Vet is saying cat is diabetic, survival not good..

LuciferTDark

It really depends on your cat, yes it might keep your cat going for a while maybe even years, but will they be happy?

One of my cats was diagnosed with diabetes & we were given the option of twice daily injections but hearing her scream when they took the blood was enough to tell us she'd never be happy being injected twice a day, she never was one for being handled by people & my missus was the only person who could pick her up, so we decided to let her go.

She's back now though & she's on a shelf near where her brother sleeps at night, it was a hard decision to make but for her it was better to let her go than have her unhappy for the rest of her life.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

My cat has been ok getting injected. As for the blood testing, it won't be often once her blood sugar level stablizes.

I don't like having blood tests, nor do many humans, especially those who have diabetes, but it's something people have to put up with.

The way I see it is, you wouldn't put a human to sleep because they didn't like the treatment they received and diabetes can be treated.

I know everyone has the right to do what they feel is right, but my cat deserves the chance.

January20

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

My cat has been ok getting injected. As for the blood testing, it won't be often once her blood sugar level stablizes.

I don't like having blood tests, nor do many humans, especially those who have diabetes, but it's something people have to put up with.

The way I see it is, you wouldn't put a human to sleep because they didn't like the treatment they received and diabetes can be treated.

I know everyone has the right to do what they feel is right, but my cat deserves the chance.

You can't compare a human and an animal. A human will understand that a painful injection will be for their recovery. Will an animal realise that or be simply stressed about it?

2 years ago, my 15 year old cat was diagnosed with diabetes. She had lost a lot of weight and was pretty poorly. My choice was daily injections of insuline or letting her go.

It wasn't an easy decision but at the same time I knew my cat would get stressed even just going to the vets for her boosters. How would she feel about being injected every day? Was I going to become the woman with the needle? The one she feared every morning? What if something went wrong when I was out and she fell in a coma and died slowly alone at home?

My cat had had a good life and I wasn't going to prolong it just to keep her with me a little longer. I decided to let her go. I still miss her and I still regret that I had to make this decision but deep down I know I have done the right thing for her.

So please do not patronise people like me who have made the decision to have our beloved pets put to sleep by comparing them to human beings because we never did it easily and we didn't do it for ourselves but because we didn't want to put our pets through any suffering!

Doodles

Hi
I'm sorry to hear of your cat problems - I sympathise, I have 2 cats (15 and 18), one has chronic kidney failure and the other heart and liver problems. They are on medicine (thankfully not injections) and, for the moment at least, its being managed ok, they are happy, eating, and have a good quality life.

However, I know that their time is coming and I know the kindest thing when the suffering kicks in will be to put them to sleep and the vet has said as much. It will break my heart. Vet said that you just 'know' when the time is right, they just lose the will.

For what its worth, I think you need to balance all the factors here. You must balance your feelings against the cats best interests, not because you can't bear to let them go (not that I'm saying that you're doing that though )

Can you afford the regular vets/medicines fees (hate to bring money into it but it is a factor)?

Are you up to giving the injections yourself? If you were in hospital or something, would someone else be up for injecting the cat?

Is the cat quite relaxed about the injection thing? I think if the answers are positive to those 3 questions, then (in my opinion) yes I think it might be an idea to try the cat on the medication.

However, if the cat hates the injections, causes it stress, appears to be frightened etc etc, then (in my opinion) its not fair to the cat at all. After all, its not 1 injection now and then, its daily (sometimes several times daily??) I can tell you, as a human, that I wouldn't want it!

What's your vets opinion? Ask them what would they do in your shoes.

I know what you feel though, my cats look well enough to people,and I feel like they have still a bit of life in them, its hard to feel like its their time is up and I pray that, because of their ages, they might just go gently one night in their sleep. But I know in my heart, and I have to be realistic, when the suffering starts, and they give up, I will do the kindest thing and let them go.

I wish you luck whatever your decision.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

January20 wrote: »

You can't compare a human and an animal. A human will understand that a painful injection will be for their recovery. Will an animal realise that or be simply stressed about it?

2 years ago, my 15 year old cat was diagnosed with diabetes. She had lost a lot of weight and was pretty poorly. My choice was daily injections of insuline or letting her go.

It wasn't an easy decision but at the same time I knew my cat would get stressed even just going to the vets for her boosters. How would she feel about being injected every day? Was I going to become the woman with the needle? The one she feared every morning? What if something went wrong when I was out and she fell in a coma and died slowly alone at home?

My cat had had a good life and I wasn't going to prolong it just to keep her with me a little longer. I decided to let her go. I still miss her and I still regret that I had to make this decision but deep down I know I have done the right thing for her.

So please do not patronise people like me who have made the decision to have our beloved pets put to sleep by comparing them to human beings because we never did it easily and we didn't do it for ourselves but because we didn't want to put our pets through any suffering!

