The symptoms of cats with diabetes can be tough to spot. You might notice that your cat is drinking more water than usual, or not playing as much as they usually do. They could also have an increased appetite yet show signs of progressive weight loss. If you're noticing these symptoms in your cat, it's important to get them checked out by your veterinarian right away! Let's take a look at the 7 key symptoms of cats with diabetes to help you know what might be going on if you see some of these signs from your furry friend.
1) Increased urination and urinating outside the litter box
One of the most common symptoms of diabetes in cats is increased urination. This might manifest itself as your cat filling the litter box more often or urinating outside the litter box. Cats with diabetes have high blood glucose levels and this results in the kidneys' inability to reabsorb water as it filters. This results in more water in the urine, urine dilution and increased urine production. With the increased amount of urine production, cats may start urinating outside the litter box as a result.
2) Increased thirst
Increased thirst is another common symptom of diabetes in cats. If you're finding that your cat is drinking more water than usual, it might be an indication that they have diabetes. As the symptoms of cats with diabetes worsen, the symptoms become more clear. You may notice that your cat is drinking a lot more water than usual, this is because glucose inhibits the reabsorption of water by the kidneys which results in increased urine production. To prevent dehydration from occurring, your cat will start drinking more water to make up for the losses in the urine.
3) Increased appetite
One of the lesser-known symptoms of diabetes in cats is increased appetite. This might manifest itself as your cat seeming hungrier than usual or even eating more than they usually would. Polyphagia is an increased appetite and is one of the important symptoms of cats with diabetes. This occurs early in the course of diabetes so it is very important to identify. Insulin is responsible for supplying cells with glucose, their main energy source. When insulin is unavailable, such as in diabetes mellitus, the cells are unable to obtain energy and the brain sends orders to consume energy for the cells to survive. The result is polyphagia, an increased appetite.
4) Lethargy and lack of energy
Cats with diabetes can often be lethargic and lack energy. This might manifest itself as your cat seeming tired or not moving around as much as usual. With this, the symptoms of cats with diabetes can be lethargy and unwillingness to play. These symptoms are due to the excess glucose that builds up in the body which causes it to be unable to produce or use insulin properly, leading to an energy deficit. Having persistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) results in the feeling of lethargy and malaise.
5) Weight loss
Weight loss is one of the common symptoms of cats with diabetes. This might manifest itself as your cat losing weight even though they are eating the same amount as they usually would. This is because if insulin levels are continually high, glucose molecules form glycosylated structures that damage proteins and lipids in cells, resulting in impaired cellular function. The body reacts to this by breaking down muscle and fat which can lead to weight loss.
6) Plantigrade stance (heels touching the ground)
If your cat is standing or walking on its back legs while having a plantigrade stance, it may be a sign of cats with diabetes. Feline diabetic neuropathy is the most common neuropathy reported in cats and results in the plantigrade stance. Diabetes in cats affects peripheral nerve function that results in the inability to extend the tarsus (ankle joint).
7) Poor, unkempt haircoat
A poor, unkempt hair coat is one of the key symptoms of cats with diabetes. There are a couple of theories as to why this occurs. With diabetes in cats, the body is starved of energy and the skin is no exception. This results in excessive flaking and dandruff, especially along the back. In addition, as lethargy and malaise are common symptoms of cats with diabetes, they are less likely to want to groom themselves which can contribute to their unkempt appearance.
If you have a cat, it's important to be aware of the symptoms of diabetes in cats. This is because if left untreated, diabetes can lead to more serious health problems for your furry friend. The 7 symptoms we've outlined are increased urination and thirst, weight loss, lethargy, poor hair coat, plantigrade stance (walking on heels), unkempt appearance and an increased appetite. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, make sure you take them to a veterinarian near you for diagnosis and treatment.