As cats age they may lose weight for a variety of reasons from dental problems to cancer.
What to feed a diabetic cat to gain weight.
If your cat s medical problem is under control parasites are treated or painful teeth are pulled correcting the calorie deficit may be the only treatment necessary.
Here s what your veterinarian will look for in a healthy cat food for weight gain.
An alarming number of cats are developing diabetes mellitus which is the inability to produce enough insulin to balance blood sugar or glucose levels.
They will determine if the weight loss is due to medical reasons.
Select food high in fiber.
Read the label of the cat food and check the nutritional values listed.
Left untreated it can lead to weight loss loss of appetite vomiting dehydration severe depression problems with motor function coma and even death to find out why so many cats are being diagnosed with diabetes and what owners can do.
Diabetic cat food should be high in protein and very low in carbohydrates less than 10 and even under 5 is best in some cases.
What to feed a cat to help them gain weight.
High fiber diets are also good for weight loss which is ideal if your cat is overweight or obese.
Tomlyn s high calorie nutritional gel for cats.
Weight loss can be achieved by feeding a reduced amount of a diabetes friendly food.
High calorie nutritional gel for quick weight gain prescription formulas for weak or sick cats aka high calorie cat food for sick cats should be recommended by a vet however many vets and pet owners recommend providing a supplemental calorie dense gel such as tomlyn s see below to help add calories to your cat s meal fast.
Cats with diabetes may need food high in fiber so they can better absorb glucose and fat in their diet.
The diet for your diabetic cat depends on the cat s health and weight the severity of their diabetes and their personal taste.
This weight control formula dry cat food is low and calories and fat to tackle weight gain though the protein content could be higher.
Over the counter weight loss diets tend to be too high in carbohydrates for diabetic cats.
Adding palatable toppings or using an appetite stimulant can also help.
To coax an older cat to eat first address these problems and then start feeding a high calorie cat food for weight gain.
Losing weight helps the cat s body use insulin which lowers blood sugar.
Veterinarians may request diagnostic tests on pets.
Because diabetic cats should eat on a set schedule it is important that their food tastes good and they look forward to mealtimes.