Petey the cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. The affliction is common in house cats of his size. I feel very responsible - and of course I am.
He is being well taken care of by the Ellicott Small Animal Hospital.
He is on 2 ml of insulin twice a day and Purina D/M wet food - which has the highest protein levels and lowest carb of any food out there. I feel very duped by the cat 'health food" industry. I overpaid for fancy food for years - and of course now being more educated I can see that including blueberries in cat food was purely for my sake (the health conscious cat owner) - cat's don't eat blueberries. Live and learn.
Needless to say I am the same weight since high school - my cat weighs 21 pounds.
Petey is responding very well to treatment and there is a very good chance that if he loses some weight, his condition may go into remission.
We are hopeful.
Diabetes is not cheap.
The initial vet visit and diagnosis - I brought him in because he was walking strange and lying on the floor trembling - was 165.
The insulin was 90 - but I am told it can last months (at least 3-4)
Glucose testing is 21 a week.
Other various costs - food - needles - all add up
when all was said and done I spent over 400 - but I am told that the cost is heaviest at the beginning -
He will need to get tested weekly - so that is 84 dollars a month - which is CRAZY - I am looking into a home testing meter but it is not so easy to get blood from a cat, as I witnessed in the vet's office.
However, it is very easy to give him the needles - he does not seem to mind at all.
Right now, I am on the couch and he is beside me - very content.
The situation is definitely a big drag and I worry about him - but I hope that we can turn this around!
