The Cat Walk!

Diagnosed diabetic in October 2011, this gorgeous girl is Rosie. This is Rosie's third favourite place to sleep, the first two being peoples' knees and peoples' beds!!

Huge tabby cat Arnie was diagnosed as diabetic in November 2008. Here he is, patiently waiting for supper with his non-diabetic house-mate, Snoopy. Although Arnie lives up to his name in terms of size, his owner Mike tells me that Arnie is actually a big softie! However, Mike says Arnie does have his moments!

This handsome boy is Barnaby, or Barnie as his owner Amanda calls him. He's been diabetic for a couple of years now, and is doing well. He is completely black, except for about three stray white hairs on his chest Amanda tells me!

This is Jimmy, diagnosed with diabetes in November 2007. His owner, Georgie, is having to get straight into home blood testing because, as Georgie says “My vet was very much for trying home blood testing as my cat has to be sedated to have a blood sample taken and she felt any readings they took in the vets wouldn’t be as accurate as those I could get at home, and they didn’t want to stress Jimmy out! Although I’m still very stressed about the whole thing - I am giving the ear vein technique a try and have managed my first Glucose Curve!”

Well done Georgie and Jimmy, it does get easier, I promise!

Susie from Australia writes: “This is my beloved Jed, diagnosed with diabetes on September 11, 2007. He's up to 9 units of Glargine twice a day, otherwise healthy and very much loved. A beautiful, temperamental 13 year old, I think the diabetes bothers me more than it bothers him!”

This is Nudgie from Philadelphia in America. Nudgie was diagnosed in May 2007 and his owner, Bracey, says: “My cat Nudgie and I are new to the feline diabetic scene, but we’re both getting the hang of it, slowly but surely. Nudgie is the sweetest boy ever. Nudgie has twice daily insulin shots without a peep, although he does seem to thank me afterwards with a little cackle. It makes caring for him such a pleasure.

Nudgie is about nine years old and was the runt of the litter. He was a tiny little gray fur ball; I just had to have him. Nudgie loves getting his picture taken (I call him my little furry supermodel), dancing, and playing on plastic grocery bags!

Now that we have a schedule of insulin shots, I’m about to purchase my first home glucose checker, so that I can make necessary adjustments to his insulin intake.”

Diane in Leeds writes :“My cat phoebe was diagnosed with diabetes in January 2006. She already has a serious medical condition called mega colon and managing the two things at once can be very hard.We don't know how old phoebe is because we took her in as a stray in 2000.

Recently we have had some upsetting times, fearing we were going to lose her. At one recent emergency visit to the vets her blood sugar was 0.6 mmol/l but amazingly she keeps pulling through. I must say our vets at Companion Care in Pudsey have been fantastic to us. Phoebe also stays with them when we go on holiday as we wouldn’t leave her with anyone else.

Let me tell you about my little girl Phoebe. She’s had so many problems and yet she has never once lashed out at us. She loves us no matter what, she is just the sweetest little cat, we love her to bits.”