Diabetes in cats

To understand diabetes, it’s important to know that blood sugar is used by cells around the body as energy, and the pancreas creates insulin to feed blood sugar into cells. Diabetes develops when your cat’s cells are unable to take in sugar, so their pancreas creates increasing amounts of insulin until it stops working, and blood sugar levels rise significantly.   

We’re going to explore the causes, symptoms, and treatments for diabetes in cats, as well as discovering whether there are ways to protect your feline friend from diabetes…

What causes diabetes in cats?

There are several possible causes and risk factors involved in the development of diabetes in cats, including:

• Pancreatitis.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Obesity.
• Age (older cats are at a higher risk of diabetes).
• Genetics (some breeds are prone to developing diabetes, e.g. Burmese cats).
• Gender (it’s believed male cats are more likely to develop diabetes).

What are the symptoms of diabetes in cats?

Some symptoms of diabetes are directly associated with the condition, whereas others could be confused with the symptoms of many different health concerns. 

Here are the commonly seen symptoms of early diabetes in cats:

• Drinking more than usual.
• Excessive urination.
• Weight loss.

Additional symptoms of diabetes in cats, that could be mistaken for another illness or condition, include:

• Dull, unhealthy-looking coat.
• Lack of energy or weakness.
• Increased or decreased appetite.
• Being prone to infections (e.g. UTIs). 
• Vomiting.
• Enlarged liver.
• Nerve damage in their hind legs.
• Collapse.

It’s important to contact your vet straight away if you suspect your cat may be developing diabetes.

How is diabetes diagnosed in cats?

When diagnosing diabetes, a vet will begin the process by asking about your cat’s health and taking a urine sample to test for the presence of sugar/glucose. 

Then, the vet might use a blood test to confirm whether your cat’s blood sugar/glucose levels are high (which is an indication that glucose isn’t being absorbed correctly). 

Please note: Before performing a blood test for diabetes, it’s normal for a vet to request that you don’t feed your cat for a few hours prior to the appointment.

Sometimes, a vet might test your cat’s urine and/or blood sugar levels over a set amount of time, to gain an accurate picture of the severity of your cat’s diabetes. 

How is diabetes treated in cats?

Successfully treating your cat for diabetes involves working closely with your vet to implement an effective treatment plan – which could change throughout their life.

While each cat’s treatment plan will differ, there are several treatments vets are most likely to focus on for feline diabetes:

• Monitoring – should your cat develop diabetes, their overall health will have to be continuously monitored and they’ll need regular vet visits.
• Diet – your cat could need a specialised, prescription diet and should be fed in a strict routine, as recommended by your vet.
• Weight management – alongside a balanced diet, your cat’s weight should be maintained at a healthy level by incorporating exercise into their routine.
• Insulin injections – your vet will teach you how to safely inject your cat with insulin, if needed; their insulin dose must be given at the same time every day.
• Medication – some cats might initially respond well to oral medication, in conjunction with their vet-prescribed diet.
• Treatment of underlying health problems – if their diabetes is caused by an underlying illness, your cat will need that illness to be treated as well. 
• Hospitalisation – any negative changes to your cat’s condition could lead to them needing to spend a few days at the vet practice, for treatment and monitoring.

Since your cat is an individual – with their own, unique requirements – their diabetes could be treated differently to the ways we’ve explored here.

Preventing diabetes in cats

It’s not yet possible to prevent every case of diabetes in cats. However, here are some steps you can take to lower the risk of your cat developing diabetes:

• Provide a good quality, balanced diet packed with all the nutrients they need.
• Support them to stay active by encouraging them to exercise.
• Work with your vet to keep your cat at a healthy weight.

For further information about types of feline diabetes, body condition scoring, and living with a diabetic cat, you can check out Joii Pet Care’s article about diabetes in cats.