Feline diabetes symptoms are the physical characteristics that present themselves in cats while they are suffering from diabetes. Also referred to as diabetes mellitus, this form of diabetes attacks a cat when its pancreas is unable to produce adequate insulin for the body or if the cat’s body does not respond to the insulin as it should. The former is referred to as type 1 diabetes while the latter is referred to as type 2 diabetes. Most feline diabetes symptoms do not necessarily present as accompanying mild illnesses but rather as normal bodily functions which tend to get out of control such as excess urinating, lack of appetite or increased appetite. Pancreatic cells produce a hormone known as insulin which facilitates the processing of glucose by the cat’s body to give it energy and contribute to its growth. For diabetic cats, the insulin produced by the pancreas usually is either not enough or is usually not of the desired quality and thus does not produce the required effects in terms of the processing of glucose in its body. This leads to accumulation of sugar which subsequently leads to high blood sugar. Feline diabetes symptoms are numerous. A few are as mentioned below.
Increased urination
Increased urination, as one of the feline diabetes symptoms is in itself caused by a lot of consumption of fluids. Diabetic cats will tend to drink more fluids as a result of sensations brought about by the lack of, or increased sugar in the body. Also referred to as polyuria, the increased passing of urine may be caused by several factors such as hyperthyroidism, liver problems and chronic renal failure.
Throwing up
As noted, feline diabetes symptoms will present as normal bodily functions presenting themselves either in excess or primarily below expected standards. Vomiting is common in cats and can be caused by a variety of things which may not necessarily be harmful to the cat. Also referred to as emesis, this is one of the symptoms of diabetes mellitus. Vomiting in cats could be caused by eating too fast or a change in the diet of the cat. If one is to change the diet a cat is used to, it is advisable to gradually introduce the new diet to avoid having the cat repel to the food.
Increased or reduced appetite
Increased appetite and reduced appetite are both feline diabetes symptoms. Anorexia or reduced appetite is not a disease in itself but rather an underlying issue. It may begin gradually and eventually lead to complete refusal to consume any foods. Serious anorexia could lead to a fatal liver shutdown in cats. Polyphagia, or increased appetite on the other hand could also be a symptom of diabetes mellitus. Sudden changes in the appetite of a cat should be carefully noted and veterinary advice sought for clarification as to why this change would have occurred.
Bad breath
Halitosis, as it is commonly referred to, is when cats produce bad breath. This in itself is not a disease, just as most other feline diabetes symptoms, but could be an underlying problem. Bad breath could be naturally caused by dental problems in the cat or by other medical problems and not necessarily diabetes mellitus. It is however one of the symptoms of feline diabetes.