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Signs of diabetes in cats

Short answerThe classic signs of diabetes in cats are drinking much more than usual, urinating much more than usual, losing weight despite a normal or larger appetite, and low energy. Any one of these is a reason to book a vet visit - diabetes is manageable, especially when it's caught early, and these same signs can also point to other treatable conditions your vet can check for at the same visit.

Sources: Cornell Feline Health Center and International Cat Care, linked at the end.

The four signs owners usually notice first

Drinking much moreThe water bowl empties faster, or your cat starts seeking water from taps, sinks, or the toilet. This is often the first change people spot.

Urinating much moreBigger clumps in the litter box, more frequent trips, or accidents in a previously reliable cat. More water in means more urine out.

Weight loss while eating wellA cat who eats normally - or is hungrier than ever - but keeps getting thinner. The body can't use glucose properly, so it starts burning fat and muscle.

Low energy and a dull coatLess play, more sleeping, a coat that looks unkempt. Some cats also walk flatter on their back legs (a sign of nerve involvement) in more advanced cases.

Why these signs happen

Diabetes means the body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't respond to it properly. Without working insulin, glucose from food stays in the bloodstream instead of fueling cells. The kidneys spill the excess glucose into urine, and water follows it - which is why diabetic cats drink and urinate so much. Meanwhile the cells are effectively starving despite plenty of food, so the cat loses weight. Cornell's feline diabetes overview walks through this mechanism in owner-friendly terms.

Signs that look similar but aren't diabetes

Increased thirst and urination also occur with kidney disease and hyperthyroidism, two other common conditions in middle-aged and older cats - and weight loss with a good appetite is a classic hyperthyroid sign too. You can't sort these at home, and you don't have to: a vet visit with blood and urine testing distinguishes them. That testing is described in how diabetes is diagnosed.

When it's urgent

Book promptly - within days, not months - for the signs above. Go sooner, same day, if your cat stops eating, vomits repeatedly, seems weak or wobbly, or breathes strangely: a cat whose diabetes has progressed to ketoacidosis is genuinely sick and needs immediate care. Trust the overall picture: a cat who seems suddenly "not right" deserves a same-day call to the vet whatever the cause turns out to be.

NextHow diabetes is diagnosed ToolGlucose & dose log

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