HELP! Cat sitting for diabetic cat and he stopped eating...

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adamrobertt

Member Since 2017
I've been watching a 13 year old male orange tabby for about a month. He is diabetic, but not on insulin. He eats special diabetic cat food (Royal Canin Glycobalance, which I've read isn't the best) but that's it.

For the first 3 or 3.5 weeks that I was watching him, he was eating all the time and drinking tons of water. But over this past weekend his appetite decreased significantly and he stopped drinking water. Every time he did eat he would vomit almost immediately. We took him to the emergency vet after about a day and a half of this behavior and they ran his blood glucose, ketones, gave him subcutaneous fluids and anti nausea medication. They wanted to run full blood tests but I really couldn't afford to pay for it.

His blood glucose was in the low 400s, which the vet said is slightly high but not horrible, and that his ketones were .4, which the vet said also wasn't too bad.

After getting him home, we've gotten him to eat a couple of times, and he's stopped vomiting, and is acting a bit more normal (he was very lethargic before) but we are still very concerned with how little he is eating and drinking.

He seemed to be more interested in a small sample sized container of Sheeba wet food that a friend gave us to try - we put it on top of his normal food. However, it wasn't "diabetes" food, so I don't want to keep giving it to him.

Does it make sense that he just suddenly doesn't like his food anymore? Is there a brand of wet food that I can easily obtain that is safe for diabetic cats? His owners won't be home for another week or so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
 
adamrobertt said:
I've been watching a 13 year old male orange tabby for about a month. He is diabetic, but not on insulin. He eats special diabetic cat food (Royal Canin Glycobalance, which I've read isn't the best) but that's it.

For the first 3 or 3.5 weeks that I was watching him, he was eating all the time and drinking tons of water. But over this past weekend his appetite decreased significantly and he stopped drinking water. Every time he did eat he would vomit almost immediately. We took him to the emergency vet after about a day and a half of this behavior and they ran his blood glucose, ketones, gave him subcutaneous fluids and anti nausea medication. They wanted to run full blood tests but I really couldn't afford to pay for it.

His blood glucose was in the low 400s, which the vet said is slightly high but not horrible, and that his ketones were .4, which the vet said also wasn't too bad.

After getting him home, we've gotten him to eat a couple of times, and he's stopped vomiting, and is acting a bit more normal (he was very lethargic before) but we are still very concerned with how little he is eating and drinking.

He seemed to be more interested in a small sample sized container of Sheeba wet food that a friend gave us to try - we put it on top of his normal food. However, it wasn't "diabetes" food, so I don't want to keep giving it to him.

Does it make sense that he just suddenly doesn't like his food anymore? Is there a brand of wet food that I can easily obtain that is safe for diabetic cats? His owners won't be home for another week or so.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
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I can't reply at length right now but I'd be concerned about any level of ketones in a cat that isn't eating well. Add extra water to his wet food and/or syringe it into him. Hydration is very important. He HAS TO eat so try all meat in broth baby food if necessary (no onion/seasonings added) and he NEEDS insulin at a good enough dose to keep ketones down. This is a situation that can turn bad quickly.
 
Well, I can't get him insulin. His owners don't even have any on hand and I am not in a financial position to pay for any. His owners aren't home for a week or so and want me to just wait it out. I don't think they are expecting him to live much longer. :/ He also does not have a "normal" wet food aside from the little bit I obtained from elsewhere. His owners don't normally give it to him. I'm probably going to get some Fancy Feast today to give to him though to try to get him to eat more.
 
adamrobertt said:
He seemed to be more interested in a small sample sized container of Sheeba wet food that a friend gave us to try - we put it on top of his normal food. However, it wasn't "diabetes" food, so I don't want to keep giving it to him.
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If it is the Sheba Perfect Portions Pates (not 'Cuts in Gravy'), those are okay for diabetics to eat (only 3 carbs). Sometimes, that is all I can get my girls to be interested in.

This cat food database can be used to find acceptable foods, keep carbs under 10, also when there are kidney issues, it is best to keep phos under 300.
 
FurBabiesMama said:
If it is the Sheba Perfect Portions Pates (not 'Cuts in Gravy'), those are okay for diabetics to eat (only 3 carbs). Sometimes, that is all I can get my girls to be interested in.

