Mrowzers
Member Since 2020
New Member
Good morning!
My name is Jen. I'm from Ontario Canada, and my diabetic cat's name is Birthday Kitty, but usually is called Mrow. We have two other cats in the home who are not diabetic.
Mrow is an 11yo domestic shorthair, with tortoise shell markings. We have had her since the age of roughly 6 weeks. She is spayed, and lives exclusively indoors. She used to play outside, but we no longer have a yard or balcony.
Mrow was diagnosed around Jun 8 2020.
I took her to the vet for having litterbox issues, lethargy and decreased appetite, weakness in the hindquarters and walking on hocks, excessive water consumption, and being withdrawn and not vocalizing with humans as usual. She also suffered weight loss.
She used to be free-fed Royal Canin dry kibble, we mixed the senior and indoor formulas.
We now feed all of our cats a scheduled, wet-only diet of friskies and fancy feast pates and chunks with gravy, three times daily (still adjusting to the schedule, one of the other cats is less than impressed
)
Her first bg spot check with the vet was yesterday, and they told me she read 11.6, but I am awaiting a phone conversation with the vet for further explanation and instruction.
She has been treated to this point with one unit of Lantus in a 0.5ml/cc u-100 ultrafine veterinary needle twice daily, at 7am and 7pm.
We have seen some improvement in energy, attitude, and vocalization, she is much more alert and engaged. Her appetite seems to be back in force, as she gets very excited for meals now, lol. She's regained a small amount of weight, as well. She is drinking less excessively, and is no longer eliminating outside her litterbox, but still has waste in the fur from being unable to use the hind legs well. I've been using some waterless cat shampoo, and occasionally having my son help me give her brief wet-baths to keep up hygiene (she's his cat, and will do almost anything for him, even bathe).
I ordered an Alphatrak 2 as it is what my vet uses. On suggestion from Sugarcats, I will be picking up a more affordable meter for dailies, and use the AT2 for vet reporting, as finances are a consideration.
I'm very new to the intricacies of this disease and managing it, but will be starting the bg monitoring/learning process tonight.
I've joined the sugarcats facebook group, also.
This is a LOT to learn and manage, and I won't deny feeling overwhelmed. I also feel pretty hopeful; I have recieved a great deal of support from other caregivers of diabetic cats so far, and am relieved to know such support exists.
Hopefully I've included all the relevant and important information. I'm relieved to get started here and hopefully one day achieve remission for Mrow!
Good morning!
My name is Jen. I'm from Ontario Canada, and my diabetic cat's name is Birthday Kitty, but usually is called Mrow. We have two other cats in the home who are not diabetic.
Mrow is an 11yo domestic shorthair, with tortoise shell markings. We have had her since the age of roughly 6 weeks. She is spayed, and lives exclusively indoors. She used to play outside, but we no longer have a yard or balcony.
Mrow was diagnosed around Jun 8 2020.
I took her to the vet for having litterbox issues, lethargy and decreased appetite, weakness in the hindquarters and walking on hocks, excessive water consumption, and being withdrawn and not vocalizing with humans as usual. She also suffered weight loss.
She used to be free-fed Royal Canin dry kibble, we mixed the senior and indoor formulas.
We now feed all of our cats a scheduled, wet-only diet of friskies and fancy feast pates and chunks with gravy, three times daily (still adjusting to the schedule, one of the other cats is less than impressed
Her first bg spot check with the vet was yesterday, and they told me she read 11.6, but I am awaiting a phone conversation with the vet for further explanation and instruction.
She has been treated to this point with one unit of Lantus in a 0.5ml/cc u-100 ultrafine veterinary needle twice daily, at 7am and 7pm.
We have seen some improvement in energy, attitude, and vocalization, she is much more alert and engaged. Her appetite seems to be back in force, as she gets very excited for meals now, lol. She's regained a small amount of weight, as well. She is drinking less excessively, and is no longer eliminating outside her litterbox, but still has waste in the fur from being unable to use the hind legs well. I've been using some waterless cat shampoo, and occasionally having my son help me give her brief wet-baths to keep up hygiene (she's his cat, and will do almost anything for him, even bathe).
I ordered an Alphatrak 2 as it is what my vet uses. On suggestion from Sugarcats, I will be picking up a more affordable meter for dailies, and use the AT2 for vet reporting, as finances are a consideration.
I'm very new to the intricacies of this disease and managing it, but will be starting the bg monitoring/learning process tonight.
I've joined the sugarcats facebook group, also.
This is a LOT to learn and manage, and I won't deny feeling overwhelmed. I also feel pretty hopeful; I have recieved a great deal of support from other caregivers of diabetic cats so far, and am relieved to know such support exists.
Hopefully I've included all the relevant and important information. I'm relieved to get started here and hopefully one day achieve remission for Mrow!
