New diabetic cat won't eat

***help please*** My mom's cat was diagnosed with diabetes last week. The vet gave her insulin shots and special food to eat. She started off eating some of it (not much) and now is not eating at all. Not even her old food or treats she liked. My mom called me in tears because the vet said she should probably put the cat down Monday if she hasn't ate. She was given an iv and something to inhibit her to eat today. No good news yet. Yesterday when I was over there, she was begging for food at the table like she was hungry so this confused me. I told my step dad to put it on the bench (like she was eating at the table with us) to see if she would eat. She ate like 5 pieces of the hard food. But this isn't enough to give her the insulin or to even live on obviously. Has anyone have had this happen and have a success story? Thanks so much in advance

 

***update****For starters my mom is a diabetic so shots and a special diet is not a problem for her. When she travels I vouched to take care of "maggie" I posted this last night and today I went to a local pet food shop (knowledgeable employees) picked up new hard food and 5 different cans of wet food from shredded texture to pate. I was very excited, hurried to my mom's because I was concerned about cat not eating. Tried a couple different textures and the cat wanted nothing to do with it (some were salmon and fish flavored). I tried spoon feeding it, nope. Then I decided to cut the end of the syringe off (from her insulin ones) and put the pate food in there and force feed her. She was not happy but I thought heck she has a little of something in her stomach so I was happy. I continued to clean my mother's house (this is very hard for her). 4 hours later I went and got the cat and tried to give her a little more food, let me note she barely ate what I gave her the first time. And this second time was bad, she started gagging she puked up a ton of water mixed with some of the food that she had left in her stomach. I was crushed I feel terrible. Now the cat has nothing. I feel like I made things worse. I seen some posts about going to different vet, I'm going to do that. Her sugar was 375 when she was diagnosed and it's at 265 now (via yesterday's vet visit). I'm assuming is lower because she isn't eating. The cat is only 6 pounds I'm afraid she isn't going to make it until I can see another vet. The cat did drink a little moments ago my mom said

 

if your mom is diabetic, does she have any urine ketone test strips?

What we worry about most when they start refusing to eat is DKA.

 

I'll find that out, i m assuming my mom is sleeping because she didn't message me back. Long day for her. Im on a mission to save this cat though!

 

Something else you can try that Maggie might eat is baby food (the meat only variety), roast chicken, human tuna.....they aren't balanced foods but it may get her to eat something.

I know it's horrible when our kitties won't eat!

 

DKA is scary, I hope kitty eats soon!!!! Let us know if Maggie is testing for them. Has she been checked for any underlying infection?

@Chris & China (GA) what is the DKA "recipe" ? (Help me get this correct?) No insulin, no food, and some degree of additional illness/infection???

 

How is your mom’s kitty today?
I think the vet is very premature in suggesting putting the kitty down. That makes me very cross to hear that sort is thing. Feline diabetes is very treatable. It just needs a bit of extra care and attention sometimes but the kitties are always worth it. Your mom obviously loves her kitty.
Testing for ketones is very important. If they ate above a trace you need to take kitty to the vet for urgent treatment. If this is the case I hope the vet will treat kitty. If not I would find another vet.
Ask for antinausea medications cerenia and andansetron. A cat that is nauseated won’t eat.
Is kitty dehydrated? He may need subcutaneous fluids from the vet. They are wuick and easy and kitty will feel much better. @Broncobecca

 

Can your mom or step father test the cat's BG if they have BG meter w/strips in the household? That will provide useful information.