Elderly Cat with diabetes.

[WindyWednesday]

My darling cat has been getting thinner and thinner and the vet has given him a check and bloods. He thinks diabetes as the cat has high glucose in bloods and urine. Although he said stressed cats can release glucose so they are sending blood away for further tests to see if anything else is wrong.

I don’t know what to do. She has bladder problems controlled by a prescription vet diet and now this. Do I want to put 15 yr old cat through this or is it kinder to pts. I can’t bear to see an animal in pain or suffer. The vet has said to stop feeding the prescription diet and give normal cat food for now. So there is also a worry that the bladder problems would return.

I know diabetes can be controlled, but in an elderly cat is it fair. I’m waiting for test results for more news, so very unsure at the moment.

Our cat was diabetic and it was easy to manage so no reason to PTS. The injections are easier to do than give tablets. You will see a difference after a short time of insulin injections. Our neighbour had a diabetic cat diagnosed similar age to yours and lived to 18 and a half.
Our cat was a tricky case as she had other issues but neighbour's cat was quite straightforward.

The vet said that even with insulin it was unlikely the cat would live another two years.

Our cat was diagnosed at 15 years old. After 3 months of insulin his pancreas restarted so we stopped the injections. 18 months later and he is still well and with us - a bit slower and sleepier but definitely still ok.

Is it very expensive?

The vet wasn’t able to tell me how much the treatment cost.

One bottle of Caninsulin was near £40 from our vet but the vet gave me a prescription for a charge and I would buy 3 bottles online for £40. There are the needles too which again I bought online.

Is it easy to inject?

Sorry for all the questions

Very easy. The vet will show you what to do. Ours did with distilled water and they said to make an appointment with one of the nurses we were having trouble but we didn't need to.
I think the first time you do it is the hardest as I'd never administered an injection before.

Thank you for all your help and advice. I didn’t know what to do when the vet told me what was wrong.

Good luck with it all and am happy to answer any questions. It is very daunting at first!
We were very lucky and had the most fantastic vet-she joined the practise about 3 months after cat was diagnosed. She was very dedicated, supportive and so helpful but I made sure I did glucose readings and kept her updated.

I was so daunted by the diabetes diagnosis but actually it is very manageable. My elderly gentleman got diagnosed 2 years ago and is still a happy, demanding little thing at 18 years old now. The only thing is trying to find a good cat sitter who is happy doing injections can be expensive!

Yes, it’s been a shock. Trying to get an appointment at the vets to start treatment isn’t easy. Have one for Monday.

He is now eating better and looking more alert, so I think a lot of it was starvation. He was on a vet diet, now he can eat anything to keep him going. So he’s getting some wet food punches which he is enjoying. Appetite back and he has more energy so we have decided to start the treatment,

Just back with our Shady. He is so thin! Start insulin tonite but he wont eat at mo. Im told i cant inject him til he eqts! Am panicking like a loony

Give him whatever he will eat. Only a bit of food and you can inject