Figuring out kcal amounts to feed

[Sillycat41]

My 18.5 yr old Bengal has CRF and probably IBD and recently was diagnosed with high blood pressure. He has slowly lost weight since being diagnosed with kidney disease a couple of years ago. He gradually weight over the years but in the last 6 months as his kidneys got worse he has lost more. I search for ways to try and put some weight back on him but so far nothing is working.

My heart sank yesterday when I realized that I probably haven't been feeding Jengo enough calories. I was reading a website with information on how to put weight on a thin cat. There was a calculation box to enter current weight, body condition, age, etc. The response was to reach his ideal weight he should be eating 317 kcals per day!! Yikes!!
When he was first diagnosed with kidney disease and had lost some weight, I checked the labels of the cat canned food to determine how many kcals to feed him. The suggestions ranged from 200 to 220 kcals when he was 9#. Of course now that his is down to 8.1# that number is even lower than 200. He did maintain his weight for over a year on this plan but since he has steadily lost weight the last six months I probably should have been feeding him more but he doesn't eat much and I have to syringe feed him a couple of times a day.

Now I'm on another guilt trip. Have I been starving him??? Is 317 really the right figure? I don't think I could get that much extra food in his thin body now.

 

[FeebysOwner]

No, you have not been starving Jengo. Based on your past threads, his issues go much deeper than that, and they are the source of his weight loss. Search Results | TheCatSite

I am sorry for Jengo's issues, and appreciate your continued efforts to help him. But trying to stuff that many calories in him, even if it would work (and it won't) isn't the answer.

 

[Sillycat41]

No, you have not been starving Jengo. Based on your past threads, his issues go much deeper than that, and they are the source of his weight loss. Search Results | TheCatSite

I am sorry for Jengo's issues, and appreciate your continued efforts to help him. But trying to stuff that many calories in him, even if it would work (and it won't) isn't the answer.

Thanks for responding. I just can't imagine feeding him enough to equal over 300 Kcals. Because of his Stage 3 CRF he has lost more weight in the past 6 months. I was reading about muscle wasting and some say to feed more protein, but isn't that a problem when too much protein puts more strain on what's left of his kidney function?? Would it be better to syringe feed the prescription kidney diet with less protein? He absolutely will not eat it on his own. I'm in panic mode trying to keep him around for a while longer. :-(

 

[maggie101]

If you feed wet try Orijen. It is expensive so another is nulo. I think orijen is 190 cals 5.5 oz can,high fat
The range i have never followed because it is not accurate. My 9 pd cat is supposed to eat 20x9,180 pds. She eats 165. Healthy weight.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I was reading about muscle wasting and some say to feed more protein, but isn't that a problem when too much protein puts more strain on what's left of his kidney function??

There are beliefs that reducing protein is left for the last stage of kidney disease, just to help preserve what is left of kidney function. I can't answer what is the right road to take.

I only know that Feeby was given what she would eat, and it was higher in protein than maybe some may have felt was appropriate. If it expedited her demise, maybe. She still lost weight and muscle mass, but she was happier being able to eat things she actually liked. In the end, her happiness was more important to me than adding extra time for my sake.

 

[Sillycat41]

If you feed wet try Orijen. It is expensive so another is nulo. I think orijen is 190 cals 5.5 oz can,high fat
The range i have never followed because it is not accurate. My 9 pd cat is supposed to eat 20x9,180 pds. She eats 165. Healthy weight.

 

[Sillycat41]

If you feed wet try Orijen. It is expensive so another is nulo. I think orijen is 190 cals 5.5 oz can,high fat
The range i have never followed because it is not accurate. My 9 pd cat is supposed to eat 20x9,180 pds. She eats 165. Healthy weight.

Thanks for responding. I haven't tried Orijen wet food yet... or Nulo. One can would be enough calories for the whole day. Guess I wasn't too far off feeding him around 200. The weight loss is from his diseases and probably can't be stopped. :-(

 

[maggie101]

Thanks for responding. I haven't tried Orijen wet food yet... or Nulo. One can would be enough calories for the whole day. Guess I wasn't too far off feeding him around 200. The weight loss is from his diseases and probably can't be stopped. :-(

Do the best you can. I had an almost 18 yr old cat with triaditis. 10-5 pds. She ate mostly koha. Huge appetite. Only so much you can do. I wish you lots of luck feeding him!

 

[Furballsmom]

probably can't be stopped.

I had a cat with a LOT of health issues, and who would not eat food that had any supplements or meds in it, just flat-out wouldn't.

The initial intent was that in order to manage the meds/supplements issue, I began hand feeding him. A huge positive side effect was that he Did. Not. lose weight. His weight remained stable.

The handfeeding method was described to me by my vet at the time. Rather than using a syringe, pate style foods and a tongue depressor/popsicle stick is used. I put him up on a kitchen counter with a non-skid mat underneath him, put a little food on the end of the stick and sort of scraped the food onto his tongue. Sometimes I needed to gently press on the side of his jaw to convince him to open up.