This cat food database can be used to find acceptable foods, keep carbs under 10, also when there are kidney issues, it is best to keep phos under 300.
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Ok, thanks. I think that's exactly what the Sheeba food was actually. I understand that what I can do in this situation is limited. All I can really do is try to get him to keep eating and hope for the best until his owners get home. Not exactly ideal.
 
You get credit for taking care of him for them for so long, and for being concerned enough to post here for help. :)
 
First and foremost, bless you for trying to help him.

Why don't they think he will live much longer? Are there any other medical issues? If not treated for diabetes he will not live much longer and he will be really sick in the meantime. It could also be construed as neglect. What kind of people are they? It is so manageable. And if they don't want to be "bothered" they can rehome him.

I know you have no say in the matter of treatment, but I question if the owners should be allowed to keep him. My Smokey was 12 when diagnosed and lived until 18 1/2.

Sorry for the rant. This just really #$?;: me off. Yes some fancy feast pate might help if you can manage that.
 
Woodsywife said:
First and foremost, bless you for trying to help him.

Why don't they think he will live much longer? Are there any other medical issues? If not treated for diabetes he will not live much longer and he will be really sick in the meantime. It could also be construed as neglect. What kind of people are they? It is so manageable. And if they don't want to be "bothered" they can rehome him.

I know you have no say in the matter of treatment, but I question if the owners should be allowed to keep him. My Smokey was 12 when diagnosed and lived until 18 1/2.

Sorry for the rant. This just really #$?;: me off. Yes some fancy feast pate might help if you can manage that.
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I really don't know why they don't have insulin. I know money is a concern but I'm not really sure. They are good people, otherwise I wouldn't be house sitting for them for an entire month... I also don't really know the extent of his diabetes. It's very possible that his case is mild and their vet told them that he didn't need insulin. They didn't give me much detail about his health condition or his care aside from how much to feed him etc.
 
My Tigger went thru a period of not eating very much and my vet told me to feed him whatever he will eat. The food chart has many good choices that are low carb and Fancy Feast Classic is one of them...any flavor I believe. He will get some fluid intake from the wet food so that is a plus. I would feed him whatever he will eat at this point. He is going to need to go on insulin but food changes can help alot. Thank you for trying so hard to do the right thing by him. You are one of his guardian angels :)
 
Sorry I ranted. Maybe they wanted to wait until they were home to start treatment. I will give them the benefit of doubt. If it's cost, we have so many ways here to make it affordable. But then if they can be away for a month............

So for now. Sheba, Fancy Feast, or Friskies canned pate cat food is just fine. He does not need prescription food. You can add some water to it so he gets some extra water. Most kitties when sick will eat baby food beef, ham, turkey, no onions or garlic in it.

If you can and willing to pick up a bottle of ketone dip sticks for humans available in any drug store. You dip it in his urine match the color. Anything over trace needs to be addressed by vet.

What country are you in? So we know what is available for you.
 
Ok, well here's an update: after making this thread I went to Rite Aid and bought a few cans of Fancy Feast wet food. As soon as I opened the can (he was in the other room) he BOLTED into the room and started meowing at me like crazy. I added a little water to half the can, put it in his bowl, and he devoured it.

I'm in the United States. The cat's owners are both European, so maybe that has something to do with their attitude toward his care (maybe that's just a stereotype though, so forgive me if I'm out of line)

Should I tell his owner that the prescription food she buys is like the shittiest food to give him? I feel bad that she probably spends a lot of money and has a prescription for this stuff, especially when she doesn't think she has enough money to pay for insulin. Here's to hoping he keeps it down.
 
adamrobertt said:
Should I tell his owner that the prescription food she buys is like the shittiest food to give him?
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Maybe let them know that there are cheaper and better options for their kitty in the food department and that can free some $$ for insulin. Which the switch to a low carb wet food can do wonders for the BG's and insulin needs.
 
So glad he is eating. I would definitely tell owners about this forum. There are so many ways to make it affordable including the insulin. Actually once the initial costs of the equipment needed is done, the most expensive thing long term is the test strips because you use them daily. And guess what, we know the most affordable one out there. And places where people donate their supplies when they don't need them anymore. There are organizations that can help, if they are willing to learn and be proactively involved. If not let them know there are people who are willing to take diabetic cats and rehoming is better than letting him suffer through the miserable side effects. Think about having a really bad case of the flu but you don't get better and you never will, you keep getting worse until you just give up and die because it's the only way to get relief.

