BY ELSIE WALKER
Going up to the pharmacy counter at the local grocery store, Bernetta, the pharmacy
technician, is there to greet me.
“Picking up?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“For you or Petey?”
“For Petey, his insulin and needles,” I say.
Bernetta climbs a little step ladder to get the needles which are always meticulously
placed above the prescription pick-up shelves. She grabs the box for Petey Walker.
Climbing down, she goes into a little refrigerator, takes out the insulin with Petey’s name
on it and puts it into a prescription bag. She hands me the items, has me sign and pay
for them, as usual. Before I leave, she makes sure to ask about Petey.
“How is Petey? Give him a pat for me,”she says.
By the way, did I mention... Petey is my cat.
Thirteen-year-old Petey, a red tabby, was diagnosed with diabetes about four years ago.
This has altered both his life and to a degree...ours. For one thing, Petey now has his
own account at the local pharmacy.
Also, Petey has become purely a housecat.
My late father adopted Petey as a very young kitten, part of a litter that his tenant was
taking care of. When the tenant came home from work, she would find three sleeping
kittens with their mother and the fourth climbing up her imported lace curtains. Unable to
stand the mischievious Petey, he was ejected from the litter earlier than expected.
Petey was very active. He cherished his outside time, playing in our yard, or just taking a
walk. We lived on a lake in a beautifully wooded area; Petey loved sleeping in the leaves
and grass.
Dad had gotten Petey to where he would go out at a certain time and return around the
same time every day. My brother and I continued that routine after my father died.
One winter, years later, there was a blizzard. We of course would not let Petey go out in
the bad weather...despite how much he wanted to. He threw a kitty tantrum, meowing and
meowing. He meowed his lungs out. (Try to explain what “blizzard” means, to a cat!) I put
Petey in the cellar, the idea being that we would get some peace and quiet and he’d
stop...eventually. He didn’t.
The next day we had to take him to the veterinarian. Petey had laryngitis.
Yes, Petey’s time outside was special to him. Not only did he enjoy snoozing in the the
grass, we found out that Petey also loved being very popular. One day, by accident, I
learned that our elderly neighbor across our one-lane road regularly gave Petey some
Pounce treats. Petey also visited another neighbor who had an outdoor cat; the two
seemed to be friends.
After he was diagnosed with diabetes, our veterinarian talked of making Petey a
housecat. But we continued to let Petey have his time outdoors (it meant so much to him!)
Then one day he didn’t return home at his usual time. Evening arrived, his shot time
came and went, yet there was no Petey to be found. He was not on our property. We were
frantic in our attempt to find him. Where did he go? Just before midnight, we heard
something. Petey was at the bottom of the outside steps. We had to bring him in, he was
a little weary.
A diabetic cat can miss his insulin shot for a day or so, but we realized that night...what if
Petey got caught somewhere and too much time had passed be-fore he was found? We
knew how much it would upset him, but for his own good, Petey became a full-time
housecat and has been for about three years. Thankfully, he has adapted well.
Petey was al-most 10 when he was diagnosed with diabetes. Two factors that make
some cats more prone to diabetes are obesity and age. Usually diabetes appears in
cats over eight years old. Also, as in humans, heredity can be a factor. If a cat has
diabetes there is a chance that its siblings or offspring will as well.
Symptoms of diabetes are weight loss and increased thirst. If your cat is eating normally
but still losing weight or your cat seems to be using its litter pan to urinate more often (or
drinking more often than usual), these could be signs of diabetes.
In Petey’s case, my brother and I became suspicious when his appetite greatly
increased but he was still losing weight. Petey also became food aggressive. Sud-denly,
you couldn’t open a can fast enough for him. We decided that a veterinary clinic visit was
in order. There, his veterinarian decided some tests were needed. You see, just because
your cat has lost weight or seems to be urinating more, doesn’t definitely mean he’s got
diabetes. Other diseases have similar symptoms. The cat has to be tested to narrow
down the cause.
