Advice, new to this

Question for everyone. I am only close to a month into my 14 yr old kitty's diagnosis and I'm wondering. How do you guys deal with morning aversion to eating and running from having to take injections? Or is this something only I am combating. I get up early for work to feed him and some mornings, I am literally chasing him around the house with his food and he will eat a little at a time. Then when he knows I'm coming with his shot, he disappears again. I'm afraid it's bc he thinks I'll be dragging him to work with me (I'm a veterinary clinic manager) and most mornings I'm not. The mornings I'm off go pretty smooth other than he really needs to eat 2 cans of fancy feast in one meal and he's still not wanting to eat that much in one sitting. Any advice is welcome. This whole feline diabetes thing is new to my personal wheelhouse and it has taken some adjustment. Please be friendly. Im also concerned about anal gland and hairball issues due to lack of fiber. Does anyone use glandex or know if it's safe for diabetics? He hates beef so I'm not sure he would even eat his food with it but I'm afraid to try without knowing. Thanks in advance.

 

Hi there and welcome! I am also quite new to this so I totally understand.

For my Roo, he had a short period where he would run away, I just had to make sure to close the door to my bedroom so he couldn't get under the bed and my apartment is pretty small so he didn't have any other places to hide. Maybe try feeding and shooting in the same spot everyday so he gets used to it, and somewhere high like a counter so he has a harder time getting away? Also lots of treats! I use Purebites freeze dried chicken.

For the fiber - I make sure to add a bunch of water to his food along with pure pumpkin, about a spoon in each meal. It helps with regulation and both diarrhea and constipation. I've definitely noticed an improvement in his poops since I started adding that. Just make sure it is 100% pumpkin - no additives.

 

Me too all new to this and it can feel overwhelming!

I too used the same spot for testing, shooting and feeding in my bathroom where I could close the door. Jack was enticed into the bathroom by knowing he would get fed, but first he needed to be tested. So I would put him on the counter for the testing, then put him down for feeding and finally would put him back on the counter for the shot. All during this time, I would be in the bathroom getting myself ready for the day. It took about 5 days for him to understand that this was the new routine. And every time I put him on the counter, I would let him see/smell what ever was happening, so when testing he got to smell the testing strips, and when shooting he smelled the syringe.

Just sharing my story that made it successful for Jack the Cat and me to navigate this whole new world.

Good luck.

 

Hi Valerie, and welcome. We also do all testing feeding and shooting in one spot. In our case I use a coffee table so I can sit down comfortably.

I feed about a quarter can of Fancy Feast during the testing routine, and 30 minutes later I put out another quarter can. When she is eating that second bit I give her the shot.

We spread the rest of Peacock's food out a bit instead of giving it all at shot time, so some is fed as midday snacks, and some as late night snacks. We have started to use an automatic feeder to space it out.

Is there a specific reason your kitty needs to eat 2 cans in one meal? That is hard if the cat is not interested.