Self Regulation?

[Louie'sDad]

Here's some info on B12 as an appetite stimulant in cases where a cat hasn't eaten for a while (there was a Texas A&M Vet study done on this):
http://pets.thenest.com/b12-shots-stimulate-appetite-cats-10100.html

dj

That study supports what you did with Shango to kick start him into eating. The study attributes the B12 stimulant efficacy for cats who might be suffering from B12 deficiency due to trauma, stress, or illness.

I see no reason to believe that administration of B12 will stimulate the appetite of an otherwise healthy cat, other than for the reasons stated above, where the extra calories will be quickly burned off due to increased activity.

In post #25, I was talking about a healthy, non-traumatized cat. Apologies for any misunderstanding, and the efficacy of the B12, according to the study "might be" proven in cases such as yours.

 

[John Popp]

Nice car...............first Camaro and the only one with vent windows. I hope it's a DZ motor. My "baby" is a triple black '65 Corvette with sidepipes, that took me 5 years to restore. Crazy powerful 327 that I built for it. Close to 400 RWHP @ 6700. In the high 12's @ 118 with skinnies.

That sounds pretty nice! As for my Chevelle, it didn't have the original motor when I bought it and knowing there were a ton of them made I built a 454 to the basic LS6 specs, with some more modern valve train components, the same heads and compression ratio. It's definitely a heavier car than a Corvette, runs in the high 12s in street tires but with a higher trap speed. Good fun, but I just don't mess with it all that much anymore as the value went through the roof. All stock appearing on the exterior and interior until you open the hood.

 

[scorpius]

That study supports what you did with Shango to kick start him into eating. The study attributes the B12 stimulant efficacy for cats who might be suffering from B12 deficiency due to trauma, stress, or illness.

I see no reason to believe that administration of B12 will stimulate the appetite of an otherwise healthy cat, other than for the reasons stated above, where the extra calories will be quickly burned off due to increased activity.

In post #25, I was talking about a healthy, non-traumatized cat. Apologies for any misunderstanding, and the efficacy of the B12, according to the study "might be" proven in cases such as yours.

That makes good sense. I agree with you totally, if your cat is healthy and eating some, no reason to give B12! It seems like it helps for cats who have stopped eating, post surgery, etc.

 

[Niels]

No problem! I've been guilty of that more than a few times on the Corvette/Camaro/Chevelle/Hot Rod websites that I frequent.

I never heard that B12 is an appetite stimulant, and, frankly, I'm not buying it. B12 should lead to an increase in energy levels and a quickening of metabolic rate, both of which will cause an increase in activity levels with consequent faster calorie burning. The increased food consumption should be more than compensated for by an increased caloric requirement.

Sometimes when my energy is low i use B-12 injects in high dosage.
When my b-12 level is high i really eat alot and have much energy.

First time i heard it used on cats.

I know it doesn't harm humans, but i wouldn't give high dosage to my cat.

 

[SV Dad]

You folks have got my head spinning on this one.
First, and perhaps Per can comment with some authority on this, B-12 injected and B-12 orally are very different in humans, and I wonder if the same issue of absorption occurs in cats. (Per?) In humans with pernicious anemia, malabsorption of B-12 orally is corrected with B-12 injection. (I really simplified this issue.)
Next, and again maybe Per can comment, if the oral route is fine for appetite stimulation, would it be acceptable to take some of the 1/10 tablet of B-complex which is ground up, and sprinkle it on food directly? Would the taste discourage eating? How about brewers yeast, which is high in the B vitamins. (I'm trying to cut down on the extra work Scorpius is doing with the dilutions.)

Lastly, I feed my SV's 4 times daily with wet food and they have dry food always available. They eat what they want. They are not fat. They are active. They are healthy. They look good. Am I lucky? Are that many of you having challenges with your cats and their diet?

 

[Niels]

Lastly, I feed my SV's 4 times daily with wet food and they have dry food always available. They eat what they want. They are not fat. They are active. They are healthy. They look good. Am I lucky? Are that many of you having challenges with your cats and their diet?

I feed my 10 week old savannah in the morning 2 one day chickens, and in the evening 100gr wetfood.
If i'm home early he get a mouse as snack.
During the day and the night there is kibble available.
He is just 10 weeks and he eat more then the other 3 cats.
I want to give 3 times a day raw/wet food but think he might eat to much.

(i ordered more raw food, and will have more variety in raw food from next week)

 

[SV Dad]

He is just 10 weeks and he eat more then the other 3 cats.

When my sons were young, my wife would read their favorite story. The most memorable line from the book was "Kittens are like that!"

 

[scorpius]

I feed my 10 week old savannah in the morning 2 one day chickens, and in the evening 100gr wetfood.
If i'm home early he get a mouse as snack.
During the day and the night there is kibble available.
He is just 10 weeks and he eat more then the other 3 cats.
I want to give 3 times a day raw/wet food but think he might eat to much.

(i ordered more raw food, and will have more variety in raw food from next week)

LoL! SV's sure can eat! As of tonight, I'm now going to have to feed two of them!

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Does it also works the other way around ?

If he is left to eat how much he wants, can he eat to much ?
Themba here only eats a little bit of his kibble. (small handfull a day)
But i think he would eat alot more raw and wet food if he got the change.

Can i give him raw untill he decide not to eat it ?

(I hope you don't mind if i turn the question around john popp, seemed much to start new topic about it)

I don't find that my cats eat too much and if they empty their bowls fast I tend to top them up. Makes it hard when we have a housesitter to correctly guesstimate how much I am feeding! The ONLY cat that is the exception is the British Shorthair (the others are all Savannah), he most definitely will eat too much. He's a beagle in kitty clothes.

For a growing kitten, I'd give him more if he looks like he wants it...

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

How about brewers yeast, which is high in the B vitamins. (I'm trying to cut down on the extra work Scorpius is doing with the dilutions.)

Lastly, I feed my SV's 4 times daily with wet food and they have dry food always available. They eat what they want. They are not fat. They are active. They are healthy. They look good. Am I lucky? Are that many of you having challenges with your cats and their diet?

I know many that use brewer's yeast with their cats, my husband used to sprinkle it on his cats' food when I met him (domestic shorthairs). One of his cats was a very finicky eater, but putting that on food always tempted her... so it seems putting it on food doesn't dissuade them from eating.

I don't think you are lucky (in the kitty eating department), I think it is the norm for this breed. They are a high energy active cat breed, so tend to burn off the calories they eat. I think we can overthink what they should be eating versus what they ARE eating. To me, if they are looking chubby consider limiting their access to kibble and if looking thin try to offer them foods they love to increase their intake. But their wants and needs can vary daily.