Diabetes in Cats

This is a guest post, written by one of our wonderful volunteers, Ronnie V. (click on her name to be taken to her true crimes podcast site!) It details her experience with diabetes in her kitty Romulus.

Romulus

At the beginning of January 2022, I began noticing my 13 year old cat Romulus was losing some weight. He is a longer haired fluffy tabby, and always had a couple extra pounds, so it didn’t seem too concerning right away. 

However, in a short amount of time I noticed he began drinking lots of water, having big pees in the litter box, and was losing quite a bit of weight around his haunches. He seemed uncomfortable, not really wanting pets nor having the same energy as before.

I was heartbroken. I wasn’t ready to face a difficult decision. 

I scraped whatever money I had together to bring him to the vet to get bloodwork. I spoke with the vet about his history, which included having bladder blockage (struvite urolithiasis) when he was 5, but ever since he has been doing well. 

I waited for a call back once the vet had the results, and I was surprised when he said, “Romulus has diabetes.”

I then asked what the treatment options were, and he explained how he would require insulin twice a day, and that I should look for food that has lower calories. 

I received papers with information, and was shown how to give him his shot. I was a bit overwhelmed, and worried about messing up somehow. But when the vet had asked what I wanted to do, of course I said I will do whatever is in my power to help Romulus, especially if it is something that is treatable. 

I had many questions though, and over time I began to learn what food seemed to work well for Rom (and what food didn’t), as well as developing more of an understanding of how diabetes presents in cats. I want to share information in case anyone out there has any concerns about their own cats, or wants to have an easy place where there is some basic, digestible information. 

What is Diabetes

Feline diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a condition wherein the body can not produce insulin on its own. Insulin is a hormone that is necessary in the process of releasing glucose from the blood, and allowing the glucose to be absorbed for energy.  

Though humans and cats have different digestive systems, this is a basic process that we share, and in that we share similarities with diabetes. 

It is interesting because cats also have type I and II diabetes. Here is an excerpt from https://bondvet.com/b/diabetes-in-cats : 

“There are two types of diabetes mellitus: Type 1 and Type 2. 

Type 1 means the body has a shortage of insulin, a blood sugar regulating hormone produced by the pancreas. 

Type 2 diabetes means insulin resistance., where the body’s cells become less and less responsive to the hormone. Insulin can’t be effectively used by the body, even if enough insulin is produced. This type of diabetes most commonly develops in overweight or obese cats as they get older. “

Signs and Symptoms

Here is a basic list of signs and symptoms to look out for:

• Increased thirst.

• Increased urination.

• Increased appetite. 

• Noticeable weight loss.

• Lethargy.

Treatment

In order to treat diabetes, it is necessary to give the feline insulin. This can be done in the following ways:

Insulin: I use the Lantus SoloStar pen in order to give Rom his doses each morning and each evening. It is simple to use-I click to the unit amount required on the bottom, and then I screw on a fresh needle on top each time. I find its easiest when I grab the scruff of his neck and inject it into him that way, and I do it as he is eating his breakfast/supper. He usually doesn’t put up a struggle, and I’m sure any struggle is because I hesitated or came at him the wrong way. It may seem worrisome at first, but before you know it the process will be barely a thought in your everyday routine. 

There are other options and ways to administer the insulin, and this is something that you can determine with your vet. I imagine each clinic has their own preferences or brands, as at one point I ran out of needle tips, my clinic had none until the next day, and every other clinic I went to didn’t have the same type of needle tips. 

A big takeaway is to be open and communicative with your vet so you can give and receive the most information possible in order to manage your fur babies needs as best as possible. 

Diet is a big component to help your cat buddy to thrive and potentially reduce the amount of insulin necessary each day, even remission. 

I like to try to compare the nutritional value to the canned Purina DM (Diabetic Management) formula cat food when looking at alternative foods that are more accessible/affordable. Romulus wasn’t a fan of the DM wet food because it was more chunks in gravy, and he just drinks the gravy and leaves the rest! Pate, or some kind of more mushy type of food is good for knowing Romulus is not just drinking the liquid, but is also getting food into his tummy. 

Here are some pictures of the nutritional values for the Purina DM wet food, and the food itself:

Romulus gets bad poopy bum with kibble, so I keep the boys main diet as wet food, however the best kibble that I have found that doesn’t affect him too harshly is the Purina DM formula kibble. 

Again, this is something you will have to analyze and look for in regards to what is accessible to you, affordable, and jives with your own kitties body and preference.

I find that Tiki Cat and B.F.F. have the correct values I look for, and my boys love them. They are a bit pricier though, so sometimes I do have to see what are more affordable options are out there. 

(Note from ALWAYS Director; we are primarily a Royal Canin feeding rescue, and stand behind their foods as one of the highest in quality available. To obtain Royal Canin for diabetic kitties, please contact your veterinarian's office. As with all higher end foods, they are somewhat pricy, but what you spend in extra food cost you will save in vet bills and heartache. Always, always ALWAYS follow the advice of your veterinarian with regard to your companion's health needs.)

Hypoglycemia 

Now, this may be off putting-it was for me when I read about it. But it is something to be aware of, and something that knowing how to treat is important. 

There can be a risk of the insulin negatively affecting the kitty, mainly if too much is administered. This happened to Romulus suddenly, as if his body began responding differently to the medication and change in diet, and he was not needing as much insulin. I gave him his regular dose, but he became ill and vomited his food. I wasn’t sure if he was in contact with something that made him sick or what, but he didn’t eat more after. He then began wobbling around when walking, and basically fell into his litter box at some point. I took him to the emergency, where he got to sit like a king in some kind of oxygen bed that was like a baby insulator, and I got a nice big bill. Again, I didn’t mind because I felt awful. I wanted to make sure he was all good. However, I could have avoided that emergency visit if I had corn syrup on hand (I had maple syrup, but it is NOT sugary enough to counter balance the insulin). Here is a quote from https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_diabetes_mellitus:

“Hypoglycemia is a serious and potentially life-threatening state that should be treated as an emergency.

