We are Lily and Mamacita Snugglebunny

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Lily Phoenix, Dec 9, 2016.

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  1. Lily Phoenix

    Lily Phoenix New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    A bit late getting around to posting intro, uploading photo, as of course I came here (and to the FB page) in dire emergency, and have already learned so much and been helped by a lot of wonderful, experienced people. I had one cat who had diabetes 20 years ago--back when vet costs in my area were 1,000% less--and it was so simple and easy to deal with. But my Mamacita, on insulin since hospital stay 11/11, is a whole different and non-stop scary, overwhelming story. She's 13 probably, not much older, and is the only one of my 4 cats (all dumped at my old office which was a well-known cat dump) who follows me quietly around like a little dog (I often trip over her and wish she'd bark or something)--the only one who always wants to cuddle and snuggle. I know she's very happy not to have to live outside in the cold and rain anymore, but she's only been with me about 3 years now and I think it'd be awfully unfair if she died without a nice long life in comfort. And love. Especially that!
     
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  2. Barbara & Uncle (GA)

    Barbara & Uncle (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Oct 13, 2016
    Who could resist? She's amazing looking and sounds like a sweatheart.
     
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  3. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    Welcome, Lily, to you and Mamacita.

    It's really nice to hear how much the two of you love each other. :)

    Don't be shy about asking for any help you need; the Feline Health board is a good place to start posting questions (gets more footfall).

    :bighug:


    Mogs
    .
     
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  4. Lily Phoenix

    Lily Phoenix New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    Thanks, Mogs - I can't figure out how to reply in your post, things go weird - but wanted to comment on your lovely Moglet. My Cleo, looked like this, died in Jan. 2016, all very sudden and unexpected (and expensive, for no benefit), and I really don't want to lose two cats in 2016. Now that I'm older I can't replace a lost cat, and it's the first time I've ever been without an all-black cat, ever. Feels weird!
     
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  5. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    I'm so sorry to hear about Cleo ...

    :bighug::bighug::bighug:

    I lost my little one, Saoirse, in September. She had chronic pancreatitis which was well managed but the manufacturers changed the formulation for her food, it triggered a massive flare and it took her. (Moglet is my nickname, BTW. ;) )

    I know what you mean about not wanting to lose another kitty; my civvie (non-diabetic) has developed chronic GI problems from eating the same reformulated food. I'm worried about her (has had loose stools and vomiting for several months). I hope you'll be reassured to hear that you've found a wonderful place to learn about and get help with all things feline diabetes - and many more feline health issues. I'm beyond grateful for all I've learned here.

    Mamacita's a pretty kitty. Does she have blue eyes?


    Mogs
    .
     
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  6. Lily Phoenix

    Lily Phoenix New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2016
    I'm really sorry to hear about Saoirse--I knew a woman on the kidney failure group that had a cat by that same name, also black. Mama's tests didn't indicate any other problem but the blood glucose but I'm worried she's insulin-resistant from something like that, which I don't think I can financially manage. That wasn't Evo food, was it? I'm traveling quite a ways tomorrow to get U-100 syringes and Evo food, could order online but am not buying anymore of that DM dry food that my vet forced (actually FORCED) me to buy--everyone hates it plus the carbs are too high. I know the Evo added a starch and now is not recommended--I called the company and am asking them to give me the new, new-formula, as-fed carbs and should hear Monday, but really there's no other choice out there that's even semi-okay. The other cats, like Mama (who has gorgeous blue eyes, is clearly part Siamese seal-point along with everything else, and the little Siamese 'tude toward other cats that goes with that), all seriously prefer dry food and I've got some really upset cats at being presented with the DM, which I think has too much carbs anyway. Very hard to manage all this in such a small house.
     
  7. Critter Mom

    Critter Mom Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2014
    My heart is in pieces; Saoirse is a Soul Cat (her brother, Amadán, too). I'm only barely managing by talking to Saoirse all day, every day, as I always have since I became her Person, and visualising her as my little Spirit Kitty following me around or snuggling beside me. (Your description of how your little Snugglebunny shadows you very much reminds me of things between myself and Saoirse. :bighug:)

    I posted a few times to the CKD groups (Tanya's and also the Yahoo group); Saoirse was stage II but stable so I didn't post very much there - couldn't get my head around how those message boards worked. :oops: There are a number of members here whose kitties have both CKD and diabetes and they helped us a lot.

    The food causing problems is the UK Sheba Fine Flakes in Jelly Poultry Collection. We've seen reports here and on a supermarket website of some other cats who also experienced problems with it since the formula change.

    It could have been worse; your vet could have forced you to buy Hill's w/d dry food which is even higher in carbs (as the vet Saoirse was registered with at time of Dx forced me to give her :mad:). The w/d is essentially kitty cornflakes. We changed vets very soon after that. Our main vet at the current practice had a diabetic kitty himself so he is much more switched on and progressive in his treatment approach (supports feeding of wet, low-carb food and, unlike the other shower, is very supportive of home BG testing).

    Evo Cat & Kitten kibble is, I believe, relatively OK carb-wise for a dry food if you can't facilitate switching your clowder to wet, low carb food. Young Again Zero (available online) is another low carb dry food available in the US. They offer sample packs if you call their customer service department.

    Are you home testing blood glucose (BG) yet, Lily? If you're planning to switch to a lower carb food you need to closely monitor BG levels throughout the transition because Mamacita's insulin dose may very well need to be reduced; BG levels can drop quite significantly and quickly when the carb load is reduced so a previously OK dose could very easily end up being too much. Here's a very helpful and informative link about this:

    Feline Diabetes, diet and the importance of home testing for safety

    (catinfo.org is a highly-respected, vet-authored site about cat nutrition and health; recommend reading the whole site!)

    Re treatment costs we can help you with money-saving tips on insulin, food and supplies. Most members in the US use Walmart's Relion Micro or Confirm meters (together with a cat-specific BG level reference range) to monitor their kitties. Both meters need only a very small blood sample and the test strips are affordable. I believe that Walmart also do urine test strips in their Relion range, or you can get Keto-diastix to monitor ketone levels. (Best to get ones which detect both urine ketones and urine glucose levels, especially if you're not yet monitoring blood glucose levels.

    Here are forum stickies you might find helpful:

    Home testing tips

    Testing and injecting tips

    Are you testing your kitty for ketones? If not, do it!

    If you can let us know which insulin you're using, Lisa, we'll hopefully be able to point you in the direction of further useful information.


    Mogs
    .
     
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