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Meet "Bugs".
Bugs is a 13 year old, neutered, male cat, living with Feline Diabetes.
He was Diagnosed at the end of July, 2000.
This is a diary of his life, and his struggle with diabetes.
My name is Rick, and my quest for information
on treating my 13 year of cat Bugs, began with going to various Search Engines and simply typing in, "Feline Diabetes." "SHAZAAM!" I was surprised to find a multitude of information!
Read our story, remember you are not alone! What a great thing the internet is! It connected us with lots
of others in the same situation.
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13 years ago, a little grey kitten was abandoned when his family moved away. I already had a blonde, tabby, adult male cat, named "Tweety."
As much as I tried to ignore this little grey ball of fluff, after about three days, we had a cold snap along with a day of rain. That night when I came home from work, I couldn't stand the thought of this little kitten, who was determined to stay and wait for his family to return for him, wait through the cold rainy night.
When I brought him in, thinking that my other cat would have a complete hissing fit, much to my surprise, he was quite taken with the little wet kitten. Imagine my shock, when I noticed that the my adult male cat, was letting this little kitten suckle, or at least try.
My little kitten, named "Bugs" grew up to be such a fun cat. He would fetch his toys, which was great, since I didn't have to get up to retrieve them, and "Tweety" would chase after him, while he played.
Tweety is gone now, he got out one day, and was hit by a car. With the loss of his best friend, Bugs became even closer to me. He would snuggle nose- to- nose with me while we slept. He talks to me as if he understands what I say, and always wants to get in the last word.
For 13 years, Bugs has been the best cat anyone could have!
A couple of years ago we rescued a feral kitten. She is a female, with long hair, and brown tortoise shell markings, named Tink. At the end of May of this year, we rescued another feral kitten on a stormy night, hence her name is Stormy.
Fat and Happy?
Now at age 13, after years of my fattening him up, my "Good old Bugs" has diabetes.
When I noticed that he was having trouble getting up on the sofa, or on the bed,
to snuggle up with me, I took him to the Vet. The Vet told me to keep an eye on
him to see if he was drinking lots of water, and having excessive urination.
Guess what? When I took him back for the blood test, it came back extemely high, suggesting that he had diabetes.
After 13 years of companionship, how could I deny him the treatment! I had a quick lesson on how to give him his insulin injections, and after tossing and turning all night, it was time for his first. I swear he amazed me! I have made him a huge baby, and thought he would surely protest me jabbing a needle into him, but he didn't even flinch! I had to check to see if his fur was wet. I thought that I had only squirted it on his skin.
Too good to be true?
For about two months, we had no problem, until I came home from work late one night to find him in insulin shock. It wasn't severe, he was only acting a bit loopy. I immediately fed him, and soon after, gave him a teaspoon of honey to more quickly raise his blood sugar. About 25 minutes later, he seemed to be out of the woods, but tuckered out.
The next Wednesday, I got a call from my roommate Ron that Bugs was low again! He was already giving him food, and honey, so I told him that I would try to get away from work soon. Fifteen minutes later he called to tell me that Bugs was now having a siezure! I rushed home to find that Ron had things under control, and Bugs was up and finishing his dinner. I thought he was tuckered out the first time! He was completely wiped out this time! It just breaks my heart to see my buddy having so much trouble.
The Internet to the rescue!
We are now working on a glucose curve, to find out when the peak of the insulin
is, and how to time the food, adjust the amount of food, and amount of insulin
to give him.As we learn, and have sucesses, and failures, I will add to his story.
I must say that the internet has been a wonderful utility for information. Initially my Vet was only going to have me bring Bugs in at 6 week intervals for his blood to be checked. When we began having problems I turned to the internet for help and was amazed at how much information there was! I learned that I could check his BG (blood glucose) levels using a Glucosemeter that humans use to monitor their BG levels.Each cat is going to behave differently with all of the pricking and sticking, and I
am very lucky! Bugs has been remarkably cooperative throughout the entire process. I begin taking his BG level right after he eats his morning meal, just before giving him his insulin. At 1 hour, 1 1/2 hour, or 2 hour intervals I need to check his BG level so I gather all of the equipment, usually find him snoozing on my bed, and pet him for comfort, and to relieve my guilt, and warm his ear with a moist wash rag that I wrapped with plastic wrap, and microwaved for about 18 seconds. A warm ear will express blood better. I use an automatic lancer, and with a cotton pad on the outside of his ear, I aim for the general area each time right along the outer edge of his inner lobe. As soon as he is pricked he might shake his head, but it gives me time to get the strip, and a good drop of blood to form. I press the strip on the drop of blood, while applying pressure on the outside of the ear, until enough blood is on the strip. Immediately insert the strip in the meter, before the blood begins to clot.
Remember, Bugs is so cooperative, more so than I ever dreamed, so I may have
it easier than you, but don't give up! The first half a dozen attempts for me were failures, but I soon had success. I think that Both Bugs and I had to get accustomed to the process. Even though you are pricking your cat, and expressing blood, it's not that painful for them, and if you need to get an accurate BG level, it's just another step in treating the diabetes properly.If I can have another 5 years or more with Bugs, this will all be worth it!
Here is a list of helpful links for Feline Diabetes.
Pets with Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed
http://www.petdiabetes.org/emot1a.html
Pets with Diabetes: Web Resources
http://www.petdiabetes.org/resources_links.htm
Feline Diabetes / Cat Diabetes
http://alexia.lis.uiuc.edu/~achristi/diabetes.html
I can't tell you how much help and information I got surfing the net! I learned how to use a Glucometer to check his glucose levels, and even did a "Glucose curve," to determine when the insulin peaked, showing how low it was causing his glucose levels to drop, enabling us to determine how much insulin to administer. Thank goodness for the Internet! At one point, for about 6 months, we were able to stop the injections all together. I found out that it's a common occourance called "The Honeymoon," where apparantly the pancreas begins to function more as it should, but is usually short lived, and the insulin has to be given again.
Honeymoon over!
For over three years both Ron and I gave Bugs shots twice a day. We had to plan our lives around a strict schedule, but we willingly managed. I am grateful for the internet, and all of the information I gathered, but most of all, grateful for the time we gained with Bugs. Although still crippled from the nueropathy, and aging, Bugs seemed content, and happy.
Now at 16 years old, sadly Bugs developed other health problems. I'm not sure if they were related to the diabetes, or simply old age. After six months of him suffering from things such as horrible, projectile diarrhea, we were forced to make the difficult decision to have him euthanized Monday, September 8, 2003. I know and trust my Vet, and he wouldn't have suggested we send Bugs on to the "Rainbow Bridge" if it weren't the right thing. Both Ron and I wanted him to make that journey before he got to the point where he was suffering miserably. I miss him terribly, and will never get over losing him. I thank God for the "Rainbow Bridge." I know Bugs has reunited with his old friend and buddy Tweety, and your beloved pets, making new friends and playmates, while they wait for us to join them later. For more information about "The Rainbow Bridge" click the link above to be taken to a terrific site where you can read the poem about this lovely place where pets that die, are restored to health and vigor, happily awaiting their beloved human companions to die, where they are joined together again for eternity.
Rick Barstead
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