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Original poster

Anyone got a diabetic cat? Are they expensive?

32 replies

Jimjams · 28/09/2004 06:40

Posted recently that our cat had gone insane and was peeing everywhere. Noticed she's been drinking quite a bit so chucked a dipstick in this mornings puddle - absolutely sky high with glucose.

So dh is taking her to the vets- BUT I don't want to be forced to take on a lot of extra work/expense so I wondered if anyone could tell me what is involved. I read that they need to be fed at regular intervals and that they need insulin injections up to twice a day Now even finding time to do that will be tricky tbh as we live in a very chaotic household- could probably get into the routine though. BUT the big question is cost- we are currently spending over 400 quid a month on therapy for ds1- we are overdrawn evey month and I'm not prepared to take on more financial comittment for a cat that came free with the house (previous owners left her behind when they moved to Spain). So does anyone know how much it would cost per month to treat a diabetic cat? I read some vet sites that suggested re-prioritising spending to fund the cat's insulin- and whilst I'm happy to re-prioritise for ds1 I think "never buying ready made sandwiches" (the site's idea!) is a bit much for a cat!

OP posts:
Original poster
Jimjams · 28/09/2004 11:24

bumping.
Had it confirmed. We need to decide whether to keep her and giver her daily insulin - although this probably won't stop her peeing inside - as that is probably stress related. (stress!!)

Or we get her put down.

Mumsnet court of opinion please.

OP posts:
bundle · 28/09/2004 11:27

gosh, jimjams, I don't know. but our cat minder was qualified to do insulin injections, she'd been taught by the local vet, so it's obviously not that uncommon..

charliecat · 28/09/2004 11:34

If you explained the circumstances would a rescue centre not take the cat and fund a foster parent for her?

charliecat · 28/09/2004 11:36

My mum used to foster cats and she used to get the medical bills paid for her by the rescue centre.
Theres also the scheme which I have no idea what its called but if your on a low income or on benefits, not sure which ones they help with costs. You pay a wee bit and they pay the rest.

Demented · 28/09/2004 11:37

TBH (and I have a cat myself) I personally would have the cat put to sleep. I'm just thinking that with a new baby on the way and the extra work/expense you have with DS1 that maybe it would be too much work and expense. Our cat has had two accidents (first she had to have her tail removed as someone had pulled it and second time she was hit by a car) and each time I would have had her put down if she had been left with problems that would have meant peeing in the house etc (the tail incident we were warned that she could lose control of the bladder/bowel permanently). Although this is just my own point of view as I don't feel I could cope with this on top of the children etc.

twogorgeousboys · 28/09/2004 11:38

Not sure about cats, but a friend had a diabetic dog and the injections and diet just became part of the routine. She was a happy little thing.

Won't the weeing clear once the diabetes is under control? Aren't the symptoms the same as in human (continual, excessive urinating is definitely one of the symptoms).

Good luck with your decision.

Demented · 28/09/2004 11:39

Charliecat's suggestion sounds good though and may be worth looking into.

Demented · 28/09/2004 11:40

That's a point, will the weeing stop once she is on medication?

Original poster
Jimjams · 28/09/2004 11:52

Apparently it won't stop the weeing. The weeing started when we had an electrician in (floorboards up) then we had the garden re-done. The thing is we've just started work on the house- its going to be going on for the next few years. To make it worse she wees right where ds1 tries to eat- and he's always eating off the floor. I've been given some behavioural tips- but they involve things like cordoning off the wee area- absolutely impossible with ds1. I had already contacted animal rescue shlters etc but they are all full. The vet said she would get have another couple of years with insulin, but that we shouldn;t try and re-home and if the weeing etc was getting too much then we should just put her down. It's hard to put her down when she looks basically welll (she is a beautiful cat) but by 9.30am this morning I had cleaned up 2 wee patches- we have newspaper down all over the place. Dh is working until 1am at the moment and 7 days a week- and to be honest I feel like this is just too much. But then I look at her and feel guilty@! Just wonder whether to give her a month's trial and see if the wee stops. (But then I have to get through the month without going insane- dh is away twice and IL's are coming to stay).

OP posts:
Original poster
Jimjams · 28/09/2004 11:53

charliecat- we're not classed as low income (we're not!) we just spend everything spare we have on ds1. TBH it looks as though the insulin is going to cost about 30 quid a month so we're happy to pay that- it's just the beahvioural problems..

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Demented · 28/09/2004 12:07

Hugs Jimjams, it's a tough decision. Our cat has barely come into the house since we moved here two years ago, the only time she comes in is when we are away and someone else is here feeding her , I think DS2's arrival then the house move was too much for her. Now we've started a cellar conversion and the builders are destroying the garden in the process. I feel really sorry for her, she's got nowhere to go and I do miss her snuggling up on my knee.

