What to Do If Your Cat Has Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
This post is for informational purposes and does not replace veterinary advice. Discuss emergency plans with your vet in advance.
The Best Protection: Home Testing
Testing your cat’s blood glucose (BG) at home—especially before every insulin dose—is the best way to catch and prevent dangerous drops. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can happen fast and may be life-threatening if not treated promptly.
Common Signs of Low BG
Not all cats show signs, but here’s what to look for:
Mild symptoms
- Sudden hunger
- Shivering or trembling
- Unusual tiredness
- Acting confused or disoriented
- Wobbling, stumbling, or walking in circles
- Changes in behavior or vocalizing
- Poor coordination or trouble seeing
- Seizures
- Collapse or unconsciousness
How to Respond to Low Numbers
Always recheck the BG reading using a fresh, larger blood sample to confirm. Then act quickly using the guidance below. Numbers below reference a meter calibrated for humans.
BG under 40 mg/dL (2.2 mmol/L) — No Symptoms
- Give 1 tsp of sugar (corn syrup, honey, pancake syrup, or diluted glucose gel)
- Follow with food (wet or dry)
- Test BG again every 15–20 minutes until it rises
BG 40–60 mg/dL (2.2–3.3 mmol/L) — No Symptoms
- Offer food or treats
- If your cat won’t eat, rub a small amount of sugar on their gums or syringe feed
- Monitor BG every 20 minutes
Mild Symptoms
- Offer food first; if refused, rub syrup or honey on gums and then try food again
- Wet food with added syrup is better than dry, as it clears from the system faster
- Always follow up sugar with food to stabilize BG
Moderate Symptoms
- Rub 1 tbsp syrup or honey on gums or inside cheeks
- Feed food immediately after if cat is able to eat
- Repeat as needed and monitor BG
- Contact your vet for guidance
Severe Symptoms (Seizures, Collapse)
- Do not force anything into your cat’s mouth
- Rub sugar syrup or honey on the gums or inside the cheeks if safe to do so
- If seizing or unresponsive, you can use a needle-free syringe to administer sugar rectally (diluted syrup or glucose)
- Get to a vet or emergency clinic immediately
Important Notes
- Sugar alone isn’t enough—always follow with food to avoid another crash
- After a hypo episode, cats may become more sensitive to insulin. A dose adjustment is often needed.
- Discuss the event with your vet before resuming regular insulin dosing
- For any doubt at all—call your vet or emergency clinic
Pro Tips
- Dry food can raise BG more gradually and sustain it longer—but wet food is preferred due to faster metabolism
- Hypoglycemia can develop even without symptoms—watch trends and test regularly
- A BG that’s dropping can be more dangerous than a low number that’s rising
Final Reminder
Be prepared. Know the signs. Know how to treat.
Have a hypo toolkit ready with:
- Syrup or honey
- Extra test strips
- Carb-labeled food
- Emergency vet contact info
Keep this post handy or print it out for quick access during an emergency.Stay safe and reach out if you ever need help.
- Tim
Change Log:
Created on 5/18/2025. Next improvement here is to provide more details. Maybe some informational graphics or flow charts.
Sources:
"How to Treat Hypos - They Can Kill! Print This Out." Feline Diabetes Message Board, 11 Mar. 2010, Sticky - How to treat HYPOS - THEY CAN KILL! Print this Out!! | Feline Diabetes Message Board - FDMB.