Pot bellied skinny kitty

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Taters and Kasey

Taters and Kasey

Member Since 2017
We have Taters back with us after being apart for 7 long years. (It's a long story.) She just turned 14 two months ago May 15 and was diagnosed on May 26 officially but I am not sure how long she has been diabetic. For a month we tried to get her sugar in check through a wet food diet: low carb, higher protein, extra water added. She gets 1 and a half cans of wet food (5.5 oz Friskies with less than 10%carbs) a day plus small low carb snacks when she gets her blood checked or when she comes up and demands it. She's always acting ravenous. Take your fingers off hungry. Yet she has lost weight in between her last 2 visits May 26 - July 1 and has developed a pot belly. The rest of her little body feels so bony while her little belly looks like a firm balloon. Is this a normal diabetic cat thing? She had always been very healthy, the diabetes is her first major issue.
 
Hi Kasey and Taters!
So continuing from your Introduction post. While her BG is uncontrolled her body is literally starving because her body cannot properly use the nutrients from the food. Has the Vet noticed her tummy? That sends a red flag up for me and is something I am not familiar with being associated with Feline Diabetes. I don't want to scare you with my suspicions but I would definitely have a Vet take a look, might need an ultrasound or x-ray.

You posted some good information on your Intro post and you can put a lot of that in your Signature: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/editing-your-signature-profile-and-preferences.130340/

Since you are home testing, feel free to setup a Spreadsheet and share it with us. The link for this will also go in the Signature. If you're not tech savvy, don't worry, we can help get one going for you. All you need is a Google account :). You'll need the one for pet meter's: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

Lastly, I like to give this to new members to read ahead of time because it's better to be prepared, but I hope you never need it: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

You mentioned Tater's isn't a snuggle kitty and there are other members who started in the same situation, even had semi-ferals, and through the sugar dance (as we like to call it) they have a much closer relationship now :cat:. I know it's difficult, but try not to be discouraged. You're not doing all the pokes to hurt her but to help her. This place is a support group for Taters as much as it can be for YOU as well :bighug:
 
Here is a LINK to Kasey's post in Introductions in which there are a number of details about Tater, her treatment and Kasey's concerns.

My cat is not a snuggle kitty either so right from the beginning I simply picked a spot in the house that would become her testing area. I then put her there and offered her brushies, which she loves, before and after testing so she learned to associate that spot with good stuff. You can use some low carb treats treat or something else that Taters likes for a reward. Fast forward and I can test my girl anywhere, no brushies required and she often comes to get me at shot time.

If the problem is keeping Taters still long enough to test, try catching the blood bead on the end of a clean finger nail and then test from there. Speeds things up for Tater and is easier for you. You can also put a very thin skim of Vaseline or Neosporin ointment where you intend to poke Tater for a sample. This makes the blood bead up better and keeps it from spreading out into surrounding fur. Make sure Taters ear is warm as that makes it much easier to get a sample. If it takes more than 3 pokes to get a sample, let Taters go and then try again in a few minutes when she has calmed down.

As for the shots, try giving Taters shot while she is eating. They usually get so intent on what's in the bowl that they don't notice the shot.

You mentioned open sores in your other post.. Can you explain a bit more about that. Is this a recent development or something that's been ongoing since before the diabetes diagnosis?

Don't be afraid to feed Taters more food if she is ravenous. As Yong says, diabetics cannot utilize the food they consume properly so they are always hungry. Are you feeding her twice daily or more often? If only twice, try offering a main meal at shot times and add in a couple of snacks between the main meals to try to keep her feeling more satisfied.

We're here to help in any way we can so just let us know what you need! :)
 
Hello and welcome. :bighug: My kitty was also ravenous on diagnosis. At first the vet said "all new diabetics are hungry", but this was beyond that. The "take off your fingers" variety. There are a couple of other medical conditions that can cause diabetes, that also have symptoms of pot bellies. Not saying that's what Taters has, but they are one explanation. Neko had a condition caused acromegaly which is caused by a benign tumour on the pituitary gland sending out excess growth hormone. One in four diabetic cats has this. Neko wasn't skinny by any imagination. :p Another less common condition is called Cushings, which can also be caused by a benign tumour on the pituitary, or one on the adrenal glands, or overuse of steroids. Skin tears is a common side effect of Cushings.

