Hey folks!
I recently posted up another cat thread, where I couldn't figure out what was up with my kitty! She has been displaying all sorts of odd behaviors (peeing outside the box, drinking and eating abnormal amounts, just not being quite herself, etc), and you all gave me wonderful input.
Well, as you can guess by the thread title, we probably found the problem: diabeetus /Wolford Brimley. Her glucose maxed out the urine test at 2000+mg/dl. Yikes! She's going in for observation and I assume her first round of insulin tomorrow. I'm glad it wasn't something worse. I'm okay with this - I mildly understand diabetes, and this is something tangible that explains all her problems, and it could have been worse. After coming down from the initial high of 'good news' (I expected worse), I kind of feel like I could have prevented this somehow. I just don't make enough money to give her what she needed earlier (between 800-1000usd a month, on a good month, yes I do work full time).
If anyone here has dealt with a or has a diabetic cat, how should I go about this? I read up on it with Google, but I want more first hand experience: what foods should I look into? What diet plans would help me/Ruffles out? Where should I administer the shots? I don't want to poke a muscle or hit a vein by mistake. I'm a CNA (certified nurse aide), so I'm not afraid of doing it, I've just never done it on an animal before.
So, there we have it! I need info on diabetic kitty cats, bonus points for someone who has helped with or cared for a cat with EXTREMELY high glucose as well. I did check out Google, but today has been very busy for me, and I am mildly overwhelmed.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this, friend.
I recently posted up another cat thread, where I couldn't figure out what was up with my kitty! She has been displaying all sorts of odd behaviors (peeing outside the box, drinking and eating abnormal amounts, just not being quite herself, etc), and you all gave me wonderful input.
Well, as you can guess by the thread title, we probably found the problem: diabeetus /Wolford Brimley. Her glucose maxed out the urine test at 2000+mg/dl. Yikes! She's going in for observation and I assume her first round of insulin tomorrow. I'm glad it wasn't something worse. I'm okay with this - I mildly understand diabetes, and this is something tangible that explains all her problems, and it could have been worse. After coming down from the initial high of 'good news' (I expected worse), I kind of feel like I could have prevented this somehow. I just don't make enough money to give her what she needed earlier (between 800-1000usd a month, on a good month, yes I do work full time).
If anyone here has dealt with a or has a diabetic cat, how should I go about this? I read up on it with Google, but I want more first hand experience: what foods should I look into? What diet plans would help me/Ruffles out? Where should I administer the shots? I don't want to poke a muscle or hit a vein by mistake. I'm a CNA (certified nurse aide), so I'm not afraid of doing it, I've just never done it on an animal before.
So, there we have it! I need info on diabetic kitty cats, bonus points for someone who has helped with or cared for a cat with EXTREMELY high glucose as well. I did check out Google, but today has been very busy for me, and I am mildly overwhelmed.
Thank you for taking time out of your day to read this, friend.
I'm both sorry an relieved to hear about Ruffles! That poor little lady 
I don't really know much about diabetic cats, so you might want to wait for Sanne's response - she's the Mother of Cats, you know! I've only heard that diabetic cats are often overweight, and it might help them to lose a bit of weight.
I hope she'll get better soon!
Hugs from Kali and Pen
I don't really know much about diabetic cats, so you might want to wait for Sanne's response - she's the Mother of Cats, you know! I've only heard that diabetic cats are often overweight, and it might help them to lose a bit of weight.
I hope she'll get better soon!
Hugs from Kali and Pen
As much as I know about cats, my diabetes knowledge only extends to humans I'm afraid!
That said, Pen's right - weight plays a huge role in cats' health. It's probably a good idea to transition Ruffles from kibble to canned wet food if at all possible. Kibble is largely carbs (empty source of food for cats because they can't really digest it well) and can contribute to her problems.
The good news is that if cats' health is managed well - meaning they lose weight and have a high animal protein diet low in carbs - they can go into remission and no longer need insulin therapy. Think of it like type 2 diabetes in humans. They too need a low carb diet in order to achieve control over their diabetes or even reverse it.
This article has a bunch of good info on that. There's a second one supporting this.
I'm trying to get my cats on a raw food diet myself while they're still relatively young to avoid them having issues with urine crystals and diabetes themselves. But the older a cat is, the more difficult it is to switch them to a new food, so that is something Ruffles might not take well.
My best recommendation for her diet is to cut out all kibble and switch her to a full wet food diet. Keep a tight control on how much she is fed - Ruffles should be fed only as much as an 8-9lbs cat would be fed according to the package, which is the average weight of the average cat, until she's at the right weight for her size. Here is a list of low carb wet foods to help you get started.
