Can cats with diabetes live a long life?
Diabetes is definitely treatable and need not shorten an animal’s lifespan or life quality. However, diabetes is life-threatening if left alone. Untreated, the condition leads to increasingly weak legs in cats, and eventually malnutrition, ketoacidosis and death.
How old are cats with diabetes?
Diabetes occurs in a wide age range of cats, but most cats are over 6 years of age when diagnosed. The average age at diagnosis is 10 years and the peak incidence is between 9 and 13 years. Diabetes in young cats is extremely rare. Obesity increases the risk of developing diabetes 3- to 5-fold.
Eighty to ninety-five percent of diabetic cats experience something similar to type 2 diabetes but are generally severely insulin dependent by the time symptoms are diagnosed. The condition is treatable, and if treated properly the cat can experience a normal life expectancy.
What are symptoms of diabetes in cats?
The four main symptoms of diabetes mellitus are increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, and increased appetite. Because of the nature of cats, these signs may go unnoticed, especially in the early stages of disease or if a cat spends a lot of time outdoors.
How old does a cat have to be to have diabetes?
Diabetes, and Type II diabetes specifically, is a very common disorder in cats. The condition is most common in overweight, neutered male cats over 8 years of age, and those that exclusively eat a high carbohydrate diet (which includes pretty much any diet of dry cat food).
What are the symptoms of diabetes in cats?
Symptoms of Cat Diabetes. (4) Weight loss, although diabetic cats often begin as overweight cats (5) As time goes on, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea may appear (6) If a cat is diabetic too long without diagnosis and treatment, you will begin to see a change in the back legs as he walks.
Is there a cure for diabetes in cats?
The good news is that it can be reversed if treatment is successful and the kitty becomes stable. It takes time, but most cats can once again walk fairly normally. Keep in mind that when you live with multiple cats, it’s not always possible to know if one is drinking or urinating excessively, two of the hallmark signs of diabetes in cats.
How long can you give a diabetic cat insulin?
A 10 ml vial is good for at least 3–4 months, maybe longer if handled properly. Most cats require very little insulin, so some of the insulin will go to waste, even if it lasts for 6 months. Pharmacists may tell you that you can use the bottle only for 1 month. They are wrong.
Diabetes, and Type II diabetes specifically, is a very common disorder in cats. The condition is most common in overweight, neutered male cats over 8 years of age, and those that exclusively eat a high carbohydrate diet (which includes pretty much any diet of dry cat food).
How long can a cat live with diabetes untreated?
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the average indoor cat lives for 13 to 17 years. Properly medicated diabetic cats have the same average longevity as healthy non-diabetic cats. But cats with untreated diabetes may succumb sooner, due to health problems that can develop as side effects of diabetes.
What happens to the body when a cat has diabetes?
To get the energy it needs, the body turns to other sources, breaking down fats and proteins to feed glucose-starved cells. This breakdown results in weight loss, despite an increased appetite. Excessive thirst and urination can also signal diabetes in a cat.
Who is most at risk for type 2 diabetes in cats?
Which cats are most at risk? Diabetes, and Type II diabetes specifically, is a very common disorder in cats. The condition is most common in overweight, neutered male cats over 8 years of age, and those that exclusively eat a high carbohydrate diet (which includes pretty much any diet of dry cat food).
