Pets and Animal Care

Owning a cat with cat diabetes takes on a new level of care. All pet owners want their pets to enjoy long life, so we’ve compiled some tips to help you give your cat care that will help them live as long as possible. While it’s sad that cat diabetes is such a common problem, we know a lot about the disease since it also affects people. It is essential for a pet owner to learn about how diabetes can affect their cat, and what they can do to provide the best quality of life.

There are two primary types of diabetes. The similarities between human and cat diabetes make it easy to diagnose, and fortunately there are treatments. Type 1 Diabetes is a result of insufficient insulin production. Type 2 Diabetes is a result of the body not processing the insulin in the body efficiently. A secondary type of cat diabetes that is seen occasionally is triggered by drugs that may have impaired the body’s ability to naturally process insulin. Cat diabetes strikes cats of all ages, but most frequently it is seen in older cats.

Cats display symptoms that may tell veterinarians or pet owners of the onset of diabetes. These symptoms also have similarities with what humans with diabetes develop as the disease progresses. Cats may show frequent thirst and urination. With the body’s inability to process or handle glucose, diabetic cats may also experience weight loss. Other symptoms that may be associated with feline diabetes include vomiting, loss of appetite and general weakness. Diabetic cats may also have poor skin and coat condition as well as breathing abnormalities.

Cats experiencing any of these symptoms need to have a checkup with the vet. Taking your cat for a diabetes test can help determine if sugar levels are normal. The vet will take one reading and may decide to do a second reading for a true result. This is because some cats will have the sugar levels rise due to stress, giving a false reading the first time.

There is not a cure for cat diabetes right now, but through good cat care them symptoms can be controlled. Through diet and careful weight management, you cat can still live a happy life. Your vet may recommend a diet high in fiber, and containing complex carbs. Weight management is most important for extremely obese cats. Diet will not only help with weight, but will also normalize sugar levels.

Pet owners of diabetic cats may also need to carefully monitor their pet’s glucose and insulin levels. For those pet owners who resort to giving their diabetic cats insulin injections for their diabetes, care to avoid overdose should always be maintained. An overdose of insulin can be a very fatal condition in cats. There are also some dietary supplements that can be used to help diabetic cats deal with their condition.

Cat care and diabetes always go hand in hand to ensure that your pet cat can lead a normal life. Providing the right care for diabetic pet cats can make sure that pet cat owners can enjoy the company of their pet for as long as possible. The genuine concern that is shown through proper care given your diabetic cats demonstrates the love you have for your dear companion.

David is the owner and designer of several pet sites. For information on kitties see Cat Health

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