Does anyone have experience with a diabetic kitty?

[KiminChicago]

My baby, Max, has been drinking an awful lot of water lately, so we took him to the vet yesterday. They found sugar in his urine and so they did a blood test and we'll get the results back today, but we're all pretty sure he's a diabetic.

Does anyone else have experience with caring for a diabetic cat? I know we'll either have to give him pills or shots but that's all I know. Do the pills or whatever have to be given every day at the same time?

We're supposed to be going out of town this weekend, just for one night, so I'm wondering if I'll have to find someone to come in and give Max his medication, or if he'll be ok if we wait until we get home Sunday afternoon, if we give him the previous dose on Saturday morning when we leave.

Thanks!
Kim

 

[jfulcer]

My brother's cat is diabetic and they have to give it shots every day. It doesn't seem to bother the cat and they're pros at it now. Whenever they go on extended trips, the cat stays at a friends house that is comfortable giving the injections. They have another cat that just stays home alone during those times.

I don't know if you could 'pre-dose' a cat like that if you were going to be out. I would imagine it's not safe for us humans, so I wouldn't think it would be safe for the cat. But then again, I'm not a vet.

Good luck!

 

[MerryPoppins]

I had a diabetic cat for many years. She had an injection every morning. When we went out of town we either had to have someone come over and give her her shot or leave her at the vets. She didn't seem to mind her shots. In fact, I think she knew they made her feel better. She would come to me every morning and jump up for me to give the injection.

BTW, she finally was able to go off insulin the last couple of years of her life. Cats who are diabetic sometimes correct themselves, so be sure you get her blood sugar levels tested when the vet wants them tested.

 

[Pugsley]

Wow, you guys only need to give shots once a day?!? Mine gets 7 units twice a day, and my vet makes me feel like my kitty could croak if the shots aren't almost exactly 12 hours apart. The good news is that the shots are easy and he doesn't mind them, but this has really had an impact on my life since I live alone and I feel like I have to be there for him all the time. I'm about to go on a business trip for a few days and it's going to cost me $75 for a sitter.

 

[KiminChicago]

Well, I just heard from the vet and it's official. Actually, she was amazed at how high Max's blood sugar level was, given how healthy he appears. She told me that normally a cat with blood sugar levels this high would have lost half its body weight, but Max is only a pound lighter than he was last year when she saw him for his shots. And, he's still playing and eating. Other than the volume of water he's drinking, you'd never know he was sick.

He'll have to have pills twice a day, so it looks like we'll have to find someone in the family who can give him his meds while we're away. He has to go back in two weeks, then we'll know for sure if he can stay on the pills or go to the shots.

Thanks for the responses everyone, I've never had to deal with this in a pet before.

 

[Cindy B]

My parents had a diabetic cats for maybe 10 years. He was 19 when he died a few months ago.

The insulin shots weren't too bad, the cat had to get used to them.

To administer the shot, my dad would get on his stomach and do his leg as the cat was eating his food.

They first got the supplies from the vet, but found a mail order place cheaper.