Animal shelter volunteer looking for more info

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sotto1031

sotto1031

Member Since 2015
Hi everyone! I volunteer at a local animal shelter, caring for the cats who are available for adoption. I found this site while searching for more information about feline diabetes, and I am hoping that some of you might be able to help me with a situation I have.

Right now, there is a very sweet, 4-year-old female cat at the shelter who was found as a stray with a litter of kittens. Recently, she was treated for a wound in her mouth and given a Depo injection. After the wound was healed, and she was ready to be put up for adoption, the vet did a blood test and found that her blood glucose was very high. As a result, the initial recommendation was euthanasia, because it was thought she had diabetes. However, it was also noted that the Depo could have raised her blood glucose levels, so she has been in a holding pattern ever since while they wait to see if the levels go back down.

First of all, I really don't agree with the idea that she should be euthanized simply for being diabetic, if that turns out to be the case. She is an incredibly sweet cat who would make a wonderful companion for someone. I have one cat who has been an only child his whole life (and I don't entirely know how he'd handle another cat), but I started thinking seriously about whether I should offer to take her, if she turns out to have diabetes and would otherwise be put down. I just can't bear the thought of her being euthanized for what seems like no good reason. And that is why I've come to this forum, hoping to get a better understanding of what would be involved if I chose to adopt a diabetic cat.

I would be very grateful for any thoughts or insights you have -- thanks so much for listening!
 
Yes the Depo in combination with dry food is probably what caused the elevated glucose. That combination is what caused my cat to become diabetic among other things.
The good news, with prompt and proper treatment, it is possible to get the condition in remission (meaning diet controlled and doesn't require insulin).

First, this cat needs to be put on canned food that has less than 10% carbs (wet food is the best food for cats). Most of us feed Fancy Feast Classic (not the gravy lovers) or Little Friskies Classic Pate (with the exception of Mixed Grill). These foods are inexpensive and along with insulin helped my cat go into remission in about 10 weeks. Sometimes just the change in food can reduce the glucose level but it will need to be monitored daily to see if insulin is required. Even if a cat goes into remission weekly monitoring is necessary to catch a relapse early----once a diabetic they are always considered a diabetic even if the condition is diet controlled.

Second, an inexpensive glucometer. Walmart Relion Micro or Confirm is inexpensive and readily available. This is what I use.

This website will give you a lot of information and it has a food list as well: http://catinfo.org/

I hope this little bit of information helps to answer some of your questions. Don't hesitate to ask questions. Remember the only "stupid" question is the one you don't ask.
 
I admire your willingness to help an animal in this situation by educating yourself. I will also tell you that my now diet controlled diabetic cat needed insulin for only a short time. When I changed his diet from vet prescribed high carb dry food to low carb wet food -less than 10% carbs, he basically has not needed insulin ever since. Of course, every cat is different, but in my case what my cat needed was to eat what he was meant to eat which is meat! If you do decide to adopt this cat we hope you will continue posting your questions so we can help you to help this sweet kitty.
 
Thank you so much. It's really encouraging to hear that sometimes a controlled diet is enough to manage the disease (although if she required insulin as well, so be it). I think when I go in for my volunteer shift tomorrow I'm going to inquire about at least fostering her to start with. Maybe I can foster her long enough to get her diabetes under control without insulin, which could make it easier to find her a permanent home. Or maybe I'll just fall in love with her, and if she and my other cat get along okay, she can just stay. :-)
 
I have had a 50% success rate with diabetic cats from a shelter.
In July of last year I adopter Dulce as an untreated diabetic. No real history on him. After just a a month of insulin he no longer needed insulin.
I adopted Patches II last December. She was left in an apartment when the tenets left so no history. I can control her blod glucose under 100 all the time with 1 1/2 units of Lantus.
 
Sounds like you have a good plan. :):cat: I will also say that it is much easier to do a diet change before any insulin dose is in the picture. Once the cat is on insulin, you must test the blood glucose level constantly so you are giving the correct dose. The amount of insulin my cat needed changed almost daily during our food switch. So doing the switch in foods first is very wise.

I'd also suggest that you consider getting an inexpensive human glucose monitor so you can keep an eye on the glucose levels in the kitty. that way you will be able to judge the effectiveness of the food switch in lowering her levels. Don't let a vet tell you that you need an expensive pet specific meter. Home testing sounds awful when you imagine it but the truth is that it's really not a big deal once you and the cat get used to it. My cat jumps up on the table at the correct times each day for his test and of course the yummy low carb treat that follows. If you decide to do it we will be happy to help you with any questions you may have. Good luck to you!
 
