Boondocking with a diabetic cat?

[Naio]

So my cat (yes this is the SAME cat) was recovering from the pit bull attack when he developed diabetes. I am thinking about my options and hoping to get some insight from you folks.

I wasn't sure whether to post here or in the pets forum, but my concerns are mostly boondocking-oriented, and probably apply to humans with diabetes too, so here goes.

He is a special cat. One of those pet-human bonds that go very deep.

He also has other health problems -- pemphigus, and a partial cleft palate. He is 10. I love him a lot.

I have health problems of my own. I had planned a 'trip of a lifetime' for this fall and winter, and it may be my last chance. Or not, but maybe.

I was planning to spend 2-3 months in remote areas, a mixture of boondocking and established campgrounds, and then the winter in a place I have not been before. And in the spring, more months on the road -- maybe even all winter too if I feel like it.

I've been reading a lot online about feline diabetes. It's pretty high maintenance. I don't think I have anyone I can leave him with who could give as good of care as I could on the road.

I can't stay at my S&B over the winter because of my own health issues.

I am worried about veterinary emergencies on the road, and about stuff like keeping insulin cool and unshaken.

I am not sure how well I will be able to handle the added workload of caring for him while camping. I will have to scale back, not sure how much. My schedule is flexible and so is my mindset.

On the plus side, he has adapted well to being indoor only, and not seeing much of the other cats, these past 6 weeks. A big change from his former mostly- outdoor life in a neighborhood FULL of cats. So this makes me think he might do ok living in the van with me.

I sometimes put him on a leash and open the door, to get some fresh air in the house and so he can go out if he wants. Today for the first time he went a couple steps out the door, then came back in. He does not get upset about the leash, although I think he feels LESS safe with it on, for obvious reasons.

So, can you folks tell me anything? Any boondockers here with diabetes? Or with pets who have it? Honestly, I don't even know what my questions are, but I feel like anything you can share would be useful.

[4runnerguy]

Look at our sig. We had a cat with diabetes for 10 years. Went camping with us for the entire time. It was simply too expensive to have someone else watch him and give him shots. He was on glargine (lantus). It was the only insulin at the time that would bring his blood sugar down. Research has shown that cats treated with glargine early on may actually get to the point that they don't need insulin.

So I can't help you with the specifics of the type of insulin you are using, but we just kept the glargine in the refrigerator. Gave him his shots twice a day. We also had a meter so we could test his glucose levels whenever we needed to. If you haven't done so, learn to do blood glucose measurements on your cat. They don't like it, but it's a necessity to maintain good blood glucose levels.

Biggest issue we would have would be to forget the insulin at home and have to have our vet call in a prescription to the local pharmacy.

Our cat travelled to more than a dozen states during his camping adventures. We typically travelled 6 or more weeks a year with him. He lived with diabetes for more than half his life.

[2gypsies1]

I don't see a problem at all. Many diabetics boondock. As for your cat there are vets in nearly every area. Everyone has pets and needs a vet.

I really think the Pet Forum would be able to help you a lot with your questions. Boondocking is not your problem. Pet diabetes is and how to deal with it. Check on that forum.

Above all, I don't think you should leave your pet behind. It would be worse on both of you.

[Naio]

Thank you so much, Catkins, that was really helpful and encouraging 🙂

[catkins]

We had a diabetic dog we just helped go over the rainbow bridge after 13 years, last 7 as a diabetic. She went with us all over the country. We visited MANY vets over the years with one crisis or another. We always felt the issues would have happened at home.

We boondock for long stretches in Quartzsite. Vet care is a far distance away - best is to Yuma 70 miles away. There is only a part time local vet who is semi retired and another in Blythe who is good but they are SO busy.

Insulin she used is for humans and so could be gotten at a regular Pharmacy. We chose Walgrens as they are most everywhere we need on the west coast.

Find out about getting insulin and syringes while on the road(RX from Dr at some national drugstore chain!) You will need a consistent means of refrigeration for the insulin.

We loved our little girl and took the best care of her that we could. She loved to RV and we will miss her when we head out for travel this fall. She would NOT have done well with someone else but that was her.

Illness/inability to travel will eventually happen to us all. I encourage you to do what you can while you can. Maybe just not too far from medical for both of you if that is a need. May you have safe and joy filled travels.

[Naio]

You folks are really helping me figure out what the hurdles might be!

[Naio]

darsben wrote:
If the bond is deep then you and the cat will agree that 6 months together is better than 5 ears apart.
What insulin is he one and is it readily available a pharmacies or do you get it through your vet?

I currently have prozinc, and thank you for pointing out that I need to check on that! I thiiiiink it is a human one...

[Naio]

toedtoes wrote:

Naio wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
If something happens to my cat during this trip will I be OK with that?

Well, yes and no. I won't bring him unless I think it is the best bet for him. If I can come up with a better alternative I will do that. This thread is about scoping out one option.

That's not what I mean with that question. What I mean is will you be able to continue with the trip and enjoy it if your cat dies in the midst of it? Will you lay guilt on yourself because "if you had just done this instead, he wouldn't have died"? Will you simply be too heartbroken to enjoy your trip?

Oh. A good question.

I think I would feel a LOT worse if he died while in someone else's care while I was gone. Mainly because I was not there to hold his paw -- I would worry he felt abandoned.

As for whether I will feel I should have done something else, well, that is always an issue, isn't it? All we can do is make our best guess about what to do.

And the grief? Yes, it would take away from the trip. Nature is soothing to me, more than anything else is, but grief is still grief.

The idea of him dying while I am gone is part of why I think about bringing him with me. I would also feel terribly worried that he died because I picked the wrong person to care for him.

It's sort of like when I am at work and there is a very difficult part of a job. I tell my crew, 'I should do this one, because if it doesn't work we will all feel better if it was me who messed it up.'

[darsben]

If the bond is deep then you and the cat will agree that 6 months together is better than 5 years apart.
What insulin is he on and is it readily available a pharmacies or do you get it through your vet?

[toedtoes]

Naio wrote:

toedtoes wrote:
If something happens to my cat during this trip will I be OK with that?

Well, yes and no. I won't bring him unless I think it is the best bet for him. If I can come up with a better alternative I will do that. This thread is about scoping out one option.

That's not what I mean with that question. What I mean is will you be able to continue with the trip and enjoy it if your cat dies in the midst of it? Will you lay guilt on yourself because "if you had just done this instead, he wouldn't have died"? Will you simply be too heartbroken to enjoy your trip?

[Naio]

Dakota98 wrote:
For keeping the insulin from the heat, I use one of these. It also organizes all my supplies, very handy. Since you'll be running your freezer, just rotate the ice packs.

Diabetic organizer

Oh, what a great idea, thanks!

Yes, I was wondering if ice packs would be cold enough. I also have one of those tiny 12v coolers that plug into a cig lighter. I could put an ice pack in that...

[Dakota98]

For keeping the insulin from the heat, I use one of these. It also organizes all my supplies, very handy. Since you'll be running your freezer, just rotate the ice packs.

Diabetic organizer

[Naio]

Crazy Ray wrote:
Been type 2 for over ten years no problems. We boondock 99% of our RVing

I am so glad to hear it!

My vet cautioned me about not shaking up insulin. Do you put some sort of cushioning under the vial/s in the fridge?

[Naio]

toedtoes wrote:
you can get into an area, stay close or in the town for a couple days and locate emergency vets, etc., then head out to boondock - you'll know exactly where to go if the cat has an emergency while you're boondocked.

This is a good idea and not one I had articulated quite so clearly to myself yet. In an emergency, go BACK to the last town, and know where the vet is there.

If something happens to my cat during this trip will I be OK with that?

Well, yes and no. I won't bring him unless I think it is the best bet for him. If I can come up with a better alternative I will do that. This thread is about scoping out one option.

[toedtoes]

What is the longest stretch of boondocking do you plan on doing at a time? 4 days? A week? Longer? How long will the established campground stays be?

How far out from civilization do you plan on going? 1 hour? 4 hours? Longer?

With a good mix and not too far out, you can get into an area, stay close or in the town for a couple days and locate emergency vets, etc., then head out to boondock - you'll know exactly where to go if the cat has an emergency while you're boondocked.


But, no matter what advice folks can offer on how to do it, the question YOU need to answer is:

If something happens to my cat during this trip will I be OK with that?

There is no right answer - but the answer you choose will tell you what you should do (no matter how hard that decision might be).