Because
cats can suffer from either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes
(dogs only suffer from Type 1) some cats can be treated (at least initially) with oral medications, while others require immediate insulin injections.
Can cats have type 2 diabetes?
Cats with diabetes most commonly suffer from the Type II form of the disease. It is estimated that between
0.2 % and 1 %
of cats will be diagnosed with diabetes during their lifetime.
Which type of diabetes is most common in cats?
Obesity is a predisposing factor in
type II diabetes
, which appears to be the most common type of diabetes in the cat. Type III diabetes results from insulin resistance caused by other hormones and can be due to pregnancy or hormone-secreting tumors.
What causes feline Type 1 diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus Type 1, sometimes called “juvenile diabetes” or “insulin-dependent diabetes”, is caused by
the destruction of beta cells in the pancreas
. Because the destruction of the cells is not reversible, the animal must be treated with an exogenous (external) source of insulin.
How can you tell if your cat has diabetes?
- Increased urination. One of the most common cat diabetes symptoms is frequent urination. …
- Excessive thirst. A cat that urinates more often will be thirstier and spend more time at the water bowl. …
- Increased appetite. …
- Unexpected weight loss.
Is Fancy Feast okay for diabetic cats?
The
dry food is a huge no-no for cats
, especially those with diabetes. Thank you, Fancy Feast, for coming up with a recipe which is equal to or better than the high price Rx wet cat foods!
What's the average lifespan of a house cat?
Indoor cats live on average
10-15 years
, while outdoor cats live on average 2-5 years This handout is intended to help you sort out the pros and cons associated with each lifestyle so you can rest assured your cat will have both an enriched life and protection from environmental hazards.
Can a cat have type 1 diabetes?
Between 0.2% to 1.0% of cats develop Type 1 diabetes
. This incidence is expected to increase in the future. To diagnose diabetes, your veterinarian will initially conduct a urine test for the presence of glucose, ketones and/or urinary tract infection.
How long can a cat live with diabetes without insulin?
Diabetic remission occurs when a cat maintains a normal glucose level for
more than four weeks
without insulin injections or oral glucose regulating medications. Not all cats go into remission, but those that do may stay that way for months or years.
How long can a diabetic cat live?
Cats who are treated effectively for diabetes can live for very prolonged periods after diagnosis. Average length of life after diagnosis is variable dependent on which study is examined, however, average lifespans of
up to around three years
are reported in some studies.
What happens if I don't treat my diabetic cat?
Untreated, the condition leads to increasingly weak legs in cats,
and eventually malnutrition, ketoacidosis and death
. Early diagnosis and treatment by a qualified veterinarian can not only help prevent nerve damage, but in some cases even lead to remission so that the cat no longer needs injected insulin.
What is the best food for a diabetic cat?
Good options like
freeze-dried chicken, beef, salmon, tuna, and liver
are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, just like the foods recommended for diabetic cats. Stop giving treats if they interfere with your cat's appetite at regular mealtimes.
How can I treat my cats diabetes naturally?
“Some diabetic cats can be managed
on a low-carb food alone, without insulin
,” says Koble. ”This is the only ‘natural' treatment that sometimes works by itself. Many cats need a combination of a low-carb food and insulin.”
Is Fancy Feast bad for cat?
“A lot of people will say Fancy Feast is kind of the ‘McDonald's for cats,' but it's actually not the case,” says Berg. “Plenty of the Fancy Feast [formulas] are actually
quite high in protein and very low in carbohydrates
.” This protein-rich turkey flavor checks all her boxes.
How long after eating should I give my cat insulin?
Make sure that your cat eats around the time of the insulin administration —
up to one hour before injection
. This will assure that she has food in her stomach to counteract the action of the insulin to prevent low blood sugar after the insulin injection.
Are diabetic cats always hungry?
Because insulin helps the body to use sugar for energy, lack of insulin also means that the body's organs will not receive enough energy. This will make
your cat feel hungry all the time
, and though it will eat a lot more food, it will not gain weight.
