Animals Who Need Help, Too

Does the famously rotund cartoon cat Garfield need a shot of insulin? We may never know, but the fact of the matter is that many household pets have diabetes, and fat cats are at higher risk for diabetes than leaner ones. “Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity in people, and it’s the same story in cats,” says Margarethe Hoenig, DVM, PhD, professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia in Athens. She says that 45 percent of cats are overweight or obese, and as they have gotten bigger, feline diabetes has increased three- to fivefold over the past 30 years.

Canine diabetes, on the other hand, appears to be closely related to human type 1 diabetes. Pancreatic antibodies, the hallmark of human type 1 diabetes, are found in diabetic dogs, indicating that an autoimmune war is being waged on the pancreatic cells that secrete insulin. Diabetic cats, meanwhile, maintain these cells, but produce less insulin and have reduced insulin sensitivity.

Overall, 0.5–1 percent of cats and 0.2 percent of dogs are diabetic. Certain breeds—including Burmese cats and Golden Retrievers— are more prone to diabetes than others. This indicates that there may be genetic factors that predispose certain animals to the disease.

The signs that a pet may have diabetes are the same as in people: They drink more, they urinate more, they want to eat more, and they may become weak. If you suspect diabetes in your pet, make a veterinarian appointment as soon as possible. Diabetic dogs will need to be administered insulin indefinitely. For cats, insulin may be required, but a high-protein diet and exercise are also good ways to help keep blood glucose levels in check. Oral medications may also be included in care regimens.

There’s another way their human companions can help cats, by the way. It’s believed that one problem contributing to the increase in feline diabetes may be the cuteness factor: As Hoenig says, “Cat owners like their cats obese.” Of course, fans of a certain lasagna-loving feline already know that.

—Erika Gebel, PhD