This past Saturday the wife and I took our large blue gray male cat to the vet. He has had allergy problems in the past but we noticed he had lost weight like 6 pounds! They did some blood test and lo and behold the cat is a diabetic! Anyone else had this experience with a cat? I could not believe it!
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Diabetic Cat. What!
- Thread starter phillip
- Start Date
Yup, unfortunately, all the fruits, vegetables and sugars we add into cat food is making cats get the same diseases we do..
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Welcome to TCS, Phillip.
I'm sorry it had to be under these conditions.
Diabetes in cats really does seem to be an entirely man-made disease, unfortunately. Of course, knowing that doesn't help you now, does it? <<<<hugs>>>>
Have you taken a look at www.yourdiabeticcat.com? I have no direct experience with this disease, but I do know it can be managed and sometimes even reversed or eliminated with the right treatment. This will almost definitely include a change in your furbaby's diet.
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins authored and maintains yourdiabeticcat.com. She is also a member of the Feline Nutrition Education Society. You might find some helpful or interesting info on their site (feline-nutrition.org), but for now, I'd concentrate on Dr. Hodgkins' site.
Good luck to you and your kitty, Phillip!
AC
Diabetes in cats really does seem to be an entirely man-made disease, unfortunately. Of course, knowing that doesn't help you now, does it? <<<<hugs>>>>
Have you taken a look at www.yourdiabeticcat.com? I have no direct experience with this disease, but I do know it can be managed and sometimes even reversed or eliminated with the right treatment. This will almost definitely include a change in your furbaby's diet.
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins authored and maintains yourdiabeticcat.com. She is also a member of the Feline Nutrition Education Society. You might find some helpful or interesting info on their site (feline-nutrition.org), but for now, I'd concentrate on Dr. Hodgkins' site.
Good luck to you and your kitty, Phillip!
AC
CatInfo.org also has information on diabetes: http://www.catinfo.org/?link=felinediabetes
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- #5
Thanks I will check those sites out.Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy
Welcome to TCS, Phillip.I'm sorry it had to be under these conditions.
Diabetes in cats really does seem to be an entirely man-made disease, unfortunately. Of course, knowing that doesn't help you now, does it? <<<<hugs>>>>
Have you taken a look at www.yourdiabeticcat.com? I have no direct experience with this disease, but I do know it can be managed and sometimes even reversed or eliminated with the right treatment. This will almost definitely include a change in your furbaby's diet.
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins authored and maintains yourdiabeticcat.com. She is also a member of the Feline Nutrition Education Society. You might find some helpful or interesting info on their site (feline-nutrition.org), but for now, I'd concentrate on Dr. Hodgkins' site.
Good luck to you and your kitty, Phillip!
AC
The most important thing with diabetes, both human and feline, is to work with your health care provider. Your vet should be able to help you with diet options, as well as treatment. This is not necessarily a death sentence - diabetes can be successfully managed with your care. There are a couple of posters with diabetic cats who probably will be able to tell you their experiences. It is important follow the program your vet will, or has, worked out immediately and consistently - and to keep your vet in the loop with any changes you make in your cat's life (food, etc.).
IMO,the most important thing is to continue working with your vet - no one on the internet has examined your cat. Good luck - I know (from human experience) this is scary at the start - but you'll learn and things will not eem as horribly scary. As my internist points out - no use in looking at the past and no point in beating yourself up - taking care of the future is what counts, and your kitty will be lucky to have you watching out for him.
IMO,the most important thing is to continue working with your vet - no one on the internet has examined your cat. Good luck - I know (from human experience) this is scary at the start - but you'll learn and things will not eem as horribly scary. As my internist points out - no use in looking at the past and no point in beating yourself up - taking care of the future is what counts, and your kitty will be lucky to have you watching out for him.
Hi Phillip. I have a 16 year old diabetic cat. She was diagnosed a couple of years ago after I took her to the vet for drinking lots of water and peeing like a river. Currently her disease is controlled by diet only, no medication.
