The US FDA has issued a warning about Vetsulin, an insulin commonly used in the treatment of diabetes for dogs and cats. There have been varying amounts of insulin found in the product which could cause unpredictable and possibly dangerous fluctuations in blood sugar levels. If your pet uses Vetsulin, monitor them carefully for unusual signs of high or low blood sugar. Vetsulin supplies will be limited until the problem has been fully resolved and the FDA recommends possibly changing patients to other forms of insulin.

Contact your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding your pet with diabetes. Read articles for more information on treatment options for feline or canine diabetes, Feline Diabetes: A New Look at an Old Disease, and Diabetes in Dogs.

The results are in and they are impressive (particularly for those of us with fat cats who never lose an ounce). After two weeks of dieting, Jack is once again the biggest loser, with 1.56 pounds — or 9.4 percent — of his original body weight gone; in second is Minky, who has lost 7.6 percent of her body weight (1.13 pounds). All the eight cats have either continued to lose weight or remain the same.

What is the secret for those of us with fat cats?

Most cats should weigh between 9 and 12 pounds, says Dr. Donna Spector, Halo’s veterinary advisor who is conducting the fat cat weight loss challenge at Bideawee. Even if they are starting at 20 to 25 pounds, their ideal weight is likely monumentally lower. There are a few naturally larger and smaller breeds so ask your veterinarian if you need advice on determining your cats ideal weight.

To achieve weight loss to this range, cats need to be given two meals daily and the total calories need to be about 25% less than what a normal, non-obese 9 to 12 pound cat would need to eat to maintain a healthy weight in this range, says Dr. Spector.

Here is a quick guide:

If your cat should weigh 9 or 10 pounds, give her:
Morning: 3.5 ounces of canned chicken Spot’s Stew and 1 tablespoon Spot’s Stew dry Evening: 3.5 ounces of canned chicken Spot’s Stew

If your cat should weigh 12 pounds, give her:
Morning: 3.5 ounces of canned chicken Spot’s Stew and 1 tablespoon Spot’s Stew dry
Evening: 3.5 ounces of canned chicken Spot’s Stew and 1 tablespoon Spot’s Stew dry

If your cat should weigh 15 pounds, give her:
Morning: 3.5 ounces of canned chicken Spot’s Stew and 2 tablespoons Spot’s Stew dry
Evening: 3.5 ounces of canned chicken Spot’s Stew and 1 tablespoon Spot’s Stew dry

The dry foods can be used interchangeably as the calories are similar. Dr. Spector recommends the canned chicken Spot’s Stew because it has the lowest calories of our canned foods and is best for weight loss.

Monitor your cat’s progress with weekly weights. They should lose 1-2% of their original body weight every week. If they are losing slower than this, you will have to restrict calories further. If they are losing quicker than this, you will have to add a few calories back in.

Fat cats face some of the same problems as fat humans: greater risk for diabetes, joint problems, and early death from complications related to obesity.

Halo has teamed up with Bideawee, a New York-based rescue organization, for its biggest loser competition between eight fat cats awaiting adoption.

After an initial weigh-in, the cats began their diet on February 2nd eating small portions of the $32,000 worth of canned Spots Stew that Halo donated for the weight loss challenge as well as for Bideawee’s other residents.

Dr. Donna Spector, Halo’s veterinarian, is supervising the challenge and reports that after the first week, Jack is the biggest loser with a .87 pound loss — or 5.3 percent of his original body weight. Minky also had an impressive loss of .69 pounds, or 4.6 percent body weight.

The contestants include Domino and Missy in Westhampton; Jack, Dixie, Violet, and Suki in Wantagh; and Emily and Minky in Manhattan.

Click here to read more about Halo’s donation.

And more to come on these fat cats’ progress.

Having a cat diagnosed with feline diabetes can be a scary situation. The good news is that it does not mean your cat cannot live a good life. With proper diet and veterinary care, your cat stands a good chance of going into remission.

Part two of today’s podcast focuses on coping with this condition and treatments for your cat. Download Feline Diabetes: A New Look at an Old Disease (Part Two).

Want to get Halo podcasts delivered straight to your computer? Subscribe at iTunes or Podcast.com.

Has your cat been diagnosed with feline diabetes? Given that 1 out of every 100 cats will develop this disease, it is likely that as a pet owner, you may have to deal with this condition at some point in your cat’s life.

In part one of today’s podcast, we will discuss the basics of feline diabetes, risk factors and signs that your cat is developing this condition. Download Feline Diabetes: A New Look at an Old Disease (Part One).

Want to get Halo podcasts delivered straight to your computer? Subscribe at iTunes or Podcast.com.