I just got the results of my cat's blood tests today...she has a bladder infection AND sugar diabetes. I started her on the antibiotics this evening to take care of the bladder infection and then comes tackling the diabetes.

The vet said that the best course of action is going to be giving her insulin shots. I am really upset by this news because I am TERRIFIED of needles, I can't afford to pay for insulin every month and I don't have the type of lifestyle that I am at home at the same time every day to give her shots. So as a result we are going to go for the dietary route to try and get the diabetes under control. The vet said this usually works for obese cats, but my cat is tiny (she lost 6 oz in 3 weeks which is a lot for a cat her size). The food she needs is a perscription type food and is available through the vet. I will get a free case of the diabetic wet cat food and then after that it is going to cost $40 for a case of 24 cans and they are recommending 1 1/3 cans a day, plus its $22 for a 4lb of dry cat food. So this route is even more expensive than insulin route!!! I have already paid close to $250 just this month alone, which I really cannot afford at all!!!

I HATE the fact that what I choose to do is going to be based on a finanical decision. She is 12 years old and with this new condition is going to require far more care and visits to the vet. I love my cat and I have cried a lot of tears this afternoon and evening.

Has anyone out there cared for a diabetic cat and has any advice on how the heck I should deal with this??? Does any want to express their opinions on what THEY would do?

I would appreciate any advice or opinions or suggestions on questions I should ask the vet...I am meeting with the vet on Tuesday to ask her some questions (I was a complete mess when she called me at work and told me the results) so I decided to make an appointment to see her to really get a clear idea of what has to be done.

Thanks from a stressed out kitty mom.

I've never had a diabetic kitty, but I've had several friends with them. As far as the shots go...all my friends said they were afraid at first but then realized it was pretty easy.

I go to a vet who practices Eastern medicine. Since you're going to try and control the diabetes with diet, an Eastern medicine vet might be able to prescribe some kind of herbs or something that might help, and might be less expensive.

I wish I had more information.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Hugs,
Kathleen

Thanks Kathleen...I appreciate that you took the time to sent me a post...

Unfortunately, last night I made the VERY hard and VERY sad decision to put my kitty to sleep. Over the weekend her sugar levels went off the charts (vet's words) and she was in ketoacidosis. He said that they could aggressively treat her, but there was the possibility that she would be right back at the vet's in a couple of days. Sadly I had to make the decision. She just wasn't the kitty that she used to be (even just a few days ago). I couldn't watch her deteriorate any more right before my eyes. She wasn't eating or drinking, she would walk 5 feet and then lie down, she wouldn't even take a treat...she was one of those cats that had a loud motor and purred like crazy (you could look at her and she would start purring like anything). I heard that purr for the last time last night at the clinic...

My girl "Tazz" gone to a Kitty Foster Home in the sky August 28, 2005.