The Davises, Dieting

Posted on by M.K. Waller in Uncategorized

The Davises are dieting.

We discovered William’s blood sugar was running high. The veterinarian prescribed an increase in insulin dosage. To pinpoint the cause–he may have become insulin resistant; I may have been giving his injections incorrectly–we need better data.

When his diabetes was diagnosed, we switched to a special brand of catfood but, on the vet’s instructions, didn’t try to limit intake. William ate a reasonable amount and lost a few pounds, and seemed to be doing well.

Now, however, we’ve instituted a new regime: breakfast and injection at 6:00 a.m.; dinner and injection at 6:00 p.m. No more grazing. Food stays out for three hours, then disappears. Eat now, or forever hold your peace.

In human terms, I suppose it’s sort of like going on Weight Watchers. Suddenly and involuntarily. Times two, because Ernest has been grazing right along with his compadre.

And they did not hold their peace.

The guys started out eating the usual breakfast portions and, consequently, were lobbying for dinner before 1:00 p. m. When they would usually have been upstairs sleeping, they milled around the kitchen, parked in the middle of the living room, stared at us with their big sad eyes, and licked their little chops.

One day, William jumped into my lap three separate times. He rarely does that, and although I enjoyed the attention, I knew his motives were not pure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple of nights ago I caught David offering Ernest one last chance at calorie-loading. To the uninformed, it seems a kindly gesture. In reality, it’s pure self-preservation: two hungry cats equals eight pointy feet stomping back and forth across us until the clock strikes six.

And the guilt, the guilt . . .

But things are improving. There’s more napping, less milling, less stomping, less nervous energy in general. We keep tabs on the water intake and watch to make sure William doesn’t become hypoglycemic. In a few days, he’ll go back to the doctor for a glucose test. And the vet will advise us on the next step.

And whatever that is, we’ll trying.

On they page, they may come off as kind of wimpy. But the Davis guys are a couple of pretty tough cats.

8 thoughts on “The Davises, Dieting”

    1. Never. When W jumped into my lap at night, I used to take it as a compliment. Then I realized he wanted me to get out of the chair so he could have it.

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  2. I too have a diabetic (foodie) cat. Twice a day testing and insulin. The cat’s cooperative with testing but always a challenge to keep others’ (multi-cat household) food away from his long reach.
    Hope it works out well for William.
    A diabetic cat is always a challenge – no matter what.

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  3. You test? We haven’t done that yet but may have to start. W tolerates the injections, which entail sitting on a lap, but I foresee a battle over getting a drop of blood out of him. Knowing you manage it, however, gives me hope. Thank you.

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  4. We never tested with Agamemnon, just gave him the insulin. It kept him alive and healthy until a brain tumor took him. I always got a treat out, showed it to him, gave him the shot, then gave him the treat. He was docile as a lamb. I don’t think that skin on their necks has pain receptors.

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    1. At the latest visit, the vet indicated testing would be a good idea, since we’re trying to bring William’s blood sugar down and he could become hypoglycemic. But he didn’t think hypoglycemia was an issue. After a week of jiggling him to wake him up just to make sure he’s okay–he resents that–I’ve decided I’d rather know what’s going on. We might have to increase insulin anyway. William doesn’t feel the needle. He just doesn’t want to sit still when it isn’t his idea.

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  5. I love reading your posts. Would love to see a new story published too ! LOVE you most of all, Mary Veazey

    Mary Osborne

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