Feline Diabetes is a disease that affects about 1 in 400 cats. Feline Diabetes mellitus happens because of the lack of production of insulin in the pancreas and the lack of response of the body’s cells to insulin. Without the insulin and cells acting perfectly together, the cat's body won’t be able to utilize glucose and will result in elevated blood sugar levels called Hyperglycemia. When there is excess glucose, it is processed and eliminated by the kidneys where the diabetic cat will have way more trips to the litter box. It will also mean that the cat’s body will need to compensate for this increased urination by having to drink huge amounts of water. (Make sure to have fresh water on hand every day)
Male cats have twice the risk of getting Diabetes, especially neutered male cats that are over the age of 10 years and over 15 pounds in the cat’s weight. There are however, other diseases that can almost mimic diabetes in cats, such as Pancreatitis, Hyperthyroidism. There are also different medications that can mimic diabetes in cats such as Megestrol Acetate and Corticosteroids.
When a cat is suspected to have feline Diabetes, he will be tested to see if he has sugar in his urine which is called Gycosuria. Sometimes when a cat is stressed out they will show higher glucose levels which means that the Vet will have to repeat the tests to verify the results. There are also other reasons that your cat would show higher than normal glucose readings such as antifreeze poisoning.
Your diabetic cat will start to eat more food than usual for him; this is because your cat’s body is trying to compensate for the inability to metabolize glucose in his blood, especially in the early stages. You will notice that your cat may eat more and more, and at the same time lose more and more weight.
When your diabetic cat has the inability to metabolize glucose they form something known as Ketones. If they have a high level of Ketones it could be indicative to a conditioned called Ketoacidosis. If your diabetic cat shows signs of Ketoacidosis they could lead to very dangerous health issues like laboring when breathing, and diabetic coma.
When your cat’s diabetes becomes out of control, more advanced symptoms may occur such as a weakness, acetone breath, loss of appetite, vomiting, cataracts, labor breathing, lethargy, dehydration, and then coma. Your cat may also have severe muscle weakness which would force him to walk around on his hocks instead of their paws.
There are three kinds of diabetes in cats.
Type One cats that have diabetes need insulin all of the time, and need to get daily injections because the cells in their pancreases are not making the necessary insulin.
Type two diabetes, (the most common type of feline diabetes), the cat’s pancreas may make the insulin but his body may not use it properly. These diabetic cats may need insulin also, but there is another drug that happens to be an oral medication that controls their blood glucose. It has been known that 70 percent of cats will need at least some insulin.
The 3rd Type of feline diabetes is known as Transient Diabetes. This has to do with a cat that has Type Two diabetes which they initially need insulin, but as time passes by the cat’s body is able to regulate better where with the help of a High Protein, Low Carbohydrate diet (the Catkins Diet) they can go off of insulin for good. But it is important to always check with your Vet before making any decision to take your cat off of insulin.
How to know if your cat might have Diabetes? Warning Symptoms:
