My cat gained weight but was diagnosed with diabetes. Why?

Cats get hyperthyroidism and this actually causes them to get too skinny. Cats who are over weight at at a much greater risk for diabetes but if they get the disease, they tend to lose weight and drink excessively. To answer your questions though, both conditions require blood work for diagnosis. Most cats get heavy because they eat too much and their metabolism slows down. Feeding multiple cats is difficult when one needs to lose weight and requires commitment on the humans part. You cannot leave food down all the time. You must separate the cats at feeding time. You must switch the heavy cat to a light cat food and control the portions. Cats do best if they are feed 4-6 times a day. For my own fat cat, I got an automatic feeder that stays shut in a room. It portion controls and is timed. All I do is open the door and shut it behind him. It’s pretty easy and I like that. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes, it is possible with a glucose level that high that Sam has diabetes. However elevated blood glucose can occur secondary to stress in cats so it's impossible to say if Sam is truly diabetic based on only one blood glucose reading. I'd recommend taking Sam to be examined by a veterinarian. A blood glucose curve or a specialized blood glucose test called a fructosamine level can be done to decide if Sam is truly diabetic. Signs of diabetes in cats include increased drinking and eating, weight loss, poor hair coat, and increased urinating. If Sam is exhibiting any of these signs, then I'd recommend getting him checked out right away. This article may be helpful to you as well: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-early-warning-signs-of-diabetes-in-cats/ Thanks for using PetCoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is concerning as it may be an indication that his diabetes is not well-controlled at the moment. I would highly recommend that you check in with a veterinarian as soon as possible to check for this possibility. If this is the case, they can work in getting him to feel better and then possibly focusing in controlling his diabetes better. Best of luck!

Diabetes could be an issue with your cat, especially if she has lost weight recently. Other diseases to consider include hyperthyroidism, renal failure, and cancer, all which could cause the symptoms you are describing. I would recommend taking your cat to the vet to be examined and have blood work performed. Blood work would go a long way in helping to determine what is going on with Gracie. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

Glucose levels in cats should not change based on size. However, levels can increase with stress but anything over 300 is very concerning for diabetes. Several tests can be done to diagnose diabetes. A fasting blood glucose level in addition to a urinanalysis will diagnose most cats, but occasionally a test called fructosamine may be needed. Overweight mid aged male cats are more predisposed to diabetes than others. It sounds like you may need to visit with your veterinarian to make a plan for BB.

That is odd. My first thought was that she's developed diabetes, but it sounds like you ruled that you already with lab work. If full blood tests have already been performed, an abdominal ultrasound would be the next step in trying to figure out what is going on. Talk to your vet about whether abdominal ultrasound is something they can do for you, or if there is somewhere they can refer you where ultrasound can be done . Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I’m glad to hear Grippet has lost the weight you wanted him to, but at his age we would want to ensure all the weight loss is for healthy reasons and not an underlying medical issue. As cats age, they frequently can get an overactive thyroid, diabetes, or kidney issues (among others) that can lead to unhealthy weight loss. I would recommend he be evaluated by his regular veterinarian and have bloodwork done to ensure all his weight loss is healthy and there isn’t an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. Good luck!