Diabetes FAQ » Diabetes Q&A » My Cat has Been Tested and he is Suffering from Diabetes is he Going to Die?

My Cat has Been Tested and he is Suffering from Diabetes is he Going to Die?

You have just found out your cat has feline diabetes

Do not be afraid of feline diabetes of course you are concerned and worried about it. That is a natural reaction. However, good news, though it is a serious disease the condition is manageable and your cat can live a long healthy life.

You are probably worrying about how long your precious pet will live

No one can say for sure how long your pet will live, but if he is older, he will have a shorter life span primarily due to his age and not necessarily his diabetes.

Should you put your cat to sleep?

This is a personal decision based on many issues such as the age of your pet and his general health beyond the diabetes. You should not base your decision solely on the fact that your cat is older and has diabetes. He may have many good years ahead of him. If your cat is relatively healthy and has been diagnosed with diabetes, with good care from you and his vet, you pet can live 18 years and more in some cases.

Caring for you diabetic cat

Your cat can live a long healthy life, but it requires a commitment from you and monitoring from your vet. You no longer can simply put a bowl of water down for your cat and a dish of food and run out the door. A cat with diabetes mellitus needs special care. To start with for one thing, your cat is going to need medication and you are going to have to see to it that he gets in on time! He is going to need a proper diet and you are going to have to watch his behavior and report any changes to his vet. If you have to leave the house for long hours you will need to have someone come and check on him.

You are going to ask a lot of questions about your pet’s condition and diabetes in general, and you are going to have to ask your vet about this condition. If he or she cannot answer your questions adequately, then he/she must refer you to a specialist to continue to make sure you pet remains healthy. You need to learn on your own the different treatments and information about feline mellitus. That way if your cat is not responding to certain medication and treatment you may offer some other suggestions that you vet may or may not be aware of. Researchers are constantly coming up with new information about diabetes mellitus and any other kind of feline diseases. The number one rule is ask questions and continue to do so until you get the answers you need. That particular question may be the very question that given a response will save your cat’s life.

How expensive is it going to be to care for my diabetic cat?

Of course this is going to be a concern. Vet and treatment costs can be a primary factor in whether you can afford to keep your cat. Before deciding to put him down, ask your vet if he can cut costs in certain areas or accept payment installments. You may even have to shop around for a cheaper vet. Your initial costs will commence at the 200 to 300 hundred-dollar mark, if the diabetes is caught early enough, but as the disease progresses it can get a lot pricier. The hypoglycemia may be quickly regulated and controlled or it might take longer and that of course means even higher expenses especially as more vet visits and testing are needed. If your pet needs a blood glucose curve then that will cost roughly 100 dollars. You can cut down the cost by having home blood glucose monitoring if your cat is hard to regulate. These tests will run about 30.00 a month as well.

The good news is after the initial assessment and tests are taken care of, the costs will go down. However you will still need to expect about 40 dollars a month for a prescription diet, the syringes, and the insulin.

How much will your life change?

Yes your life will change with this added responsibility but soon you will get into the routine and find it easier. You don’t have to give up your social life you just need to see that your cat’s needs are met. Some of your friend’s may not understand. Ignore them even though it hurts, only a true animal lover can understand your love for your precious pet and how you will do all in your power to keep him happy and healthy.

Related Articles

• Animal owners often ask if their cats can get diabetes, if so why do they get it, how can they tell if a cat has diabetes, what are the signs?
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Tips on How to Make Your Diabetic Finger Stick as Painless as Possible
• Tips Concerning Bitter Lemon to Treat Diabetes
• Tips on How to Live a Great Life with Diabetes
• Exercise Diabetes
• I Heard That Taking Herbal remedies with Diabetes Medication can be Harmful is There any Truth to that Statement?