It's probably a good idea to stop feeding her treats and avoid human foods for the time being to help you reach that goal!
That said, Pen's right - weight plays a huge role in cats' health. It's probably a good idea to transition Ruffles from kibble to canned wet food if at all possible. Kibble is largely carbs (empty source of food for cats because they can't really digest it well) and can contribute to her problems.
The good news is that if cats' health is managed well - meaning they lose weight and have a high animal protein diet low in carbs - they can go into remission and no longer need insulin therapy. Think of it like type 2 diabetes in humans. They too need a low carb diet in order to achieve control over their diabetes or even reverse it.
This article has a bunch of good info on that. There's a second one supporting this.
I'm trying to get my cats on a raw food diet myself while they're still relatively young to avoid them having issues with urine crystals and diabetes themselves. But the older a cat is, the more difficult it is to switch them to a new food, so that is something Ruffles might not take well.
My best recommendation for her diet is to cut out all kibble and switch her to a full wet food diet. Keep a tight control on how much she is fed - Ruffles should be fed only as much as an 8-9lbs cat would be fed according to the package, which is the average weight of the average cat, until she's at the right weight for her size. Here is a list of low carb wet foods to help you get started.
It's probably a good idea to stop feeding her treats and avoid human foods for the time being to help you reach that goal!
I still know nothing about cats, but I just wanted to slip in and say that I am thrilled to hear that you were able to take Ruffles to the vet and find out what her issues were before they got worse, and that you are so well equipped to be her human being during this trial. I know you will take excellent care of her. 
I have taken care of a diabetic cat before, the best place to do the shot is between the shoulder blades. Pinch the skin a bit and slide the needle in there Also plenty of water, she will be going pee quite a bit!
Also plenty of water, she will be going pee quite a bit!
I ma with Sanne on this one allot of experience with cat behavior amd use to help the humane society rebilitate cats. I dont know if my info on the urine smelling sweet or overily amonia like helped. I am having a hard enough time getting weight ON old man. (my 14 year old rescue that has recently taken residents and over the whole house) I am pretty Confident that the arranging her diet and looking up different sites (pet md is one I like to vist) and I would just like to say dry food (most of them) is so darn bad for cats. but with wet food watch for tooth Decay. and dont forget some interactive play time about 15 mintues a day for helping weight loss
Thanks for the advice and kind words everyone, it's appreciated !
Ruffles ended up coming home about 16 hours ago, and seems to be doing better. She still has that habit of peeing on my bed, but I'll find some way to break that. Her insulin is supposedly bringing her blood sugar down to a mildly acceptable 250ish. After she gets done with her uti medicine, and her eye drops, I'll wait a month or so, let her body adapt to the insulin and see about a canned food diet to hopefully get it down to 200 or below - although that is just conjecture at this point, I will abide by what the vet says.
I just wanted to update everyone on this continuing saga, because it seems to be going well.
!Ruffles ended up coming home about 16 hours ago, and seems to be doing better. She still has that habit of peeing on my bed, but I'll find some way to break that. Her insulin is supposedly bringing her blood sugar down to a mildly acceptable 250ish. After she gets done with her uti medicine, and her eye drops, I'll wait a month or so, let her body adapt to the insulin and see about a canned food diet to hopefully get it down to 200 or below - although that is just conjecture at this point, I will abide by what the vet says.
I just wanted to update everyone on this continuing saga, because it seems to be going well.
Bonebag wrote:
Thanks for the advice and kind words everyone, it's appreciated !
Ruffles ended up coming home about 16 hours ago, and seems to be doing better. She still has that habit of peeing on my bed, but I'll find some way to break that. Her insulin is supposedly bringing her blood sugar down to a mildly acceptable 250ish. After she gets done with her uti medicine, and her eye drops, I'll wait a month or so, let her body adapt to the insulin and see about a canned food diet to hopefully get it down to 200 or below - although that is just conjecture at this point, I will abide by what the vet says.
I just wanted to update everyone on this continuing saga, because it seems to be going well.
!Ruffles ended up coming home about 16 hours ago, and seems to be doing better. She still has that habit of peeing on my bed, but I'll find some way to break that. Her insulin is supposedly bringing her blood sugar down to a mildly acceptable 250ish. After she gets done with her uti medicine, and her eye drops, I'll wait a month or so, let her body adapt to the insulin and see about a canned food diet to hopefully get it down to 200 or below - although that is just conjecture at this point, I will abide by what the vet says.
I just wanted to update everyone on this continuing saga, because it seems to be going well.
Thanks for the update! I hope she'll feel better soon
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