Kitty has diabetes

[jobob]

My dear long-departed Bozo Kitty was diabetic. It was no problem at all with the insulin shots. He liked getting them because he knew he'd be fed soon after.

[bikerchick68]

Pink... I understand your feelings of guilt... but remember that animals hide illness VERY well until they're very, very sick. In nature if they show any sign of illness they become prey... so it's not that you waited too long... my cat Gabi had cancer and seemed fine one day and then a week later she was skinny. The vet said she'd probably had cancer a long time but there is no way we could have known.

Hope the meds and diet help...

[PinkBike]

wow, you guys are great, thanks so much for the responses!
here's the little brat helping (?) me with an embroidery project.

[makbike]

Laurie,

My beloved Scooter was diabetic. He battled many health issues for the last 9 years of his life and it did in with dignity and grace. When I learned he had become diabetic I was crushed but after the inital tears I decided I needed to learn as much about feline diabetes as possible. I visited the following site: http://www.felinediabetes.com/index.html and joined their forum. What a wonderful group of people.

If I could give you any advice about treating Morris's diabetes it would be to learn to test is glucose levels at home. The readings the vet will obtain will be inflated due to the stress of being at their office. The people at the feline diabetes board can give you a ton of advice about home testing. Your vet may be one of the few who supports it and if they do ask them to teach you how to test at home. Finally, home testing will actually save you a lot of money and may actually save Morris's life.

Feel free to PM me if you need any information or need an ear to bend. I so miss my Scooter but I know he had a wonderful life the 17 years he was with me. In reality his diabetes was just a little wrinkle and he once again taught me some important lessons.

Take care!

[sbctwin]

I hope your kitty is doing ok. When Kallie was diagnosed with diabetes, I really thought MY life would end having to give her shots TWICE a day. But you know what, it didn't phase her a bit. She accepted them. And I got really good at giving them to her. It took ME time to learn I wasn't 'killing her' when I administered her shot. I am so terrible when it comes to needles. In the end, that was not what she died from. She was doing really good in that respect. Diabetes in your kitty is NOT a death sentence. Adminster your kitty's insulin on a consistent basis and he/she will thrive. Kallie did.

[bmccasland]

Herald the cat was diagnosed as diabetic a couple of years ago, but fortunately for me his is controlled with Rx Science Diet W/D. About the same color as cheerios... He was fat (and was eating Science Diet Lite), then didn't eat for 3 days. Told his vet that not eating may not be necessarily bad, but was out of character. We had been battling his weight for years. When they checked his blood sugar, it was sky high. And he stayed overnight at the hospital. But so far he's been controlled with diet, so long as I'm vigalant that he only eats HIS food, and limited quantities. Currently new kitty, Callie, thinks his food is better than hers. Which makes keeping up with what HE eats a bit difficult. And besides, she doesn't need the special diet.

Anyway, PB, I hope your baby gets to feeling better, and maybe with the diet under control, and meds things will improve. Mimitabby is right, cats are obligate carnivores (must eat meat). I remember pretty much freaking when my French friend bought rabbit heads for her cat at the market. Was kind of strange to see it in the cat's bowl. Chipette the kitty thought they were a terrific treat! (and I'm generally not squemish )

[mimitabby]

rabbit heads??! GROSS!