And as a side bar on your other thread, in spite of the acromegaly and diabetes, Neko lived another 5 years, most of it great quality of life, and it was probably the lymphoma and/or kidneys that took her. Managing the diabetes was easy in comparison.

As for weight, let the scale be your guide. If you don't know it already, the vet can probably suggest an ideal weight for Taters. If she is losing weight or less than ideal, feed more. Good high quality protein can help put weight on. I fed raw food - less volume meant more calories. Plain boiled or baked chicken breast/thigh pieces as snacks or supplements are usually well received.:)
 
When my cat was super skinny he looked like he had a pot belly. Now that he's gained weight it's not as noticable.
Does it look similar to this?
 

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StephG said:
When my cat was super skinny he looked like he had a pot belly. Now that he's gained weight it's not as noticable.
Does it look similar to this?
Click to expand...
Very similar. She looks like she has a small tightly filled water balloon for a tummy. It feels like a firm water balloon too. She won't let me tough it much though. She hisses, growls, and nips. We are going to the Dr on Tues to see what's going on.
 
Taters and Kasey said:
Very similar. She looks like she has a small tightly filled water balloon for a tummy. It feels like a firm water balloon too. She won't let me tough it much though. She hisses, growls, and nips. We are going to the Dr on Tues to see what's going on.
Click to expand...
Do share what the vet said. I'm interested to know cos my cat also looks like that but no problem with us touching or even poking him. I thought it's cos of the weight loss.
 
Taters and Kasey said:
Very similar. She looks like she has a small tightly filled water balloon for a tummy. It feels like a firm water balloon too. She won't let me tough it much though. She hisses, growls, and nips. We are going to the Dr on Tues to see what's going on.
Click to expand...
That sounds like a pain reaction. I hope the vet can find some answers for you.
 
Taters and Kasey said:
We have Taters back with us after being apart for 7 long years. (It's a long story.) She just turned 14 two months ago May 15 and was diagnosed on May 26 officially but I am not sure how long she has been diabetic. For a month we tried to get her sugar in check through a wet food diet: low carb, higher protein, extra water added. She gets 1 and a half cans of wet food (5.5 oz Friskies with less than 10%carbs) a day plus small low carb snacks when she gets her blood checked or when she comes up and demands it. She's always acting ravenous. Take your fingers off hungry. Yet she has lost weight in between her last 2 visits May 26 - July 1 and has developed a pot belly. The rest of her little body feels so bony while her little belly looks like a firm balloon. Is this a normal diabetic cat thing? She had always been very healthy, the diabetes is her first major issue.
Click to expand...
Hello T& K!
My sugar kitty Moxie also had the pot belly thing going on. Her middle stuck out so far compared to the rest of her. Especially on her sides. But I could and still can feel her hip bones and it is hard to grab a fat clump to give her injections. She has been staying right around 7 lbs. Her vet felt her belly and said she was OK. It was BC she was so hungry, literally eating whenever she could. She even grabbed a slice of turkey out of my sandwhich one day and ran w it. She never did that stuff before she was DX. And she drank so much water (thats how I noticed something wasn't right at first) Her pot belly has gone down, since. And she doesn't seem as ravenous since we started wet food. You should definitely contact your vet about the belly issue. It could be a few things. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Taters and Kasey said:
Very similar. She looks like she has a small tightly filled water balloon for a tummy. It feels like a firm water balloon too. She won't let me tough it much though. She hisses, growls, and nips. We are going to the Dr on Tues to see what's going on.
Click to expand...
It seems she might be in pain. Definitely take her for a vet visit. Moxie looked just like the pic @StephG posted. But her sides were actually larger. But we could touch it or push on it w out her reacting.
 
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