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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsIncreased thirst and urination, increased appetite, weight loss, or lethargy can be signs of diabetes mellitus (DM) in cats. These changes warrant veterinary assessment, but they do not confirm diabetes: cats can have a temporary rise in blood glucose from stress, and diagnosis depends on evidence that high glucose is sustained.
What are the signs of diabetes in cats?
The pattern caregivers most often notice is a cat drinking and urinating more than usual while eating well or even seeming hungrier, yet losing weight. Lethargy may also occur. Changes can develop gradually, making shifts in water intake, litter-box output, and body weight easy to miss.
- More urination: larger or more frequent urine clumps in the litter box.
- More thirst: a water bowl that needs refilling more often, or a change in drinking habits.
- More appetite with weight loss: the cat eats eagerly but becomes thinner.
- Lethargy: less energy or activity than is typical for that cat.
A veterinarian may also find hindlimb weakness that causes a plantigrade stance, in which the cat walks with its hocks lower to the ground, or a poorly groomed coat. Some affected cats remain overweight; others lose substantial body condition. A relatively normal-looking examination does not rule out diabetes, particularly when changes have been subtle or gradual.
Which cats are at greater risk?
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) identifies obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, middle or older age, and male sex as risk factors. Diabetes can occur at any age, however, and having one or more risk factors does not mean a cat has the disease. Cats without these risk factors can still develop it.
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Most affected cats are mixed breed; Burmese cats have been reported to have increased risk. AAHA reports that one study found 82% of diabetic cats were older than 7 and 50% were aged 10–15 (Prahl et al., 2007, as cited by AAHA). Those figures describe cats in that cited study, not the chance that any individual cat will develop diabetes.
Because change over time can be more informative than a single impression, keeping track of a cat’s weight and noting changes in body shape, muscle, drinking, and urination can help a veterinarian assess what is happening.
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Can thirst, litter-box changes, or a high glucose reading confirm diabetes?
No. These signs can raise suspicion, but they are not specific to diabetes. A cat’s blood glucose can rise temporarily because of stress, and glucose in blood or urine alone does not establish the diagnosis. As the 2026 AAHA guideline on recognizing diabetes in cats puts it: “Elevated BG in the absence of clinical signs may reflect transient hyperglycemia due to stress.”
Veterinarians look for sustained hyperglycemia alongside the cat’s signs and history, rather than relying on one high clinic reading. Evidence may include repeat blood or urine findings obtained on more than one occasion when the cat is not stressed or in a home environment, and/or an increased fructosamine result. Fructosamine reflects average blood glucose over approximately the preceding 7–10 days; conditions that shorten albumin’s lifespan, including hyperthyroidism and protein-losing disease, can affect its interpretation. AAHA notes that, to the task force’s knowledge, commercially available feline HbA1C assays have not been validated in diabetic cats.
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These results need veterinary interpretation in light of the cat’s signs and any other health conditions. A home glucose meter or urine test strip may help assess glucose status when a veterinarian recommends it, but a consumer test result should not be used to diagnose diabetes independently.
What will the veterinarian check?
For a cat with signs suggestive of diabetes, AAHA lists a broader evaluation that can help detect other illness and interpret glucose findings:
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- Complete blood count and chemistry panel, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and electrolytes
- Urinalysis with sediment examination
- Total thyroxine (TT4)
- Blood-pressure measurement
The veterinarian may use repeat measurements and glycated-protein evidence as appropriate to establish whether hyperglycemia is persistent. A single clinic glucose value, especially in a stressed cat, is not enough by itself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When should you seek veterinary care?
Arrange an appointment if increased thirst or urination persists, especially if it occurs with weight loss or a change in appetite. Do not wait for every sign to appear before asking for an assessment.
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If a cat that may have diabetes is markedly unwell—particularly with poor appetite, vomiting, or dehydration—seek prompt veterinary care. AAHA notes that serious compromise can occur with diabetic ketoacidosis. Those signs need professional assessment rather than an attempt to confirm diabetes at home.
For more detail on how veterinarians establish the diagnosis, see the 2026 AAHA guideline on diagnosing diabetes in cats.
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