Spicey is diabetic

Spicey is diabetic, according to her lab results. Her other values were ok.

It looks like she'll need twice daily insulin injections for the rest of
her life, a delicate sounding procedure which will be impossible for me
until I get to the point where I can at least pet her. I feel more urgency
now to get her tame.

Does anyone have any experiences treating a diabetic cat?

"Takayuki" wrote in message
...

Spicey is diabetic, according to her lab results. Her other values were ok.

It looks like she'll need twice daily insulin injections for the rest of
her life, a delicate sounding procedure which will be impossible for me
until I get to the point where I can at least pet her. I feel more urgency
now to get her tame.

Does anyone have any experiences treating a diabetic cat?

~~~~~~~~~~
Tak,

Please check your email. I sent you a message concerning this issue.
Please contact me if you do not receive it. My address attached to this
message is valid except that you first need to remove "invalid." (without
the quotes).

MaryL

"Takayuki" wrote in message
...
Spicey is diabetic, according to her lab results. Her other values were
ok.

It looks like she'll need twice daily insulin injections for the rest of
her life, a delicate sounding procedure which will be impossible for me
until I get to the point where I can at least pet her. I feel more urgency
now to get her tame.

Does anyone have any experiences treating a diabetic cat?

Rumble is diabetic. He is in remission for the past many years ( knock on
wood). The shots are extremely easy to give they hurt us more to give to
them but you got to get a hold of them first.

Rumble I used to pet him and you inject into the scruff of the neck pulling
it up like a mother does to her kittens. He never knew it happened or
cared. The diabetic needs are very thing for them and area about a section
long on your pinky

Now testing their sugar is a pain but I think technology has come along
enough in the feline field as the human field
When testing on their ear they have a tendency to shake their ear and blood
droplets go flying

"Takayuki" wrote in message
...
Spicey is diabetic, according to her lab results. Her other values were
ok.

It looks like she'll need twice daily insulin injections for the rest of
her life, a delicate sounding procedure which will be impossible for me
until I get to the point where I can at least pet her. I feel more urgency
now to get her tame.

Does anyone have any experiences treating a diabetic cat?

This has always been my worst fear, as I know that Boyfie, even though he is
*tame* would not tolerate having twice daily injections from myself as I
even have to have help to put a spot-on on the back of his neck.
I think Cheryl has/had a diabetic cat, maybe she can help with tips, but,
yes, taming Spicey will be the main thing. Suz was not able to handle her
and because of that she got like she is. It's not impossible to tame her,
but it won't be easy and I hope you can do it in time to treat her diabetes.
If you can't, TBH, Tak, I wouldn't blame you for sending her to join her
meowmie - but I'd try until I thought it was hopeless. i always try until
there's nothing else to be done, even against against hope it sometimes
works.
My heart goes out to you. You shouldn't have have been put in this
situation when Suz has family.
May Bast bless you for your kind heart
Tweed

Not surprising considering her symptons, voracious appetite,
drinking/peeing alot, poor coat. I've never had a diabetic cat but I
took care of one when his owners were away. This cat was already
well-regulated and required a pre-determined amount of insulin 2x/day.

The cat was easlily injected under the skin at the scruff of his neck
while he was eating. He couldn't care less. The needles are tiny, and
he was oblivious. I would prepare the insulin syringe first, then put
down his food. While he was eagerly eating I'd give him the
injection.

The urine was what was tested for glucose at home in order to tweak
the amount of insulin needed.

I'm sure others here who have had hands-on experience treating a
diabetic cat could give lots more useful information and tips.

AB


On Sun, 07 Oct 2012 11:36:17 -0400, Takayuki
wrote:

Spicey is diabetic, according to her lab results. Her other values were ok.

It looks like she'll need twice daily insulin injections for the rest of
her life, a delicate sounding procedure which will be impossible for me
until I get to the point where I can at least pet her. I feel more urgency
now to get her tame.

Does anyone have any experiences treating a diabetic cat?

Takayuki wrote in rec.pets.cats.anecdotes:

