Feline diabetes mellitus is a manageable condition in many cats, and with appropriate treatment including insulin therapy and dietary management, good quality of life is achievable.
Uncontrolled diabetes causes significant suffering through polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss despite increased appetite, weakness, and eventually neurological complications. A diabetic cat in crisis with ketoacidosis is critically ill and experiencing intense distress. However, well-managed diabetic cats can have excellent quality of life for years. The welfare challenge is that appropriate management requires significant owner commitment including twice-daily injections, dietary control, and regular monitoring. Cats whose owners cannot maintain this standard are at risk of poor welfare through inadequate disease control.