Can a hypo, high BGs...or DKA make a cat aggressive?

[Martica and Fred]

The Db kitty, Bam Bam, who was at the NYC ACC kill shelter and I pulled hiim on Friday. Allegedly he attackd his owner, who then called the police and apparently he attacked the police, too.

With me he has been an utter sweetheart--purring, lets me do ear tests, shots and even give him syringe in the mouth with the antibiotics...I can't imagine this kitty being aggressive...he's a lap cat.

He is also really frail---only 8 lbs and boney and no muscle mass. CLEARLY an untreated diabetic for a long time.

Should I be on the lookout for something? Could there be an underlying problem? If so, what should I tell the vet to check for?

One thing I have noticed is that when I pick him up, when I put pressure on his chest, he coughs. He is really congested with the shelter cold, I was thinking it was just that, but maybe something more serious is going on. Allegedly he is 16 years old.

He's on Lantus Day 3 now...first BG reading was low but he's in the 300s and 400s still, giving it time, started him on 0.5U BID.

 

[Shelly/Boots]

Hi Martica,
Yes HB's can make you crazy, mosly loopy . Usually it's the low ones that bring out the bad behavior. Have you checked for ketones?
I think you need to have a vet look at him and get x-rays. I think he either was injured or he could have a respiratory infection
causing body to be in a lot of pain. Because you are an animal person and attuned to him, he can let down his guard a little.
He knows your not gonna be careless with him and hurt him, so he isn't frightened.
Lucky him to have you. God bless you. xo
Shelly

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Some people, even cat owners, don't read body language so if bam bam wasn't feeling well he probably was showing that in his body language. You read that well being a cat person but some people wouldn't and may have tried to pick him up or do something he didn't want and it sounds like he may have gotten hurt too. Poor boy. I would just tell the vet all of this and he will check for injuries etc. poor bam bam.

Let us know how he gets on.

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Really low numbers can make cats aggressive too. Bert has had 3 hypos and each time he became really aggressive/defensive - which made it really hard to test his BG levels. Hypo completely changed his character...