Spicey is diabetic, according to her lab results. Her other values
were ok.

It looks like she'll need twice daily insulin injections for the rest
of her life, a delicate sounding procedure which will be impossible
for me until I get to the point where I can at least pet her. I feel
more urgency now to get her tame.

Does anyone have any experiences treating a diabetic cat?

Not diabetic cats but taming them, yes. I do rescue ferals of various
levels.

Keep in mind that this cat is lucky to have you and was never properly
socialized (Not her fault or your friends fault under the
circumstances).

What you are battling is also an overstimulation issue most likely.
There's a very fine line there with some cats and frankly, she was
allowed to be a terror and now at nearing 10 years old, she's never
going to be a lap kitty.

You've done well in the initial stages. What I would have done is make
sure you have LOTS of 'hidy holes' she can bolt to at the start. This
will calm a cat down if she's aware she can hide at need.

Take a crayon or wax pencil and draw some pictures on the glass door so
the cats can see it's there.

You don't have a choice this time but be aware you are creating a
terratorial cat situation right now. For the safety of your other 2
cats, this will simply have to be because from all I've read today on
your situation, spicey isn't safe to add to your other cats now.

Potentially, she may never be safe to have free roam but it's too soon
to be sure of that. The terratorial situation means there is a high
likelyhood of fights if you take it down too fast. I'm not talking
little spats, but eye-rending potential. Don't be scared, you show you
kinda knew that they have to be separated for some time.

How to reduce the tensions and reduce the terratorial situation. Take
a fluffy towel. Rub your 2 regular cats down with it then put the
towel *beside* where Spicey sleeps, a foot or 2 away. Replace daily
with a fresh towel that smells like your 2. Put a second towel down
across 1/2 where Spicey sleeps (something very soft and furry, rub the
item over your own body first). See if she sleeps on it (give it
time). Try to have 2 of the same type. Replace once a day with the
other one and put the 'used one that smells like Spicey' near (not on
but near) a favored spot the 2 cats like.

What you are doing is introducing them to the scents of the other in a
non-threatening way. Stray items that smell like your other cats can
be placed for a day oir so near the glass door. Do NOT overdo it
though so Spicey feels like no part of the house is 'hers'. She's not
used to sharing with another cat so let it take time.

Check with the vets carefully and see if there is a possible oral
administered medication that you can use at least for now. It may not
be as effective, but getting shots into her twice a day is not sounding
possible. She barely trusts you now and one wrong move at this
delicate stage will undo everything and with some cats, you can never
get that back once lost.

She's been diabetic for some time ans while treatment should start as
soon as possible, that means literally 'as possible'. Too fast trying
to give her shots and you will find she is unmanagable forever and RB.

Do look into special foods for diabetic cats. Low glycemic index ones
(won't have any wheat or corn in them at all for example).

Keep the same feeding routines as you have and work on seeing if you
can sit consistantly next to her as she eats. I'd not try to pet her
yet unless she turns and gives you a friendly 'bump'. Then, stick to a
light petting of her back only. If *she* wants to rub her cheek on
you, by all means allow it (she's scent marking you from her cheek
glands if you didnt know it). Watch carefully as almost all cats when
overstimulated will show it one way or another and do it before they
scratch. It's not always as simple as a lashing tail (obvious).
Daisy-chan for example bunches her neck and hikes her shoulders up
around it a bit.

Spicey is not an actual feral so I can't estimate time frames very well
but she's going very fast as compared to true feral so I think it
won't be many weeks before you can try getting a shot into her. You
need to determine a really *special* treat (by her standards) first and
have it ready to go the second you try medicating her. Caution note:
some cats will (if you move too fast on this) associate that once
special treat with 'bad things happen when I smell it' and that is not
good.

Daisy-chan, estimated 6 years completely feral, now with us 4.5 years,
eats cats like Spicey for breakfast (sad grin, extreme 'only cat'
syndrome). Has a multitude of 'special treats' we rotate when we have