 

[Sillycat41]

Do the best you can. I had an almost 18 yr old cat with triaditis. 10-5 pds. She ate mostly koha. Huge appetite. Only so much you can do. I wish you lots of luck feeding him!

My Jengo has always been a fussy eater. He's still eats a little of his favorite foods, but not enough to stay alive so I have to syringe feed him. If he likes the flavor he licks it off the syringe.

 

[Sillycat41]

I had a cat with a LOT of health issues, and who would not eat food that had any supplements or meds in it, just flat-out wouldn't.

The initial intent was that in order to manage the meds/supplements issue, I began hand feeding him. A huge positive side effect was that he Did. Not. lose weight. His weight remained stable.

The handfeeding method was described to me by my vet at the time. Rather than using a syringe, pate style foods and a tongue depressor/popsicle stick is used. I put him up on a kitchen counter with a non-skid mat underneath him, put a little food on the end of the stick and sort of scraped the food onto his tongue. Sometimes I needed to gently press on the side of his jaw to convince him to open up.

I can relate to that. Took some time to figure out what I could sneak in his food that he didn't taste. Not much actually. Fortunately he accepts Phos-Bind in the food he eats himself, otherwise I put supplements and meds in the food I syringe feed him.

Never heard of handfeeding. Might try that just to see if he accepts it.

 

[Sillycat41]

There are beliefs that reducing protein is left for the last stage of kidney disease, just to help preserve what is left of kidney function. I can't answer what is the right road to take.

I only know that Feeby was given what she would eat, and it was higher in protein than maybe some may have felt was appropriate. If it expedited her demise, maybe. She still lost weight and muscle mass, but she was happier being able to eat things she actually liked. In the end, her happiness was more important to me than adding extra time for my sake.

I've been finding mixed info on that. Some say you have to feed low protein from the start to prolong the cats life. But others say that since cats are obligate carnivores that they need lots of protein and to just use a phosphorus binder. Well, it's too late for my boy... he wouldn't eat prescription diet so matter how slow or how I mixed it in. :-( I agree... better to give them something they enjoy. Who knows how much extra time eating prescription diet would give them. I've never been impressed by the ingredients on their labels either... lots of by-products.

 

[maggie101]

The one food my cat peaches rarely throws up has by products. Fancy feast turkey&giblets. She throws up the expensive and keeps down the cheap. Hope your cat lasts forever!

 

[Sillycat41]

The one food my cat peaches rarely throws up has by products. Fancy feast turkey&giblets. She throws up the expensive and keeps down the cheap. Hope your cat lasts forever!

I'm lucky I guess... Jengo rarely throws up food... just foam from an empty stomach. Fancy Feast is his favorite food. I've thrown away more expensive brands that he refused to eat. I wish he would live forever... he's the smartest cat I've ever had. Take care.

 

[maggie101]

Now it's sheba roasted turkey. Even better ingredients than ff. My cat peaches now goes back and forth for more food so instead of giving portions when she's not ready to eat I might buy an automatic feeder that uses a collar since I have 3 cats. Expensive!

 

[Sillycat41]

Do the best you can. I had an almost 18 yr old cat with triaditis. 10-5 pds. She ate mostly koha. Huge appetite. Only so much you can do. I wish you lots of luck feeding him!

Thanks. Fortunately he has a few foods that he likes so that makes things easier.

 

[Sillycat41]

The one food my cat peaches rarely throws up has by products. Fancy feast turkey&giblets. She throws up the expensive and keeps down the cheap. Hope your cat lasts forever!

Jengo eats FF turkey & giblets too, but his favorite FF is Chicken Liver and also Ocean Fish. Fortunately he has rarely thrown up food just clear foam which I think is from acid stomach. I wish there was a way to have our beloved pets to live forever.

 

[Sillycat41]

Now it's sheba roasted turkey. Even better ingredients than ff. My cat peaches now goes back and forth for more food so instead of giving portions when she's not ready to eat I might buy an automatic feeder that uses a collar since I have 3 cats. Expensive!

My boy used to like Sheba but then stopped. ?? I used to have regular automatic feeders for when I was away from home for a day. They had ice packs to keep the wet food from spoiling. Yes those feeders with a collar are pricey. :-(

 

[Sillycat41]

I had a cat with a LOT of health issues, and who would not eat food that had any supplements or meds in it, just flat-out wouldn't.

The initial intent was that in order to manage the meds/supplements issue, I began hand feeding him. A huge positive side effect was that he Did. Not. lose weight. His weight remained stable.

The handfeeding method was described to me by my vet at the time. Rather than using a syringe, pate style foods and a tongue depressor/popsicle stick is used. I put him up on a kitchen counter with a non-skid mat underneath him, put a little food on the end of the stick and sort of scraped the food onto his tongue. Sometimes I needed to gently press on the side of his jaw to convince him to open up.

I also have to watch what supplements or meds I put in his food or he won't eat it. Found it easier to put them in capsules.

I have never tried handfeeding... found some popsicle stick and may try that today. He isn't fond of syringe feeding... if he likes the flavor he licks it off, otherwise he bites the syringe! Thanks for the tip.