Cats are type 2 diabetics, much easier to control than in dogs who are type 1.
My vet put Mist on the "catkins" diet - high protein, low / no carbs. That means no dry food, only canned and lots of label reading. Avoid wheat, corn, etc. as much as possible.
Mist was "pleasingly plump" - she had to lose a couple of pounds and get down to a healthy weight.
My vet treated her with glipizide, oral medication. I'd put the small pill in a little wet food, Mist would gobble it up and look for the rest of her meal. Very easy.
On my own I switched her from morning & evening wet food with dry available for free feeding to four meals a day of wet only. Smaller, more frequent meals would, I figure, keep her feeling satiated and also avoid fluctuations / level out her hormone levels.
In the beginning we went to the vet for relatively frequent blood tests. As she responded well to treatment these were spaced out. Then she was doing well enough that the glipizide and testing was no longer necessary.
Every cat is different. Your big blue boy - what's his name, can you post a picture? - may need a different regimen. I just wanted to reassure you that diabetes in cats is not difficult to manage and your cat can continue to have a happy life with you and your wife.
Cats are type 2 diabetics, much easier to control than in dogs who are type 1.
My vet put Mist on the "catkins" diet - high protein, low / no carbs. That means no dry food, only canned and lots of label reading. Avoid wheat, corn, etc. as much as possible.
Mist was "pleasingly plump" - she had to lose a couple of pounds and get down to a healthy weight.
My vet treated her with glipizide, oral medication. I'd put the small pill in a little wet food, Mist would gobble it up and look for the rest of her meal. Very easy.
On my own I switched her from morning & evening wet food with dry available for free feeding to four meals a day of wet only. Smaller, more frequent meals would, I figure, keep her feeling satiated and also avoid fluctuations / level out her hormone levels.
In the beginning we went to the vet for relatively frequent blood tests. As she responded well to treatment these were spaced out. Then she was doing well enough that the glipizide and testing was no longer necessary.
Every cat is different. Your big blue boy - what's his name, can you post a picture? - may need a different regimen. I just wanted to reassure you that diabetes in cats is not difficult to manage and your cat can continue to have a happy life with you and your wife.
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- #8
His name is Gray. He was 20 pounds at one point and was down to 14 when we took him to the vet last week. I am assuming his weight was more than likely a major cause of this. This cat eats extremely well. Turkey breast, roast beef and chicken. We do put down can tuna and dry food but thats because our female cat will not eat anything but dry. I feel bad for the cat because I feel responsible for this by feeding him what we do. But this cat is my buddy....
Phillip,
Don't feel badly. I have a female cat that was only 5 when diagnosed and she was not overweight. I had another male cat that was but we did try to control it. Personally I felt he had a thyroid problem . In the end, he passed away from cancer and not because he was diabetic. Megan is a little bit of a challenge but she gets her two shots a day and goes in for quarterly sugar level checks. We hope to have her with us a long time. Do you research and ask your vet any questions. I'm sure that you and your vet will be able to manage it well
Don't feel badly. I have a female cat that was only 5 when diagnosed and she was not overweight. I had another male cat that was but we did try to control it. Personally I felt he had a thyroid problem . In the end, he passed away from cancer and not because he was diabetic. Megan is a little bit of a challenge but she gets her two shots a day and goes in for quarterly sugar level checks. We hope to have her with us a long time. Do you research and ask your vet any questions. I'm sure that you and your vet will be able to manage it well
Phillip, do you mean that Blue only eats roast turkey, roast beef, and chicken?
Or do you mean that you making your own cat food?
Cats need taurine which isn't available in muscle meat. I don't know much about feeding raw but do know it includes a proportion of organ meat such as heart and liver for this reason (providing taurine.)
Or do you mean that you making your own cat food?
Cats need taurine which isn't available in muscle meat. I don't know much about feeding raw but do know it includes a proportion of organ meat such as heart and liver for this reason (providing taurine.)
Catapault is right Philip, if Gray is eating only muscle near, then he would be lacking in many nutrients. But today is a new day, and the start of a healthy regimen so don't beat yourself up for anything.
