Diabetes can happen to any cat, at any point in its life, but it is most often diagnosed in older, obese adults.

Cats can get diabetes?

Unfortunately, yes. Diabetes Mellitus, or diabetes for short, can happen to any cat, at any point in its life, but it is most often diagnosed in older, obese adults. Sadly, a diagnosis of diabetes and the care that will be needed feels too overwhelming for many cat owners. If they decide they cannot keep the cat, they may end up believing that their only action is to euthanize the cat because many shelters are not prepared to care for this feline population. HART is very proud to have established a dedicated room at the shelter for diabetic cats and we know that we have saved many lives with our program.

How would I know if my cat is diabetic?

There are some classic symptoms: ravenous appetite, weight loss, increased water intake, and increased urination. Your veterinarian will diagnose diabetes based on a cat's symptoms, findings during a physical examination, and laboratory test results. Once diabetes has been diagnosed, immediate treatment is necessary.

Ok, so the vet says my cat is diabetic. Now what?

Caring for your diabetic cats is going to feel overwhelming at first. You have to learn a lot, and quickly. Most likely, the cat is going to need injections of insulin to lower its blood sugar levels. These shots are usually given twice a day. You will need to have your cat’s blood sugar tested to make sure that you are giving a safe dose of insulin. Adjustments may be needed. Your vet can teach you how to test the blood sugar and give insulin and the medical team at HART can help support you while you learn. You can easily test the blood sugars at home once you learn the technique. Interpreting blood sugar readings can be tricky so any change in insulin should be done only after discussing the blood sugar values with a veterinarian. Some insulins are expensive and you will probably experience sticker shock when you buy your first vial. Feline insulin doses are typically very small so as long as you store the vial properly it should last you quite some time. There are some resource sites at the bottom of this page that may be helpful to you as you begin to treat your cat.

Not treating the diabetes can prove fatal and cause a cat to suffer. A dangerous, sometimes fatal condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) may develop, indicated by loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, dehydration, and breathing abnormalities. Additionally, diabetes can lead to unhealthy skin and coat, liver disease, and secondary bacterial infections. Left untreated, diabetes will shorten a cat's lifespan. A diabetes-related disorder called diabetic neuropathy may cause cats to become progressively weaker, especially in the hind legs, impairing their ability to jump and causing them to walk with their hocks touching the ground. If you truly feel that you cannot manage your cat's diabetes, talk with your vet as soon as possible.

Diet Changes

Another important first step is taking a close look at your cat's diet. Diabetic cats should be eating meals twice a day, right before you give the insulin injection. You will want to discuss your cat's diet with your veterinarian and watch the amount of carbohydrates in the food you feed. Carbohydrates quickly become sugar in the blood, and that's not good for a diabetic. HART has chosen a low-carb canned food-only diet for our diabetics. If you are starting your cat on insulin and changing the diet at the same time, you will need to keep a very close eye on your cat's blood sugars so that the numbers do not go too low - too low can be more dangerous than too high.

It is possible, by making the right changes to your cat's diet, that their insulin needs will be short term. We have seen a number of our newly diabetic cats no longer need insulin within a few months of starting treatment and making the change to a low-carbohydrate canned food. This is why it is essential that blood sugar readings are made on an ongoing basis so your veterinarian can know when the insulin needs to be decreased or stopped.

So I gave the insulin, and now my cat is acting weird

Even if you always make sure your cat eats before you give insulin, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can still happen. This occurs because a diabetic cat is either not eating enough or is getting too much insulin which lowers the blood sugar level too far. Signs of hypoglycemia include weakness, listlessness, lack of coordination, seizures, and coma. Left untreated, hypoglycemia can be fatal. If you ever feel that hypoglycemia is developing, even if you’re not 100% sure, the cat should immediately be offered its normal food. If the cat is unable to eat, rub some Karo syrup or honey onto the gums or, if the cat can swallow, slowly administer it by syringe into the mouth. Never force fingers, food, or fluids into the mouth of a seizing or comatose cat. It can cause them to inhale it into their lungs, not to mention that you can get bitten. If your cat is showing signs of hypoglycemia, get your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.

My diabetic cat isn’t eating great or is vomiting, what should I do?

It is always best to err on the side of NOT giving insulin. In the short term, giving too much insulin is much more dangerous than giving too little due to the risk of hypoglycemia. Call a veterinarian immediately to discuss what to do with your kitty.

