Geoff, thanks for the tip. If the tests come back inconclusive, I’ll certainly mention it to the vet.
The test results are back, though the tests that the vet ordered indicate one of two things: either diabetes or pancreatitis. The vet says that diabetes is the more likely of the two, though he has suggested (and I agreed) to a couple of further tests to make absolutely sure.
If it is diabetes, he says that it is easily treatable. Yes, Denver will require insulin injections, but the vet said he would show me how to administer those. And I know that I can always ask the neighbour for help, when he returns.
I’ll be very happy when the next test returns which it is for sure; but for now, I feel relieved to know what it likely is, and that something can be done. Denver is a great little guy, and I’d like to see him back at his normal weight, and playful again.
Thanks for updating us, Spoons. Hooray for modern medicine!
Keeping my fingers crossed for diabetes - very easy to manage. Lucky kitty to have such a caretaking person!
I had to give a cat I was catsitting for insulin injections, and it was ridiculously simple. Cat didn’t even seem to notice them. My elderly cat has lost a ton of weight in the past few years, but she seems to be otherwise healthy. We did switch to a lower-calorie food, which added to her advanced years (18) explained most her her slimming-down. Glad to know you got answers, and good to have a neighbor that can help!
A friend’s 10 yr old kitty, Mr. Quincy, had similar symptoms, ie - weight loss but otherwise normal - and turns out he has diabetes - good news is, very treatable, and with the 1 insulin shot a day, Mr. Q has gained weight and is back to his normal ornery bossy self. Of all the kitty illnesses it COULD be, this is the lesser of the evils…and much preferable to pancreatitis…fingers crossed for Denver!
If it’s diabetes, you may be able to reverse it using the Lantus Protocol. I successfully reversed diabetes in two of my cats, one who had such severe diabetes his BG was unresponsive to Humulin and remained over 600mg/dL for several weeks. It does require close monitoring, but it’s not a difficult task if you can get your cat used to the blood glucose measurements (pricking the paw or ear for the blood drop).
Thanks for all the good wishes, folks! I’ll pass them along to Denver. And I’ll update when we know the test results for sure.
But apologies also–this is the SDMB, and we have rules about cat threads.
Here’s a photo of Denver; and here’s a photo of Denver (on the left), and two of my other cats: Fiona (in the middle), and Hope. Obviously, these were taken when he was in better health, and I hope that with treatment, he will return to what you see here.
Hi there,
I decided to register after reading your posts to be able to share my experience with you.
I lost my first cat to diabetes many years ago, and one of my others developed it a number of years later. The advances in understanding regarding the treatment of this disease are astounding.
Ara was always a thin cat, so weight loss was hard to notice. The fact that she only tolerated human contact on her own terms didn’t help.
When she was diagnosed, she was put on meds to get her blood sugar under control, but that was only for a week or two. Her diabetes was then controlled by a simple switch from dry cat food to wet. See here for more info
You might want to discuss this with your vet. Good luck!
I spent almost an hour on the phone with my vet yesterday, and Feather’s tests weren’t conclusive, either. Dammit! We’re trying an anti-inflammatory for a week for the peeing, and she’s going back in in two months to get her thyroid levels checked again. We also got a Feliway diffuser in case she needs to feel more secure and that’s why she pees.
Fingers still crossed that Denver will have an easily managed condition. I like the picture of Denver and the ladies helping you with breakfast. 
Aww. Denver looks just like my Archie.
Fingers crossed for diabetes - I had a small (probably about Denver’s size) diabetic blind foster dog for about nine months last year, it’s not a big deal to do the shots. The needle is so tiny I don’t think he noticed. And yeah, dietary management is a big part of managing diabetes in animals, just like with people.
It’s diabetes.
Interestingly, the vet said that with the additional test results, there is a good chance that Denver’s diabetes might go into remission–at least, other cats with the same (or close to) results have after a regimen of insulin was started. But he added that there was no way of knowing when, or even if, that might happen, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up. And depending on how Denver responds to treatment, he may require a different diet than the rest of my cats.
But I don’t care. It’s good to know what it is, and it is great to know that Denver will be okay.
So, tomorrow, Denver and I have another appointment with the vet. It’s an appointment for me as much as it is for him, so I can learn how to handle a syringe and inject Denver where necessary. And then, off to the drugstore with a prescription for insulin.
Thanks, everybody, for the comments and answers you’ve offered. They have been very helpful.
