Just like humans, cats can also suffer from diabetes. We're here to explain how to recognise symptoms in your cat, the different types of diabetes that can affect cats, and how the condition can be treated.
© Юрий Горид / stock.adobe.com
A sudden, insatiable thirst in your cat could indicate diabetes
Diabetes is probably the most common hormonal metabolic disorder in cats. Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) is significantly more common than diabetes insipidus (water diabetes). It’s often first indicated by an increased need to urinate, particularly affecting older male cats.
For a better understanding of this complex hormonal condition, it’s helpful to consider the two forms of the disease separately.
The sugar-regulating hormone insulin is produced in the endocrine portion of the pancreas. The responsible β-cells ramp up insulin production as soon as blood sugar levels rise. This anabolic hormone then enters the bloodstream and leads to increased sugar absorption into the cells of various organs (e.g., liver, muscle, brain).
In particular, liver cells can convert the absorbed sugar into starch (glycogen). This starch acts as a carbohydrate reserve and can be converted back into sugar if there’s a lack of it.
Diabetes mellitus is the most common form of diabetes in cats. It arises from high blood sugar levels as a result of insulin deficiency.
Once the blood sugar content exceeds a certain threshold, sugar production (gluconeogenesis) and starch breakdown into sugar (glycogenolysis) are inhibited.
Causes that can lead to an insulin deficiency include:
Good to know: Other illnesses such as kidney diseases, administration of cortisone preparations, or infectious diseases can lead to insulin resistance. Obesity is also a commonly observed cause and is the most frequent form in cats.
© Ian / stock.adobe.com
The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It controls the reabsorption of water from the primary urine and thus has an important role in a cat’s water balance.
An increased release of ADH causes the hormone to bind to its corresponding receptors in the kidneys, leading to increased water reabsorption and less urine output. When less ADH binds to the receptors, less water is reabsorbed and the cat excretes a greater volume of urine.
A cat with diabetes insipidus will typically show signs of increased urination due to either inadequate production of ADH in the brain or a disruption of the kidneys’ response to ADH.
Potential causes include congenital conditions like brain or kidney deformities as well as acquired diseases, such as injuries or poisoning. Depending on the cause, diabetes insipidus is therefore divided into two subtypes:
The following symptoms are often associated with diabetes in cats:
A particularly severe form of the disease is called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). If diabetes in a cat is identified too late, or not at all, it can lead to an energy deficiency in the cat due to reduced sugar absorption into the cells.
This, in turn, promotes the formation of ketone bodies from fat reserves. Excessive buildup of ketone bodies causes ketosis, leading to blood acidification (acidosis). Along with the appearance of severe weakness and vomiting, this condition can be life-threatening for the cat.
If your cat suddenly starts to drink a lot more and needs to urinate very frequently, these are key symptoms of diabetes. In such a case, you should consult a veterinarian as a precaution. Based on the owner’s report (anamnesis) and a clinical general examination, the vet can solidify the suspicion.
Various diagnostic methods are then available to the veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis.
A blood sample taken by the vet measures the current blood sugar level. However, since this can fluctuate greatly due to stress or prior food intake, fructosamine levels can also be analysed.
Fructosamine is a long-term parameter that can estimate the blood sugar level of the past one to three weeks. Additionally, a blood test allows for the measurement of various organ parameters, enabling the vet to rule out, for instance, pancreatitis.
It’s also possible to detect elevated sugar content or ketone bodies in the urine. Furthermore, the specific gravity of the urine can be determined. This is often increased in cases of diabetes.
An ADH trial helps rule out diabetes insipidus. Following the administration of ADH, the water reabsorption is checked by measuring the cat’s urine volume. A decrease in urination is a sign of central diabetes insipidus.
© Byelikova Oksana / stock.adobe.com
Depending on the severity of the illness, the cat will require a varying amount and type of insulin (short-acting, intermediate-acting, or long-acting insulin), regularly adjusted by blood sugar measurements. Often, insulin needs to be administered daily for life by injection under the skin.
A change in diet is also advisable, as low-quality carbohydrates and fats should be avoided while fibre-rich foods should be favoured. Regular exercise is also recommended for weight reduction.
Note: Choosing a suitable dietetic food can support your cat’s natural body functions. However, please note that dietetic foods can’t cure or prevent diseases. Always discuss your cat’s diet with your vet. Special dietetic foods are available in the zooplus online shop.
The central form requires the administration of synthetic ADH, while the renal form is treated by addressing the underlying condition.
Since diabetes in cats is a very complex illness and can take diverse courses, it’s not possible to give a blanket prognosis.
However, the quality of life for cats with diabetes mellitus is significantly higher if the insulin administration is well-managed. Central diabetes insipidus is generally well-controlled with ADH administration. The prognosis for renal diabetes insipidus depends on the underlying disease.
As obesity is one of the most common reasons for diabetes mellitus in cats, you should pay attention to a balanced diet and regular exercise from an early stage. Good overall health strengthens the immune system and prevents infectious diseases and other underlying conditions.
At the Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen I was extensively trained as a veterinarian and was able to gain experience in various fields such as small animal, large animal and exotic animal medicine as well as pharmacology, pathology and food hygiene. Since then, I have been working not only as a veterinary author, but also on my scientifically driven dissertation. My goal is to better protect animals from pathogenic bacterial organisms in the future. Besides my veterinary knowledge, I also share my own experiences as a happy dog owner and can thus understand and enlighten fears and problems as well as other important questions about animal health.
Are you concerned about your ageing cat's lack of response to its name? Or are you startled by your cat's inability to locate its food bowl? Allow us to explain how you can identify early signs of senility in your cat and enable it to lead a lengthy and robust life.
It’s not just the right type of litter tray that will make your cat happy, but also the right type of cat litter. The best litters are ones that are very absorbent and ideally neutralise odours too, but finding the perfect cat litter can be no easy task with so many varieties on offer from natural clumping litter made of clay, non-clumping litter, litter made of wood or silica.
Coconut oil is very popular among cat owners as it provides natural protection from ticks and other parasites. In addition, this on-trend product is said to have numerous benefits. We will give you tips and information on how and when coconut oil can be a practical alternative to conventional remedies.
