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[JHH]

Several weeks ago I noticed excessive urine in my cat’s litter box. Immediately took him to the vet who confirmed he is diabetic. He is seven years old and quite overweight.
The first two insulin shots went fine. But after two weeks, my cat has figured out that a skin fold pinch means a shot is coming. Then he tenses up and tries to run away. I am tensing up as well! Even if I can give him a shot, not sure if it is actually going in properly and I have stabbed myself multiple times.
Tried bringing out a bag of treats to have him associate “shot time” with a treat, but he is having none of it.
The good news is that his urine output is much reduced- could be due to the vet prescribed wet food that the cat enjoys.
Basically we have spiraled down into a bad situation with the insulin shots and not sure how I can reverse this.
I would appreciate any advice. He is a great cat and I hate the thought of having to put him down.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Hello and welcome!

Hmmm.... it's pretty unusual to have such a strong reaction to the shots. Off the top of my head, here are some things to consider:

1) needle size. What size (length in mm, and gauge) are you using?
2) shot placement and angle of the shot. Are you only using the scruff? How are you angling the needle? It should be sub-cutaneous, not going deep into muscle.
3) association of how he feels post-shot with the shot itself.

The last one is tricky. What insulin are you using, and at what dose?

 

[Critter Mom]

Also, check that the bevelled side of the needle is face up.

Helpful video:

Has there been any reduction in how much your cat is drinking/peeing since starting on insulin?

Is his appetite normal or is he very hungry? If hungry, is it all the time or just at certain times of the day? If it's just certain times, have you noticed any relationship between the times when he's really hungry and the time when you gave the insulin?


Mogs
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[JHH]

Hello and welcome!

Hmmm.... it's pretty unusual to have such a strong reaction to the shots. Off the top of my head, here are some things to consider:

1) needle size. What size (length in mm, and gauge) are you using?
2) shot placement and angle of the shot. Are you only using the scruff? How are you angling the needle? It should be sub-cutaneous, not going deep into muscle.
3) association of how he feels post-shot with the shot itself.

The last one is tricky. What insulin are you using, and at what dose?

 

[JHH]

Thanks so much for your reply. The syringes were provided by my vet- .33 x 12.7 mm. I have a feeling that I am putting the needle in at the wrong angle. Can’t really see what I am doing with all that fur and his skin doesn’t have much “give” because he is so overweight, so there is very little to grab. I am thinking of shaving a small 2x2 patch so I can see better. (I saw that posted somewhere as a solution.). He seems fine after the insulin tussle, but I am never sure if it actually went in. I have been rubbing the fur in that area to check for moisture- if it is dry I figure there was some success!

 

[JHH]

My cat has stopped the constant meowing for food since we switched to high protein wet diet and insulin. Does appear to be less pee in the litter box.

 

[Critter Mom]

My cat has stopped the constant meowing for food since we switched to high protein wet diet and insulin. Does appear to be less pee in the litter box.

Those are typically signs of BG being in a better range.


Mogs
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[Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)]

I use a flashlight and part the fur with the fingers of the hand I’m pinching her with. The needle should be going in almost parallel to the body so very little angle. As Nan said it’s meant to be sub-cutaneous. The shorter the needle the better and less painful. 12.7 is the longest. Mine are 6. What insulin did you say he’s on? I get my syringes from Walmart. It also helps that they’re 1/2 unit marked. See the difference in length below between 12 and 6. I still use 12 for her b12 shots but now I have so much practice doing it, it doesn’t hurt her at all

 

[Judy and Freckles]

What insulin are you using and what is the dose?

You might want to give the treats just randomly for a while so he forgets about the association between treats and shot time.