Day 265
Good heavens- I didn't realize how long it had been since I posted!
I'm on vacation this week- the first one I've had in years- and the last 'vacation' I had, I spent in the hospital with Eliz for her back surgery. This is my third day and I still have three more after today- OMG!
Monday, I spent mostly working on stuff for Mom- cleaning and a little repair and taking her to the doctor appointment she scheduled for the first day of my vacation. What time was not taken up with that, I spent on cat food research- more about that in a minute.
Tuesday, I spent cleaning the house and doing chores. Emily said she would clean for me while I was at work this weekend... didn't happen. And it had to get done as my BFF is in town since last night for a few days. Emily has school today (and half a day tomorrow) and this afternoon we will be going to see the last part of The Hobbit. Yay! Then tomorrow, after Emily gets out of school, we'll go pick her up and let her do her Christmas shopping... and get a tree. While I set it up and light it, Em can wrap her presents and then she can decorate it while zenkitty and I cook dinner.
About the cat food. I went to get Alex more food as I have no idea when I get off vacation when I will get another day off... and my vet no longer carries the Hills food- they've gone exclusively to Royal Canin. Which comes in significantly smaller cans and only costs a little less. I was so mad that I came home and started doing research. The result is that I found this.
Cat Food Name %Calories from Protien %Calories from Fat %Calories from Carbs Total Calories $ per oz
Hills M/D..............46......................41...................14...............156............31¢
Royal Canin............50......................25...................25...............240............43¢
Those are the two from the vet. The first is what he has been on, the second, what they wanted to give him now. Two thoughts: One- why are there ANY calories from carbs? Cats don't need them- they use fat for energy, not carbs. Two- why are there ANY calories from carbs? For a diabetic, carbs are the enemy. So feeding a diabetic cat carbs serves no purpose AT ALL.
So I looked up some over-the-counter foods.
Soulistic
(Polynesian Picnic flavor) 62.................35.....................3................239............29¢
Purina One
(Turkey Pate)...........46....................51.....................3................469............30¢
Purina ProPlan
(Kitten Turkey).........43....................55.....................2................436............29¢
Source is here
It seems to me that any of those would be a better option for a diabetic cat... or really, any cat. When I pointed this out to the vet manager yesterday, she told me that you have to look at more than the carbs (notice, I was doing that) and that I didn't have a degree in feline nutrition. Well, I don't but I've been dealing with nutrition and diabetes and cats for a long time. I quite possibly know more than some people who do have degrees... and besides, she assumed that- she didn't know it for a fact. So I returned the Royal Canin and went to the pet store and picked up a couple of cans of Soulistic. If Alex will eat it, I'll monitor his blood sugar and, if there are any significant changes, take him in for a blood panel at the vet. I may actually need to reduce or discontinue his insulin on the lower carb food.
Royal Canin must pay their salesmen VERY well... or they give kick-backs.
I'm on vacation this week- the first one I've had in years- and the last 'vacation' I had, I spent in the hospital with Eliz for her back surgery. This is my third day and I still have three more after today- OMG!
Monday, I spent mostly working on stuff for Mom- cleaning and a little repair and taking her to the doctor appointment she scheduled for the first day of my vacation. What time was not taken up with that, I spent on cat food research- more about that in a minute.
Tuesday, I spent cleaning the house and doing chores. Emily said she would clean for me while I was at work this weekend... didn't happen. And it had to get done as my BFF is in town since last night for a few days. Emily has school today (and half a day tomorrow) and this afternoon we will be going to see the last part of The Hobbit. Yay! Then tomorrow, after Emily gets out of school, we'll go pick her up and let her do her Christmas shopping... and get a tree. While I set it up and light it, Em can wrap her presents and then she can decorate it while zenkitty and I cook dinner.
About the cat food. I went to get Alex more food as I have no idea when I get off vacation when I will get another day off... and my vet no longer carries the Hills food- they've gone exclusively to Royal Canin. Which comes in significantly smaller cans and only costs a little less. I was so mad that I came home and started doing research. The result is that I found this.
Cat Food Name %Calories from Protien %Calories from Fat %Calories from Carbs Total Calories $ per oz
Hills M/D..............46......................41...................14...............156............31¢
Royal Canin............50......................25...................25...............240............43¢
Those are the two from the vet. The first is what he has been on, the second, what they wanted to give him now. Two thoughts: One- why are there ANY calories from carbs? Cats don't need them- they use fat for energy, not carbs. Two- why are there ANY calories from carbs? For a diabetic, carbs are the enemy. So feeding a diabetic cat carbs serves no purpose AT ALL.
So I looked up some over-the-counter foods.
Soulistic
(Polynesian Picnic flavor) 62.................35.....................3................239............29¢
Purina One
(Turkey Pate)...........46....................51.....................3................469............30¢
Purina ProPlan
(Kitten Turkey).........43....................55.....................2................436............29¢
Source is here
It seems to me that any of those would be a better option for a diabetic cat... or really, any cat. When I pointed this out to the vet manager yesterday, she told me that you have to look at more than the carbs (notice, I was doing that) and that I didn't have a degree in feline nutrition. Well, I don't but I've been dealing with nutrition and diabetes and cats for a long time. I quite possibly know more than some people who do have degrees... and besides, she assumed that- she didn't know it for a fact. So I returned the Royal Canin and went to the pet store and picked up a couple of cans of Soulistic. If Alex will eat it, I'll monitor his blood sugar and, if there are any significant changes, take him in for a blood panel at the vet. I may actually need to reduce or discontinue his insulin on the lower carb food.
Royal Canin must pay their salesmen VERY well... or they give kick-backs.