Realistic Remission For Your Diabetic Cat

Six months seems to be the usual expectation for remission in feline diabetes. While this is certainly ideal and possible, there are many things that can prolong this process, and as a concerned fur mom or dad, even six months feels like forever, but if it takes longer, it is most likely not your fault.

There are so many factors that can change kitty’s progress even if you are super diligent about testing, administering insulin, and controlling their diet. Most of my cats are crafty and super smart and can “get around” almost any dietary restriction, and they will sometimes team up in the middle of the night. One opens the pantry door while another grabs a treat bag, and yet a third chews or claws the bottom of said treat bag and they all have a midnight snack! As much as I try to keep these items secure, they have even done this with dog food and cat food bags. I recently watched one of my older cats working hard to figure out the lid on the “more secure” food container. He will figure it out because he is stubborn, and all barriers must be removed regardless of what is behind the barrier. As a closed door is just wrong in their world, so are all closed containers of any kind. While it really messes with my routines, I always have to admire their creativity and fortitude.

Besides sly little thieves in the night, another contributing factor is the severity of the disease at diagnosis. If you are lucky enough to get the diagnosis during a standard wellness visit, you will probably see remission a lot sooner than with a kitty that is showing severe symptoms. Obesity will require a bit more adjustment because you need to manage the diabetes and assist kitty in losing weight. On the other end of the spectrum, if kitty has lost a lot of weight prior to diagnosis, that is yet another thing to manage - they need calories but carbs are out. It gets even more complicated if the cat has allergies or needs a limited ingredient diet for one reason or another. Kitties that like to change their mind often on the food they find acceptable also add an extra challenge.

Most vets stick with the six-month consensus as a goal or the “norm”. You can read more about this from actual veterinarians here – wherein the author encourages managing expectations with feline diabetes. Six months is ideal, but often it can take longer. It takes patience, routine, creativity on our part so we aren’t outsmarted all the time – or maybe a 40/60 split in our favor is more reasonable. Every kitty is unique, and just like people, it often takes a lot of trial and error and a combination of adjustments to get to that remission goal. The important things are to keep trying, be patient, and understand that if it takes longer than six months, it is not on you. Keeping kitty’s blood sugars stable, even if they have to be on insulin longer, is completely okay.

You can ask questions and find other fur moms and dads on the Feline Diabetic Support Group on Facebook for tips, tricks, and when needed, venting frustrations.