Any Suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

About 3 weeks ago, my poor Diesel was diagnosed with diabetes. I work in the medical field and have no problems administering his meds. My problem is the poor guy is miserable with me doing this. He's always been a "cranky pants" kinda of cat, but still ours.

I've been good to him, treats, loving, pinching the skin during the day, no ambushing while doing the shots. The first week went well and now every day has progressed to be worse and is torture for the both of us. I try not to do it in the same place of the house so that he doesn't associate one place. I do it in different areas so that he does not become sore. He bites and scratches, which I can deal with, but I don't want to keep doing this to him and unfortunately for obvious reasons, it's just not something that can be skipped. Poor guy sees me now and runs in the other direction no matter what time of day it is.

I've read here and there about some people using some of these autoject devices, (not the pens - I've read pens are not good for animals), that supposidly inject the needle rapidly and painlessly. There's more info about it on dogs rather than cats.

I figured this was the place to get some feedback. My question is has anyone used any of the devices to administer insulin to their furbabies? and has it worked well.

My vet gave me the rx for the insulin and syringes and I figured it wouldn't be a problem. I'm not due to go back until next week for a curve and just wanted to get some info/insight from other furbaby owners before talking to my vet again.

Jo Ann

Look into a cat bag....

Could you use a finer guage needle? I just ask as I just sat for a diabetic dog and the needle was very thin and he hardly felt it

I am so sorry you are having to go through this with your baby

I have never pesonally had a kitty that was diabetic but MY COUSIN did! Her cat was a very UNFRIENDLY cat but somehow every day she gave the shots. He still loved her - he just had to get used to it.

I hope someone here can advise you - I will keep an eye on this thread to read about the autoject..... very curious.

Hang in there and be sure to give kitty extra lovins in the mean time.

It's one of the finest needles they use, 30g, (31 being the smallest)and it's one of the shortest. Honestly, I don't even think he feels it, because sometimes I catch him off guard and he doesn't even realize I gave it to him. He's always been a cranky cat, but we still love him.

Lets hope it's something that will get easier over time and I just hope I can out last his crankiness before my hands are shredded and chewed....lol...

PakRatJo, I'm not trying to act as a veterinarian. Also Diesel's condition is likely different than Mist. I just want to share with you my experience with a diabetic cat.

Mist was diagnosed a couple of years ago - drinking water endlessly and peeing like Niagra Falls. Vet put her on glipizide, which is also a human diabetes treatment in pill form. Just put the pill in a little wet food and she happily gobbles it down, then looks for the rest of her dinner.

Told me she really must lose weight. Got her weight down from 11 pounds to 8.6 pounds.

Even more important than weight loss - put her on the "Catkins" diet - high protein, low carbs. Rather than a prescription diet we started Mist on Purina Pro-Plan Kitten food, chicken and liver flavor. I feed her 4 times a day, which is not something my vet suggested but I figure smaller, more frequent meals are better than two larger meals.

Cats are type II diabetics, easier to manage than dogs, who are type I. The glipizide gave her pancreas a rest, and we were actually able to stop the medication in November 2009. At about that time I added two flavors of Fancy Feast - tender beef feast with brown label and turkey and giblets with olive label - in rotation with Pro Plan to offer her a more varied diet and reduce cost. Those two flavors are listed on a feline diabetes site as containing NO wheat gluten and below 10% carbs

There's been a lot of stress recently - her brother Fog had neuropathy in his hind legs and was euthanized on October 11. Her glucose is somewhat high at 191 and she's back on 2.5 mg glipizide once a day, recheck in 2 months.

Sorry this is so long but I wanted to give you all the details. Perhaps if you want you can discuss with your veterinarian the difficulties you are having injecting your cat with insulin and ask if maybe glipizide would be a workable alternative.

All best wishes for the two of you.

I also use 30 gauge 8mm short length. I am so sorry he is not acclimating well.

With Farley V, I would put an extra special treat right in front of him when giving the shot. He eventually associated something good with something not so good.

I hope things calm down for you..they just don't understand it's for their own good.

Thanks everyone for the input. Sometimes all you have to do is mention it and things work out.

I'm still keeping my fingers crossed, but with the last 2 shots that I have given him, he seems to have finally calmed down with it.

We are also hoping that he goes into remission. The doctor says that they have been having a lot of success with using Lantis which also works on the pancreas and pets going into remission, so he decided to start Diesel on that with the hopes that that would happen.

I think I'm going to try the inject ease device. It's only a $30. investment and may make my baby much happier. I've done tons of research on it (so much so my eyes are ready to pop....lol), but it doesn't change the amount/dose of insulin in any way (like some inject pens can), it only takes the syringe that you use and it inserts it so quickly and gives the dose before you even know it's done.

Thanks for the info on the food too. I've been trying the different high potein/low carbs that he likes. Not fun....either...especially when he turns his nose up......oi!

I've not had to deal with diabetes, but I have had to administer meds and sub-q fluids on a regular basis to a number of my cats.

To give you encouragement here, it does get better over time. I think that they start to realize that while the process of administering the drug is a nuisance to them, they also realize that they feel better afterwards. And while they may fight it a bit, they simply give into it.

My Stumpy can be really cranky at times and he's been on meds for the last 4 years. If given his druthers, he would have me stop, but he has completely resigned himself to the fact that he doesn't have a choice in the matter. Be firm with them and always give them extra loving when you are done. Reward him for tolerating it.

Again, thanks all for the input.

I purchased the Ambimed inject-ease device and I have been using it since Saturday. It cost me about $30. and worth every penny.

I tried it on myself first to see how well it worked and you don't feel a thing, nothing, not even a tiny pinch. I've given Diesel several shots now using the device and he could care less now.

This morning was the best. For the first time since we started this, he didn't squirm, bite, or scratch, and practically rolled to his side so that I could give it to him.....YEAHHHH!.....I'm not the mean mommy anymore....lol!

Originally Posted by PakRatJo

I tried it on myself first to see how well it worked and you don't feel a thing, nothing, not even a tiny pinch.

Click to expand...

What we wouldn't do for our cats! You're a good mom.

I'm glad that you found a solution!

I wonder if that device could be used with all injections? (or at least many) It might be something for people to recommend that their vets look into.

I'm glad to read that it works for you and Diesel.