This is probably a long shot (no pun intended), but - have you witnessed the actual administration of the shot? If your tremor is really extreme, maybe it isn’t possible for you to give it under any circumstances. But you should see what is involved before you rule it out.
I ask because I had a diabetic cat that needed daily insulin shots - when I heard that, my heart sank, because I thought, “of course I’ll try, but really? No way can I keep up that kind of routine for long.”
In the event, the shots were a piece of cake - just grab some cat scruff, and give a tiny, tiny poke with the syringe. A (mild to moderate) hand tremor would not have stopped me.
Now, that’s not counting measuring out the .5cc dose (or whatever it might be). That might call for a steadier hand. But maybe someone else could pre-measure the shots, if you kept a few syringes on hand with the dose already inserted?
Also, I’m wondering, if there is really no way for the cat to stay with you, could someone nearby-ish adopt the cat so that you could go see her periodically?
Whatever happens next, my heart goes out to you and my fingers are crossed. I sure hope this works out.
Do you somehow have the weird idea that an obligate carnivore has no nutritional need for glucose? It’s the basic metabolic fuel for cells for almost all complex species.
Protein metabolism in carnivores is intimately linked to hepatic glucose metabolism because protein catabolism provides substrates that channel into gluconeogenic pathways. The strong interdependent relationship between these two pathways is postulated to have evolved as a means to provide glucose needed to maintain brain function in the face of low dietary availability of carbohydrates (8, 27).
Their metabolic pathways (primarily in the liver) create glucose from ingested protein. So glucose metabolism is still vitally important.
I don’t have an answer for you but as someone who has had cats with incurable diseases and have lost them, my heart goes out to you and your furry friend. Best wishes.
I did a little checking, because you can’t be the first person ever with this issue.
There are devices people who need to give themselves injections can use to stabilize their hands, and other devices to stabilize the syringe.
This issue comes up with humans, and hospitals sometimes have trainings for diabetics in self-administering insulin with hand tremors that will particularly focus on this issue. Google a diabetes specialist, or call the nearest hospital, and find out if something is coming up.
Insulin needles and small and short, and so moving the needle slightly during the injection isn’t so much of a concern.
This is assuming you have shakes or tremors-- spastic jerks are a bigger complication, but you may have to let a nurse, vet or tech actually look at what your hands do to judge how much of a problem it is; don’t just assume.
My grandmother had mild tremors, and still gave my grandfather injections for 20 years.