THERE IS HOPE FOR DIABETIC CATS
Felines don’t develop complications that people do and are very adoptable
The fate of cats suffering from diabetes mellitus is an uncertain one. The condition, which resembles type 2 diabetes in humans, is considered manageable by veterinarians. But, still many obstacles stand in the way of unwanted cats getting the homes and help that they need.
For owners, it’s the anticipated challenges of caring for a cat with diabetes that deters them from adopting. Indeed, according to U.K. stats, 30 per cent of diabetic cats are destroyed within their first year of treatment due to the emotional and financial burden that owners face, and their worries about being able to find someone who can take care of their cat when they travel.
For shelters, operational issues can stand in the way of finding homes for diabetic cats — many facilities aren’t staffed in a way that allows cats to receive twice daily insulin injections. As such, for many rescue groups that house diabetic cats in shelters, this is a disease that warrants euthanasia.
Dr. Koharik Arman, a veterinarian at the Cats Only Veteri- nary Clinic in Vancouver, says that she sees more diabetic cats now than ever. Her caseload is consistent with studies that show a fourfold increase in the incidence of diabetes in cats over the last 30 years, a condition that now affects one in 50 cats.
“This increase is very much a North American thing, we see a lot of cats that are developing diabetes as a result of being fed poor diets and becoming overweight,” she explains. “Feeding high-protein wet food rather than high carbohydrate kibble diets is absolutely key in preventing diabetes and other problems in cats.”
So, are diabetic cats something that owners should shy away from, or are the challenges overstated?
Corinne Schindler of Vancouver has been fostering Foster, an 18-month-old black and white cat for five months, and says it is disappointing that diabetic cats are so often overlooked by prospective adopters. Schindler, who has two other cats, one of which is also diabetic, believes that people shouldn’t shy away from living with a diabetic cat.
Arman agrees that owners of diabetic cats should not fear the disease as they once did, and that it can be a very easy condition for cats and their owners to live with.
“People automatically think of the problems that humans with diabetes sometimes get, such as kidney disease, kidney failure and amputations. But cats do not tend to develop these kind of secondary complications,” she explains.
Rather, cats can be managed and sometimes cured of this problem. With the right diet and slow-release insulin medications, as many as 67 per cent of diabetic cats go into remission without any re-occurrence of the disease.
However, Arman adds, “It’s scary and overwhelming initially as an owner, so we hold diabetic clinics to educate and support owners so that they feel confident in doing blood sugar checks and administering insulin to their cats … once they get the hang of it, they get all sorts of vet tech skills and do great!”
Alannah Hall, chair of VOKRA or the Vancouver Orphan Kitten Rescue Association, owned a diabetic cat for five years, says it’s very easy to give a cat their insulin shots. “I would give my cat his shot between the shoulder blades while he was eating, and I think he only ever noticed once,” she says.
“We’ve had a number of diabetic cats come through VOKRA’s doors and we consider diabetes in cats to be a perfectly treatable condition,” she adds.
Nevertheless, Hall speculates that many diabetic street cats die from their disease before they make it into rescue shelters.
While many rescue organizations are prepared to give diabetic cats a chance, finding the right home for these felines takes longer than it does for their healthier counterparts.
“Anything that has a health problem always takes longer to adopt … they do eventually find homes, often with people who have had experience of these issues. People who have had a diabetic cat before know how easy it is to manage them,” says Hall.
Nor does having no one to take care of your diabetic cat when you leave town need to be a deal breaker.
“We have two or three diabetic cats boarding with us at Cats Only Clinic right now!” says Arman. “Alternatively, there are lots of professional pet sitters who can do house-calls when owners travel, and provide subcutaneous fluids, or give injections as needed.”
Schindler says that Foster, who is need of a home, is a wonderful cat and really easy to look after. He needs a special diet and two insulin shots a day, but regardless, he is playful, affectionate, always used his litter box and loves to be cuddled.
Anyone interested in adopting Foster can email Schindler at adoptfosterthecat@gmail.com with their information.
Feeding high protein wet food rather than high carbohydrate kibble diets is absolutely key in preventing diabetes and other problems in cats.