Thank you Larry and Jan! I am so glad I found this forum.

Here is a picture of the kitty in question. Isn't she a doll? :cat:
 

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CJ went into remission in less than 3 weeks after a change to a low carb canned food diet and possibly help with short-term insulin. She no longer shows the signs of diabetes (frequent hunger, constantly gulping down water, lots of trips to the litter box and trouble walking). She is on steroids (prednisilone) daily and is doing very well.

Feline diabetes is very manageable and is not the end of the world. Many cats here lead very happy, long lives. We have 18, 19 and 20 year olds still going strong here! Some are still on insulin; others are not.

This beautiful 4 year old shelter cat has so many lives left! She deserves a home!
 
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There are some links in my signature you may find helpful:
Secondary Monitoring Tools
And, if you decide to adopt her, you'll want a to discuss the Vet Interview topics with your vet.
 
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What a beautiful healthy looking kitty...it would be terrible to put her down. I think it is wonderful you are thinking of taking her. She will no doubt reward you with love and devotion.
This is a great site with many wonderful people who will help you every step of the way.
Diabetes is a very manageable disease and cats that have steroid induced diabetes often go off the insulin.......of course there is no guarantee she will stay off of it but with the right food and treatment there is a good chance.
I wish you the best of luck and I hope your only cat will accept her.....introduce her slowly and give your present cat plenty of attention. When you get to that stage post here and there are people who have done it successfully and can help.

I would first start giving only low carb wet food. The sooner you start that the better for the cat. It doesn't have to be expensive food or prescription food. This page below will give you some ideas. Not sure which country you live in but most countries are covered.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/food-links.133016/

Good luck. Please keep posting and asking questions.. We are all on your side cheering you on.:bighug:
 
Dear Sotto
What is your name? I'll just call you ANGEL Sotto! That is what you are!
Everyone here has given you super great advice already.The food is very very important. Make sure if she remains at shelter, even for awhile, that she is to be given ONLY the canned wet! I would start immediately, transitioning her to the low carb wet.
I am excited for you! You are going to be learning so much that is going to help you help other kitties in the future.
Yes, it can be trying & difficult learning this sugar dance but it is invaluable knowledge and imparts deep confidence in self. And alot of pride in knowing that YOU are helping to SAVE A LIFE.
This beautiful kitty resembles my little sugar boy, Tucker!
He was in pitiful shape 2 months ago! So was I! If I hadn't found this site, I don't know if he would've even survived.

So thank you so much for your beautiful heart, Angel Sotto and Welcome!! Like has been said, ask questions, we're all here for YOU. -Brenda
 
Tucker&Me said:
Dear Sotto
What is your name? I'll just call you ANGEL Sotto! That is what you are!
Everyone here has given you super great advice already.The food is very very important. Make sure if she remains at shelter, even for awhile, that she is to be given ONLY the canned wet! I would start immediately, transitioning her to the low carb wet.
I am excited for you! You are going to be learning so much that is going to help you help other kitties in the future.
Yes, it can be trying & difficult learning this sugar dance but it is invaluable knowledge and imparts deep confidence in self. And alot of pride in knowing that YOU are helping to SAVE A LIFE.
This beautiful kitty resembles my little sugar boy, Tucker!
He was in pitiful shape 2 months ago! So was I! If I hadn't found this site, I don't know if he would've even survived.

So thank you so much for your beautiful heart, Angel Sotto and Welcome!! Like has been said, ask questions, we're all here for YOU. -Brenda
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Luna went into remission in the shelter by being switched from dry to wet, then came out after awhile, but that did the job at first.
 
sotto1031 said:
Here is a picture of the kitty in question. Isn't she a doll? :cat:
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Awwwwwww! She really is gorgeous! I'm so glad that she had the great fortune to meet you. You are so caring and compassionate. I think it's wonderful that you're trying to help her. Does she have a name?

These are for you >>> :bighug::bighug::bighug:

I hope that everything will fall into place for you and this beautiful girl. :)
.
 
Hello again, everyone! I didn't realize I had missed so many wonderful messages over the weekend -- I really can't thank you all enough for your support and encouragement. It makes me even more confident that I am doing the right thing in trying to save this beautiful girl's life.