Easy · 28/09/2004 12:22

Cats Protection League

Jimjams

Don't try and cope love, but don't pay to have her put down either. Contact CPL who will probably take her in, and re-home her or whatever is appropriate. That way, everyone gets the best outcome.

biketastic · 28/09/2004 12:28

jim jams,
diabetic cats are often quite dificult to manage with insulin and take a bit of a fiddle to stabilise on a fixed dose
I find it interesting that the behavioural prob of the peeiing in the house and the diabetes have started at the same time.
I wonder if the diabetes amy also be stress related. Sometimes cats become diabetic for a while and then the insulin rquirement tails off and the cat goes back to normal.
I wonder if your vet suggested feliway or felifriend to help her get back to a less stressed state, both are "chill out2 sort of hormaones that come in an electric plug dispenser.
I think that you are not cruelk if you have her put to sleep now. She is going to need a fair bit of attention in the next few weeks, and you already have your plate full. CAT me if you like, I hate to say what my job is, as don't want lots of complicated questions about "is my vet right etc", so difficult when you can' tsee the pet/blood results etc, but I am a vet.

Original poster
Jimjams · 28/09/2004 12:49

Thanks biketastic-we've tried feliway (for about 10 days now). I wondered whether the diabetes was stress related as well- just can't see how its going to get less stressed when the house is going to continue to be turned upside down.

No-one wants her Easy- we've tried ringing all these places........

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suedonim · 28/09/2004 15:02

Oh, Jimjams, I can imagine just what you're going through. Our 14yo cat is also peeing and pooing indoors almost every day. Luckily it's always in the utility room but she seems to have complelely lost the idea of being housetrained. The wretched animal will actually come in from the garden to piss/crap on the floor and then go out again!!!

Although our cat is also lovely (a pedigree colourpoint persian) I feel I'm at the end of my tether with her, what with the dog and another cat. You have so many more difficult committments than me that I would't blame you one bit if you decided that enough was enough. I almost wish our cat would develop a disease so we could have her put down without feeling guilty.

Original poster
Jimjams · 28/09/2004 15:16

It's realy disheartening isn't it?

I've tried to think of a way round it. One animal shelter suggested putting foil down in the place they go as they don't like walking on it- but ds1 is really into mirrors and would be down there on his hands and knees- and I don't want to think about the rest. Another suggestion was that we get one of those enclosed litter tray things - but ds1 loves letterboxes and cat flaps and I can imagine a litter tray with a cat flap would be like a magnet to him. A normal litter tray would have both boys playing with it. It would probably still pee on the carpet anyway. I feel a bit like I did in the summer when ds1 started pooing everywhere except the toilet for no reason. There's something about constant wiping up that just wears me out.

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miggy · 28/09/2004 15:21

just as another option, there is a new food from hills called m/d, for diabetic cats-basically like the Atkins diet. We recently had a cat at work that was diabetic and the owner didnt feel up to injections (nasty cat) but the cat was well, so we decided to try with the food. After 2 months, the blood glucose was normal. This may just be a one off but have also used it with other cats on insulin and have significantly reduced their insulin doses. So just trying food onlu might be an option if you dont want to have her put to sleep.
Think your vets quote of £30 a month was a bit optimistic to be honest. Yes for the insulin but you will also need syringes and regular blood monitoring etc.
Dont feel bad if you do make another decision-Im sure your cat has had a lovely life with you.

secur · 28/09/2004 15:28

Message withdrawn

charliecat · 28/09/2004 15:32

I think if its going to be way too much hassle and expense I would have her put down, spend a week or so gearing up for it and making a fuss and then let her go
xx

Original poster
Jimjams · 28/09/2004 15:33

The thing is its not even our cat really. If we had chosen her then I think I would feel more attached- but she just came with the house. But then she looks at us and I feel guilty. I don't mind the injections etc (although she might!) but the weeing- if that doesn't stop I think we'll have to call it a day.

OP posts:
secur · 28/09/2004 15:41

Message withdrawn

Easy · 28/09/2004 17:10

Then Jimjams, if no-one will rescue her then you have no alternative. TBH I was just trying to save you the responsibility of the decision to put her down. But in your situation then we would do the same, let her go. I don't think animals thrive on long-term medication anyway.

Original poster
Jimjams · 28/09/2004 20:41

well one dose of insulin and she's perked up considerably and peed outside ever since. I think we are going to give her a month's trial and see how we get on. She may relapse tomorrow as we can't get to the vet until Thursay but dh will take her Thursday am.

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biketastic · 28/09/2004 22:16

agree with miggy re the diet.
It may well be that you treat her with insulin for about 2-3 months and the the diabetes goes away...
it happened to the very first case I dealt with and left me a bit baffled until I realised that it can be stress induced.
Good luck with her, waht a relief she has started going outside again.

hoxtonchick · 28/09/2004 22:20

Wow, I wish my diabetes would go away if I cut down on stress. Lucky cats .

Hope you manage to resolve things Jimjams.