I think my cat has diabetes.?

I'm sorry to hear about your kitty. Big hugs to you far caring so much for her.

Diabetes is managable though. And depending on kidney function she could still live a long time even if it's kidney failure.

Here is my advice to you.

I would HIGHLY recommend a Raw diet for your cat if she is diabetic. Many cats are no longer insulin dependant once they are fed a species appropriate diet. Considering the diabetes was probably caused by feeding a species inappropriate diet of dry food to the cat for its entire life, a new appropriate diet is a good place to start!

Here are some good places to start your research.

http://www.catinfo.org/felinediabetes.htm

http://felinediabetes.com/

http://www.yourdiabeticcat.com/

http://www.mypetcarnivore.com/feline_diabetes_mell...

http://www.catnutrition.org/

Wishing you and your kitty all the best.

,,,>^..^<,,,

1

Our beloved girl cat, McMurphy, had the same symptoms (eating well, but losing weight and drinking lots of water) and was diagnosed with diabetes. We thought it would be a nightmare, but, honestly it was not. She got insulin shots twice a day. They are very easy to give, especially if there is loose skin at the back of the neck (and if the cat has lost weight, that is usually the case.) It's just a quick jab, the needle is very, very thin and she did not even blink when I gave her the shot. (Thank God we did not have to give her pills, that would not have been possible, she was very bad at taking pills!!)

She lived quite a while with the diabetes, and died three years ago from an unrelated cause.

Please don't worry; a cat can be fine with diabetes. You need to monitor the sugar in her urine (buy human test strips and stick them under his butt when he pees) and take him for bloodwork till the vet regulates the insulin dosage. Then it's only a routine bloodwork to monitor levels. It does run a bit of money, but we never quarreled about it, we loved her so much and still miss her terribly.

You do need to watch for insulin shock; sometimes they go into a stupor and seem "out of it". Keep Karo syrup in the house and rub some on his lips if you see this happen--like a human keeping a candy bar with them at all times--then rush him to the vet right away.

The vet will give you more information. Just follow his instructions and your cat can be with you for quite a while!

the only thing that points to kidney failure would be the weight loss. usually cats with diabetes gain weight rather than lose it but that is not always the case. diabetes is a little bit better of a diagnosis but they are both manageable. not curable but definitely manageable if given the correct diet and medications. i am so sorry that you have to go through this and i know the waiting is the hardest part. and to all the people who think this is funny or amusing i hope you never have to go through the pain of something like this cause quite simply you are too ignorant to deal with it. ignore them and know that whatever the diagnosis your vet will help you deal with whatever changes you need to make in your kitty's life and the two of you have many more years together. good luck and god bless

Don't borrow trouble. Even if it is either of those things, it doesn't have to mean an instant death sentence.

Depending on the severity of the condition and how well they respond to treatment, I'm sure that cats with either condition can continue living happy lives for some number of years to come.

And there's so much info available to us today - obviously you still need a vet to oversee things but there are lots of groups out there made up of members whose cats have this or that, and they give each other advice, share tips on caring for them, etc.

You'll find a support group no matter what the problem is.

With the newer types of insulin these days, diabetic diets aren't necessarily as restrictive as they used to be. Read here https://tr.im/AFrTN

As with any medicine or diet change, you should discuss it with your doctor. Fruits, both fresh and dried, have a natural sugar in them that will raise blood sugar levels, so be careful about eating too much. Not sure about the nuts. Moderation is always the key. I've been diabetic for 18 years and just recently changed insulin types. I love it because it gives me more freedom in when and what I eat.

My parents cat had the exact same symptoms. He was about 13 as well. (He's now 15). They found out it was diabetes.

He's doing much better now. Although it was initially expensive and worrisome to start the insulin shots and to up the feeding throughout the day,he's now doing fine. He still sits in front of his water bowl for, sometimes up to an hour and has the occasional problem where he will 'zone out' for a while. My dad normally gives him some honey when he does this and he's back to normal. It's becoming quite common now. If she does have it I would recommend a grain free diet. It's more real food for her and a better diet.

Clinically Proven Diabetes Solution : http://www.diabetestreated.com/Guidance

Going through the same thing with my cat right now too. Have you noticed any trouble with Raja's teeth? It could be a thyroid problem instead, that sounds like it can have a lot of the same symptoms as diabetes. If it is a thyroid problem there are cures but they are pretty expensive...

I don't think we can say anymore beyond kidney failure or diabetes - these are classic signs of both conditions.

They're both treatable conditions, so try to remain as upbeat as possible. She's not that old and hopefully you've caught it early. Don't be too distraught about diabetes - if you have to give injections it can be scary at first, but you get used to it quick and animals really don't mind them.

Good luck tomorrow.

Chalice