Quick update: on Saturday I spoke with the adoptions supervisor, and she was absolutely in favor of me taking in this cat if I was willing to provide her with the ongoing medical treatment she needs. In fact, she told me that's how she got her own cat -- the cat was about to be euthanized for aggression, but she took him in, and although it was a huge struggle, she learned everything she could about cat behavior, and two years later, he's doing great. So the adoptions supervisor added a memo to this kitty's record about my interest in fostering her, and the next step is for me to speak with the shelter vet (I just emailed her a few minutes ago).

So keep your fingers crossed, everyone! I'm going to save a life! :D
 
Tucker&Me said:
Dear Sotto
What is your name? I'll just call you ANGEL Sotto! That is what you are!
Everyone here has given you super great advice already.The food is very very important. Make sure if she remains at shelter, even for awhile, that she is to be given ONLY the canned wet! I would start immediately, transitioning her to the low carb wet.
I am excited for you! You are going to be learning so much that is going to help you help other kitties in the future.
Yes, it can be trying & difficult learning this sugar dance but it is invaluable knowledge and imparts deep confidence in self. And alot of pride in knowing that YOU are helping to SAVE A LIFE.
This beautiful kitty resembles my little sugar boy, Tucker!
He was in pitiful shape 2 months ago! So was I! If I hadn't found this site, I don't know if he would've even survived.

So thank you so much for your beautiful heart, Angel Sotto and Welcome!! Like has been said, ask questions, we're all here for YOU. -Brenda
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Brenda -- my name is Sarah. :)

And I should probably have told you all that the kitty's name is She-Hulk!
 
She Hulk how wonderful, and a beautiful little kitty she is and so young, well done to you for finding this site, you are definitely in the right place. My Molly was on Insulin for 5 weeks with a diet change, and she is now in remission, sure it was scary at first and many a sleepless night, but you will get GREAT SUPPORT AND ADVICE on here, and that little one is worth it. I wish you all the luck in the world with the fostering process, im sure it was meant to be.:cat:
 
sotto1031 said:
It makes me even more confident that I am doing the right thing in trying to save this beautiful girl's life.
So keep your fingers crossed, everyone! I'm going to save a life! :D
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Fantastic news!! Thank you for all the wonderful work you do.

When you have a chance, can you post a photo of She-Hulk in your profile photo? She is a beautiful cat.
 
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Cat Ma said:
Bonnie stuck out her paws and tried to grab me as I walked by her cage. She's a polydactyl. CJ, in the same cage with her, wouldn't stop hollering. My decision was made.
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I had never even heard of a polydactyl cat before! More to love!

I will say with Luna they undersold the diabetes quite a bit. "Just give her this shot 2x a day and she'll be fine". Found there's a little more to it then that lol (and yes it's definitely worth it, sneaky! :)).
 
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My cat Anthony is polydactyl too! He's got these awesome thumbs on his front paws. He totally chose me at the shelter -- after visiting with him, I was holding another cat, and I felt these eyes on me. It was Anthony, staring me down as if to say, "WHAT are you doing?? I thought we had something there..." So that was it! That was 7 years ago, we've been together ever since. :D

I'm a little nervous about how he's going to react when he smells another cat on the premises... but who could resist She-Hulk's charms, right? :kiss:
 
Critter Mom said:
Sarah, how did She-Hulk get her name?
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pevsfreedom said:
Perhaps you wouldn't like her when she's angry... and she's a she?
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Lol... Good question! That's the name the shelter gave her, I am guessing someone in intake is a comic book fan! My boyfriend is a huge comic book fan as well, so I think the name is actually helping to sell him on this whole crazy idea. :p
 
pevsfreedom said:
I had never even heard of a polydactyl cat before! More to love!

I will say with Luna they undersold the diabetes quite a bit. "Just give her this shot 2x a day and she'll be fine". Found there's a little more to it then that lol.
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Polydactyls are fun to play catch with. Bonnie tries to grab my face and head in her quest to groom me. I had to kitty proof all of our cabinets and closet doors because she gets into everything she can get her fingers....er, I mean paws, on. So far, she hasn't figured how to open the fridge, thankfully.

Sugar cats are extra special. And extra sweet. More to love about them :)
 
sotto1031 said:
I'm a little nervous about how he's going to react when he smells another cat on the premises... but who could resist She-Hulk's charms, right?
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The fact that they're different genders could be a real plus in getting them to accept sharing the space.

I hope you get to give her a heart name as well as her official name. She's far too fair of face to spend the rest of her nine lives with only She-Hulk as a monicker. :)
.
 
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