? Peach won't let me give her insulin anymore

[rpfiegle]

I posted this to a general cat care forum. There was interest, but no answers. I'm hoping you might be able to give me more guidance....

About a year and a half ago, I found out my nine year old female DLH has diabetes. At first, things were pretty easy. I gave her insulin while she was eating and she didn't really mind.

Peach was born feral and has always been a little skittish. She doesn't particularly like being picked up and cuddle time happens on her terms.

We had problems nailing down her insulin dose and I had to take her to get a glucose curve a couple times. Because she has to get her insulin dose before we went to the vet, she started associating food/insulin time with going to the vet. She would hide under the bed and not want to eat. If she doesn't eat, I can't give her the insulin.

To solve this problem, I started giving her glucose checks at home. However, recently I've had issues with bugs and had to get bug bombs done. This meant boarding my two cats for the day, twice.

Peach is now more afraid of meal time than ever. She will come to see the can get opened, but by the time I turn around to sit the bowls down, she is long gone under the bed.

Usually, after about an hour, she'll come out and start to eat. This doesn't help me in the morning for the most part, because I need to get to work and I'm not there to give her the insulin when she eventually eats. In the evening, if I try to approach her while she eats, or even after, she runs off. I suppose I could drag her out from under the bed after she eats and give her the insulin, but I'm afraid this will ingrain the idea that meal time is bad even more. There's also the issue of the insulin times becoming irregular when they really should be every 12 hours without much deviation.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix this problem?

 

[Julia Rae]

Ouch sounds as if you have been having a hard time of it... my advise is to bribe her with meat.. I had to do this with Magellan as well. Eventually with lots of bribing and cuddles at the table Magellan was no longer running and hiding from me. But during the mean time you might want to close off the areas she likes to hide before so that th space she can go has limmited to no hiding spots... good luck.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

What type of insulin are you using?

If it's one of the milder ones that are best for cats like Lantus, Levemir or ProZinc, it's not as important that they eat right as they get the insulin...as long as they're willing to eat, the insulin doesn't "kick in" for a few hours

Now if you're using Vetsulin/Caninsulin, that's another story....it's important they have food before they get the insulin

 

[Callie & Patches]

First you need to gain her trust. Most kitties lobe treats like freeze dried chicken. While you are sitting somewhere away from the usual feeding/shot area, give her a small treat. Do it again at irregular times and places until she dosen't connect the treat with getting her food or insulin. Then slowly add some of her dinner until she will trust you to feed her and give her insulin. Take your time. You need to do her curve at home to avoid vet stress. If she has to go to the vet, ask if you can give her something to calm her down in advance.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

sounds like you might also want to cut some cardboard boxes to size to fit unter the bed and block her from getting out of reach.
You can leave her the edges where you can reach her if needed but it's good she still has a spot to retreat to.

It does sound like you will have to experiment with what will motivate her to be out again.

My girl was hard to shoot, occasionally would rebel, and I had to use her favorite food ( which was raw shrimp) for her to have
her head in the dish while I shot. It did get really difficult when she stopped eating while I shot.

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

What type of insulin are you using?

If it's one of the milder ones that are best for cats like Lantus, Levemir or ProZinc, it's not as important that they eat right as they get the insulin...as long as they're willing to eat, the insulin doesn't "kick in" for a few hours

Now if you're using Vetsulin/Caninsulin, that's another story....it's important they have food before they get the insulin

As Chris said depending on the insulin that you are using you may not have to feed right away with the shot. If you are using one of the long acting insulins you could separate the shot and feeding times by just enough that she doesn't associate the two.