When testing for diabetes, a veterinarian may use both a glucose blood test and urine
analysis. Since diabetic cats are also prone to bladder infections, the urine analysis will
test for that, as well as sugar in the urine. Also, it will help to determine if the cat’s blood
test results are due to a sudden peak in blood sugar or diabetes. A cat’s normal blood
sugar is 170. However, a nervous cat (say, one stressed at the veterinarian!) could climb
to 300.
After we found out for sure that Petey was diabetic, we were determined that our Petey
was still going to have a good quality of life. We set out to learn more about his condition
to see what we could do. My brother got on internet and read everything he could on the
disease.
Now Petey has an insulin shot twice a day. Petey has gotten used to his schedule,
walking on his own to the kitchen at “shot time.” He gives my brother no problems when
receiving the injection.
My brother is okay with using a needle, but some owners are simply afraid of them. In a
few cases, insulin may be available orally in a pill. As cat owners know though, that’s not
always easy either!
To make it easier for everyone involved, some owners will reward a cat with a treat for
getting its shot. And over time, the routine becomes like clockwork. When my Petey was
diagnosed, our veterinarian demonstrated how to give the insulin shot and suggested
that we practice a few times on an orange before giving a shot to our cat. (Practicing on a
fruit is very helpful, and our Petey thanks us for it!)
My brother gives Petey his shot by making a little “tent” in the skin just slightly off-center of
the shoulder blades. Dr. Lawrence Wolf, a member of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical
Assoc-iation told me in a recent interview that there is a reason why cats get the shot
between the shoulder blades. “It’s more comfortable for the cat, there’s more loose skin,”
he said simply.
We noticed after time that Petey’s skin in the initial shot area was getting tougher. There
are other areas where you can give the shot. So just ask your veterinarian for guidance.
Wolf, of the Willingboro Veterinary Clinic, also noted that some early onset, mild cases
of diabetes may be controlled through a high-protein diet, but that’s not the majority of
cases. This diet could be also given to diabetic cats on insulin to help in smoothing out
their blood sugar levels during the day and aid in diabetes management. However, most
eat regular cat food.
And you might wonder about whether cats, once on a regular insulin schedule, have to
have their blood sugar tested daily like human diabetics do. Yes, there are urine testing
strips that will check the sugar. Either the owner has to catch some urine (so much fun —
not!) or dip a strip in some recently used litter. I hear there is a special litter that will react
to show sugar spill.
The Feline Diabetes website (www.felinediabetes.com) also advertises a special litter
pan that makes urine collection easier. The cat must also go in periodically for blood
work.
Another part of living with your diabetic cat’s routine is picking up the insulin at the pha-
rmacy. We were lucky that Petey’s insulin is fairly inexpensive at about $26 per month; his
needles cost about the same but are purchased every 50 days. Test Strips cost in the
$30-$40 dollar range.
It is possible for a cat to stop needing insulin by the way. Wolf estimated that one in 20
felines get to a point where they don’t need so much insulin anymore. Their diabetes is
similar to Type Two Diabetes in humans where the patient produces some insulin on his
own. However, Wolf said, a cat could become normal only to have the diabetes return, so
it is important to be a vigilant pet owner and pay attention to your cat’s habits.
And for those who worry about who will take care of the diabetic cat if the owner is going
away, remember, it is ok if the cat misses its shot once. Even two days without the insulin
will not adversely affect the cat. But if going away longer, the owner should board the cat
at its veterinarian or look into getting a cat sitter who is comfortable with injectin shots.
Wolf does have good news for all of us who worry about the effects of diabetes on our
cats. “It’s very treatable. Nine out of 10 cats behave wonderfully with diabetes,” he said.
Petey is one of the nine out of ten. He is happy, affectionate... and even gets into trouble
every now and then...just like any other cat.