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While I would agree that Gray's apparent diet is a little odd, may be unbalanced and could, if Phillip is talking about deli meats, be pretty unhealthy, I also need to correct some erroneous info.
Organs are part of a raw diet because they produce nutrients not found in the rest of a prey's body, not because they contain taurine.
Taurine is produced in levels directly related to how hard a particular part of the body works. Thigh meat, for instance, can be expected to contain a higher level of taurine than breast meat. By definition, then, muscle meat produces the highest levels of taurine; for raw feeding purposes, heart is considered muscle meat (not organ) and theoretically contains the highest levels of taurine in a prey's body.
Phillip, can you clarify what you're feeding Gray on a daily basis? I'm a little alarmed if it's cooked meat, and definitely alarmed if it's deli meat.
Did you have a discussion with your vet about Gray's diet? What was the recommendation? Does that match what you've found on www.yourdiabeticcat.com?
How is Gray's appetite and behavior? Hope he's doing well!
Best regards.
AC
Organs are part of a raw diet because they produce nutrients not found in the rest of a prey's body, not because they contain taurine.
Taurine is produced in levels directly related to how hard a particular part of the body works. Thigh meat, for instance, can be expected to contain a higher level of taurine than breast meat. By definition, then, muscle meat produces the highest levels of taurine; for raw feeding purposes, heart is considered muscle meat (not organ) and theoretically contains the highest levels of taurine in a prey's body.
Phillip, can you clarify what you're feeding Gray on a daily basis? I'm a little alarmed if it's cooked meat, and definitely alarmed if it's deli meat.
Did you have a discussion with your vet about Gray's diet? What was the recommendation? Does that match what you've found on www.yourdiabeticcat.com?
How is Gray's appetite and behavior? Hope he's doing well!
Best regards.
AC
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #13
My wife took him back to the vet today. Blood sugar still elevated they up the insulin dosage. The Vet has gone bonkers! Wants me to take blood glucose at home! They are nuts! I have to trick this cat when I give it a shot I can see me poking a needle in this cats ear! That said you would have to understand the spooked nature of this cat. He's very jumpy and leary even of me and my wife. We have never ever mistreated him he's just jumpy as heck. I think we are in over our head at this point.
As far as his diet yes he is eating packaged turkey, roast beef. If it would not upset the wife so bad I believe I would consider having him put down at this point. Working 10 hours a day, my schedule is never the same and I cannot regulate how often I give him the shot. They say the same time everyday but its impossible. At a loss at this point I just don't know anymore. I love this little guy.
One side note, according to the website diabeticcat.com the raw meats that we are feeding him are better than the processed foods for cats. We do keep dry food down all the time for him and our female cat all the time as our female cat will only eat dry. We do feed tuna once a day as well. Hell these cats eat better than we do. As I said I live this little guy and it would tear my heart out if anything happen to him and I felt I did not do all I could.
Our Vet is aware of his diet and has not suggested any dietary changes as of yet.
As far as his diet yes he is eating packaged turkey, roast beef. If it would not upset the wife so bad I believe I would consider having him put down at this point. Working 10 hours a day, my schedule is never the same and I cannot regulate how often I give him the shot. They say the same time everyday but its impossible. At a loss at this point I just don't know anymore. I love this little guy.
One side note, according to the website diabeticcat.com the raw meats that we are feeding him are better than the processed foods for cats. We do keep dry food down all the time for him and our female cat all the time as our female cat will only eat dry. We do feed tuna once a day as well. Hell these cats eat better than we do. As I said I live this little guy and it would tear my heart out if anything happen to him and I felt I did not do all I could.
Our Vet is aware of his diet and has not suggested any dietary changes as of yet.
By packaged meats, do you mean the kind that you put on sandwiches? Or like raw meat like you cook for steak, sirlion etc.