to medicate her or clean her ears. This kept her from avoiding any one
treat type but also taught her that when we have to do something she
won't like, she gets 'paid' for being polite about putting up with it.

I'd take Spicey here if it doesn't work out only I can't. Daisy-chan
will not tolerate another cat under any circumstances. Loves dogs
though, wierd cat...
Carol

--

AB wrote in rec.pets.cats.anecdotes:

Not surprising considering her symptons, voracious appetite,
drinking/peeing alot, poor coat. I've never had a diabetic cat but I
took care of one when his owners were away. This cat was already
well-regulated and required a pre-determined amount of insulin 2x/day.

The cat was easlily injected under the skin at the scruff of his neck
while he was eating. He couldn't care less. The needles are tiny, and
he was oblivious. I would prepare the insulin syringe first, then put
down his food. While he was eagerly eating I'd give him the
injection.

The urine was what was tested for glucose at home in order to tweak
the amount of insulin needed.

I'm sure others here who have had hands-on experience treating a
diabetic cat could give lots more useful information and tips.

AB


On Sun, 07 Oct 2012 11:36:17 -0400, Takayuki
wrote:

Spicey is diabetic, according to her lab results. Her other values
were ok.

It looks like she'll need twice daily insulin injections for the
rest of her life, a delicate sounding procedure which will be
impossible for me until I get to the point where I can at least pet
her. I feel more urgency now to get her tame.

Does anyone have any experiences treating a diabetic cat?

Excellent and yes, I see several do have experience. Hopefully I
covered the taming issue (not really taming, more socializing to
people-touch) well.

Got some diet advice for Tak? With no known allergies, there's some
well recommended Hills Prescription stuff for diabetic cats.

--

On Sun, 07 Oct 2012 12:44:33 -0500, "cshenk" wrote:
Not diabetic cats but taming them, yes. I do rescue ferals of various
levels.

Keep in mind that this cat is lucky to have you and was never properly
socialized (Not her fault or your friends fault under the
circumstances).

What you are battling is also an overstimulation issue most likely.
There's a very fine line there with some cats and frankly, she was
allowed to be a terror and now at nearing 10 years old, she's never
going to be a lap kitty.

This is good advice, and I'll save it for when we have more advanced
introductions. It looks like that'll be on hold for a little while until
I'm sure I can treat her diabetes ok.

On Sun, 7 Oct 2012 17:40:55 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:
This has always been my worst fear, as I know that Boyfie, even though he is
*tame* would not tolerate having twice daily injections from myself as I
even have to have help to put a spot-on on the back of his neck.
I think Cheryl has/had a diabetic cat, maybe she can help with tips, but,
yes, taming Spicey will be the main thing. Suz was not able to handle her
and because of that she got like she is. It's not impossible to tame her,
but it won't be easy and I hope you can do it in time to treat her diabetes.
If you can't, TBH, Tak, I wouldn't blame you for sending her to join her
meowmie - but I'd try until I thought it was hopeless. i always try until
there's nothing else to be done, even against against hope it sometimes
works.
My heart goes out to you. You shouldn't have have been put in this
situation when Suz has family.
May Bast bless you for your kind heart
Tweed

Spicey's a gift - sort of. Some assembly required. I have a Wednesday
appointment for the vet. That'll give me a couple of days between then and
now to see if I can get her used to being touched a little.

"Takayuki" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 07 Oct 2012 12:44:33 -0500, "cshenk" wrote:
Not diabetic cats but taming them, yes. I do rescue ferals of various
levels.

Keep in mind that this cat is lucky to have you and was never properly
socialized (Not her fault or your friends fault under the
circumstances).

What you are battling is also an overstimulation issue most likely.
There's a very fine line there with some cats and frankly, she was
allowed to be a terror and now at nearing 10 years old, she's never
going to be a lap kitty.

This is good advice, and I'll save it for when we have more advanced
introductions. It looks like that'll be on hold for a little while until
I'm sure I can treat her diabetes ok

Some of us don't need a lap kitty to help as much as we can.
I never thought Boyfie would get on my knee but he did, eventually. If he
hadn't it would not have mattered.