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COURTESY POST REMOVED JUNE 22, 2016 - CHRISSY HAS FOUND HER FOREVER HOME

SWEETHEARTED TRICOLORED BEAUTY SEEKS SPECIAL PURRSON FOR BEST FRIEND BONDING

Hello friends! My name is Chrissy. I'm coming to you as a special courtesy posting through Kingstowne Cat Clinic, the feline-only veterinary practice in Alexandria, Virginia. This simply means that if you would like to meet me, my 'agent' Dr. Janice Chang at Kingstowne will be your contact and she'll make all the arrangements. I'm surrently residing with a wonderful foster family in northern Virginia. 

I have an unusual story: I've been a beloved family member for all of my nine (9) years and I was recently diagnoses with diabetes. This is a manageable condition in cats just as it is in humans. My human was no longer able to keep me after this diagnosis. Many people who know me love me very much (they know that you will too) and came together to provide for me until I can find a new forever home.

I need insulin injections twice a day. Now WAIT - if you are unfamiliar with this I need you to know that this is not a big deal. The syringes are small and very fine, I am a very well-behaved and compliant girl, and anyone can learn to do this quickly. Insulin is available from my doctor and other supplies can be ordered online in bulk if you'd prefer that.

There's a special message at the end of this post from a King Street Cats volunteer with years of experience caring for a diabetic cat to ease your mind. I also eat a very healthy grain-free diet that I'll need you to feed me, but that's not any different from what many people normally do for their healthy cats.

Now about me! I am a loving and gentle girl. All of my caretakers describe me as a real sweetheart. I got along very well with my former feline sister cat (we weren't from the same litter but I call her my "sister" so that you know that I lived with a female kitty) so if you have a nice, accepting cat at home that would be fine with me.

I love my person! I am friendly and calm and I like to be with you! I'm looking to build a deep and loyal bond with you. My friends know what a pleasure it is to have me around. I'm also a gorgeous girl with warm honey tones, jet black and snowy white fur. I have a honey-colored little round face with a black cap on my head and a snowy white blaze on my nose. I've got bright green eyes that will melt your heart. I'm nine (9) years old but that number means nothing to me and I plan to love you for many years to come!

Please consider giving me the forvever home that I deserve - I've mastered the art of being the perfect family girl and I'd like nothing more than to know that I'm home, safe and sound and loved, for good.

If you'd like to meet me, please call Dr. Janice Chang at Kingstowne Cat Clinic in Alexandria at (202) 271-9135 or Satabdi at (571) 331-8207. They'll happily make arrangements and answer any questions for you.

You could also send an email to contact@kingstreetcats.org and ask for me, Chrissy, but it's quicker if you'll call Dr. Chang or Satabdi. Please read on to hear about what it's like to give insulin injections to a well-behaved kitty.

Thank you so much for your consideration. I know my situation is unusual but I also know that King Street Cats has a lot of special cat lovers.

Gratefully yours,
Chrissy

A SPECIAL NOTE ON CARING FOR A DIABETIC CAT FROM A KSC VOLUNTEER

Hello. Please do not dismiss Chrissy because of her diabetes! 

What you're about to read reflects ONLY my personal experience with my own cat, but I want to give you an idea about what's involved in the care of a cat who takes insulin.

Insulin: Insulin is obtained from a veterinarian. Some cats take special feline insulin, some use human insulin. Human insulin can also be obtained from a pharmacy with a veterinarian's prescription. I  obtained my cat's insulin from my veterinarian. I ordered syringes online in bulk and they came with a secure disposal container into which you place the used syringes. I brought that to my vet for ultimate disposal.

Injections: The injections themselves take less than five seconds - literally. I gave my cat her injections in the fatty tissue at the scruff of her neck. She lay on the bed while I talked softly to her, took a little "handful" of flesh at the scruff of her neck, and depressed the "plunger" on the syringe to administer the insulin. The syringes were small and very fine gauge - my cat did not flinch after the first few times and did not object. 

Insulin storage and timing: Please note that most insulin does need to be refrigerated and needs to be administered at roughly the same time each day. I don't mean down to the minute - I had a crazy job and was often home an hour late. I would reward my cat with a freeze-dried fish treat from the pet supply store where I shopped (not at a mass-market chain).

I home-tested glucose levels - this is not required:  This is not required and you don't have to do this for Chrissy. I mention it only to make you aware that this is possible.

I learned quickly and easily how to use a small device (a glucometer - diabetics use these) that's available at CVS for under $20 to prick the edge of my cat's ear to get a drop of blood. A small (2") test strip is touched to the drop of blood (and absorbs a little) and then inserted into the glucometer. A digital readout of the glucose level appears in a few seconds. Her ears were not damaged; there is a vein running around the outer edge of the ear that's easy to tap.

I kept a journal where I recorded her glucose levels a few times a week simply to track her health. That was discussed and planned with my vet and saved me and my cat untold amounts of stress and money over bringing her into a clinic for bloodwork when a glucose reading was all we needed. This will vary by veterinarian and cat. You would never adjust your cat's dose without explicit instructions from your vet.

My experience with special dieting for my diabetic cat : She was orginally prescribed the "prescription only" food obtained through the vet. She refused to eat it. Any diabetic, feline or human, must eat . After research and consultation, I fed her commercially available grain-free, high-protein canned food available at many private (meaning not large box store) pet supply stores in the DC Metro area. This will vary by cat and veterinarian as well. I feed that very same kind food to my two current healthy cats. There are many brands and varities.

Bottom line: You will spend a bit more money on insulin and diabetic supplies and need an extra 15 minutes or so per day for two injections (my cat needed one per day, so less time for me). You'll need to maintain a good relationship with your vet and note carefully the state of your cat's appetite - as with a human diabetic, if a cat stops eating or eats significantly less than normal, you call the doctor/vet right away. Otherwise, you just love your cat and enjoy her! I loved every second I had with my diabetic cat - I regret nothing whatsoever.

Please remember that this reflects only my personal experience - nothing I've said here constitutes any kind of recommendation or requirement from King Street Cats or Kingstown Cat Clinic. This is solely a brief account of my own experience. Thank you for reading and for giving Chrissy serious consideration.