My Experience with Raising a Diabetic Cat

Yes, you read it correctly. I’ve mentioned in a previous blog post that my cat had some blood tests run and she has been officially diagnosed with diabetes. When the veterinarian told me, initially I thought he was joking. Then he started writing prescriptions for insulin and special food.  At that point, I realized that $h#t got real! My first thoughts were, how do alley cats survive forever without medical treatment?

Welcome Home Dorie!

Dorie is a tortoiseshell, black and tan, with one tan paw. She was born in an alley somewhere in Harford County. I adopted her from the Humane Society when she was about four months old. We brought her home and upgraded her lifestyle like Beyoncé did for Jay-Z.

Initially, I wanted a cat because I saw a mouse in my house, but I do love cats. She took care of that problem immediately. As Dorie became acclimated to living in our home, we noticed that she had the characteristics of a dog. She jumped on people, she licked, sniffed, and chased people, just strange behavior for a cat. She also used to expose her claws to comb my hair. She did a great job, better than a hairdresser.

Company for Dorie

We brought our dog home when Dorie was a year old and she was pissed! Not only did she hiss at the dog, she slapped her multiple times daily, tried to take her food, and occasionally she drank from her bowl. She terrorized the dog for about a year. Eventually, they became inseparable. They followed each other around the house in a single file line, slept in the same rooms, played together and kept each other company. They spent 8 years together. Our dog died in December 2017 and Dorie grieved for months. I think she’s still grieving with us.

What’s Up with Dorie Today?

Fast forward, Dorie is 9 years old today. She initially went to the vet because she was losing weight and drinking so much water. I was changing her litter twice a day. The doctor ran some tests and I was hit with the diabetic diagnoses. I have to inject her with insulin twice a day and she can only eat 1 cup of prescription food per day, half in the morning and half at night. She also has to have a curve blood test every two weeks to check her sugar levels. She’s getting better, but she’s not quite there yet.

Let’s Break Down the Financial Implications

Because, I didn’t know any better, I paid $291.00 for a 6 month supply of insulin from the pharmacy at my local supermarket which shall remain nameless. That’s about $48.00 a month. A box of 100 needles was $29.00. A bag of food is about $60.00 which will last for about 2 months. Later, I found out that I can get the insulin and needles cheaper at Wal-Mart.  The curve test cost anywhere from $100-$140 every other week. Did you do the math? I tell you this because everyone loves pets when they are cute and young. Please understand that they get older and require medical treatment just like you. They were not included in the Affordable Care Act. If you are not committed to being a pet owner or you truly can’t afford it, think twice. Do you have money set aside for healthcare? Will you consider pet insurance? Dorie is a family member and I will care for her as long as she is here on earth. Do you own a pet? Have you ever dealt with a pet with health issues? Share your story below!

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