I could still use a little more help...

The medical team at HART is all-volunteer and we are not veterinarians. We are happy to provide support to owners who have a cat with diabetes, especially if the diagnosis is recent, however, there may be circumstances where we must refer you back to your veterinarian for appropriate treatment. We would like to do all we can to help you keep your pet in your home.

Diabetic cats at HART

We have a number of wonderful diabetic cats at HART. If you feel prepared to adopt one of these deserving felines, we would love to work with you. We usually have both insulin-dependent and diet-controlled cats at the shelter. If the cat you adopt requires insulin, HART will provide the first vial at no cost. All diabetic cats also receive $100 of low-carb canned food as an adoption gift from one of our volunteers. Adopters will also receive a blood sugar testing meter and supplies.

Thank you to Dr Deirdre Frey VMD of Vet at Your Door for her assistance with this page.

For more information about Diabetic Cats
Visit Diabetic Cats in Need, A Maine-based org helping diabetic cats and their people. learn more

FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus like HIV and it can weaken a cat's immune system.

What is FIV?

FIV stands for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. It is a virus like HIV and it can weaken a cat's immune system. It is a species specific virus, which means that humans and other animals cannot get it. A positive FIV diagnosis still leads to euthanasia with alarming frequency so HART is very proud to be able to dedicate one of our shelter rooms to these cats and provide them with a safe home while they wait for an adopter to fall in love.

How do cats get FIV?

FIV is usually transmitted via a deep bite wound from a FIV+ cat to another cat. It is no easier to transmit than HIV is among humans therefore cats cannot get FIV from just being around infected cats, from sharing litter boxes or food bowls, or from a person touching a FIV+ cat and then touching a FIV-negative cat.

How do I know if a cat has FIV?

There are no obvious signs of FIV so the only way to know is to do a blood test. The most common screening test is an ELISA test (often called a SNAP test) done by your veterinarian, which looks for antibodies to FIV. An antibody is a protein made by the cat in response to the virus. A cat can test positive as soon as two to four weeks after exposure, but it can take up to eight weeks.

Kittens under six months of age may test positive because of antibodies from their mothers. It can take up to six months for these antibodies to go away, therefore it is a good idea to retest a positive kitten after it is six months old.

There are no specific signs of FIV infection. FIV+ cats have a weaker immune system so they are more prone to upper respiratory infections, ringworm, and dental disease. Most FIV+ cats live normal lives and have a typical length of life.

Can FIV be treated?

There are no treatments to rid a cat of FIV. Most FIV+ cats handle the disease well but it is important to concentrate on treating secondary illnesses. FIV+ cats do not need any regular medicine for FIV. It is important to feed a FIV+ cat a high-quality diet and bring them to the vet right away if they get sick. You may choose to give your FIV+ cat vitamins or supplements to help them stay well, but any additions to your cat’s diet should first be discussed with your veterinarian.

What can be done to prevent the spread of FIV?

Cats should be kept indoors so they do not fight with a FIV+ cat. The cat most likely to have FIV is an unneutered stray male cat as these cats often need to defend their territory and fight for scarce resources.

There is a vaccine for FIV, but it is not recommended because the vaccine has not proven effective and, after a cat is vaccinated for FIV, the cat will test positive for the virus for the rest of its life. At this point, no test can differentiate whether a cat tests positive for FIV from vaccine antibodies or from actually having the virus.

Can FIV+ and FIV- cats live together?

Yes! Recent studies have tracked long term cohabitation of FIV+ and FIV- cats and found no transmission of the virus. As long as all of the cats are friendly, the risk of a FIV+ cat passing the virus to another cat is minuscule. It is always advised to take introductions slowly when you bring a new cat into the home, even if FIV is not a factor.

Can FIV+ cats have a normal life?

Yes, absolutely! Most FIV+ cats live normal lives both in quality and length. It is rare for a cat to die from FIV. Instead they usually pass from a secondary disease like cancer, kidney failure, or other illnesses associated with advancing feline age. FIV+ cats do need an owner who is attentive and monitoring them for signs of illness or infection. The owner of a FIV+ cat should work closely with their veterinarian to ensure the cat has routine medical and dental care and that it is seen promptly for any changes in health.

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