Holly - Further Update

[MIButterfly]

I just got off the phone with the vet tech and they're pretty sure it's diabetes. So I have to take her in at 3:00 today so they can show me how to give her the injections and get the prescription for the medicine and syringe. They don't want to wait to get her started on Monday and neither do I.

I asked the tech if she could just develop diabetes after all these years and she said it's not uncommon in 15-year-old cats.

At least it's something treatable with medication. I've never given an injection to a cat before; I hope I'm good at it. Years ago, I had to give my mother an injection in her stomach every day for 10 days before she had a procedure done and I hope it'll be that easy. The hardest part will be making sure she's eaten before giving her the injection. I'll just have to figure that out somehow.

[Ocelot II]

1. I had a diabetic cat. I had to give him injections twice a day, but it turned out to be no big deal,

at least not for the cat. The injections were given into the scruff of the neck, and he didn't even seem to notice. He passed away years after he was diagnosed, of unrelated causes. Holly will be fine and so will you.

[SuzyandPuffpuff]

2. Ez

The injections are no brainers ... needle is practically invisible... don't stress at all

[3catwoman3]

3. If you live anywhere near a Costco, they do pet prescriptions that may...

...cost less than at your vet or other national chains.

One of our long-departed cats was temporarily diabetic because of high dose steroids. We got his insulin from Costco. he tolerated the injections without much fuss.

[TexLaProgressive]

4. I'm an insulin using diabetic

The injections are relatively pain free and just under the skin. Just pinch up a pouch of skin, insert the very fine needle and push the plunger. If it's prefilled pens, just slightly different. There will be a way to dial the dose, doing the same with the syringe and press the end down to inject.

Cats at least mine have lots of loose skin. I hope Holly behaves after she is back felling good.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. I was thinking diabetes or thyroid issue. Both treatable.

[SheltieLover]

6. Glad to hear her condition is treatable!

I used to give a friend's cat insulin injections. Nothing to it!

[RandomNumbers]

7. Good luck to you with Holly!

I have no experience with diabetes in cats but the responses here are encouraging.

Hoping it all works out for you and Holly is back to feeling good soon!

[irisblue]

8. I had a diabetic cat, I had no trouble giving Kira her injections. BUT I had to feed her separately from the others

They liked her food more.
Also, ask the vet for coupons/programs for purchasing her insulin, syringes, needles.
Ask your vet or pharmacy you use if you can bring in the used syringes/needles.


If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

[slightlv]

9. My Whiskers was a troublesome huge cat... part Maine Coon...

but she never seemed to argue with me when it came time for her insulin shots. She had a lot of loose skin around her neck, and I can testify to the size of the needles. This is the same cat that used to hide her pills in her cheek and then dump them behind the couch (I found out much later) for another condition. She really could be a smart stinker! (LOL) But all in all, I had more trouble with my Mom and her meds than I ever did with Whiskers!

I also had to give shots to my Mom's cat twice a day... and Minnie was a real "scaredy cat" and she didn't even flinch when I gave her the shots. For THIS cat to be calm, you know the shots had to be nothings! I just had to keep Minnie away from Mom when I gave Mom HER shots. Mom didn't do nearly as well as Minnie!