Can kittens have diabetes?

[feralgoddess]

I am a non-profit cat rescue. I took in a tortie that was diagnosed by my vet as having hyperthesia, but when I did some research it seems to me that she shows more signs of being diabetic instead. I will be taking her to the vet first thing in the morning but wanted to know if it is possible for a kitten to be diabetic.

 

[Blue]

http://www.ehow.com/about_4794498_felin ... ttens.html

 

[Karen & Pearl]

I am a non-profit cat rescue. I took in a tortie that was diagnosed by my vet as having hyperthesia, but when I did some research it seems to me that she shows more signs of being diabetic instead. I will be taking her to the vet first thing in the morning but wanted to know if it is possible for a kitten to be diabetic.

Possible but unusual. I remember we had a 2 year old that had it on the board. DOn't know that I have seen any younger. How old is it?

 

[feralgoddess]

She walks drunk and only eats a few bites several times a day. She gags on the dry food, refuses to eat it. She does not drink much. I am very concerned. She is around 6 months old. Since I take in many cats, I have seen many rare cases. Although diabetes is not rare, I have yet to deal with it.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Hi,
According to these two websites, the answer is "yes".

http://www.ehow.com/about_4794498_feline-diabetes-kittens.html

Description
Feline diabetes makes it difficult for a cat or kitten to regulate blood sugar levels. There are two different types of feline diabetes in kittens. A kitten with type 1 diabetes is unable to produce enough insulin naturally. Kittens with type 2 diabetes do not use insulin in the appropriate way. While both types of feline diabetes are most common in older, obese males, it is possible for cats and kittens of all ages to develop feline diabetes.

http://www.cathealthcareguide.com/feline-diabetes.php

Most of us may not know that our kittens will also suffer from Feline diabetes. Once you subject your cat to consume high carbohydrate diet such as commercially available pet food, the insulin resistance works against them that lead to FELINE DIABETES.

Carl

 

[feralgoddess]

Pounce has been on meds (like Prozac) for 2 weeks and it has slowed her down but I don't see a good improvement. Can these meds make it worse for her if she has diabetes? I think I will take her to another vet for a second opinion. Thank you so much for the fast replies.

 

[Karen & Pearl]

She walks drunk and only eats a few bites several times a day. She gags on the dry food, refuses to eat it. She does not drink much. I am very concerned. She is around 6 months old. Since I take in many cats, I have seen many rare cases. Although diabetes is not rare, I have yet to deal with it.

Diabetics drink a LOT. This sounds different to me. It sure sounds like something is going on but it doesn't sound like hyperesthesia either. I suppose you can't get a second opinion? Here are the symptoms of hyperesthesia:

Rippling of the skin over the back
Muscle spasms and twitching
Twitching of the tail.
Cats may exhibit strange behaviors in response to touching such as tail chasing, biting at the tail, flank and sides, to the point of self-directed aggression. They run, jump, hallucinate, vocalize, and even turn around and hiss.
They may self-mutilate with extreme biting, licking, chewing, and plucking of the hair (sometimes called “barbering” or “fur mowing”). This behavior leads to hair loss and sometimes to severe skin lesions.

 

[BJM]

She walks drunk and only eats a few bites several times a day. She gags on the dry food, refuses to eat it. She does not drink much.

Walking 'drunk' sounds more like cerebellar hypoplasia, a different neurologic problem.

Some sort of obstruction in her throat could make solid dry food problematic; the gagging could be neurologic too, or something else entirely.

Diabeteics drink constantly to help deal with the glucose content in the blood. They are also ravenous because they can't effectively use the food they eat, starving in the midst of plenty.

 

[pamela and tigger]

She walks drunk and only eats a few bites several times a day. She gags on the dry food, refuses to eat it. She does not drink much. I am very concerned. She is around 6 months old. Since I take in many cats, I have seen many rare cases. Although diabetes is not rare, I have yet to deal with it.

These don't sound like diabetes symptoms. I am glad to hear you are getting her checked out by another vet.

Pounce has been on meds (like Prozac) for 2 weeks and it has slowed her down but I don't see a good improvement. Can these meds make it worse for her if she has diabetes? I think I will take her to another vet for a second opinion. Thank you so much for the fast replies.

I just don't understand why a kitten of six months old is on 'prozac' or anything like it.

 

[Deanie and Boo (GA) and Scout]

Possible but unusual. I remember we had a 2 year old that had it on the board. DOn't know that I have seen any younger. How old is it?

Amanda's Iris (GA) was diagnosed at the age of 4 months. There's also a cat named Chantilly currently on the board who was diagnosed as a kitten.

 

[feralgoddess]

She does have a rippling and tail twitching issue. She does not have CH, unless it is a mild case and only affects her back legs. I have had many CH kitties, so I don't think it is but very similar. I did not give her the meds tonight and won't in the morning, just in case it is the wrong diagnoses. I will keep you posted and thanks again for the replies. She seems to be hypersensitive to noise and movement. She seems to be OK with petting which is unusual for hyperthesia. Like I said I tend to get rare cases.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

I am a non-profit cat rescue.

I have had many CH kitties, so I don't think it is but very similar. ... Like I said I tend to get rare cases.

I just wanted to say "thank you" for all that you do.
Carl

 

[feralgoddess]

Thank you, Carl. I have a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for cats and specialize in TNR (trap-neuter-return) for feral cats. I have removed eyes, tails and legs. Even got a cat that was shot with a arrow. I had a kitten with mega colon which was very rare. Dealing with a cat with thyroid issues now. This poor kitten is a big concern for she is not growing much and losing weight. The meds has slowed her down but it is the way she walks that is concerning me. Seems to be worse when she is on the meds.

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

It does not really sound like diabetes symptoms, hope a second opinion can help. I agree with the person that mentioned possibly an obstruction.

I just don't understand why a kitten of six months old is on 'prozac' or anything like it.

We have had our Mittens on meds like Prozac (and now Prozac for the last 2 months) since shortly after we got him, probably since he's been about 10 months old. He has something wrong, possibly hyperesthesia, that makes him alternate between running in sheer terror from his tail to fighting with it. He used to smash into the mirror on our head board and the legs of chairs when he'd run in fear trying to get away from his tail. I've had him in at least 3 times that he's managed to rip open a sore on his tale biting and clawing it while he fights it. I think Prozac is a lesser evil than leaving a kitten in that state that they could possibly do real harm to themselves.

eta: Prozac is a medicine that builds in the system so I don't think skipping many doses is a good idea.

 

[Karen & Pearl]

She walks drunk and only eats a few bites several times a day. She gags on the dry food, refuses to eat it. She does not drink much.

Walking 'drunk' sounds more like cerebellar hypoplasia, a different neurologic problem.

Some sort of obstruction in her throat could make solid dry food problematic; the gagging could be neurologic too, or something else entirely.

Diabeteics drink constantly to help deal with the glucose content in the blood. They are also ravenous because they can't effectively use the food they eat, starving in the midst of plenty.

I wondered about CH too. I knew a lady with a CH kitty that had trouble swallowing.