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Despite the warm feelings inspired by a fat cat, letting dear little Fluffy put on an extra pound or two can be as unhealthy for her as an extra 10 are for you. Just as obesity in humans can lead to Type II diabetes, sometimes known as adult onset diabetes, a fat cat is at increased risk of diabetes too.

Not surprisingly the symptoms for feline diabetes can be very similar as those for diabetic humans. The first feline diabetes symptom is also sometimes the cause - too much weight. When a cat cannot process its meals properly because of a lack of proper insulin production, it gains weight more easily. An overweight cat may be the first sign of diabetes.

An overweight cat may also be the cause of the diabetes. Just as in humans, obesity contributes to the dysfunction of the pancreas and an increase in feline diabetes.

The next symptom may be that your cat has to urinate frequently and seems to be drinking much more water than usual. Human diabetics report that they are thirsty all the time and the increased consumption of water leads to more frequent urination. The same things happens in cats, except that they can't tell us about it.

Another symptom of feline diabetes is lethargy. This may be hard to notice in a cat as even health cats can sleep as many as 18 hours a day. They sleep this much to conserve energy because cats generally have a very high metabolism. When they are up and active, they are burning a lot of energy.

One way to determine if your cat is suffering an unusual lethargy is to try to entice the cat to play. Find the cat's favorite toy and wake him up with it. A cat that is strangely resistant to play may be suffering from feline diabetes symptoms.

In extreme stages, diabetes in cats can cause nerve damage, including a limping or dragging of the rear legs. The tends to occur only when the cat has been undiagnosed for a long period of time and nerve damage has begun along the spine.

To avoid these symptoms in your cat, begin with a healthy diet and exercise. Cat are omnivores like humans and need a balanced diet. Check with the veterinarian or invest in high quality pet foods including Eukanuba or Purina Pro Plan. Avoid feeding your cat table scraps or milk designed for human consumption as these have too many fat calories for cats.

If your cat is overweight, consider a diet plan. Diet plans should be conducted with a vet's supervision as rapid weight loss can damage a cat's liver. Several good weight control cat foods are available. Feed them according to the instructions.

Play with your cat. Cats need several bouts of play time a day, including running, jumping and batting at toys.

Finally, see the vet. Animals need regular health screenings at least, preferably twice a year. When you schedule the vet visit, make sure to mention any unusual behaviors or health concerns including frequent urination, lethargy, or anything out of the ordinary.

Learn more about this author, Lucinda Gunnin.
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