Questions about Evie's Health/Diabetes/Behavior Problems

[Samantha and Evie]

Hi all! I've tried a while ago to post on this in the introduction board, but it never posted. My name is Samantha and Evie is a long-haired 6-10-year-old female lcalico. She was diagnosed with diabetes in March 2017. She is currently on Novalin, 4 units in the morning and at night (7:30am & 7:30pm).

Currently, I'm having a problem regarding her urinating. She has been doing this consistently for a few months. She uses her litter box frequently, but she still urinates in specific spots on the carpet. I live with roommates and they have now suggested that I confine her to my room, and she is.

Evie stops when I notice her about to go on the carpet, and then uses the litter box, but sometimes I can't stop her because I'm sleeping/working. The vet states that he doesn't know what to do, but to put a litter box where she's going. I can't do this because the roommates do not want her litter box anywhere else in the house but my room. (Even as I'm typing this, she's urinating in the litter box.)

I have no idea what else to do. I've sprayed it with Resolve carpet cleaner, I've put down towels, I've put down aluminum foil to deter her from urinating in these spots, but she still either goes beside the covered spot or in front of it. Has anyone else experienced this?

Additionally, I was reading today about switching her over to wet food. Some of you have had experience getting her BG levels down 100-200 points?? Last time I took her to the vet (June 26), her lowest was 208 and her highest was 314 (when she was being shaved, so the vet wasn't sure if was influenced by her nervousness). What types do you use, and which are the best for those with diabetes?

I'm at my wits end. My future roommate for next year does not want to live with her because of her random urinating, and I can't blame her. My mom is suggesting I give her up because it still continues, and I can't really afford to live on my own. I absolutely do not want to. I love her and every time I talk about giving her up I cry.

Please, if you have any advice, let me know!!

 

[JanetNJ]

Cleaning it with resolve won't help. You need an enzymatic pet stain cleaner. My favorite is Anti Icky Poo Unscented which I buy on amazon. Works great and leaves no scent behind. If there's any scent left (she can smell it even when you can't) she will continue to go there. When you aren't home to watch her, for now anyway, keep her in your room.

I would also suggest getting Dr Elsley's cat attract litter. Good stuff.

The numbers one thing you can do though is get her diabetes under control. 4 units is a very high dose. Dry foods are loaded with carbs! Which kind is she eating right now?

Most of us feed fancy feast classic or Friskies pate foods... BUT I would caution you to not change the diet until you start home testing, because as you said it will most likely drop her bg drastically and she could hypo at that dose.

So what you need to do is

1. Get a meter and start home testing (see my signature showing how I test my cat CC). We can give you a shopping list if you are willing to learn

Then
2. Switch to a low carb food under 10% carb

http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

And drop her dose back down to 1 unit and test. If I turns out to not be enough we will advise you to increase by no more than half of a unit at a time.

Once you are testing we can help you set up our handy dandy spreadsheet.

 

[Olive & Paula]

Definitely start home testing before removing dry food.

Consider putting a 2nd box in your room with a different litter and see if that helps.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Welcome Samantha and Evie! (Is her name from Wall-E? )
We'll definitely try our best to help you with Evie . I'll give some more information after some questions that have been asked, are answered

 

[Samantha and Evie]

Cleaning it with resolve won't help. You need an enzymatic pet stain cleaner. My favorite is Anti Icky Poo Unscented which I buy on amazon. Works great and leaves no scent behind. If there's any scent left (she can smell it even when you can't) she will continue to go there. When you aren't home to watch her, for now anyway, keep her in your room.

I would also suggest getting Dr Elsley's cat attract litter. Good stuff.

The numbers one thing you can do though is get her diabetes under control. 4 units is a very high dose. Dry foods are loaded with carbs! Which kind is she eating right now?

Most of us feed fancy feast classic or Friskies pate foods... BUT I would caution you to not change the diet until you start home testing, because as you said it will most likely drop her bg drastically and she could hypo at that dose.

So what you need to do is

1. Get a meter and start home testing (see my signature showing how I test my cat CC). We can give you a shopping list if you are willing to learn

Then
2. Switch to a low carb food under 10% carb

http://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf

And drop her dose back down to 1 unit and test. If I turns out to not be enough we will advise you to increase by no more than half of a unit at a time.

Once you are testing we can help you set up our handy dandy spreadsheet.

What is the shopping list?? I would love to learn!

 

[JanetNJ]

What is the shopping list?? I would love to learn!

Oh awesome!! OK, the most economical route is a human meter

1. The meter. If you have a Walmart by you, many on the board use the Walmart brand Relion micro or confirm meter. ($17) (Not the relion prime, as it needs a much larger 0.5 sample). If no Walmart, pick a meter that only requires a 0.3 size blood sample.

2. box of 100 extra test strips ($35)

3. Box of 100 28 gauge lancets ($4) (the meters often come with 31 gauge lancets, but these are too small when first trying to get a sample from a cat. The bigger the number, the smaller the point).

4. Cotton cosmetic rounds ($3)

5. Neosporin ointment with pain relief ($4)

6. Treat for yourself

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

Hi and welcome!

You could try a different litter box, sometimes when their back legs feel week ( which can happen because of diabetes) if they have trouble getting inside the litter box they will search another more confortable spot.

Urinating a little in different spots may indicate an UTI so if you can you may check for that too, their logic is, if when I ( the cat) go to my litter box hurts, let's go somewhere else maybe it won't hurt

 

[JanetNJ]

Hi and welcome!

