How to "Shoot" Your Cat

Giving an insulin injection can cause many new members a great deal of concern. A few things to keep in mind may help. You want to be using either U100 or U40 syringes (depending on whether your insulin is U100 like Lantus/glargine or U 40 such as Prozinc or Vetsulin).

• Syringes with half unit markings are preferred. This will make it much easier to draw up a consistent dose.
• Syringes come in 5/64 inch (6mm), ½ inch (12.7mm) or 5/16 inch (8mm) needle lengths. It's your preference as to needle length.
• Needle gauges are 29, 30 or 31 (31 being the thinnest). The 31 gauge needles are as thin as a hair.
• Please do not use a syringe more than once. You can risk contaminating the insulin and the needle degrades very quickly making the next shot(s) from the same needle unnecessarily painful.

Many members administer a shot when their cat is eating provided you do not have to give food in advance of a dose of insulin (e.g., Vetsulin).

Below are links to information on how to give an insulin injection along with videos.

• How to give insulin injections to cats
• Testing and shooting tips

If you want to practice giving an injection, rather than practice on your cat (or another live being), practicing with a syringe containing water and "shooting" an orange is a good alternative.