my Aaron

hello.... i have a twelve year old domestic tabby with diabetes....he seems to be eating well... but has trouble with his back legs...walking.. jumping......Aaron has been keeping my wife and i up half the night with excessive meows...various pitched....i usually get up and take him by the paw to his food and water....after he eats he will be quiet for about an hour and a half, then its back to the meows... waking us up......we have considered leaving him in another room with the door closed.. but im sure he will be scratching the door and vocal , and very agressive about wanting attention.    i wonder if anyone has any ideas about changing his behavior....getting him to stop wanting attention all night.....or is he in enough pain to cause his pattern.....i have considered putting him to sleep....any input is greatly appreciated... thanks  jjr

Putting him to sleep because he's keeping you awake or because you think he's in pain? I don't think that's necessary. Diabetic neuropathy is common in kitties with diabetes and there is a great website that talks about the symptoms and what you can do for it. http://www.laurieulrich.com/jasper/. She has great suggestions about how to help with that pain and the problems with his back legs. There is a Methylcobolamin B12 pill made especially for kitties with diabetic neuropathy: http://www.ilifelink.com/zobaline-for_diabetic_cats-3_mg_x_60_tablets.html?af=Zobaline. Because of this issue he may not be getting enough exercise during the day and is trying to tell you something is wrong. 

i am not as knowledgeable about diabetes in kitties as in humans but this is not an unknown side effect. Putting your cat to sleep is not fair to him when there are several medications and options that help. I would consult your vet or see a specialist.

Hello and welcome to TCS

You're right to question whether this is behavioral or medical. You have to consult a vet, and maybe even get a referral for a diabetes specialist. If the vet says he's not in pain and this is strictly behavioral, then there are ways to deal with it. Actually, it used to be my favorite behavioral issue to deal with, back when I was doing cat behavior consultations. It's fairly easy to resolve and only takes a few nights.

The thing is, with Aaron being sick, we really need to make sure he's not in pain or discomfort during the night, and perhaps needs an adjustment in his medical treatment first.