulistic Double Happiness 262
3% Soulistic Polynesian Picnic 239
4% Soulistic Celestial Feast 250
7% Soulistic Upstream Dream 234
9% Soulistic Surf n Earth 255
8% Soulistic Nautical Nirvana 228

2% Purina One chicken pate 438
3% Purina One Turkey pate 469
5% Purina One Beef pate 530
2% Purina One Whitefish pate 734

9% ProPlan Turkey and Giblets 382
4% ProPlan Chicken & Liver entree 509
5% ProPlan Chunky Chicken Entree 639

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
0% Avoderm Salmon in consumme 469
1% Avoderm Swordfish in consumme 271
0% Avoderm Tuna & Prawns 278
2% Avoderm Tuna % chicken w/ veggies 241

6% Artemis Chicken 320
4% Artemis Turkey & giblets 409

5% Halo Spot's Pate Whitefish 466 my cat does not like Halo.
4% Halo spot's Pate Chicken 303
9% Halo Succulent Salmon 227

1% Eukanuba kitten entree with gourmet chicken 253
1% Eukanuba adult with gourmet chicken 239

7% Evolve -chicken 214
6% Evolve turkey 244
6% Evolve seafood 265

4% Natural Balance Catatouille (stew) 274
0% Natural Balance O'Fischally Scampi 244
2% Natural Balance Sea Brulee 297

5% Pinnacle Chicken and Ocean fish 175
5% Pinnacle Chicken and Tuna 221
4% Pinnacle Ocean Fish 231
Click to expand...
 
After many hours of research, deliberation and price checking I decided to go with Merricks Before Grain line. I felt that for the price they had the best ingredients...but I think I jinxed myself when I said Cleo wasnt a picky eater. She wouldn't touch the food at first. So i mixed in a little of her old food (even a little dry food, bad i know) and she ate it then. Hopefully I can wean her off the old stuff and just eating the new stuff.

What really worries me though is her neuropathy. Her back legs started weakening a few weeks ago (that is what prompted us to take her to the vet in the first place) and have been getting progressively worse and worse. She has been on insulin for one week (cutting down til i see how she reacts to the low carb food) and started taking kitty friendly Methylcobalamin 2 days ago, but she doesnt seem to be getting better. It hurts me to see her struggling to walk. She just lays around most of the time, even to eat.

She is eating well, and playful while lying down, so those are good signs, but how long is it supposed to take for the neuropathy to reverse. It feels like she was fine a month ago! and now she is a sick kitty :cry:

Thank you all for your good advice and support.

I expect to get her glucometer today so I will be staring her spreadsheet of readings soon.
 
njohnson said:
What really worries me though is her neuropathy. Her back legs started weakening a few weeks ago (that is what prompted us to take her to the vet in the first place) and have been getting progressively worse and worse. She has been on insulin for one week (cutting down til i see how she reacts to the low carb food) and started taking kitty friendly Methylcobalamin 2 days ago, but she doesnt seem to be getting better. It hurts me to see her struggling to walk. She just lays around most of the time, even to eat.

She is eating well, and playful while lying down, so those are good signs, but how long is it supposed to take for the neuropathy to reverse. It feels like she was fine a month ago! and now she is a sick kitty :cry:
Click to expand...

Neuropathy goes away within a few months with methyl B12 treatment. Getting the blood gluocse levels regulated will also help. Here is a web site with more info: http://laurieulrich.com/jasper/
 
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