By the way what is your name?
 
God bless you for trying to help this kitty! I am with Woodsywife in thinking there is something wrong with this picture. I have to seriously wonder why anyone leaving their pet for a month wouldn't leave some arrangements for the cat to get veterinary care should the need arise. A lot can happen in a month and you've been left in a very difficult position. So kudos for doing what you can. You are to be commended.
Hopefully the cat will improve with the wet diet and the owners appreciate the great care and concern you have shown for their cat in their absence.
 
Not sure why the vet would say 400 is slightly elevated.... It's VERY elevated. 200 is slightly elevated. 400's without insulin is begging for ketoacidosis. Normal is 68-150... And that food is aweful for diabetic cats. Fancy Feast classic or Friskies pate. They put you in an aweful position. If they don't start giving this cat insulin he's going to have organ failure in the not too distant future. With insulin he could live along healthy life. It's sad.
 
adamrobertt said:
Should I tell his owner that the prescription food she buys is like the shittiest food to give him?
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Yes - say exactly that!
He'll better off on Friskies $0.48/5.5 oz can or the FF Pates $0.57 from Walmart..
Two bags of Rx cat food should pay for a vile of insulin from Walmart, I cannot remember it's name though I think Novolin?
Vetsulin from Walmart is also affordable brand of insulin..
I would not spend any additional money on vet who thinks 0.4 ketones isn't bad or the blood glucose in 400s is all right.
God bless your kindness! Please post with any questions.
 
Tanya and Ducia said:
Yes - say exactly that!
He'll better off on Friskies $0.48/5.5 oz can or the FF Pates $0.57 from Walmart..
Two bags of Rx cat food should pay for a vile of insulin from Walmart, I cannot remember it's name though I think Novolin?
Vetsulin from Walmart is also affordable brand of insulin..
I would not spend any additional money on vet who thinks 0.4 ketones isn't bad or the blood glucose in 400s is all right.
God bless your kindness! Please post with any questions.
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Exactly. While she's changing the food she can change vets. Diabetes is not life threatening if it's treated! Untreated it's deadly.
 
I sincerely hope you can convey our concern to the owners of this kitty. Kudos to you for coming here to ask for advice. Diabetes is a very treatable condition and it doesn't have to cost the moon. We can help if they're willing to up their game.
 
Leaving untreated is not a painless death :(.

Maybe you should take the kitty :smuggrin:. Very awesome of you to take charge to try and help him. I do have to wonder about the owner's though, if insulin cost is an issue, how are they going away for a month? Unless there is a family issue that they need to tend to, I can understand, but if it's just for pleasure :arghh::(
 
Maybe they think it's "torturing" to give shots twice a day? The needles are so thin the cat often doesn't feel them or care.
 
adamrobertt said:
Well, I can't answer questions about the owner's motivations because I don't know, but I can tell you guys that the cat is doing MUCH better now and he's basically back to his old self, drinking water, eating food, generally being a pain in the ass. So at least that is good news.
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That's good to hear at least!!

If the problem with insulin truly is a matter of not being able to afford it, you could tell the owners to contact DCIN (Diabetic Cats In Need)...we can help supply insulin and testing supplies to get started with at least.

Although I wonder what others have....if they can afford to be out of town for a month, I'd think they could afford insulin.....but we don't know the whole situation so for now, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
 
I've nothing to add that hasn't been said but well done to you fo doing everything you are doing! Really hope that kitty will get everything he/she needs.
 
Chris & China said:
That's good to hear at least!!

If the problem with insulin truly is a matter of not being able to afford it, you could tell the owners to contact DCIN (Diabetic Cats In Need)...we can help supply insulin and testing supplies to get started with at least.

Although I wonder what others have....if they can afford to be out of town for a month, I'd think they could afford insulin.....but we don't know the whole situation so for now, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.
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I also gave the benefit of doubt early on. I hope maybe because they knew they were going away and wanted to wait until they got back to start treatment.
 
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