Mary Allen
Diabetes in cats is not uncommon, but fortunately, it can be treated. Here you can find out what symptoms a diabetic cat shows, what the therapy looks like, and how a sick cat can still lead a happy cat life.
Diabetes in cats is a dramatic concept. Because a long and healthy cat life is the wish of every person for their animal. And indeed, you can do one or the other to keep the cat healthy and happy for a long time.
However, just like humans, cats can also develop chronic diseases. The reasons for this are just as varied as the effects on the life and health of the animal. Diabetes is such a chronic disease. Read here what this means for your animal and for you as the owner.
What is feline diabetes?
Feline diabetes mellitus is the name of the disease of cats, which we popularly call diabetes. Just like in humans, it is a malfunction of the pancreas. This endocrine gland secretes the hormone insulin, which the body needs to get energy from sugar.
Sugar or carbohydrates from food cannot be utilized without this insulin. The valuable source of energy is then excreted unused through the urine.
If left untreated, diabetes mellitus in cats is one of the most dangerous cat diseases that a cat can get. But with the right treatment, the problem can be easily regulated. In some cases, there is even the possibility of a complete cure.
Symptoms: How do I recognize diabetes in cats?
The sooner developing diabetes is detected, the less impact it will have on your furry friend’s health if the animal is treated properly. It is therefore important to recognize the corresponding symptoms of the diabetic cat and to ask the veterinarian for advice at a good time. He can provide security with his diagnosis.
- Increased thirst
The first noticeable sign of diabetes can be great thirst. The cats suddenly drink significantly more than usual and therefore have to urinate more frequently.
Large amounts of urine are indicated in the litter box by the fact that there are unusually large clumps of litter that is stuck together by the urine.
- Increased hunger
The appetite of the four-legged friends increases noticeably. Cats with developing or existing diabetes are more likely to beg for second helpings or treats between meals.
The weight of outdoor cats should be checked regularly because here you have less overview of whether the cat is eating more often and more than usual.
- Weight loss
Weight loss coupled with an increase in appetite is another sign that a cat may have diabetes mellitus. Within a very short time, the animal loses a lot of weight.
- Loss of appetite
If the disease is more advanced, the animal suffers increasingly from loss of appetite. By the time it gets that far, the body can no longer get energy from the sugar molecules and is instead using ketone bodies for energy. However, this emergency solution leads to health damage in the long run and is very tedious for the body.
- Dull coat and hair loss
If the cat no longer eats enough, the coat usually suffers from a lack of nutrition: it becomes dull and sometimes even falls out.
- A sweet odor from the mouth
Another symptom of the advanced stage of diabetes is a sweet odor coming from the animal’s mouth. If you discover this, the cat urgently needs veterinary treatment.
- Weakness and fatigue
The energy that the little cat’s body lacks is also reflected in a changed behavior: the cat becomes sluggish, weak, and shows pronounced tiredness.
Treatment of diabetes in cats
If a cat has diabetes, the treatment is basically very similar to that of humans. The veterinarian – or the owner if instructed to do so – will have to inject the animal with insulin at regular intervals so that the missing hormones are available to the body again.
How often these injections are necessary depends on the individual clinical picture. Some animals need insulin once a day, others with meals.
When injecting the drug, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions of the veterinarian so that there are no complications. If long-term insulin therapy is necessary, it must always be accompanied by the veterinarian, so regular visits become a habit.
What forms of cat diabetes are there?
Just like in humans, we also find two variants of diabetes in cats. The so-called diabetes type 2 is the most common form: In 80 to 90 percent of all cases, cats develop this variant of diabetes mellitus.
- Diabetes type 2
The disrupted insulin release occurs here because proteins are deposited or because a toxic effect prevents hormone release. Type 2 diabetes can also occur as a side effect of other diseases or as a result of certain medications. Then the illness may only be temporary. These patients are then referred to as iatrogenic diabetics.
Type 2 cats can sometimes improve with diet and weight loss, and the pancreas will at least partially recover.
Type 2 diabetes often develops as a result of obesity, i.e. morbid obesity. A diet consisting exclusively of dry food can also lead to obesity, especially in middle-aged and older cats, because this food has a very high energy density.
- Diabetes type 1
Type 1 diabetes differs from the second type in that hormone release is not disturbed. Instead, the pancreas cannot produce the necessary amount of the vital hormone and consequently cannot release enough of it.
Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin medication.
Living with a diabetic cat
While some viral diseases in cats are incurable, many feline diseases can now be effectively treated. This also applies in principle to feline diabetes or diabetes mellitus.
Diet plays an important role in feline diabetes throughout life. A protein-rich, low-carbohydrate feed is important here. Few carbohydrates ensure that only a little insulin is required. This relieves the affected pancreas.
With homemade food, it should be noted that grain additives, potatoes, or other carbohydrate-rich ingredients should never be used. Of course, this also applies to purchased cat food – regardless of whether it is dry or wet. You can ask your veterinarian for advice on special foods and types of food for cats with diabetes.
Complications rarely arise if blood sugar levels can be kept constant. With a healthy diet, type 2 diabetes can even disappear after some time, as already mentioned.
Regular checks of blood sugar levels are indispensable for diabetic cats and are part of everyday life. If the cat’s medication is optimally adjusted by the veterinarian and a healthy diet is followed, then the cat can live almost as long as its healthy counterparts with a good quality of life despite feline diabetes.
We wish you and your cat all the best!