Is my cat diabetic?

Dr. Marie replied:

I'm sorry to hear about Ollie's problems. Any time a cat has a noticeable increase in thirst and urination there is something medically wrong. Yes, diabetes is very likely but there are other possibilities such as kidney disease. Kidney disease doesn't usually present with a sudden increase in thirst and urination unless it is what is called acute kidney disease. Acute kidney disease usually comes from eating something toxic like certain plants or antifreeze. But, most cats with acute kidney disease are not feeling well and don't want to eat.

If Ollie is diabetic this may be a tough situation to handle. You would need to have your vet do tests on him initially to get a diagnosis and instructions on what type of insulin to use and how much and how often. To manage a diabetic cat though, I have many clients that take glucose readings at their home, phone them in to me and then over the phone we consult on the case. (These are my own patients that I have initially seen in my office though, not over the internet.) Most cat owners are able to get a blood sample to test in a glucometer by doing an ear prick. It looks hard, but I have many clients that can do that.

However, there are costs involved with taking care of a diabetic cat. You will have the costs of insulin, syringes and glucometer strips. Roughly, these costs can be $50-$200 per month depending on the severity of the problem.

I wouldn't advise waiting too long before getting him seen. Sometimes, if we can start a diabetic cat on insulin soon enough we can actually cure the diabetes after a couple of months on insulin. On the other hand, if a diabetic cat goes too long without treatment they can get a serious condition called DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) which is often fatal.

I am doubtful that a thunder coat would help with his vet anxiety, but to be honest I don't have experience with any cats using them for this reason.

You may want to see if it is possible for your vet to do a house call for Ollie. Or, given his history of freaking out at vet visits your vet may be willing to give you a diagnosis by having you bring in a urine sample. They can tell a lot about whether or not this is likely to be diabetes just by doing tests on his urine. You can usually get a urine sample by providing him with an empty litter box to urinate in. In most cases, a physical exam would be needed in order to get your diagnosis, but if the vet is aware that he is near to impossible to examine they may consider just looking at his urine.

The best thing I can advise is for you to call your vet's office and ask what they recommend in this case.

I hope things work out ok.

Dr. Marie.


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