Signs of hypoglycemia in cats might include:

• Dull mentation or disorientation

• Profound weakness or lethargy

• Gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhea, not eating)

• Trembling

• Seizures

• Coma

If you see any of these signs, give your cat a sugary product (corn syrup, maple syrup, honey) and immediately go to an emergency pet hospital.

If your pet is having seizures, try rubbing syrup on their gums, but be cautious of your cat biting you.”

Outlook

You can make your cat nice and comfortable and happy if you keep up with a good food routine, give them enrichment so they are exercising and having fun, and give them all the love in the world as usual. It is important to make sure we do all we can for our animal friends, because we love them. 

Romulus is laying next to me as I write this, having a nice sleep after spending the day clawing at my face for snacks, chasing his younger brother Kato around, and randomly running from one room to another from spontaneous zoomies. I couldn’t’ be happier seeing him thriving, and though I wish I could give him an even better life, it is amazing to see how far he has come since his initial diagnoses.

I have links to many sources below, use them to read through and get an understanding if you are suddenly thrust into the world of having a diabetic cat. There is lots of information out there, and always reach out and talk to others to see what information they may have. Also, be kind to yourself. 

-Veronica Vetter 

Sources

• https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/health/diabetes#:~:text=Some%20cats%20are%20more%20at%20risk%20than%20others,inflammation%20of%20the%20pancreas%20or%20urinary%20tract%20infections.

• https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/endocrinology/managing-feline-diabetes-mellitus/

• https://pets.webmd.com/cats/features/feline-diabetes-symptoms-treatments-prevention-diet#1

• https://bondvet.com/b/diabetes-in-cats

• https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/endocrine/c_ct_diabetes_mellitus

• https://www.catsanddiabetes.com/

• https://www.proplanveterinarydiets.ca/consumer/products/dm-dietetic-management-canned-feline-formula

Let's Talk About How They Rescue Us

 If you've ever talked to our Director & Founder, you know that she feels passionately that animals can be our salvation. For many people, there comes a darkness which can seem crushing and overwhelming, and the only reason some people stay put is because they have an animal companion who has taught them that there is such a thing as unconditional, pure, untainted love that comes with no expectations or fine print. The trust and love of a companion animal is entirely unmatched by any other relationship for many. 

If you read the page "Audrey's Story" (CW; ideation, talk of unaliving oneself), you'll see a story of a cat whose circumstances were less ideal than our Founder thought and whose life was changed by arriving at her doorstep. What our Founder didn't expect was how significantly Audrey would affect her own life and will to live. 

Right now, we have 2 sets of bonded cats who seem to have been placed on this Earth for the same reason Audrey came to our Founder. They are Topaz & Jewel, and Jonjamin & Bethicca. 

Topaz is the most amazing, snuggly, chatty little girl who runs right up to her people and tells them all about how she loves them and what her day was like. She lets you know it's time to go to bed, and when it's time to settle down. Her insistent affection is a bright spot in any day. Her sister, Jewel, is more aloof but when she decides it's time for love, it's time for love. They've been in care for so long together that they are bonded and they have to go together to a home with no dogs. 

Jonjamin and Bethicca are also meant to be someone's heart cats. Between Jonjamin's enthusiastic biscuit making snuggle sessions and Bethicca's animated chatting, it's impossible to be angry or even particularly sad around them.

If you would like to meet either of our dynamic duos, drop us a message or an email and we can set up a meet and greet.

What's Fostering Like?

We hear many objections to fostering around here. "I would get too attached", "I have no room", "My own cats/dogs/etc... would hate it", "I have small kids". What people don't realize is that these are all actually good reasons to foster.

"I would get too attached" is probably the most common objection I hear. Here's the thing though; we want you to get attached. We want you to really care for these little ones as though they were your very own. We want you to fret about their health, their happiness, their overall well being. You see, that's what makes a great foster family. Yes, it is hard to say goodbye at first. The first year of fostering, I wept every time I dropped kittens off at the place I was fostering for. What nobody told me was that eventually, I would welcome the surrender of my little wards because it meant that not only were they off to have wonderful lives, but that I now had room to save some more little lives. Yes, there are still the occasional foster babies who tug at my heartstrings when it's time to say goodbye (Wren, Gregory, and Moose come to mind), but even so they are meant for other families and other adventures.

"I have no room". Well, really everyone has room. We all have bathtubs, bathrooms, little unused corners of our homes that would make lovely little spaces in which to care for animals who need a temporary home while they wait for their always home. Look around you, you'll find so many spots. And you won't have to worry about paying for anything; rescues pay for the needs of the companion animal while it's in your care. That means you won't worry about the cost of food, litter, puppy pads, or anything else like that while they're your foster.

"My own pet would hate it". Well, fair. Nobody wants to put their pets through unnecessary stress. However, our oldest cats were 8 years old before we started fostering and while they weren't thrilled, they did get accustomed to the parade of little goobers through the house. It took some learning on all of our parts, but a good rescue will help and advise you through the process of settling your companion animals in to being foster siblings.

"I have small kids" is, if anything, an even bigger reason to foster! What better way to teach your children about how to give selflessly of their love and attention? They will also get to experience the wide range of personalities that animals have, and get to know about the behaviours of the animal you're fostering. Fostering with kids is a wonderful experience, and I could not recommend it more.

If you're interested in fostering or would like more information, please email us or download the foster application form here and send the completed application back to our email. We will contact you as soon as possible for a visit and discussion regarding your application. Thank you so much!