Didn't think it would be long before this kind of post was written.

I'm not patronizing anyone. However, I'm also not going to feel guilty about treating my cat for an illness which dosen't have to be terminal.

I've looked into cat diabetes before I made the descion to go ahead with treatment. Many cats have ended up not needing insulin constantly once their blood sugar is stable. It can be controlled by a good, low carb diet.

If I feel my cat is suffering physically at any time, then I would have no other option than euthanasia, but until then, I'll continue assisting my cat.

I should'nt compare animals to humans, your so right. I have more respect for animals than I do have for humans.

LuciferTDark

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

My cat has been ok getting injected. As for the blood testing, it won't be often once her blood sugar level stablizes.

I don't like having blood tests, nor do many humans, especially those who have diabetes, but it's something people have to put up with.

The way I see it is, you wouldn't put a human to sleep because they didn't like the treatment they received and diabetes can be treated.

I know everyone has the right to do what they feel is right, but my cat deserves the chance.

Absolutely, I couldn't agree with you more, you know your cat, I just didn't want my cat's last few weeks/months/years to be spent hating us for hurting her twice a day because I know she would have hated it.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Doodles wrote: »

Hi
I'm sorry to hear of your cat problems - I sympathise, I have 2 cats (15 and 18), one has chronic kidney failure and the other heart and liver problems. They are on medicine (thankfully not injections) and, for the moment at least, its being managed ok, they are happy, eating, and have a good quality life.

However, I know that their time is coming and I know the kindest thing when the suffering kicks in will be to put them to sleep and the vet has said as much. It will break my heart. Vet said that you just 'know' when the time is right, they just lose the will.

For what its worth, I think you need to balance all the factors here. You must balance your feelings against the cats best interests, not because you can't bear to let them go (not that I'm saying that you're doing that though )

Can you afford the regular vets/medicines fees (hate to bring money into it but it is a factor)?

Are you up to giving the injections yourself? If you were in hospital or something, would someone else be up for injecting the cat?

Is the cat quite relaxed about the injection thing? I think if the answers are positive to those 3 questions, then (in my opinion) yes I think it might be an idea to try the cat on the medication.

However, if the cat hates the injections, causes it stress, appears to be frightened etc etc, then (in my opinion) its not fair to the cat at all. After all, its not 1 injection now and then, its daily (sometimes several times daily??) I can tell you, as a human, that I wouldn't want it!

What's your vets opinion? Ask them what would they do in your shoes.

I know what you feel though, my cats look well enough to people,and I feel like they have still a bit of life in them, its hard to feel like its their time is up and I pray that, because of their ages, they might just go gently one night in their sleep. But I know in my heart, and I have to be realistic, when the suffering starts, and they give up, I will do the kindest thing and let them go.

I wish you luck whatever your decision.

Yes, I've considered the cost element, and yes it's going to be tough, but I chose to have a pet, therefore, I commited to the cost of keeping an animal through sickness and health ( so to speak ).

I am injecting her. The needles are so short and fine, she dosen't feel anything at all. They are injected into the scruff of the neck to.

Yes, I have a partner and supportive family, so there is plenty of assistance if needs be. As for hospital ect.. well noone can assess that happening, even if the cat was well and I was taken into hospital, someone would come and feed her.

The initial blood test she had to determine why she wasn't well, indicated good kidney and liver function. Diabetes is down to age and the fact that my cat is over-weight. I'm confident, that given the chance, she may not become totally dependant on insulin. As I said, I've read many articles and websites dedicated to feline diabetes, and there are many positive stories.

I can't apologise to anyone for wanting to give my puss a chance.

Doodles

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

I can't apologise to anyone for wanting to give my puss a chance.

And nor should you, its totally up to you and you sound like you've done your research and weighed up pros and cons like any good animal owner.

Not sure if I'm detecting a 'tone' in that last sentence at me there though? Perhaps not.

I wish you and your cat all the best.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Doodles wrote: »

And nor should you, its totally up to you and you sound like you've done your research and weighed up pros and cons like any good animal owner.

Not sure if I'm detecting a 'tone' in that last sentence at me there though? Perhaps not.

I wish you and your cat all the best.

Just re-assure you.. No that last sentence is not directed at you.

I'm just aware that many people feel it's wrong to keep an animal alive when it's ill. However, to re-iterate, diabetes isn't a terminal condition and can be treated.

Doodles

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

Just re-assure you.. No that last sentence is not directed at you.

I'm just aware that many people feel it's wrong to keep an animal alive when it's ill. However, to re-iterate, diabetes isn't a terminal condition and can be treated.

Thanks I was worried I had offended you, which wasn't my intention.
All the best