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My dear cat, J.C., is ten years old. When he began losing weight and acting listless, and eliminating outside the litter box, he was shuttled to the vet for tests. Of course, cats don't have health insurance, so we paid a hefty bill to determine the cause of J.C.'s ailment. At first, the veterinarian suspected his kidneys were failing. Or, she said, it could be an intestinal infection. After running the tests, the vet said, "You've got a diabetic kitty." I'd heard of diabetes in cats, but I thought it was relatively rare. Since J.C. was diagnosed, I've found out from talking with other cat owners that it's not as rare as I'd thought.
Some people may think that a pet owner is crazy for choosing to provide care for a diabetic pet. The expense and time involvement is not trivial, and some may think it's too much trouble to care for an animal in this way. But those of us who are fortunate enough to have a pet that we love as a member of our family see it differently. When I adopted my cats, I did so with a great sense of responsibility. Certainly diabetes is not a death sentence, but when I do have to say goodbye to a pet I'd like to be able to feel secure that I did everything I could to make his life the best I could.
Diabetes in pets is similar to the human variety, but it cannot be controlled by diet alone. There are special foods available that may help your pet, and your vet may recommend them, but they aren't necessary. The most important thing a pet owner must do to keep a diabetic cat healthy is to find the optimum dose of insulin, then feed and dose on schedule. Most cats will be fed and dosed twice a day, every twelve hours. The cat may need to visit the vet several times for a blood glucose curve to determine how many units of insulin will be administered. Owners must be careful to make sure the cat eats normally before the tests are run, and that the test is done at the correct time, because each hour after mealtime will affect the results.
After the cat is regulated, which means that the correct dose has been determined, maintenance isn't usually a difficult prospect. Surprisingly, it isn't that difficult to give a cat a shot. In my experience, it's far easier than trying to get a cat to swallow a pill! The veterinarian will instruct the owner on the proper way to give a shot – usually in the neck. If a fresh needle is used every day, the cat will hardly feel it, and often a cat will get used to the routine and may even wait patiently for the shot after feeding. Accompany the injection with lots of affection and sweet-talk, and the cat should see it as a pleasant experience. The owner can decide which times are best for feeding and dosage. It does not matter, as long as they are at the correct interval.
Once this routine is established, the cat should be returned to the vet for a blood glucose test every three months. This brief checkup may be done by an lab technician; the cat is brought in at a designated time after feeding to determine if the current dose of insulin should be adjusted. Many owners choose to test their pets at home using human diabetic test kits. This allows for a more accurate determination of how the dosage is affecting the cat, but usually isn't necessary. It is usually done by drawing blood in the cat's ear. Test kits can run between $50 to $120, and test strips are about $30 per package.
Occasionally, cats go into remission and no longer need insulin. There may also be times when the cat does not eat enough, or vomits, and the usual dose of insulin will be too high. For this reason, the diabetic cat should be watched carefully, especially in the first few weeks after diagnosis or after the insulin dose is changed (especially if increased). Just like humans, cats can go into insulin shock and possibly die if untreated. Owners of diabetic pets should keep Karo syrup or pancake syrup on hand in case this happens. The owner will need to force about a tablespoon of syrup into the unconscious cat's mouth, and call the veterinarian immediately. One important thing to remember is that it is safer for a cat to have a too high level of blood glucosez than too low, so if the owner is in doubt that the cat has eaten well enough, he should refrain from giving the insulin.
It's helpful to know everything that may be involved with caring for a diabetic pet, but for most owners, the care will be simple. Though there is certainly more information and there are more possible complications that may occur, the average pet owner will probably not encounter them. Stick to a routine, and be observant. The biggest change we've had to face in our household is to switch from "open feeding", in which the bowl of dry kibble is left out all day, to scheduled feeding times. I have four cats, and they weren't too happy about it at first, but now they know what to expect and even which bowl is assigned to them. Cats are pretty smart, and very adaptable. J.C. is doing very well. He's gained weight, has returned to the proper use of the litter box, and seems quite healthy. All I do is feed and dose, and watch him. It's a very minor inconvenience, and well worth the trouble to see him healthy and happy once again.
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