Cat lost, how long can he go without insulin?

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by jason evans, Aug 7, 2018.

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  1. jason evans

    jason evans New Member

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    Aug 7, 2018
    My cat has been missing for a few days now and I'm concerned his time is running out. How long could he last without his shot of insulin?
     
  2. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    May 10, 2013
    Our cats can have diabetes for a very long time before we even notice the signs and get them diagnosed, so although it's not good, it's not necessarily a death sentence.

    That's one of the main reasons we don't like our cats going outside

    If you haven't already done it, put his litter box outside.....cat's have an amazing way of finding their way home.

    Also, I'm sure you've looked everywhere, but they really do usually stay quite close to home but are too scared to come out from wherever they're hiding. Keep looking....knock on every door and if your neighbors have garages, ask to check them (or basements that might have access...you'd be surprised how small a hole a cat can fit into)
     
  3. jason evans

    jason evans New Member

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    Aug 7, 2018
    So he was already diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago and had a dka incident. That's not something I'd want to repeat.
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2018
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  4. Maggies Mom Debby

    Maggies Mom Debby Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Chris and China is right. You may need start over with your cats regulation when he gets back.

    When my kitty was missing last fall, we borrowed a live trap from our local Humane Society and put it on the back porch with food in it. That is how we finally got her back. So be sure to call your local shelter to report him missing and ask about traps. I made flyers and stuck them in neoghbors doors and gave them to the local vets. I called the local animal control and talked to the mailman. I put an ad in the paper with a photo. I posted on Facebook. I even created posters on the back of political yard signs and put them out.
     
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  5. Arkali

    Arkali Member

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    Aug 1, 2018
    Oh, gosh. Hope you find him soon. I'd be worried sick :-(
     
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  6. Sammie's Mom

    Sammie's Mom New Member

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    Jun 3, 2018
    Just want to throw this out, do you know of any neighbors that feed strays in the neighborhood? I also wonder if you got on the website for nextdoor.com to see anyone might have seen him/her. I say that because a family here let their kitten out and didn't seen her for a couple of days. They posted on nextdoor.com about it, I responsed that where her house was located was close to two people I knew who feed the neighborhood strays. Well I asked one of them and they just had happen to have found the kitten in their garage and was taking care of her. Hope you found her/him soon.
     
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  7. Sandi&Maxine&Whispy(GA)

    Sandi&Maxine&Whispy(GA) Well-Known Member

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    Oct 2, 2015
    Try looking at night with a flashlight to catch the gleam in their eyes. Mostly look under and in things like drains, under sheds and decks, under cars, etc.

    Best of luck for kitty's return.
     
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  8. jason evans

    jason evans New Member

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    Aug 7, 2018
    I'm not aware of any neighbors feeding strays, but we have passed out flyers to all the neighbors surrounding our house, posted flyers at the nearby intersections, notified the nearby vets and animal control, as well as posting on facebook, craigslist and the nextdoor app. We suspect he's trapped somewhere, maybe in a garage, so I've offered a fairly substantial reward hopefully encouraging people to check their homes.
     
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  9. Bron and Sheba (GA)

    Bron and Sheba (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 21, 2015
    Have you knocked on all of neighbours doors and asked them to look in their garages?
    One of my cats disappeared for almost three days and she was eventually found when the next door neighbour opened his garage door.
    I hope he turns up soon. I can imagine how worried you are.
     
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  10. JeffJ

    JeffJ Well-Known Member

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    Jul 7, 2016
    Good advice from above. You need to actively look. Many times, just hoping the kitteh will come back - that doesn't work.

    In 2015, Scoobs went missing. It was 2 days. On the third day, I went door to door. And in all the backyards with permission. Scoobs was across the street hiding in a maze of crud that my elderly neighbor has for his backyard. Scoobs went running when I found him, but he knew we were looking for him at that point. I called and called for another hour. He came home. He knew it was "safe".

    Also hand out 1 page flyers and post them on the corner stop signs.
    - a big picture
    - a phone number
    - maybe a reward
    - no lengthy descriptions needed
     
  11. jayla-n-Drevon

    jayla-n-Drevon Well-Known Member

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  12. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    Jun 8, 2016
    Post it on local list pet Facebook groups and let local vets know
     
  13. HereKittyKittyKitty

    HereKittyKittyKitty Member

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    Aug 23, 2016
    Call ALL of the local animal rescue/animal control/etc. every single day. The staffs are very, very busy and won't necessarily remember your lost cat if he gets brought in if he is not microchipped or tattooed (in the ear). An email with a pic they can print out, or take one of your flyers to every single one of them. Ditto with taking your flyers to all of the local vets.

    If your cat is microchipped or tattooed, make sure your information in their system is up-to-date and correct, and you notify them your cat is missing. Some assist you looking, some send texts to members/vets/etc., some help with flyers/posters, some will provide a reward, etc.

    Post to petfinder and any local online lost/found pet websites/facebook pages.

    Talk to the local police, especially an officer that works late at night. He or she may have seen your cat and know a general area... give the police your flyers for their desk book/roll call/patrol cars... if you are near the border of more than one police jurisdiction, take flyers to the one(s) that are really close to yours.

    If your cat is out and about, he may be hunting and eating mice and birds, and actually be doing fine, sugar-wise :)

    I highly recommend everyone get their cat(s) (and dog(s)) microchipped, as it means a much greater chance of kitty (or puppy) being returned home :) Natural disasters, house fires, burglaries, thefts, car accidents, door-dashes, etc. can happen at any time, anywhere, to anyone. This has been an unpaid public service announcement from Officer Friendly :)
     
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