Diabetes in Cats

by Jessie

In both humans and animals, diabetes is a metabolic disorder that prevents the body from regulating blood sugar levels. This condition occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, which is necessary to break down glucose, a form of sugar.

Cats who are male and neutered, obese or more than 15 pounds over weight, or over 6 years old, have the highest risk of diabetes. Most cases occur in cats 8 to 13 years old. But diabetes can occur at any time.

Signs of diabetes include:
• Excessive thirst
• Excessive urination
• Increased appetite
• Sluggishness
• Weight loss
• Weak rear legs or walking on hind legs

Although feline diabetes cannot be cured, it is by no means an automatic death sentence. Home treatment can significantly improve the quality and extend the length of life. It is easy to administer and is painless for kitty. If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your veterinarian may recommend weight control, a high-fiber diet, or insulin injections. (Some diabetic cats lose the need for insulin injections over time.)

We have a lot of the signs here at our house, but the only one that actually has diabetes is my Meowmie, she has to take two shots a day, ugh!! Our water dish is always empty, the food dish is always empty, someone is always in the litter boxes and most of us are always sleeping, but no one has suffered any weight loss around here!!! Mom blames the empty food dish on the big lug named Left, he is twice the size of any of us, heck his legs are longer than my whole body is tall. He is a big boy, and I have short legs, LOL.

Because I am the oldest and have problems getting around, Mom weighs me all the time, just to be safe, she says. 10 pounds and no ounces of pure attitude, of course I weigh more at night than I do in the morning, but it is the morning weight that she goes by. I have given up fighting her, when she sets me on the scale I have learned I might as well just sit there. Besides when she is done doing what ever it is she does, she flushes the porcelain throne and I get to play in the water. That is my treat for behaving, I LOVE to play in the water.

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