CyprusLiving

Sadly my Cypriot rescue cat Pepper, has developed diabetes. He is twelve years old, and we now reside in the UK. Does anyone have any information regarding diets for my cat please ? My vet will provide me with insulin and syringes, but they say Pepper has to have a quite expensive diet provided by them. I can give Pepper his injections, and the cost of these is not prohibitive, but his diet will cost an estimated £50 -£60 per month.

Can I feed Pepper his usual fish, and a small amount of cat biscuits, ( I know he has to lose weight ), instead of this vet provided diet, which he might hate anyway ?

Thanks, Jackie.

I'm sure your vet will answer all these questions for you, I have had friends with diabetic cats and they lived long and healthy lives so don't worry too much.

Thanks for that Vicki, I was just wondering if anyone else fed a diabetic cat ordinary food. I hate to be cynical, but I wonder just how essential the vet's food is, after all, they are selling a product which may or may not be necessary.

Jackie

I will ask my friend who is a veterinary nurse and let you know.

Here's my friend's reply Jackie - hope it helps!

Any change in dietary content from day to day, will cause a change of sugar levels and therefore affect the amount of insulin required. The prescription diets also have a higher level of fibre in them, which helps to "mop up" excess blood sugars, in very basic terms. Prescription diets really do help. they can often be bought cheaper online but if this is till not a viable option, my advice would be to speak to you vet about a suitable long term brand of food and then stick to the exact same food, day in and day out, in order to avoid too much variety in blood sugars from food sources.

Thanks for that Vicki. The trouble is that we picked him up when he was begging for food in a Taverna in Polis, and so fish is the love of his life, literally. I hate to think what he be like if we stopped it poor boy.

Jackie

Maybe the special food comes in a fish flavour? My aunt's cat had to have a special diet with a special food that was basically tuna with the protein removed - bleurgh - but he loved it!

Cats will eat anything put in front of them if they're hungry enough so don't worry.

Cheers Vicki, we'll just have to wait and see I suppose.

Jackie