What to do with my Diabetic Cat when I go on Vacation?

Earlier this year, I wrote about my cat being diagnosed with diabetes. I’ve noticed that people arrive on that post from Google because they’re trying to find out what to do about their diabetic cat when they go on vacation. Unfortunately, there’s nothing in that post to help them, so I figured I’d write one that addresses the vacation situation.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a veterinarian. This post is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Consult your veterinarian if you have questions about  how to best manage your cat’s diabetes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to do?

1. Board your cat at the vet

This is the best option for cats who don’t like strangers. In fact, it’s probably the only viable option. We have to board our cat at the vet, because she’s a formerly feral cat who will only let me handle her. My partner can brush her and that’s about it. Call your vet well in advance to make a reservation, or you might be out of luck. Some non-veterinary boarding facilities might also accept diabetic cats.

2. Hire a pet sitter with experience giving insulin shots

This can be an individual, or someone who works for a pet sitting company. You can also call your vet to see if they can recommend anyone.

3. Have a friend or family member give the shots.

This one’s risky, and it can be stressful for the friend or family member. A few months ago, we were in our vet’s waiting room when we struck up a conversation with a woman who had a cat that looked like ours. We laughed when we discovered that her cat was also diabetic. We got to talking about the vacation issue, and she said that the first time she went away after her cat was diagnosed, she had her mother come in and give the shots. When she returned, her mother said to her, “Never ask me to take care of your cat again.” It stressed her mother out so much that she couldn’t sleep. After all, it’s not just the act of giving the injections. One wrong dose, one shot given too soon, and the cat can die.

Also, it’s a lot to ask someone to come in twice a day, approximately every 12 hours, to give a needle. People are busy. They have other things to do and other places to be.

If you do go this route, make sure the person is 100% reliable and understands how to fill the syringe with the correct dose, how to properly inject the cat, and that they must give the shots approximately 12 hours apart (assuming your cat requires two shots a day). Again, certain mistakes can kill your cat, so you must be sure that the person knows exactly what to do. This task is on a whole different level than someone coming in to water the plants. I’d have them give your cat one of its scheduled insulin shots, so you can see how they do.

But frankly, unless you have a willing friend who has experience giving insulin shots to cats (a friend who’s had to administer subcutaneous fluids to a cat with kidney disease is also a good candidate), I’d use this option as a last resort. I’d board the cat or find an experienced pet sitter.

Those are my three suggestions. If you have a diabetic cat and you’ve handled the vacation situation differently, leave a comment and let me know. The more options, the merrier!

What to do with my Diabetic Cat when I go on Vacation? is a post from: Sarah Ettritch