The good news is much better than the bad news.

[Henry Krinkle]

I have made mention of the fact that our seventeen year old cat has not been well the last little while. When this summer rolled around he was less interested in the outdoors than he used to be. He is also a bit senile now. Being 17 we didn't think too much of it as he was his usual cheerful self and he was still highly motivated by food. He'd also been getting thinner the last year for two, but that also is not abnormal for a cat that old. A week or so ago things took a turn for the worse and Cracker could hardly walk. He is still somewhat interested in food but insists on being spoon fed... We took him in to the vet expecting renal failure or cancer or both. After a battery of tests we got the results today.

The bad news is that Cracker has diabetes. The good news? Cracker has diabetes, and apparently nothing else. Not even bad teeth. There is a realistic chance that with insulin and special diet food we can get his weight back up to a decent level and have him acting like his bad old self again, for a while at least.

And since threads are worthless without pics here's a favourite of Cracker, aka Fluffy White Stuff:
IMG_0035 by Hank Blanc, on Flickr

[Jeannie]

That's great! Diabetes is actually common in cats and very treatable. Thyroid issues are also common in cats.

Cats are obligate carnivores and have very specific dietary needs and are, it seems to me, quite vulnerable to nutritional issues.

Jeannie

[Henry Krinkle]

That's great! Diabetes is actually common in cats and very treatable. Thyroid issues are also common in cats.

Cats are obligate carnivores and have very specific dietary needs and are, it seems to me, quite vulnerable to nutritional issues.

Jeannie

Yes, thyroid was a concern too. As a matter of fact he had the peculiar gait of a cat with a thyroid condition, so it was a bit of a surprise that he is fine in that respect. We had a little black cat, Minnie (the Moocher), who we kept alive for six years on insulin.

[Jato]

What a stunningly beautiful cat.
Those eyes are mesmerizing, like gazing into a distant galaxy.
Best wishes for Cracker.

[Seriously]

Those eyes are mesmerizing, like gazing into a distant galaxy.

The eye of Sauron.......... In blue

[mpfrost]

What a stunningly beautiful cat.
Those eyes are mesmerizing, like gazing into a distant galaxy.
Best wishes for Cracker.

Indeed, those eyes are otherworldly.

Also, I echo the best wishes for Cracker.

[Henry Krinkle]

What a stunningly beautiful cat.
Those eyes are mesmerizing, like gazing into a distant galaxy.
Best wishes for Cracker.

Thank you. He's a tough old fella, so I hold out some hope.

His eyes are amazing. If you zoom right in on the photo you can see that they are dark lilac around the edges. When he is mad at me the blue turns icy and the lilac gets very pronounced. And then he stares with laser eyes. It's quite a sight to behold.

[Henry Krinkle]

Indeed, those eyes are otherworldly.

Also, I echo the best wishes for Cracker.

Thank you. I'll be home with him tomorrow to see how he takes to the insulin and his new food.

[Seriously]

Jeannie, I tried telling my two they were obligate carnivores and all I got was a meow from one and a wupwupwup from the other

[Nokie]

Beautiful

Wish they could make a dial color like those eyes.

Good kitty!