Diabetes in cats isn't something that's widely known about, but it is a serious health issue when it occurs. All cat owners should know the signs to look for, particularly in older cats. Cats who have diabetes can have very good prognoses, if they are diagnosed and treated as needed.
The earliest signs of diabetes can look a lot like arthritis, and can be mistakenly diagnosed that way. Cats may have trouble walking, may sleep more, may refuse to climb stairs, and may not groom themselves as often. They will tend to look a bit ratty from lack of grooming, and they may begin to lose weight. This sort of difficulty in moving is NOT normal, and should be checked out by a veternarian.
Later, cats will show increased appetite and thirst. You may notice that their water and food is always gone, and they are always begging for more. You may notice increased cat litter. The cat will also lose weight at this time. If your cat is eating more than usual, and yet has noticeably lost weight -- this is a MAJOR sign of diabetes. A cat may lose two or three pounds (a lot, considering the average cat only weighs about ten). It may feel rail thin on its back -- bones protruding slightly. If this is true, and it also still has fat in the belly area, this is the kind of weight loss that could signal diabetes. If the cat loses weight everywhere, including in the belly area, it may simply be old and close to death.
As the disease progresses, cats will continue to eat even more. They may begin to vomit more often because they are eating more than they can comfortably hold (as well as feeling sick because their blood sugar is very high). They will sleep more often, will refuse to walk up or down stairs unless they have to, and may have a bit of trouble doing so when they do it. They may also walk with their feet all the way down (the way their legs are when they sit) instead of up on their toes. This is called a plantar's stature and is another sign of diabetes.
The cat will experience more difficulty in moving and walking, and will continue not to groom himself. His fur may become ratty and messy, and he may require bathing and combing frequently.
As soon as you begin to notice these symptoms (particularly increased appetite and thirst), take your cat to the vet for an evaluation. The vet will be able to give you a preliminary diagnosis on the basis of the cat's appearance and eating habits, and will give you a firm diagnosis after a blood test has been done. A blood test will tell the vet what your cat's blood sugar is. Normal blood sugar is around 70 to 100 units. Anything significantly over this indicates diabetes. Some cats, if left untreated for several months, can come in with blood sugars over 500.
There are also frequently other infections that accompany diabetes (since it lowers the immune system). If the cat is older, he may also have kidney problems in addition to diabetes. Your vet should check for this when he is testing the cat's blood. The cat may also have other, minor infections, which are easily treated with antibiotics. All cats should be given a course of antibiotics when they are newly diagnosed with diabetes to get rid of any infections they may have.
Talk to your vet about your cat's particular case. He will tell you what kind of food to feed, when to feed, insulin treatments, and anything else you need to know about your cat.
