How to Take Care of Diabetic Cats

Feline Diabetes is Treatable

One in four hundred cats are likely to be diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes mellitus, or "sugar" diabetes is caused by the inability of the hormone insulin to properly balance blood sugar (glucose) levels. The good news is that if you love your cat, and are willing to take care of him or her, they can have a long and good quality of life. My cat, who is 12, has lived with diabetes for nearly 8 years, and is chugging right along.Learn how to identify the warning signs, and then how to take care of your diabetic cat.

Instructions

1. Watch out for excessive urination and drinking. These are the two most common warning signs something is wrong. Cats’ bodies try to flush out the excess sugar that builds up as part of diabetes and they will drink and pee far more than normal. Excess urination is known as Polyuria (PU). Excessive thirst is called Polydipsia (PD). Weight loss and lethargy are also two signs.

2. Get your cat to the vet as soon as possible. The vet will run a series of tests by checking urine, blood and other clinical signs. Ignoring the signs can ultimately lead to diabetic shock and death.

3. Understand that feline diabetes is not a death sentence. Diabetic cats can live long and healthy lives, with your care and assistance. If you love your cat, you will accept taking care of them, as you would a child with a permanent illness.

4. Review with your vet and make sure you understand the steps involved in taking care of your cat. This includes giving insulin shots, a change in diet and cat food, dietary management and understanding the symptoms if the cat’s insulin requirements change.

5. Practice giving shots with your vet. Perhaps the hardest part of the treatment process is learning to give insulin shots to your pet. Trust me when I say it is not hard, particularly when you consider the alternative. Insulin needles are small, and cats don’t react to having the injection in the soft rumpled skin on their neck. The vet will demonstrate how to load a syringe, clear it of air bubbles, and administer the shot.

6. Ask your vet to explain the symptoms and treatment of diabetic shock, also known as a hypoglycemic attack. Sometimes the cat’s insulin needs can shift abruptly. Symptoms include restlessness, lethargy, shivering, staggering, disorientation, convulsions or seizures, and untreated, a coma.

7. Treat diabetic shock immediately, and then contact your vet. Remain calm. Rub about a tablespoon of a glucose solution such as corn syrup (Karo), maple syrup, honey, etc. on the cat’s gums and tongue. This will temporarily raise the blood glucose levels and help stabilize them. They may froth a bit at the mouth from the syrup-this is OK. As soon as they stabilize provide food to further stabilize them, and then contact your vet and follow their instructions.

8. Plan ahead when traveling. Once your cat requires insulin shots, you can no longer travel and simply leave them unattended for days. You can arrange to board your cat at the vet or a place they recommend that is trained in giving insulin shots. Or you can arrange to have a pet sitter or family member visit your home and administer the shots.

9. Make sure they are properly trained in not only giving shots, but handling diabetic shock. Give them the number of your vet, and have it prominently place on your refrigerator in case of emergency.

10. Keep a spare bottle of insulin in the refrigerator. As you begin to get low on your insulin, keep an extra bottle on hand so that you are never without, also important if you accidentally break the bottle you’re using. Note that insulin has an expiration date, and the unused portion should be disposed of after that date. Also note that not all insulins are the same-when getting a new bottle at the pharmacy, either bring the old one, or all the information off the label.

11. Don’t wait until the last minute to get insulin needles. Sometimes a pharmacy won’t have the ones you want. Humans and animals use the same types of needles. Always keep at least one packet (14 needles) on hand.

12. Dispose of needles properly. Used needles are a bio-hazard. Don’t just toss them in the trash. Instead, they should be placed in a special container with a lid, and when the container is full, close and dispose of through your vet’s office.

13. Be proactive about your cat’s health. Your cat will need to go in for periodic glucose tests to make sure their dosage is correct, and to check for any health issues related to diabetes. Don’t neglect these visits.

Tips & Warnings

• If your cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, you may want to make them a fully indoor cat, although this can take adjustment on both parts. This allows you to better monitor diet, water consumption and urination, and spot any changes in behavior sooner than later.

• Always consult your veterinarian if you suspect anything wrong with the health of your pet.