Going up to the pharmacy counter at the local grocery store, Bernetta, the pharmacy
technician, is there to greet me.
“Picking up?” she asks.
“Yes.”
“For you or Petey?”
“For Petey, his insulin and needles,” I say.
Bernetta climbs a little step ladder to get the needles which are always meticulously
placed above the prescription pick-up shelves. She grabs the box for Petey Walker.
Climbing down, she goes into a little refrigerator, takes out the insulin with Petey’s name
on it and puts it into a prescription bag. She hands me the items, has me sign and pay
for them, as usual. Before I leave, she makes sure to ask about Petey.
“How is Petey? Give him a pat for me,”she says.
By the way, did I mention... Petey is my cat.
Thirteen-year-old Petey, a red tabby, was diagnosed with diabetes about four years ago.
This has altered both his life and to a degree...ours. For one thing, Petey now has his
own account at the local pharmacy.
Also, Petey has become purely a housecat.
My late father adopted Petey as a very young kitten, part of a litter that his tenant was
taking care of. When the tenant came home from work, she would find three sleeping
kittens with their mother and the fourth climbing up her imported lace curtains. Unable to
stand the mischievious Petey, he was ejected from the litter earlier than expected.
Petey was very active. He cherished his outside time, playing in our yard, or just taking a
walk. We lived on a lake in a beautifully wooded area; Petey loved sleeping in the leaves
and grass.
Dad had gotten Petey to where he would go out at a certain time and return around the
same time every day. My brother and I continued that routine after my father died.
One winter, years later, there was a blizzard. We of course would not let Petey go out in
the bad weather...despite how much he wanted to. He threw a kitty tantrum, meowing and
meowing. He meowed his lungs out. (Try to explain what “blizzard” means, to a cat!) I put
Petey in the cellar, the idea being that we would get some peace and quiet and he’d
stop...eventually. He didn’t.
The next day we had to take him to the veterinarian. Petey had laryngitis.
Yes, Petey’s time outside was special to him. Not only did he enjoy snoozing in the the
grass, we found out that Petey also loved being very popular. One day, by accident, I
learned that our elderly neighbor across our one-lane road regularly gave Petey some
Pounce treats. Petey also visited another neighbor who had an outdoor cat; the two
seemed to be friends.
After he was diagnosed with diabetes, our veterinarian talked of making Petey a
housecat. But we continued to let Petey have his time outdoors (it meant so much to him!)
Then one day he didn’t return home at his usual time. Evening arrived, his shot time
came and went, yet there was no Petey to be found. He was not on our property. We were
frantic in our attempt to find him. Where did he go? Just before midnight, we heard
something. Petey was at the bottom of the outside steps. We had to bring him in, he was
a little weary.
A diabetic cat can miss his insulin shot for a day or so, but we realized that night...what if
Petey got caught somewhere and too much time had passed be-fore he was found? We
knew how much it would upset him, but for his own good, Petey became a full-time
housecat and has been for about three years. Thankfully, he has adapted well.
Petey was al-most 10 when he was diagnosed with diabetes. Two factors that make
some cats more prone to diabetes are obesity and age. Usually diabetes appears in
cats over eight years old. Also, as in humans, heredity can be a factor. If a cat has
diabetes there is a chance that its siblings or offspring will as well.
Symptoms of diabetes are weight loss and increased thirst. If your cat is eating normally
but still losing weight or your cat seems to be using its litter pan to urinate more often (or
drinking more often than usual), these could be signs of diabetes.
In Petey’s case, my brother and I became suspicious when his appetite greatly
increased but he was still losing weight. Petey also became food aggressive. Sud-denly,
you couldn’t open a can fast enough for him. We decided that a veterinary clinic visit was
in order. There, his veterinarian decided some tests were needed. You see, just because
your cat has lost weight or seems to be urinating more, doesn’t definitely mean he’s got
diabetes. Other diseases have similar symptoms. The cat has to be tested to narrow
down the cause.
