My diabetic cat is hissing at my son. How can I manage this?

Yes unfortunatley in cases where a diabetic cat is not able to be medicated and maintain hydration, euthanasia is the best option. The fact she has other complicating factors reducing her mobility and causing her discomfort means this may be very soon to prevent suffering. See the following article for information on helping to decide when http://vet.osu.edu/assets/pdf/hospital/companionAnimals/HonoringtheBond/HowDoIKnowWhen.pdf

I'm so sorry to hear that Dominic isn't doing well. Unfortunately, complications from uncontrolled diabetes can be very severe, and it sounds like Dominic is extremely sick. Sometimes cats in ketoacidosis can be stabilized and saved, but it requires intense hospitalization and care, and even then many cats cannot be saved. If Dominic is showing evidence of kidney failure, and your vet is recommending putting him to sleep, it sounds like his chances of improving to a good quality of life are not good. I have to defer to your vet's recommendations since they are familiar with the specifics of Dominic's case - but euthanasia is definitely something that I recommend in cases where the chances of improving are very small and the cat is suffering. It would not be wrong for you to choose this course of action given Dominic's poor prognosis. I'm so very sorry you are going through this. I hope this helps. All the best to you and Dominic.

Unfortunately this is a really tough disease to treat, even with veterinary care. Your cat would likely need to be on fluids and then start getting regulated on insulin to get his diabetes under control. Until his dehydration and blood sugar is under control he will probably still be lethargic and anorexic. I am sorry you're having to go through this with your cat. I wish there was more I could tell you. Best of luck.

Hi there. Your veterinarian may be able to board Cody for a few weeks so that staff members can administer his insulin regularly, monitor his glucose levels, and make adjustments as needed until he's regulated. Keep in mind, though, that stress can affect glucose readings in cats - so it's generally better for this process to be done with the cat at home, if possible. You don't mention why you're having difficulty - giving the insulin injections, checking his glucose at home, feeding the appropriate diet, or something else? Feel free to post again with more information about what you're having trouble with. We would be happy to try and make some suggestions to help.

Poor Puck. Since FIV is a transmissible virus and Diabetes is linked ot diet and genetics, these two can definitely occur in 1 cat around the same time. I would make it a priority to get his urine tested to confirm if this is truly diabetes or not. You can simply take him in to your vet to get his urine tested instead of having to catch it yourself. YOu may have to leave him for the day in order to collect the sample successfully, but it can be done. High blood glucose can be caused by stress as wel, so its important to confirm by viewing glucose in the urine. Diabetes can be reversible in cats in some cases with proper diet (i.e. Purina DM, Hill's M/D) and proper insulin therapy. I hope that everything works out well for your pet Puck moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

Hello. I am so sorry for your concerns about Simba. I do not know if what I am seeing is real, but your photo looks like there are opacities in the lenses of both eyes. These could be cataracts. If you think you see something in the very black part of the pupils, please see your veterinarian as soon as possible. Otherwise, things to be considered are any possible changes that might be going on in or out of the house. Are you using a new perfume, shampoo, body wash? Any new medications, or smoking habits? Simba is now sexually mature, so neutering may help. Also, purchasing an appeasing pheromone spray or diffuser called Feliway may help. It is always best to have a hands-on exam to make sure nothing is amiss with Simba, even if it is just a weird reflection in the eyes that I am seeing. Hopefully, this is not a personality flaw in Simba, especially since this is a relatively new behavior. Bad kittens often grow up to be bad cats, so I am guessing he was not a problem child. So, have him checked out to make sure he is as healthy as possible, & try the Feliway. Thank you.

Hello, poor Tater. I think a behaviorist specialist may be the best suit for your friends family. However, they may start by ensuring he has adequate amounts of toys and scratch pads to reduce his stress behavior. Also make sure he has places to climb and be up high (cats like to look down on the world) and also places where he can comfortable hide. Feline aggression is a complex issue. Ruling out a medical cause for your cat’s aggressive behavior should always be your first step. What if your best friend has a painful mass in his stomach? That could be why your belly rubs make him defend himself and bite your hand. Aggression due to medical causes can be related to pain, neurological disorders, anxiety, or medications. A trip to the vet will rule out medical causes for aggression. Once a behavioral diagnosis of aggression has been made, sometimes simple techniques will improve or stop the behavior. In other situations it may be only the first step in treatment. In addition to designing a treatment plan, your veterinarian can help you with your conditioning goals and assist in realistic expectations of your pet. There are several categories of aggressive feline behavior: play aggression, fear- based aggression, redirected aggression, petting-induced aggression. Hope this helps!