Ask the vet if a change in diet would help your cat. Certain diets were found to help cats control their diabetes, to the point of either lowering their insulin or not needing it at all.
Wal-Mart is your friend, if cost is a concern. Humulin and boxes of needles are a fraction of the cost there, compared to anywhere else I checked last year. Also the pee strips (to check blood sugar) - hmmm, I wonder how one does that with a cat? Dogs are easy, but cats are lower to the ground and a bit more particular about their toilet habits. If you get a chance, I’d like to know how one manages the pee strip testing with cats - assuming you have to.
Hopefully it will go into remission and you’ll be able to rely on dietary management alone, that would be cool.
The vet said that might be a possibility also. It may present a few logistical challenges, as Denver has never eaten a full meal at once (he is more likely to graze throughout the day), and my other cats might well go for his “special” meal after he’s had a few bites and gone for a nap or a drink of water. But perhaps something can be done in this regard–for example, if Denver is willing to finish his meal all at once, I could put him in a room with a closed door at mealtimes. Good point, thanks; and I will look into this further with the vet.
Also, good point about testing, chiroptera; but for the first while anyway, the vet wants to monitor Denver’s blood. So we will be returning from time to time. This is fine by me, as the vet now has a baseline from which to monitor Denver’s progress, and he’ll be able to track it better through blood samples than I can with a urine test strip–assuming I can even get Denver to pee on demand and aim correctly. Perhaps, in the future, my neighbour (remember, my neighbour, the retired vet?) can help with drawing blood samples so office visits aren’t necessary. I may have to take care of him with a nice single-malt, however. 
Spoons, it may be that the diet the vet recommends is one that can be eaten by the other cats (unlike, say, a renal disease diet).
Glad to hear that you’ve got the definitive diagnosis. Now here’s hoping for remission (or at least controlled with diet)!
Another good point, Karl. If the vet recommends a special diet for Denver, I will certainly ask if the others can eat it too. Even if his preferred suggestion isn’t good for everybody, he may have a second choice that would be.
Karl, just because I’d like a little general information as to Denver’s needs, I’d like to ask: what kind of diet should a diabetic cat eat? I remember having a diabetic girlfriend from many years ago, and how she had to have (for example) green vegetables right now; but of course, Denver won’t touch such things, and he can’t tell me what he needs anyway. I’m not looking for specific brand names (I’ll ask the vet for those), but what should I be aware of when asking about a diet for Denver? High-carbohydrates, low-calorie, regular-fiber…? I admit that I know little in this area, and if you’re willing, your advice will help when I speak with the vet tomorrow.
At any rate, I must thank you again!
IIRC, the diet specified was described, in a simplified way, as an “Atkins-type” for cats. In that particular study (again, IIRC), that type of diet seemed to work for at least some of the diabetic cats that ate it, and was what we were told was more recommended for diabetic cats (in contrast with diabetic dogs). It’s been a while and formulations, recipes, and brands are prone to change, so I’m not sure I can go farther than that.
The reason I mentioned that about the diet is that, from what I remember, the formulation of the ingredients was not likely to cause adverse reactions in otherwise healthy cats, specially if they free fed. Other prescription diets are not recommended for animals without the particular disease/condition.
Denver has been getting his insulin for a week now, and has improved. He’s not back to his old weight yet, though he does seem a little heavier than when I originally posted my question. At any rate, he is coming back to his old self–he has romped a bit with my other cats, and he meows at me when he wants to play. We don’t play quite as roughly as we once did–he’s still pretty fragile–but we have fun, and Denny purrs loudly.
Denver gets his insulin twice a day, usually when I wake up; and then twelve hours later, at suppertime. According to Denver’s vet, the food I serve my cats is fine for him, so there are no problems about special feedings.
The insulin must be kept in the fridge, but it cannot be given to him “cold,” so I warm it up by putting it in my pocket for a while. The syringes are very fine, and it is likely that Denver feels nothing when he gets his shot. If he feels anything, it would be something like a mosquito bite. It is subcutaneous–I get the scruff of his neck, and insert the needle. I have to be careful not to get a blood vessel, but if that doesn’t happen (and it hasn’t yet–fingers crossed), I plunge the syringe home, and pull out. That’s it; it’s pretty easy. Denver cooperates, which make it even easier.
Just want to thank all the Dopers who participated in this thread, and who sent their best wishes to Denver. Thank you all, and I know Denver thanks you too.