Managing a diabetic cat

Keeping a cat active with lots of play and feeding a diet rich in protein is key to preventing feline diabetes

- Nameeta Nadkarni

India is often called the diabetes capital of the world, with over 100 million people living with the condition. But if you ask pet parents whether their cat could get diabetes, they'd be surprised. Feline diabetes is far more common than people realise and in many ways, it mirrors the disease in humans, right down to the causes and lifestyle risks.

I met Simba, a 10-year-old ginger cat, when his owner brought him in because he had been drinking so much water that his litter tray was filling up twice as fast as usual. He had also lost weight despite eating more than ever, and his immaculate coat had become scruffy. His owner had chalked it up to "old age" until she found him once drinking water for five minutes without moving. A blood and urine test confirmed that he had diabetes mellitus.

In cats, diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it makes effectively. Insulin allows cells to absorb glucose from the blood and use it for energy. Without it, glucose builds up in the blood leading to the symptoms we see: excessive thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, increased appetite and a general decline in condition.