Help! My cat hates getting insulin injections. I thought he'd be okay because he's quite docile but that's turned out not to be the case. I've tried treats, distraction with brushing and stroking, training him in the process step by step, positive feedback but it seems he's just very sensitive to the process. Even when vets inject him at the clinic with anything he cries out as if in pain. The vet has watched me inject him and said I'm doing it correctly but at home he cries out everytime the needle goes in and now he squirms and twists so much injection is becoming impossible. Even worse he's running from me in fear when I even just approach him which just breaks my heart. We have a really close bond and seeing him frightened of me is unbearable. We're both totally miserable. I'm at my wit's end and getting extremely painful thunderclap headaches myself now if I have to give the insulin, it feels like my head is exploding. We can't continue like this but I just don't know what to do anymore...
Cat Refusing Insulin Injections
- Thread starter DanRuben
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Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)
Member Since 2019
So sorry I know how stressful that is. Bobo was like that too.
What insulin is he on and what dose? Also what gauge syringes are you using and where are you injecting? Bobo was the same way. I had to wrap him in a towel and do tons of im sorry afterwards. He was fine with testing multiple times a day but not the shots. It may be worth a shot trying a different area
What insulin is he on and what dose? Also what gauge syringes are you using and where are you injecting? Bobo was the same way. I had to wrap him in a towel and do tons of im sorry afterwards. He was fine with testing multiple times a day but not the shots. It may be worth a shot trying a different area
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.:. in.active .:.
Member Since 2023
Could you perhaps jab him while his head is in the food bowl?
My boy wasn't bothered much about the injections at the beginning but about a month ago he became very antsy. Now he does that abrupt "ima bite you, bro" head swerve every time. He is extremely docile too, he never once bit or even hissed at me in his 10 years... but now the hissing is a daily occurrence around shot times. The only way I could get around it is shooting him while he's eating. Sometimes he doesn't even notice it, so I do believe it's more of a psychological distress for him, rather than a physical pain.
I also have noticed that in our case he is more accepting of the shots when the dose is lower - as in (this is just my theory, so take it with a pinch of salt) when he behaves like this I know to expect a big drop in his BG at some point. It's as if like this was his way of communicating the dose is too high and he doesn't want it. I know this theory/assumption is 'really out there' but it's an observation that I have encountered on numerous occasions - and is actually happening right now, too
(currently getting ready the karo, a mere two hours after our hiss-shoot malarkey, because he's dropping rapidly)
My boy wasn't bothered much about the injections at the beginning but about a month ago he became very antsy. Now he does that abrupt "ima bite you, bro" head swerve every time. He is extremely docile too, he never once bit or even hissed at me in his 10 years... but now the hissing is a daily occurrence around shot times. The only way I could get around it is shooting him while he's eating. Sometimes he doesn't even notice it, so I do believe it's more of a psychological distress for him, rather than a physical pain.
I also have noticed that in our case he is more accepting of the shots when the dose is lower - as in (this is just my theory, so take it with a pinch of salt) when he behaves like this I know to expect a big drop in his BG at some point. It's as if like this was his way of communicating the dose is too high and he doesn't want it. I know this theory/assumption is 'really out there' but it's an observation that I have encountered on numerous occasions - and is actually happening right now, too
(currently getting ready the karo, a mere two hours after our hiss-shoot malarkey, because he's dropping rapidly)
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Thanks. He's on 1 unit of Optisulin 2x p.d. The needles are 0.25mm 31G, "Ultra-Fine II". I injected myself with one subcutaneously in my arm to feel what he'd be feeling and I couldn't feel anything at all except the faintest hint of a sting. However I read that the insulin itself going in can cause some pain so maybe that's the problem. He usually reacts when I depress the plunger, not when the needle pierces the skin. But now he knows what's coming he turns into a tornado as soon as I tent his skin. I might try a different spot and see what happens, that's about the only option I have at the moment.
Even when he's busy eating as soon as I tent the skin he instantly stops and turns into a twisting, squirming blob of jelly.
He's on 1 unit at the moment, the lowest dose as he's just started the treatment.
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Member Since 2015
Can you take a photo of the syringe please.? I don’t recognise the 0.25 mm part of the syringe.
Optisulin is the insulin available in Australia and New Zealand….Do you come from either of those countries.?
I would also try a different spot to inject the insulin to see if that helps.
Glargine (which is the same as Optisulin) can sting but usually at larger doses. If it continue to be a problem, you might like to look at swapping to Levemir insulin which is much the same as Optisulin and does not sting.
Optisulin is the insulin available in Australia and New Zealand….Do you come from either of those countries.?
I would also try a different spot to inject the insulin to see if that helps.
Glargine (which is the same as Optisulin) can sting but usually at larger doses. If it continue to be a problem, you might like to look at swapping to Levemir insulin which is much the same as Optisulin and does not sting.
Kelly Namey
Member Since 2023
Have You considered his diet? Mine got insulin until I switched his diet to low carb. Fancy Feast pate chicken or salmon is all he gets, twice daily. He's in remission bc of the change! No more insulin for now.
.:. in.active .:.
Member Since 2023
I previously noticed the stinging too, and what worked for us was injecting it room temperature as opposed to cold, straight after drawing it. According to one of the vets I spoke to it shouldn't matter much, as the injection is subcutaneous as opposed to venous where it would be uncomfortable, but clearly its coldness was an issue for us/making it sting him more(?).
I know you said he seems to be jelly-ing more when you move the plunger rather than jabbing him with the needle, but I thought I'd share what my specialist said to me on this topic, regardless:
• I'm trying to alternate the insulin shooting sites, but as of lately, no matter where I shoot him, he hisses at me once I jab him with the needle, regardless of tenting his skin appropriately. I don't know whether it's just annoyance or I'm actually hurting him.
I think at this point he is more frustrated than in pain as his skin should not be thinning. Rarely with liver disease in conjunction with diabetes do we get thin skin and pain when giving the injections.
(My boy's labs are fresh and clean apart from the diabetes. Hence my previous statement regarding it's likely more psychological as opposed to physical for them.)
.:. in.active .:.
Member Since 2023
The needle dead volume perhaps?
"Dead volume is defined as the volume of solution that remains in the needle after an injection."
I'm guessing he uses this one?
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Member Since 2015
OK I can see that the 0.25mm is also the same as 31G, just a different way of expressing it...so all good
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