Diabetes mellitus in cats requires lifelong management through insulin injections and dietary modification, and the welfare implications of managing a chronic disease affect both the cat and its owner.
Feline diabetes management illustrates the complexity of chronic disease welfare in companion animals. The disease itself causes significant suffering if unmanaged. Management with insulin injections, while effective, involves daily stress for some cats and significant owner burden. Remission is achievable in a proportion of cats, offering hope for welfare improvement beyond management. The welfare implications extend to the human-animal relationship: the burden of twice-daily injections and monitoring can generate owner anxiety and affect the quality of the human-cat relationship. Good diabetes management integrates veterinary expertise with owner education and support to achieve the best outcomes for both cat and owner.