Diabetes mellitus in cats is manageable and often reversible with early intervention. Understanding treatment options, monitoring, and dietary management is essential for maintaining welfare in diabetic cats.
Feline diabetes welfare is substantially better than in previous decades due to improved dietary understanding and the discovery that many cats can achieve remission. Uncontrolled diabetes causes chronic suffering from hyperglycaemia, neuropathy, recurrent infections, and diabetic ketoacidosis — a life-threatening emergency. Management with twice-daily insulin injections, dietary transition to low-carbohydrate wet food, and regular monitoring can achieve excellent glycaemic control in most cats. The welfare burden of twice-daily injections is lower than owners fear — most cats tolerate them well with positive reinforcement. The goal of remission — achieved through early intensive management — eliminates the need for ongoing insulin in a significant proportion of cats. Home monitoring using a glucometer adapted for cats reduces clinic visit stress. Obesity prevention through appropriate nutrition is the most effective welfare measure — preventing diabetes entirely is far preferable to managing it.