Confined Feral Cat Newly Diagnosed w/Diabetes..

[Miss Kitty's Mom]

We've cared for Miss Kitty as an outdoor feral in a colony for the last 8+ years. We trapped her again about 2 years ago, and she's been living the life of Riley on our enclosed back porch ever since. She was just diagnosed this week with diabetes....ravenous appetite, excessive water drinking and flooding her litter box to the point that it's nearly impossible to scoop. It's like trying to dig through cement! Issues are...we cannot touch her to give her any meds/injections. We've consulted with our vet (who diagnosed her), and he wants to try to manage her with diet along....since really we have no other choice. She's on Purina Pro Plan DM canned food, which she loves...so we're hoping that it makes a difference. Huge problem though is her litter box. Even though we scoop 3-4 times daily, it's like digging through cement. We use Dr. Elsey's Ultra in the blue box, and it's sticks like glue to the litter box. Has anyone had a similar experience: 1) with diabeties with an untouchable feral? and 2) Does anyone have a recommendation about a better litter to use? Very happy to have found this site....and we would greatly appreciate any suggestions and to learn how you folks have handles like situations. Thanks much!

 

[FurBabiesMama]

Welcome. I use and love Okocat natural wood litter. It clumps but does not create the 'concrete' that clay litter does. Chewy.com carries it.

It's very good of you to take care of Miss Kitty. I hope the diet change works. If not, I know there are others here with feral 'conversion' stories they could share to help you be able to manage diabetes treatment. Best wishes!

(Updated to add... I should have mentioned. This is really just a welcome forum. The main health forum is the best place to post any questions you have.)

 

[Idjit's mom]

Welcome to FDMB. I hope you can find solutions and answers to your questions to care for Miss Kitty. I do know that one member, Djamila has her story of conversion for her formerly feral Sam in her signature https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HXYL4-YAz6-yWNxEoqlRkp4aqJaAT6X_qYQ1ypgQpHw/edit. The process she followed is on page 3 of the document. It might be of some help to you.
Very best wishes as you go forward on this journey.

 

[Robert Vittetoe]

Just wanted to say welcome. I’m very new too. Pinot was just Diagnosed last Thursday. There is hope diet will make a big difference. Pinot had his first shot Friday evening, 2 shots Saturday and one Sunday. At diagnosis he was 607. Sunday we were able to get his blood tested for the first time. BG was 62. No shots since and BG is ok so far. I know it’s tough. Maybe you could get Miss Kitty in for a few shots of insulin and see what happens. I know part of your struggle. I have to put on motorcycle gloves just to get him in a carrier for vet visits. Well welcome again and hang in there.

 

[JanetNJ]

The dm food is ok but not necessary. Most in here feed fancy feast classic or Friskies pate foods. I have a link in my signature to a food list. Find foods under 10 percent carb. Since you won't be able to give insulin id even find ones under 4%. Add extra water to the food. I put about 3 ounces of water in my cats 5oz of food. (I feed Tiki cat because it's low carb and low phosphorus to help her kidneys).

For litter I use fresh step ultra unscented and fill the box with about 5-6 inches of litter so it's less likely to sink to the bottom and stick.

 

[AliceMeowliss (GA)]

That super sticky sugar pee is the worst in the litter box! All I can say for that is when kitty’s blood sugar gets more under control, that will improve! My 4-5lb cat was going through 40-50lbs of scoopable litter a week before her levels were better, and it was all like someone took clay and poured sugary kool-aid into it or something then made it impossibly heavy.

 

[Dandelion]

I can relate to the cement issue in the box when I used clay litter. I broke my scoop trying to pry/scrape/dig/ it off the bottom of the box and resorted to using a mini shovel from Lowe's to get some leverage on the stuff. Really like Tidy Cat Free and Clean.

I just checked out the Okocat litter mentioned upthread and will be trying that as a possible replacement for hard wood pellets currently in use. Thanks for the link.

I've won over a few untouchable feral cats via daily brushing with a slicker brush. Over time they learned the hands make 'em feel good and began to make contact with ME first by rubbing against my legs and waiting to be brushed. I attached the brush to a paint stick with duct tape then covered that with something cat nails will not get caught in easily(not good) - a piece of bike inner tube iirc. The stick allowed some distance between us for comfort and safety for all. I always brushed the cats from behind, never reached towards their face or over the head .. at first. After awhile I used both hands and alternated strokes, bare hand, brush, bare hand, brush. They could tell the difference and would twist around and check what I was doing. lol
I can't say Id be able to get blood samples from them or administer shots because I've never tried.

I had one get ill, not diabetic , and her meds were compounded into a cream I was able to apply to her inner ear flaps with some other gizmo I rigged up. It worked while she was alive. She tolerated it even though I was never able to brush her into contentment until the last weeks of her life. It was the first time I ever heard her purr.

I love ferals!

 

[AliceMeowliss (GA)]

I can relate to the cement issue in the box when I used clay litter. I broke my scoop trying to pry/scrape/dig/ it off the bottom of the box and resorted to using a mini shovel from Lowe's to get some leverage on the stuff. Really like Tidy Cat Free and Clean.

I just checked out the Okocat litter mentioned upthread and will be trying that as a possible replacement for hard wood pellets currently in use. Thanks for the link.

I've won over a few untouchable feral cats via daily brushing with a slicker brush. Over time they learned the hands make 'em feel good and began to make contact with ME first by rubbing against my legs and waiting to be brushed. I attached the brush to a paint stick with duct tape then covered that with something cat nails will not get caught in easily(not good) - a piece of bike inner tube iirc. The stick allowed some distance between us for comfort and safety for all. I always brushed the cats from behind, never reached towards their face or over the head .. at first. After awhile I used both hands and alternated strokes, bare hand, brush, bare hand, brush. They could tell the difference and would twist around and check what I was doing. lol
I can't say Id be able to get blood samples from them or administer shots because I've never tried.

I had one get ill, not diabetic , and her meds were compounded into a cream I was able to apply to her inner ear flaps with some other gizmo I rigged up. It worked while she was alive. She tolerated it even though I was never able to brush her into contentment until the last weeks of her life. It was the first time I ever heard her purr.

I love ferals!

Come to think of it.... brushing was what “tamed” my Alice’s biological mom, too! That brush was what she would come to my own mother for. Nice!