Reduce the Epidemic of Diabetic Cats
Approximately 800,000 cats in the U.S. are diagnosed with diabetes mellitus – a diagnosis that, for many cats, spells disaster. Many are destroyed or relinquished to shelters when their owners can’t provide or afford treatment. In recognition of American Diabetes Month, Diabetic Cats in Need (DCIN) is hosting Spread the Word about Feline Diabetes to educate owners about diabetes care and to prevent cats from being destroyed simply because they are diabetic.
Act Now!
- Print copies of Diabetic Cat Care’s Cats are Obligate Carnivores (PDF) handout and distribute them in appropriate places (pet and grocery store public boards) and to appropriate people (caregivers buying dry cat food at pet and grocery stores).
- Post a link to Dr. Lisa Pierson’s Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition article on your social networking sites.
- Post a link to Diabetic Cats in Need’s list of adoptable diabetic cats on your social networking sites.
Why It Matters
According to DCIN, “We don’t know how many diabetic cats are destroyed everyday simply because they are diabetic. Or worse yet, they are sent to shelters and left to sit in metal cages, terrified, for a few days before they are destroyed.”
Too many beloved pets experience unnecessary destruction, often accompanied by the terror of a few days’ stay in an animal shelter, simply because they are diabetic. The epidemic of diabetic cats can be reduced with proper nutrition for cats—a diet that recognizes that they are obligate carnivores, with bodies that cannot withstand the onslaught of carbohydrates that are in dry cat food.
DCIN hopes to educate well-meaning cat owners that the dry food diet they are feeding their cats may lead to diabetes mellitus or other serious health problems. A dry food diet can significantly reduce a cat’s lifespan and cost thousands of dollars in preventable veterinary care.
DCIN can provide help owners struggling to provide adequate care to their diabetic cats through its Financial Assistance and Rehoming programs. The organization provides links that direct caregivers to online forums with large groups of caregivers helping each other treat their diabetic cats.
Finally, DCIN wants to help diabetic cats find the forever homes that they deserve. By sharing links to the organization’s adoptable diabetic cats on your social networking sites, more caregivers may step forward to offer a home and heart to these dear, abandoned cats. When these diabetic cats find a home with love and proper care of their diabetes, these cats will live long and healthy lives. Many may even go into diabetic remission.
For more about Diabetic Cats in Need, visit the DCIN Website or follow them on Facebook.
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4 Responses to Reduce the Epidemic of Diabetic Cats
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Thank you Maggie and BtC4animals.com for featuring Diabetic Cats in Need’s Calls to Action. And to make it even more timely, today is World Diabetes Day!!
What exactly do you recommend that we feed our diabetic cats….I certainly see what we should not feed them but I need help on this. My cat is receiving 15 units of insulin in the mornings and 7 units in the evening but her urine output continues to be massive so I dont think the insulin is the answer. Should I take away the Science Diet dry food completely and increase the high protein canned food? This cat has never been one to eat “people food” so cooking special probably won’t worK. Thanking you in advance for any specific suggestions you might have.
Hi Joan.
I feed my cats, including my diabetic cat, Fancy Feast classic formulas. There are maybe 12 flavors in that line. Some people feed Friskies or Sophisticat (from PetSmart) pate foods, and others go into “high line” foods that are low carb, such as Wellness and Iams. You can access Janet and Binky’s list of values here—>http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetic-cat-diets.htm. No need for people food. In fact, people food doesn’t have the specific nutrients that cats need.
But do keep in mind that if you lower the carb value your cat’s food, his/her insulin needs likely will drop dramatically. (And your cat is at a surprisingly high level of insulin.) You don’t want him/her going hypoglycemic (low blood sugar). A hypo can be a life-threatening condition. Are you hometesting your cat’s blood glucose levels? That is the only way you can know how the combo of insulin and carb-level of food is affecting him/her. That is easy enough to do with a low-cost glucometer and strips from Walmart (brand name Relion). If you want info on hometesting a cat’s BG levels, here’s a link—>http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=287.
My best to you and your cat!!
I feed my diabetic cat Wellness Canned Cat Food with great results. (Turkey flavor had the best stats at the time of Janet & Binkey’s research.) It’s actually more affordable than several other options if you buy 12 packs of 12.5 oz cans off Amazon.com or another e-retailer.