Wed 20 Aug 2008
Kelly Cat Probably Has Diabetes
This morning I phoned the vet’s office to make an appointment. Pat noticed the symptoms first, because she refills the water dishes every morning. Ever since Kelly began a diet virtually without dry food, he hadn’t been drinking much, but lately Pat saw the water was way down, and eventually she saw Kelly was the one responsible for it. (Another symptom is ravenous hunger, but in the case of the Big Guy, that’s not reliable because he always eats that way.)
Kelly weighed 17.9 pounds today, down from 19.5 when he got his mandatory rabies shots in June. The vet took some blood for testing, but it just seems like a formality, given all the symptoms. He’ll phone us tomorrow morning with the official results.
I’ve already been reading up on the disease at Feline Diabetes, and although the vet has let us take home a few cans of Purina’s FD prescription diet, I’ve ordered instead some Evo 95% Chicken & Turkey from a local store. Ultra low carbs, and no corn gluten meal, unlike the Purina. We’re hoping that all 4 cats will enjoy or at least get used to eating the Evo, even though I think Caitie would tell us we can never take away her crunchies altogether.
Debbie said,
Wed 20 Aug 2008 at 20:39
Hey, I’ve been a fan for a long time. Hope your Kitty is ok, maybe just an over active thyroid. I have been giving my Kitty an insulin shot for about 2 years now. Only 4 units in the morning. He doesn’t seem to mind at all. Almost doesn’t show any reaction to the shot. It’s so fast. I think I get more worked up thinking about giving it to him than he does getting it.
It’s a big commitment, one that I thought that was well worth it. God bless
Laila and Minchie said,
Wed 20 Aug 2008 at 20:47
Keeping our paws crossed for you Kelly!
Mom’s biggest fear in life having cats was one would develop diabetes and she’d have to give shots. Well, mom has 15 months of experience of daily sub-q fluids instead so shots would be a breeze. It’s amazing what moms and dads can do when it comes to the furries.
The Meezers said,
Wed 20 Aug 2008 at 21:57
Oh Mr Kelly, we hopes that you are ok. We are purring hard for you. The new food sounds good though!
Derby said,
Wed 20 Aug 2008 at 22:24
Fat Eric has been doing well since he was diagnosed in the past year. Wet food, no carbs etc.
Abby Normal said,
Wed 20 Aug 2008 at 22:27
Hi! My mom has known of a couple diabetic kitties, and given your dedication and love, she says that in spite of it being a no-fun kind of diagnosis, she thinks Kelly Cat will do great with you around!
Purrs and paw pad touching,
Abby Normal
Cheysuli said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 0:07
Kelly we hope that you are okay! That food sounds very tasty though.
Brenda & Ninja said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 0:23
Having diabetes is not so bad! We were very scared and nervous 2 years ago when Ninja was diagnosed, but we got some good advice (no dry food, low carb wet food) and did home blood glucose testing. She only had to have insulin for 50 days and has been insulin free for 2 years now!!!
All the best!!
Brenda & Ninja
The Cat Realm said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 0:26
We hope he will be o.k.! With proper diet it might really not be such a problem? We don’t know anything about diabetes in cats…. But we eat Innova Evo because of the LOW carbs and we LOVE it!!! We are sending purrs!
The Cat Realm
Luxor said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 1:25
O gosh, Mr. Kelly, I hope you don’t have diabetes, but that food sure does look delicious. It also looks unfamiliar – did Evo just come out with this brand, I wonder?
Best wishes with that phone call.
Milo said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 2:52
Poor Kelly, I hope you feel better soon!
Love Milo xx
Karen Jo said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 3:00
I really hope that Kelly’s diabetes can be controlled with diet and you won’t need to give him insulin, though, from what I have read on the blogs of diabetic cats, the cats get used to the shots very quickly and it’s actually harder on the humans than the cats.
Miss Peach said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 3:50
Dearest Kelly! I will purrrrr an dpurrray that you new diet food will help stave off your problem with the possible diabetes. We will all pull for you and keep you close to our hearts right now as always….
XOXOXX Miss Peach
Whicky Wuudler said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 4:59
Paws crossed for Kelly and sending big rumbly purrs.
Parker said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 6:18
I hope that Kelly will do well on his new diet. Mommy has diabetes and staying low carb really does make a big difference!
Eric and Flynn said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 7:53
We don’t know about diabetes ourselves, but our friend Fat Eric has it. His mum is on holiday at the moment, but we think she is back at the weekend. We are fairly sure that his is controlled by diet now and he doesn’t have shots any more. No crunchies, just Stinky Goodness. Hope Kelly is soon feeling better, and if it is diabetes, we hope it is soon under control.
Texas said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 7:54
Kelly, I hope you are OK!! Kelly’s beans, if you do have to give shots, don;t be skerred. My beans were skerred about giving me shots, but they found out those are actually much easier to give me than to give me pillz or liquidz! Hopefully Kelly will be the same way if he needs shots.
-Texas
Junior said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 9:40
We will purr for all to be well with Kelly.
Junior and Orion
Tazo said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 9:48
We are purring and purraying for Kelly.
Sophia said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 10:37
We are keeping you in our thoughts. Evo is a great food so we think you will do well on it. Let us know how you are feeling after the food change.
Hendrix said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 11:28
Kelly, buddy, I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. I’m sure that even if you have diabetes, your VET and humans will work out a perfect treatment for you so you’ll feel like the healthy big Mancat you’ve always been.
I hope it isn’t diabetes cause then you’d have to get shots and that would suck. Sending you big Mancat healing purrs and prayers you start feeling better and gain back that weight!!
Suzie said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 11:49
I’m so sorry your not feeling your best right now. I hope you start feeling better soon Kelly. God Bless you and your Family. Hugs
Zippy, Sadie & Speedy said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 11:59
We hope it’s not and just cuz of warm weather or something. Da little woofie dat came before had diabetes, prolly from poor nutrition when he was a baby and mom managed it for years wif just diet but when he finally needed insulin it weren’t so bad. He din’t even complain about haffing his blood tested.
Stryder, Scotchy & Sugar said,
Thu 21 Aug 2008 at 12:24
Kelly we are so sad to hear you are sick. We will be purring for you.
Donna said,
Thu 2 Oct 2008 at 10:36
I’ve got a diabetic kitty, too. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me. I have done the shots, the panic, the blood sugar testing at home, the changing the diet, the panic… and now, I have a happy, healthy diet controlled kitty. I know lots of great kitty people and a couple of great websites (http://felinediabetes.com and http://catinfo.org) with lots of information. Diabetes isn’t such a big deal when you get a handle on it!