15 year old eating very little

Hi everyone! My name is April, and my cat is Kali. She is 15. When she was first diagnosed with Diabetes in June 2017 we tried changing her diet only. Her at home readings ended up staying around 160 to 220. So we never started insulin. In the past couple of weeks things have gone downhill fast. She has been peeing everywhere for months, however, now it gets on her and has now caused urine scald. She has also lost muscle mass in her hind quarters. I thought she was just aging or losing weight because of the low carb diet, didnt consider diabetic neuropathy until her eating had slowly decreased and I decided to check her BG after not doing it for a while because I thought the food was doing well for her and it was around 450 and the next day 361. Im bathing her daily because of the urine she gets on her, and applying an antibiotic topically. I have tried giving her Fancy Feast wet in all low carb options and she has barely been eating any. Shes not licking her lips or seeeming nauseated. Ive offered her dry glycobalance, wet m/d, even her old food that my other cats still eat and still barely eating anything. I tried putting parm cheese on her food, no luck. I need her to start eating if i am considering starting insulin which she seems to need now. Any thoughts of this info? I am so overwhelmed right now and nothing seems to be working. I even tried the cat atract kitty litter so she could be enticed to go in and nothing. She still pees on the floor so it gets in her all day.

 

Welcome! We can help you get started.

1. First things first - she has to eat. All cats are at risk of developing hepatic lipidosis if they don't eat. Try anything including human baby food - meat in broth only (no seasonings, onions, etc.). You can also buzz up some of her wet food with a bit of water in a blender and syringe feed that.
2. She needs insulin ASAP. Has your vet mentioned a particular type that would be prescribed?
3. A diabetic cat who isn't eating, is probably dehydrated and has high blood glucose is at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis, a very serious, very expensive to treat, potentially life-threatening complication.

I recommend you get your kitty to your vet as soon as you can for a checkup (tests for pancreatitis, infection like urinary tract or dental, and ketones are needed at least). You need to get her on insulin now.

 

That's quite strange that she's not eating. Usually diabetic cats are ravenous. Mine was asking for food every other hour initially. When my cat was having neuropathy, he peed everywhere. He had problem reaching the litter box in time and he could not climb in either. I bought a box with a lower side but he still couldn't pee properly in there. And like you, we bathed him daily cos he smelled of pee. In the end, we put him on diapers. That helped a lot.
Maybe you should bring him to the vet to check on the eating? Maybe something else is troubling her.

 

Thanks for responding!
She is eating small amounts here and there but nothing significant. I bought some fancy feast chicken, tuna or salmon meat only treats and she ate those right up but it says to limit to 4 of those a day.

My vet mentioned pro zinc and starting at 1 unit twice a day. My problem right now is I will be out of town for a a bit and have nobody to give her the insulin. So she recommended starting when I get back but I dont think she can really go another day without some type on intervention.

 

Yeah she seems to not want her FF wet but just ate up some FF chicken(meat only) treats just now. I have tried a low food pan with litter and still all over the place but she is pooping in a box. Has your cats neuropathy improved since insulin? And still in diapers? What kind did you use?

 

She sounds like she may have ketones or pancreatitis. I would bring her on a trip to the vet asap. She also needs to start insulin right away. Find a vet that will board her and give shots while you are away a few days. Don't wait.

 

I gave him zobaline(b12 methylcobalamin) to improve the neuropathy and as his bg numbers get better so did his legs. He's in remission now (thanks to so many good members here who helped us) and is back to his normal old self. You need to manage his bg numbers by giving sufficient insulin dose.
I learnt about diapers from this board actually. Bought newborn ones, cut a hole for the tail. I think he was on it about a month.

 

Please do take your kitty to the vet as soon as you possibly can. She is at great risk for hepatic lipidosis and/or diabetic ketoacidosis, both life-threatening conditions, and very expensive and difficult to treat. Let us know how she makes out, please, we will worry!

 

It could be IBD. Or another intestinal issue. Diabetic cats typically eat a lot. In Leo's case it was small cell lymphoma (SCL). However it is treatable. He stopped eating too before the diagnosis. His treatment includes prednisolone and chemo. A nice side effect of the pred is increased appetite. Makes his gut a bit healthier too.

 

Please let us know what you've decided to do. She needs vet attention ASAP and insulin ASAP. Consider boarding her at the vet clinic while you're away.