You could try a different litter box, sometimes when their back legs feel week ( which can happen because of diabetes) if they have trouble getting inside the litter box they will search another more confortable spot.

Urinating a little in different spots may indicate an UTI so if you can you may check for that too, their logic is, if when I ( the cat) go to my litter box hurts, let's go somewhere else maybe it won't hurt

That's a great suggestion.... Finding a litterbox with low opening.

I let my cat Zim use a puppy training pad to go on because he wanted to pee outside the box. It was our compromise... We did that with him for three years until he recently passed away.

 

[Samantha and Evie]

That's a great suggestion.... Finding a litterbox with low opening.

I let my cat Zim use a puppy training pad to go on because he wanted to pee outside the box. It was our compromise... We did that with him for three years until he recently passed away.

I'm definitely going to get another litter box and put it on the spot where she's been urinating. At least it will be in my room and it will not affect my roommates.

I've considered puppy pads as well... I think if she doesn't use this new litter box and again goes around the area, I'll try puppy pads.

I have also ordered the enzyme cleaner from Amazon, hopefully that helps!!

Also also.. I just spoke with the vet's office and the vet will give me a call later today/tomorrow about switching her over to wet food and what needs to be done. Currently, she is on Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Glucose/Weight Management, dry food.

 

[Samantha and Evie]

Hi and welcome!

You could try a different litter box, sometimes when their back legs feel week ( which can happen because of diabetes) if they have trouble getting inside the litter box they will search another more confortable spot.

Urinating a little in different spots may indicate an UTI so if you can you may check for that too, their logic is, if when I ( the cat) go to my litter box hurts, let's go somewhere else maybe it won't hurt

How do you determine if she has a UTI? Vet visit?

 

[Samantha and Evie]

Welcome Samantha and Evie! (Is her name from Wall-E? )
We'll definitely try our best to help you with Evie . I'll give some more information after some questions that have been asked, are answered

No, when I was thinking of her name, I got it from the Pokémon Eevee It's a perfect fit for her, she looks like an Eevee when her hair is grown out.

Currently, I have her on Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Glucose/Weight Management, dry food.

 

[JanetNJ]

I'm definitely going to get another litter box and put it on the spot where she's been urinating. At least it will be in my room and it will not affect my roommates.

I've considered puppy pads as well... I think if she doesn't use this new litter box and again goes around the area, I'll try puppy pads.

I have also ordered the enzyme cleaner from Amazon, hopefully that helps!!

Also also.. I just spoke with the vet's office and the vet will give me a call later today/tomorrow about switching her over to wet food and what needs to be done. Currently, she is on Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Glucose/Weight Management, dry food.

Oh! One more suggestion! It works for some cats, others not so much... Feliway plug-ins diffusers for marking and scratching. It might help.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

No, when I was thinking of her name, I got it from the Pokémon Eevee It's a perfect fit for her, she looks like an Eevee when her hair is grown out.

I just recently learned this year that there was a Pokémon named Eevee lol. Hope we'll see her picture as your avatar!

Currently, I have her on Hill's Prescription Diet m/d Glucose/Weight Management, dry food.

Is that the only food you are feeding her?

1. Even though it's labeled as appropriate food for a diabetic, it's actually too high in carbs. There is a much better option, or two, if you're in the U.S.
2. Wet food is the most ideal for all kitties. Adding an extra 1-2T of water to meals can help keep their systems flushed too.

Definitely try to get an enzyme cleaner for the carpet. If you have a blacklight, after carpet is cleaned and dried off, you can shine it on the areas. I believe if the enzymes are still present it will show in the UV light. *Beware* you may find other stains you weren't expecting

 

[Veronica & Babu-chiri]

How do you determine if she has a UTI? Vet visit?

Unfortunately yes (unless it's very advanced they they show other symptoms, like fever or blood in her urine which is not the case ), he would have to check her and probably you'll need a bloodwork and urinalysis with a culture, if she does have an UTI then it will be easy to give her the appropriate medicine and they usually go back to behaving properly.

 

[Samantha and Evie]

I just recently learned this year that there was a Pokémon named Eevee lol. Hope we'll see her picture as your avatar!

Is that the only food you are feeding her?

1. Even though it's labeled as appropriate food for a diabetic, it's actually too high in carbs. There is a much better option, or two, if you're in the U.S.
2. Wet food is the most ideal for all kitties. Adding an extra 1-2T of water to meals can help keep their systems flushed too.

Definitely try to get an enzyme cleaner for the carpet. If you have a blacklight, after carpet is cleaned and dried off, you can shine it on the areas. I believe if the enzymes are still present it will show in the UV light. *Beware* you may find other stains you weren't expecting

I ordered an enzyme cleaner, the Anti Icky Poo Unscented cleaner that someone else recommended on here. It's shipped and will be here on Wednesday. Can't wait to use it!!

What are the two other options? I live in Ohio.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Young Again Zero / Zero Mature: http://www.youngagainpetfood.com/zero-formula.html
Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein Chicken: https://www.drelseys.com/learn-more/chicken-recipe/
There is also a Salmon flavour but it's closer to 9% carbs where as Chicken is around 5.5%.

Definitely try to give wet food for bigger meals though, the extra fluids from it and adding water, is beneficial for sugar kitties. Don't be turned away by the price, the 8lb bag of YAZ lasts my boy about 3 months. Pretty close to his old food which was a 28lb bag .