Cats can contract diabetes. And we all know how debilitating the condition can be. The good news here is that the condition can be treated and managed through medication and diet. Also, cats are not very susceptible to the condition. Pet dogs are more likely to fall prey to diabetes.
85% of cats diagnosed with the condition suffer from Type-2 or insulin dependent diabetes. Timely diagnosis can cause the condition to go into remission and your cat can lead a normal life.
Cats past middle-age or more than seven years of age are more likely to contract the condition. A sudden loss of weight or weight gain should be taken seriously. Your pet cat displaying excessive thirst is a classic symptom. It may drink water frequently and its visits to the litter box for urination will also increase.
Peripheral neuropathy or weakness in the back legs also indicates diabetes in cats. A simple urine test for checking glucose in urine will tell if the cat is diabetic. Ketones in the urine indicate a serious condition and you should take your cat to the vet straight away.
A word here; treatment for any pet condition is expensive and you should consider pet insurance to help you with it. After the initial diagnosis and treatment, you will have to take your pet to the vet regularly for check-ups. The vet will take a call if treatment procedures have to change. The special canned food is a cost as well.
If you have a glucose meter at home, you can do the test yourself.
Basically, if you see the animal is wasting, the flesh is thinning, and the animal appearing weak you should consider diabetes. A classic symptom is the animal’s breath smelling of acetone; this happens because of ketoacidosis.
Diabetic cats are treated with insulin and a low carbohydrate diet. Diet, in fact, is a very important consideration. A low-carb diet helps reduce insulin dependence. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugar faster as compared to fat and protein. Eliminating carbohydrates brings down the chances of spikes in blood sugar level immediately after eating food.
The most important thing for you as a pet parent is to be mentally and physically prepared for the challenge of looking after a diabetic pet. There are diet changes to manage, you may have to prick its paw / ear occasionally to draw blood for blood glucose testing. Your cat may appear in discomfort and this can be emotionally disturbing. You have to steel yourself and remember that the situation can easily be conquered and your cat treated if you continue with the treatment regimen prescribed by the vet.
Be on the alert for a hypoglycemic episode; in this case the blood sugar levels can drop alarmingly without warning. Symptoms include depression, dizziness, and loss of bladder control. Immediately rub honey on the animal’s gums and rush it to the vet. Delay can cause seizure and brain damage.
If your cat is diagnosed with diabetes, your aim should be complete treatment of the condition. Remission in Type-2 diabetes is a well-known phenomenon in cats; the remission can be temporary or permanent. Your cat can actually be free of insulin dependence, its pancreas will start functioning normally, and all you will need to do is to give it a low-carb diet.
