The Holiday Hogs
Thanksgiving is next week already! If you are the hosting household, there will be lots of opportunities for diabetic kitty to get into trouble. Cats are the best thieves in the world, when it suits their desires. Beyond that, preparation and then a house full of guests can add stress. (I go into super panic mode the week before and start cleaning and baking like a crazy person.) It would be normal for kitty’s blood glucose readings to be a bit higher if they are stressed. It is best to try to keep their routine testing and feeding times as consistent as possible.
Table food: This gets real complicated if your kitty is spoiled like mine. It gets even more difficult if there is a children’s table because it is fun to feed the animals – especially the stuff they don’t like! I have found over the years that cats all like different things. I have one that LOVES bread and Doritos, another that will not leave you alone if you have lemon meringue pie, another that loves bananas, and another that loves BBQ pork, corn, and Spaghetti Os. I have never had a single cat that did not love turkey, EVER. So between spoiled kitty, a house that smells like a restaurant, and irresistible kitty sad eyes, what to do?
If you have guests coming, and your cat is a curious socialite, it is best to explain that kitty is diabetic and cannot be given table food. Odds are high they will overpower someone and get some anyway, but we can at least try to keep it to a minimum. I have two cats that will hide the whole time we have company and two younger ones that are interested in everything and everyone. What I have done in previous years if give them small bits of turkey in their own bowls they usually use – either while the humans are eating or after. As long as the turkey is not overly spiced, it is okay if they have a little. Having low-carb freeze-dried treats handy will make things easier especially if there are children who are good with and want to treat kitty. If ham is on the menu, that is usually sweetened, and I would not give that to kitty. We need to keep carbs to a minimum. If you suspect contraband feeding, you can do a quick blood test to be on the safe side.
If you are leaving for the day and having dinner elsewhere, you can probably keep kitty in their usual routine provided you time it right.
Most importantly, enjoy the food, the day, the company, and the last day of peace before Black Friday insanity.
As always, the Feline Diabetic Support Group on FB is a great resource for support and specific questions!