Has your cat been having some strange health issues lately? If your cat is overweight or a male over 8 years old, there’s a high chance they have feline diabetes. Fortunately, this condition is manageable with proper care, especially if you catch it early. In this article, we’ll tell you all the symptoms to look out for in your cat. If you notice any of these symptoms of cat diabetes, make an appointment with your vet for a diagnosis.

1

Weakness in the back legs

2

Increased thirst

  1. Your cat may constantly seek out water to drink. Diabetic cats aren’t able to absorb and use glucose properly, which leads to high levels of glucose being filtered out through the urine. When this happens, extra water is carried out of the body along with the glucose. This means that your cat is losing too much water and will start trying to counter this by increasing its water intake.[2]
    • Watch your cat’s water bowl to see if the water levels are decreasing more quickly than usual.
    • Be mindful about whether your cat is searching for alternative water sources, like drinking out of the sink, the toilet, or other unusual locations.
7

Vomiting

  1. Hyperglycemia can cause nausea and vomiting in cats. Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, happens when your cat has too little insulin in its body (or it can’t use its insulin properly). When this happens, your cat may feel nauseous or even throw up. This is a very common symptom of diabetes, especially if your cat has had undiagnosed diabetes for a while.[7]
    • Frequent vomiting can lead to dehydration, which can make your cat very sick. If your cat is vomiting for multiple days or can’t keep food and water down, take it to the vet right away.
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Warnings

  • If your cat is experiencing any of these symptoms, make an appointment with your vet right away for a diagnosis.
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About This Article

Pippa Elliott, MRCVS
Co-authored by:
Veterinarian
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years. This article has been viewed 51,237 times.
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Co-authors: 12
Updated: November 16, 2022
Views: 51,237
Article SummaryX

To spot feline diabetes, start by watching for common symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, eliminating outside of the litter box, changes in appetite, and weight fluctuations. Being overweight or obese is the biggest risk factor for feline diabetes, so be sure to consider your kitty's weight carefully. Also, if your cat is over the age of eight, it may be more prone to developing health issues like diabetes. If your cat is exhibiting these symptoms, it's best to take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible for an evaluation and treatment options. For tips from our Veterinary co-author on treating feline diabetes, read on!

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