When testing for diabetes, a veterinarian may use both a glucose blood test and urine
analysis. Since diabetic cats are also prone to bladder infections, the urine analysis will
test for that, as well as sugar in the urine. Also, it will help to determine if the cat’s blood
test results are due to a sudden peak in blood sugar or diabetes. A cat’s normal blood
sugar is 170. However, a nervous cat (say, one stressed at the veterinarian!) could climb
to 300.
After we found out for sure that Petey was diabetic, we were determined that our Petey
was still going to have a good quality of life. We set out to learn more about his condition
to see what we could do. My brother got on internet and read everything he could on the
disease.
Now Petey has an insulin shot twice a day. Petey has gotten used to his schedule,
walking on his own to the kitchen at “shot time.” He gives my brother no problems when
receiving the injection.
My brother is okay with using a needle, but some owners are simply afraid of them. In a
few cases, insulin may be available orally in a pill. As cat owners know though, that’s not
always easy either!
To make it easier for everyone involved, some owners will reward a cat with a treat for
getting its shot. And over time, the routine becomes like clockwork. When my Petey was
diagnosed, our veterinarian demonstrated how to give the insulin shot and suggested
that we practice a few times on an orange before giving a shot to our cat. (Practicing on a
fruit is very helpful, and our Petey thanks us for it!)
My brother gives Petey his shot by making a little “tent” in the skin just slightly off-center of
the shoulder blades. Dr. Lawrence Wolf, a member of the New Jersey Veterinary Medical
Assoc-iation told me in a recent interview that there is a reason why cats get the shot
between the shoulder blades. “It’s more comfortable for the cat, there’s more loose skin,”
he said simply.
We noticed after time that Petey’s skin in the initial shot area was getting tougher. There
are other areas where you can give the shot. So just ask your veterinarian for guidance.
Wolf, of the Willingboro Veterinary Clinic, also noted that some early onset, mild cases
of diabetes may be controlled through a high-protein diet, but that’s not the majority of
cases. This diet could be also given to diabetic cats on insulin to help in smoothing out
their blood sugar levels during the day and aid in diabetes management. However, most
eat regular cat food.
And you might wonder about whether cats, once on a regular insulin schedule, have to
have their blood sugar tested daily like human diabetics do. Yes, there are urine testing
strips that will check the sugar. Either the owner has to catch some urine (so much fun —
not!) or dip a strip in some recently used litter. I hear there is a special litter that will react
to show sugar spill.
The Feline Diabetes website (www.felinediabetes.com) also advertises a special litter
pan that makes urine collection easier. The cat must also go in periodically for blood
work.
Another part of living with your diabetic cat’s routine is picking up the insulin at the pha-
rmacy. We were lucky that Petey’s insulin is fairly inexpensive at about $26 per month; his
needles cost about the same but are purchased every 50 days. Test Strips cost in the
$30-$40 dollar range.
It is possible for a cat to stop needing insulin by the way. Wolf estimated that one in 20
felines get to a point where they don’t need so much insulin anymore. Their diabetes is
similar to Type Two Diabetes in humans where the patient produces some insulin on his
own. However, Wolf said, a cat could become normal only to have the diabetes return, so
it is important to be a vigilant pet owner and pay attention to your cat’s habits.
And for those who worry about who will take care of the diabetic cat if the owner is going
away, remember, it is ok if the cat misses its shot once. Even two days without the insulin
will not adversely affect the cat. But if going away longer, the owner should board the cat
at its veterinarian or look into getting a cat sitter who is comfortable with injectin shots.
Wolf does have good news for all of us who worry about the effects of diabetes on our
cats. “It’s very treatable. Nine out of 10 cats behave wonderfully with diabetes,” he said.
Petey is one of the nine out of ten. He is happy, affectionate... and even gets into trouble
every now and then...just like any other cat.
| LIVING WITH A DIABETIC CAT |
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