If it is the first, it needs to stop Immediately. If it is the second, you need to make sure to add supplements to it. Visit a raw feeding forum or catinfo.org for recipes for raw feeding. It's essential that the vitamins and minerals are added in otherwise he could develop a deadly deficit.
If it is the first, it needs to stop Immediately. If it is the second, you need to make sure to add supplements to it. Visit a raw feeding forum or catinfo.org for recipes for raw feeding. It's essential that the vitamins and minerals are added in otherwise he could develop a deadly deficit.
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Deli meat is not only NOT raw meat, it's heavily processed meat and very, very unhealthy for a cat. As is the once a day tuna meal. To have done as well as he has for as long as he has on this diet, Gray must have had a very strong constitution.
If you are not willing to change his diet, and not able to find a way to get the cat a single shot per day, then... well, I just don't know what to say...
Rather than killing this beautiful boy, however, may I suggest you try rehoming Gray? Or, failing that, at least bring him to a shelter where he'll have a chance at recovery as well as finding a new owner who can do for him what you are not able to do?
Diabetes is so far from a death sentence that I am, frankly, rather appalled at the turn your conversation has taken. If you are not able to care for this cat, PLEASE try to find him a new owner who can!
AC
If you are not willing to change his diet, and not able to find a way to get the cat a single shot per day, then... well, I just don't know what to say...
Rather than killing this beautiful boy, however, may I suggest you try rehoming Gray? Or, failing that, at least bring him to a shelter where he'll have a chance at recovery as well as finding a new owner who can do for him what you are not able to do?
Diabetes is so far from a death sentence that I am, frankly, rather appalled at the turn your conversation has taken. If you are not able to care for this cat, PLEASE try to find him a new owner who can!
AC
He's spoiled, not dumb, you can get him to eat proper food, it's just going to take work.
And sadly, I'm going to have to agree with Auntie Crazy. Diabetes is not a death sentence in any way, but if you don't change his diet, it will be... If you don't have the time to change it, at least give him a proper chance in a new home, he deserves it.
Oh my goodness, please do not put him down...I have had two diabetics and they lived very long lives, once their sugar has been controlled.
When I take a kitty in, I realize that there are going to be rough spots to get over. It comes with ownership and commitment.
Processed meats in packages are horrible for your cat and no diabetic cat should have access to dry food. I have 7 seniors who now all eat wet food with my diabetic guy. They changed ....took a bit, but was not a real problem.
Your cats need to be eating better than they are. Please be willing to change their eating habits. Especially with the diabetes....the right food is so important. So you aren't doing him or yourself any good feeding what you are. So much easier to feed the right thing and the sugar should be easier to regulate.
'
You need to do your part in fighting this.
When I take a kitty in, I realize that there are going to be rough spots to get over. It comes with ownership and commitment.
Processed meats in packages are horrible for your cat and no diabetic cat should have access to dry food. I have 7 seniors who now all eat wet food with my diabetic guy. They changed ....took a bit, but was not a real problem.
Your cats need to be eating better than they are. Please be willing to change their eating habits. Especially with the diabetes....the right food is so important. So you aren't doing him or yourself any good feeding what you are. So much easier to feed the right thing and the sugar should be easier to regulate.
'
You need to do your part in fighting this.
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- #19
This is not going to happen.
Where did I say I could not give the shots? I did'nt. He gets the shots twice a day without fail. I am just concerned with my work schedule that I will not be able to give them the same time everyday thats all.
Don't assume the worst just because I have to work around everyday activity in order to care for him. And I do not appreciate being told to get rid of my cat as I have done the best I could for him. If thats the kind of info handed out here I don't need it.
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No one is assuming anything, Phillip. These replies are in response to your previous post here....
If you are willing to work to change Gray's diet, there are many folks here who can offer a plethora of advice, having already done so themselves. No matter how difficult it may be, I've no doubt someone here has a similar experience that you'll be able to leverage to your benefit.
Let us know, as we'd be happy to help you. But I wouldn't wait too long, as Gray's current diet really is what's making him sick, and the damage is only going to get worse the longer he's on it.
Best regards.
AC
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