People are not the only ones who can have diabetes. Cats can develop feline diabetes which can shorten their lifespan if left untreated.
To diagnose diabetes in cats, the veterinarian may test the cat’s blood or urine. The vet may also perform a complete physical examination and ask the owner about any changes in the cat’s behavior.
The cat owner may notice that a cat with diabetes may drink and urinate more than usual. Cats with diabetes may also eat much more than usual and experience weight loss.
Cats of all ages can develop diabetes, but it is most common in older cats. If the cat is obese, it has a greater risk of developing diabetes than a cat within the normal weight range.
Cat owners can help prevent diabetes in cats by keeping the cat active and at a healthy weight. Some experts suggest that cat owners should encourage their older cats to play more and be active to help prevent diabetes.
For diabetes treatment, the vet might prescribe a special diet for the cat. If the cat needs to lose weight, the cat owner may need to feed the cat a high-fiber cat food designed for weight loss.
The cat owner may have to administer insulin injections or oral medications to the cat. Though not all cats with diabetes need insulin, over half of the cats diagnosed with diabetes require insulin injections on a daily basis.
Monitoring the cat’s food intake is very important for diabetic cats. If the cat owner had been keeping food out for the cat at all times, the veterinarian may recommend feeding the cat on a schedule to coincide with the medication schedule.
Treating diabetes in cats with insulin can have potentially fatal side effects if the owner gives the cat too much insulin. Signs of hypoglycemia caused by an overdose of insulin include weakness, convulsions, impaired coordination, and coma.
If the cat begins to exhibit any signs of hypoglycemia, the cat owner should call the vet immediately. The cat owner should not try to give food or liquid to a cat that is in a coma or having seizures.
Some cats who were obese at the time they were diagnosed with diabetes have less problems with the condition once their weight is within normal range. In some cases, the cat owner may no longer need to give insulin to the cat.
Some experts recommend cat owners to limit the amount of stress that their diabetic cats are exposed to. Change is a common stressor for cats. Moving to a new residence is a stressor that the cat owner may not be able to prevent, but reducing other changes may help.
With proper care and regular vet checkups to monitor the illness, cats with diabetes can lead a fairly normal life. As long as the diabetes is well managed with diet and medication if necessary, the cat’s prognosis is generally good.