AboutKC Expertise I can answer questions related to feline and canine diet including questions regarding ingredients, by-products, nutrients, raw diets, brand named products, etc. I can also answer questions related to pet health, behavior, grooming, and general animal management.
***Before asking a question, please read my past answers as they will more than likely answer your question:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Food-3490/indexExp_83830.htm
*****I'm happy to announce a new forum*****
http://petfoods.freeforums.org
Experience I have done research on the relationship between feline diet and feline diabetes due to my personal experience in dealing with one of my own cats. I am a pet lover and always have numerous cats and dogs. I believe in feeding a high quality and by-product free diet. Diet alone cured my diabetic cat as well as either cured or significantly helped many others.
Education/Credentials Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences and years of
experience working as a Veterinary Technician
Question My cat is borderline diabetic and is on 1/2 unit of insulin twice a day. She is 14 years old and has been tested for liver disease and all the related illnesses. There could be another reason for her weight loss other than her diabetes, but the expense to find it at this stage of her life is prohibited. She has a great appetite and eats normally, but is continuing to lose weight. Is there any food that will help her add weight?
Answer Hi Ron.
I'm so so glad that you wrote to me! I went through the exact same thing just a few years ago with one of my cats. That is what started my research into cat foods, diet, and nutrition...and is totally why I am so anti big name commercial cat food today. My cat required nearly 5 units of insulin (PZI brand) with his twice a day feedings! The vet put him on Science Diet Prescription m/d for diabetic cats. One of the first sites that I found when researching diet was: http://www.yourdiabeticcat.com/
Please check it out and visit the forum. I also read Ann N. Martin's book called "Foods Pets Die For". After many weeks of research and learning what incredibly low standards the commercial pet food industry has, I decided to change my cat's diet.
First off, keep in mind that cat's were never meant to graze all day on a commercial kibble...carnivores have a short digestive tract and are meant to eat fewer meals and larger portions during those meals. When they are allowed to graze all day, obesity usually becomes a problem...thus leading to diabetes. Also, all the big name commercial foods are LOADED in grains and cheap fillers...which means they are loaded in sugar. This adds a tremendous amount of calories to a cat's diet which they do not need...it is quite horrible for cats and dogs both. It causes obesity, digestive problems, dental problems, among others. Not to mention, grains are a cheap filler which just adds bulk to a cheap food...the other ingredients are equally unhealthy and many contain potentially toxic ingredients...it's no wonder so many pets today suffer from diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, etc. Please read through some of my past answers: http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Food-3490/indexExp_83830.htm Within them, you will find information on why vets are still prescribing Science Diet, what you don't know about the big name commercial foods, and a lot of brands and products that I really recommend.
With that said, once I had thoroughly researched diet, I purchased the Wellness and Nature's Variety brand of canned food (both these brands make a good grain-free (low sugar) dry. However, canned and raw foods will contain fewer carbs than a dry. Keep in mind that you want a low carbohydrate and low to no sugar food for your cat. ...and sadly, most vet prescribed diets for diabetic cats are full of carbs. Anyway, I decided to go for it and fed him only those brands for several days and only twice per day. I fed the different brands to see which he preferred and only those due to the high protein, high nutrient content, yet low carbohydrate level. They are also free of grains, by-products, and contain no fillers. I also offered him raw to see if he would even try it. I DID NOT administer insulin during this time. I had no idea how the new foods would affect his blood glucose level(bg) and did not want to risk him becoming hypoglycemic. Basically, I needed to see where his bg was staying on the new foods, how high it was peaking after meals, and the levels prior to eating. I tested his bg throughout the day and night, for several days, until I had a reliable average and knew how high it was peaking on the new food before I started back with insulin....well, that was my plan anyway. lol In two weeks he was completely off insulin by changing diet alone! He went from needing almost 5 units on the Science Diet Prescription m/d for diabetic cats to getting 1/2 unit with meals after a week of the new diet. In two weeks, he didn't even need that 1/2 unit with meals...his bg was staying 100% normal, even after meals. After eating you would see a normal insulin peak but it staying in the normal limits. Within two months his dry itchy skin totally cleared up, his coat was shiny and clean...no longer dry and dull, his weight was perfect and he was more active that he'd been in years. Thus, to this day, I'm a major advocate of proper diet for cats and dogs. All of my animals are now on the Wellness, Nature's Variety, and Innova brands of foods. I feed canned, raw, and dry but only twice per day...nothing is allowed to graze all day. In particular, a cat who once suffered from diabetes should never be given cat treats during the day or anything at all that could possibly cause a blood glucose spike. So...be careful what she is given or can get into. I'm also a major advocate of feeding entirely raw, if your pet will eat it. However, for completely raw diets, I highly recommend supplementing with a product like Feline Platinum Performance...it comes in a powder form and a jar will last quite a long time...it's easily added to raw foods.
In addition, I think if your cat is borderline diabetic and only needing 1/2 unit now...you can totally change her diet and keep her off insulin. Diabetes causes major weight loss, especially if not caught early. Also, older animals need more nutrition and a higher quality food than younger ones due to their aging organs and metabolism. If you change her diet and she is no longer needing insulin, if after 2 months she isn't at a normal weight, due to her age (strictly because of her age and weight) it would be safe to feed her a third meal during the day of one of the premium foods...but the first few times this is done her bg would need to be monitored. Basically, if you change foods and her bg is kept within a normal range for an extended period of time, she SHOULD gain weight unless there is another problem. It does take cats at least 1-2 months to have a noticeable weight gain...
Hope this helps.
