First, I’ll give you the symptoms of Diabetes in cats and then I’ll give you the story of what’s happened with our cat named Michael.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Cats
– Sudden weight loss with occasional gain
– Excessive drinking and urination
– Obsession with water and lurk around faucets or water bowls
– Appetite is suddenly either ravenous or absent
– Back legs may become weak
For more information on Feline Diabetes, you can check out Wikipedia and Cornell’s page.
It’s strange because our cat is about 20 years old and has always loved hanging around sinks with the water running. He’d jump on top of the bathroom counter and almost dive in, pulling at the drain plug and licking at the water we’d leave running for him. While I’m sure this wasn’t some far off symptom of Diabetes, it does strike me as odd that he’s been the only one of our cats who’s shown this behavior as well as the one who’s developed Diabetes.
About five years ago, right after we moved into the Connecticut house, Michael began showing signs of illness. He changed from his usual urination routine to more frequent litter box visits. Laura picked up on this right away because she keeps a close eye on our cats. She’s a licensed veterinary technician who knows most of the signs and symptoms of various feline conditions.
Once Laura suspected something was awry, she immediately brought Michael to the vet for a checkup. She indicated that she suspected a urinary tract infection and suggested a urine culture. The vet agreed and the test proceeded. The results were surprising. Not only did poor Michael have bacteria in his urine, indicating a urinary tract infection, he also had a high glucose level, which is indicative or Feline Diabetes.
When we received the results of the test, Laura immediately began administering small doses of Lantus insulin (which, by the way, is wicked expensive). Within a few weeks, Michael’s glucose level dropped and all was right in the world. We brought him back to the vet and wouldn’t you know it, he was in remission and didn’t require insulin injections any further.
To make a long story short, through the years, Michael has been an on-again, off-again Diabetic. Every so often, the ugly symptoms of Diabetes reappear, only to be followed by our regimen of tests and insulin injections. Eventually, things settle down and go into remission again for the cycle to continue the next time and the next time after that. To be honest with you, it’s an odd roller coaster that we’ve yet to truly understand. All we’re confident in expressing is that we have what we like to term as a “part-time Diabetic cat.”
Lately, we’ve been noticing more and more erratic behavior from Michael. And now that we’re in Florida, we’re unable to stop by our trusted friends at Colchester Veterinary Hospital up in Colchester, CT. We did find a new vet down in Palm Coast though, who’s pretty good. They’re called, Safe Haven Veterinary Hospital and are located in Palm Coast, FL.
It’s unfortunate to tell you this, but it seems like this time around, Michael can’t shake his Diabetes. He’s become somewhat insulin resistant and is requiring larger and larger doses. While he’s doing well, his recent tests are telling us that the insulin simply isn’t doing what it used to do. He used to react right away, and now, he hardly reacts at all.
I keep telling myself and Laura that he is 20 years old. Whatever happens is going to happen. There isn’t much we can do about it more than do our best at keeping him stimulated and treated. Beyond that, nature is going to take its course.
Have you ever had a Diabetic cat? Do you suspect something’s going on with your otherwise healthy cat? If so, please share in the comments below. We’ve got a lot of experience with this type of thing and just may be able to help.
For more information and a few blogs about Feline Diabetes, check out the links below:
Pearl the Diabetic Cat : A Journey of Patience
Feline Diabetes or Living with a Diabetic Cat
Is Your Cat at Risk for Diabetes?
How Sweet Is Your Cat? Feline Diabetes
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