Introduction
With more cats living longer and staying indoors, many are getting less exercise and becoming overweight. A sedentary lifestyle and diets high in carbohydrates are key contributors to obesity—a growing concern among domesticated cats¹ and a major risk factor for feline diabetes².
Often called a “silent killer,” feline diabetes can be hard to spot in its early stages, as symptoms are usually subtle. However, if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as recurring infections, organ damage, and even premature death.
For cats that are not fully dependent on insulin, oral treatment options such as Senvelgo® are now available. This once-daily liquid medication works by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, allowing excess sugar to be excreted through urine—helping to significantly reduce blood sugar levels. However, if left untreated, it can lead to serious complications such as recurrent infections, organ damage, and even premature death.
To better understand what feline diabetes is, how it develops, and how it can be managed, keep reading.
What Is Feline Diabetes?
Before understanding feline diabetes, it’s important to know what insulin is. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that helps regulate blood sugar by moving glucose from the bloodstream into the body’s cells, where it is used for energy3.
Feline diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when a cat’s body either doesn’t produce enough insulin (Type 1 diabetes) or becomes resistant or less responsive to it (Type 2 diabetes). Similar to humans, most cases in cats are caused by insulin insensitivity⁴, where the body stops responding properly to insulin.
When this happens, sugar cannot be effectively used for energy and instead builds up in the blood, leading to high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia). If blood sugar remains high for too long, it can begin to damage the body, affecting vital organs such as the kidneys and liver, as well as the nerves and immune system.
Key Risk Factors
While any cat can develop feline diabetes, certain factors significantly increase the risk⁵:
• Obesity: Overweight cats are up to four times more likely to develop diabetes than those at an ideal weight because excess fat cells release substances that make the body less responsive to insulin6.
• Physical Inactivity: A lack of movement makes it harder for the body to regulate blood sugar effectively.
• Age and Gender: More common in neutered males as hormonal changes can increase appetites and promote weight gain. Cats over seven years old are also at risk due to reduced insulin function and an increased likelihood of comorbidities7.
• Medications: Long-term use of corticosteroids can cause the liver to release more sugar into the blood while reducing insulin sensitivity8.
• Diet: Frequent consumption of high-carbohydrate diets may lead to repeated blood sugar spikes and increased metabolic strain.
The “Silent Disease”: Why Early Detection is Critical
Feline diabetes is considered a “silent disease” because cats instinctively hide signs of illness. In the wild, showing weakness makes them vulnerable, so this behaviour has carried over into domesticated cats. As a result, by the time a cat appears visibly unwell, the disease is often already advanced.
This makes early detection especially important, as timely intervention can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life. Cat owners can stay vigilant by watching for these early signs9:
• Increased Thirst (Polydipsia): Refilling the water bowl more frequently than usual
• Increased Urination (Polyuria): Larger or heavier clumps in the litter box
• Weight Loss: Losing weight despite an increased appetite (polyphagia)
• Lethargy: Reduced activity levels, less interest in play, or difficulty jumping
Unfortunately, if left untreated, feline diabetes can progress to serious, potentially life-threatening complications. In fact, when the body cannot use glucose for energy, it begins breaking down fat and muscle instead, which may result in:
• Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): A medical emergency where fat breakdown produces ketones—acidic compounds that accumulate in the bloodstream and disrupt the body’s normal pH balance. Symptoms may include vomiting, dehydration, and severe weakness10.
• Diabetic Neuropathy: Chronic high blood sugar damages nerves over time, particularly in the hind limbs, leading to weakness and an abnormal, flat-footed stance11.
• Secondary Infections: High glucose levels in the blood and urine create an ideal environment for bacterial growth, increasing risks for urinary tract or skin infections12.
• Organ Damage: Prolonged hyperglycaemia places ongoing stress on the kidneys and liver, which can lead to long-term dysfunction13.
Treatment Options
The good news is that feline diabetes can be effectively managed—and in some cases, even reversed—with early diagnosis and proper treatment. Common options include:
1. Conservative Management
In early stages, or in overweight cats at risk of diabetes, lifestyle modification is the cornerstone of management. Gradual weight loss through a calorie-controlled, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet, combined with regular physical activity, can significantly improve insulin sensitivity and may even lead to remission14.
2. Insulin Injections
When lifestyle changes alone are insufficient, veterinarians may prescribe insulin therapy to enable glucose to move from the bloodstream into cells15.
It is typically administered as an injection using a very fine needle, usually twice daily after meals. While highly effective, insulin therapy requires strict adherence to dosing schedules, proper injection technique, and ongoing monitoring. Some cats may also be resistant to handling or injections, which can make long-term management challenging for owners.
3. Oral Medications
For diabetic cats that are not insulin-dependent, oral treatment options such as Senvelgo® are now available. A once-daily liquid medication,Senvelgo® works by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, allowing excess glucose to be excreted through the urine, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.
An FDA-approved treatment, clinical data shows that Senvelgo® has effectively improved blood sugar control in over 80% of newly-diagnosed diabetic cats, with some achieving remission16. Its honey-flavoured formulation also makes administration easier compared to injectable treatments, and unlike insulin, does not require refrigeration—offering added convenience for pet owners.
Refs
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29140289/
2. https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/529
3. https://joe.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/joe/222/3/T1.xml
4. https://www.dovepress.com/managing-feline-diabetes-current-perspectives-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-VMRR
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19034421/
6. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X211021540
7. https://academic.oup.com/jvim/article/30/4/964/8452839?login=false
8. https://www.dovepress.com/managing-feline-diabetes-current-perspectives-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-VMRR
9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11148891/
10 https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-diabetes
11. https://academic.oup.com/jnen/article-abstract/61/10/872/2916290?redirectedFrom=fulltext
12. https://www.aaha.org/wp-content/uploads/globalassets/02-guidelines/diabetes/2018-aaha-diabetes-management-guidelines-2022-update.pdf
13. https://www.aaha.org/wp-content/uploads/globalassets/02-guidelines/diabetes/2018-aaha-diabetes-management-guidelines-2022-update.pdf
14. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952919
15. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/doc/?id=4951390
16. https://www.aaha.org/wp-content/uploads/globalassets/02-guidelines/diabetes/sponsorresources/senvelgo-vet-detailer.pdf
17. https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-diabetes