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3 Signs Your Cat Has Diabetes

Like humans, cats can suffer from Type I or Type II diabetes. If your cat isn't in the best of health and develops any or all of the following symptoms, then there is a chance that they might be diabetic. Read on to learn more about common diabetes markers.

1. Thirst and Urination Changes

If your cat has diabetes, then they are likely to drink a lot more water than it used to. Diabetes makes the body expel excess glucose in urine. This high concentration also depletes the body's reserves of water. Your cat will urinate more frequently. This can make your pet dehydrated.

So, as well as urinating more often, your cat will attempt to rehydrate itself by drinking more. This can be a vicious cycle. No matter how much your pet drinks, they might lose more water than they can take in to rehydrate themselves.

2. Appetite and Weight Changes

While obese cats are more likely to get diabetes, cats often lose weight when they develop this condition. Their bodies can't convert sugars to make energy, so they start to use fat and muscle reserves instead. If your cat's metabolism is burning fat to create energy, then your cat will lose weight.

This can happen quite quickly, especially if your cat has lost their appetite. However, some cats have an increased appetite when they have undiagnosed diabetes. They eat more to try and meet their physiological needs. However, they won't gain weight but might even continue to lose it if their metabolism is working in overdrive to compensate for their glucose problems.

3. Energy Level and Activity Changes

Even if your cat normally spends a lot of its time sleeping and lazing about, as many cats do, you'll notice a change in its energy levels and behaviour if they do have diabetes. Typically, a cat with undiagnosed and untreated diabetes will become lethargic.

So, your cat might want to sleep all the time. It might not have its usual bursts of energy. Plus, it might hide away rather than spend time with you. Their daily habits will change. They won't want to play.

At this stage, your cat might also stop grooming themselves, so they might start to look a little unkempt. They won't have the energy to look after themselves the way they normally do.

While these symptoms can be a sign that your cat has diabetes, they can also be caused by other illnesses or conditions. To find out exactly what is wrong with your pet, take them to see your vet.