Cat diagnosed with diabetes

[Justalittlebitlonger]

One of my raggies has just been diagnosed with diabetes. He's 13 and a very stressy cat. We thought it was just a uti at the weekend but he hasn't improved with antibiotics and painkillers. He has been drinking and peeing a lot more too. He keeps peeing on the sofa because he's obviously in pain and it's getting really stressful for everyone.

Back at the vet today and a quick blood test says diabetes. He just sat there so lethargic and let them do it. The vet is against treatment. He says that it's too difficult to stick to a routine of feeding every 12 hours then injecting. I feel awful for even thinking it but I don't see how we'd manage. We would never be able to leave the house for more than 12 hours and would probably have to cancel trips we've got booked in the next few months, including visiting DH's elderly grandmother who hasn't met baby DC2 yet. I don't know what quality of life he would have even on the treatment. I think he'd get really stressed with a feeding routine and he'd fight us trying to inject him if he was feeling ok. He has been miserable since DC1 was born because he hates me being around and not cuddling him every second. It doesn't matter if anyone else is there too, for his first 11 years he was always by my side.

I'm not sure the point of this post really. I just feel so down and wanted to get it all out.

Our now 14yo cat is diabetic and was diagnosed March 2016. It is actually really easy to manage. I'm surprised your vet is against treatment. Our cat has other health issues including IBD and we manage. I thought it would be a nightmare but you get used to it.
Our neighbour had a diabetic cat she passed away last year aged 18 and a half.
Seriously, I would question why the vet said that. Are you in the UK?
If we go away Vinocat has to go in the cattery now so they do the insulin injections. It is part of our vets which helps mind.

He basically said it was an impossible task. It's not a vet we've dealt with before so I'll try to get one of the others on the phone tomorrow. My cat wouldn't cope in a cattery and I'm not sure anyone would take him. He has a stress linked URI that may or may not be herpes, and also pees on random stuff when he's stressed. He would have to stay at home if we go ahead with treatment which means we can never go anywhere.

Yes in the UK. We also have another cat with HCM but that's just managed with pills so much easier.

About 3 years ago my then 15 year old boy was diagnosed with diabetes. We injected him daily and feed him hills wet and dry food. 18 months later he was in remission so stopped injections. He's still doing well. Give him a chance

Have you thought about a cat sitter? Mine is a qualified vetinary nurse so I know he's in safe hands.

Yes, do get another opinion. The injections themselves are easier to administer than tablets.
As I say we manage despite other health issues. Our vet is wonderful and works with us really well. We noticed a difference within a few days of starting the insulin even though the dose was too low.
Perhaps a vet nurse or good cat sitter with experience in insulin could look after him?

badcarrot wasn't it a nightmare to do the injections though? I can't get my head around the logistics of it all and being able to do it with just one person when the vet has always needed him to be held down.

I'm not sure where to start looking for a cat sitter. I don't know if I like the idea of someone we don't know having a key to our house. I'm funny about cleaners for the same reason.

I found ours by googling. It's not something I'd normally do but her name came up and she'd fostered for the rescue Harry came from. Once we met her I was completely comfortable with her. She's DBS checked and fully insured (including locksmith insurance) and I have no worries about her having a key. I'd rather someone have a key than out him in a cattery.

Thanks vino. The vet who saw him on Saturday knows him and us well so I'll try to get in touch with her. If she agrees then I'd be inclined to trust her because she has been very supportive with their ongoing illnesses in the past.
I do trust the practice on the whole though. We thought we were losing our other cat as she could barely walk and couldn't lift her tail. They took her in for tests and discovered a clot in her leg. Lots of drugs later and she's fine almost 5 years on.

I think it does depend on the cat, i have diabetic boy cat who is super chilled out and lets me check his blood sugars and inject him with insulin twice a day. He has food down most of the time so I don't tend to worry to much about the feeding times etc. He copes at the cattery if we go away.

I have a girl cat who screams if you pick her up and completely freaks when she has her booster injection. If she was diagnosed with diabetes I think the kindest thing to do for her would be PTS

He's so sweet and gentle most of the time but has some triggers which upset him so much. We have never been able to brush him regularly because he doesn't like anything pulling on his skin.
He's smart too. He has been on long term medication for his URI and he will run off up the stairs as soon as he hears the pill bottle. DH is worried that he'll refuse to eat if we start injecting straight after, but obviously that's something to try and see rather than immediately dismiss.

How does free feeding work with the medication? Or do you just leave some to graze?
How much is the medicine anyway? My DH took him today and didn't think to ask.

There are two types of insulin, one is approx £15 a bottle and lasts a month. The other is larger costs £58 a bottle but lasts 5 months... you also have to factor in needles, blood glucose kit etc.

I feed soft food twice a day and leave biscuits down all the time.

It would def be worth trying and seeing how he manages...

I also found injecting really easy even though our diabetic cat was skittish. Put food down, wait for him to start eating, pull skin up on the back of his neck, inject. He never even felt it and we trained a few friends and cat sitters to do it who also found it super easy. It really wasn't a big deal. How much it costs really depends on the dosage. I think our caninsulin was 40 quid a bottle but the dosage was quite small so the bottle lasted for ages.

We make sure our cat has eaten a decent amount of food so 2/3 of her breakfast leave it for a while (in case of puking!) then inject. As she's a tad skinny we leave food available she may pop by a few times and eat 3 or 4 biscuits each time.
We use Caninsulin and our vet gives us a prescription for 3 bottles so about 3 month worth which costs just over £40 in total. Syringes I order online, can't remember cost of them.
Our vet does like us to do glucose curves at home and keep her up to date. Your vet may not want to do this with a newly diagnosed cat mind.
I would try and see how you get on.

I'm sorry about your cat.

I had a diabetic cat when I was younger and he became very used to the injections very quickly. It took all of two seconds to pinch the scruff of his neck and inject. I felt he sort of understood that he needed them. Presumably they made him feel better and he never showed any signs of pain while they happened.

I hope you can find treatment for your cat.

Unusual for a vet to be so defeatist. One of my DM's cats was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 9 and she went on to live happily for another 5.5 years. My DM found the regular injecting (twice a day) surprisingly easy. But please be aware of the cost!

I am amazed your vet has said that! The injecting and feeding has actually been very easy for mine- and he is the biggest fluff diva ever.

because the needles are so fine, they don't even feel it. I just sneak up behind him when he is eating and do it in the scruff of his neck.

This is the cat who ran up the tree when I accidentally nudged the pill dispenser... Honest to god if I had to give tablets daily, we'd both be sectionable.