Chris & Cheshire
Member
Hi again! My cat, Cheshire, was diagnosed about 11 years ago, and this forum was an absolute godsend. My vet was uninformed about modern feline diabetes, and the research and info from this forum completely changed the course of treatment for Cheshire and probably greatly extended his life.
He's been on Lantus for 11 years with a low carb diet and has been generally stable. He really dislikes BG testing, so after the first year and he was consistently stable, I stopped putting him through it.
But now it's over a decade later and Cheshire is 17 years old. He's slowing down, had to have some teeth pulled, and his BG is becoming less stable. About once a month I'm noticing he has low BG episodes. All the classic symptoms: stumbling, weak hind legs, bumping into walls. And it's been straightforward to treat (again, thanks to the expert guidance on this forum).
I think his hind legs are generally weaker, but it's hard to tell if it's that or he's just older and slower. He's more likely to snag his claws on things. He's become more likely to poop outside of his litterbox, often I think as a protest on days when I have to go into the office for work.
My question is this: what does old age look like for diabetic cats? Do they slowly become less well regulated? Do their hind legs eventually give out? Are UTIs inevitable (we've avoided them so far). Do they have a slow subtle decline, or do they start having more dramatic issues?
I've read the "average" lifespan of an indoor cat is 18 years, so I'm trying to learn what to watch for as Cheshire ages. I'm in no rush to lose him, but I also want to know as much as I can about what to expect so I can recognize the signs when they approach. I'm very much of the "better a week too early than a day too late," for both myself and him.
Anyone with experience they're willing to share... I'd much appreciate it. Thank you!
He's been on Lantus for 11 years with a low carb diet and has been generally stable. He really dislikes BG testing, so after the first year and he was consistently stable, I stopped putting him through it.
But now it's over a decade later and Cheshire is 17 years old. He's slowing down, had to have some teeth pulled, and his BG is becoming less stable. About once a month I'm noticing he has low BG episodes. All the classic symptoms: stumbling, weak hind legs, bumping into walls. And it's been straightforward to treat (again, thanks to the expert guidance on this forum).
I think his hind legs are generally weaker, but it's hard to tell if it's that or he's just older and slower. He's more likely to snag his claws on things. He's become more likely to poop outside of his litterbox, often I think as a protest on days when I have to go into the office for work.
My question is this: what does old age look like for diabetic cats? Do they slowly become less well regulated? Do their hind legs eventually give out? Are UTIs inevitable (we've avoided them so far). Do they have a slow subtle decline, or do they start having more dramatic issues?
I've read the "average" lifespan of an indoor cat is 18 years, so I'm trying to learn what to watch for as Cheshire ages. I'm in no rush to lose him, but I also want to know as much as I can about what to expect so I can recognize the signs when they approach. I'm very much of the "better a week too early than a day too late," for both myself and him.
Anyone with experience they're willing to share... I'd much appreciate it. Thank you!
