Feline diabetes mellitus

Diabetes in cats usually develops in middle-aged or older, often overweight cats. The classic signs are drinking and urinating noticeably more, losing weight despite a normal or increased appetite, and sometimes weakness in the hind legs. None of these signs confirm diabetes on their own, and none rule it out; a veterinarian confirms the diagnosis with blood and urine tests. If your cat shows this combination, book an appointment rather than waiting to see whether it settles.

A cat that is dull, vomiting, breathing oddly or refusing food needs urgent assessment, because dangerously high ketones can develop when diabetes is uncontrolled. That is an emergency, not a routine booking. Bring a note of how much the cat drinks, eats and weighs if you can, since these details genuinely help the veterinary team judge how unwell the cat is.

Most diabetic cats need insulin injections once or twice daily alongside a consistent feeding routine. The injection itself is small, and veterinary nurses routinely teach owners to give it; ask for a demonstration and practise until you feel confident. Feed on a predictable schedule, keep mealtimes and injection times linked as your vet instructs, and never adjust the insulin dose on your own, even if the cat seems better or worse.

The main day-to-day risk is low blood sugar from too much insulin, a missed meal or unexpected extra activity. Learn your cat's warning signs, which can include wobbliness, twitching, unusual hunger or sudden dullness, and keep the sugar source your vet recommends within reach, contacting the clinic promptly when signs appear. Many cats achieve good control, and some enter remission, especially with early treatment and weight management, so regular review appointments and honest home records matter more than any single test.

Store insulin exactly as the label and clinic instruct, usually refrigerated and never frozen; mix it only in the way the product requires. Use the syringe or pen type matched to that insulin's concentration, because mismatched syringes cause dosing errors. Record each dose and who gave it so it is not repeated. Dispose of sharps in a suitable container.