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This November, as we recognise Pet Diabetes Month, there is significant news offering renewed hope and clarity for Australian cat carers: the release of ground-breaking global veterinary guidelines that promise to revolutionise the way feline diabetes is managed.
A Needed Update: The 2025 iCatCare Consensus Guidelines
To mark World Diabetes Day (November 14th), International Cat Care (iCatCare) officially announced the release of the brand-new, comprehensive veterinary resource: the ‘2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus in cats.’
Diabetes mellitus is a challenging disease, but its treatment has seen significant advancements in recent years. Recognising the need for an updated "playbook," a panel of world experts collaborated on this essential resource.
Local Relevance: The guidelines were developed by experts from the USA, Netherlands, UK, Italy, and Australia, ensuring they reflect the latest, globally informed best practices for local veterinary professionals.
These essential guidelines, co-authored and chaired by iCatCare Veterinary Specialist Consultant Samantha Taylor, are available to access for free in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (JFMS).
Empowering Vets with a Comprehensive Resource
Designed as an everyday reference tool, the 2025 consensus guidelines provide detailed and practical information across the entire scope of feline diabetes care:
- Pathogenesis and diagnosis.
- Making informed treatment choices.
- Managing complications and comorbidities.
- Anaesthetic guidance for diabetic patients.
- The latest feeding recommendations.
The resource also features easy-to-use charts, such as the Diabetic Clinical Score, to support rapid decision-making and patient monitoring in Australian vet practices.
Team-Based Care: New Guides for Nurses and Carers
The biggest breakthrough for the local care team is the addition of two key supplementary guides, promoting a comprehensive, team-based approach to managing the disease:
1. Brand-New Nursing Guide
For the first time, iCatCare has produced a dedicated Nursing Guide, created specifically to help vet nurses and technicians deliver consistent, high-quality care for diabetic cats.
- Title: ‘Nursing the cat with diabetes mellitus’
- Access: Available to download for free from the JFMS website.
2. Clarity for Cat Caregivers
- Title: ‘Managing the diabetic cat: a guide for caregivers’
- Value: It provides a clear, jargon-free explanation of the disease, available treatment options, and essential daily care considerations.
- Access: This guide is free and available on the iCatCare website, allowing veterinary professionals to easily share it with caregivers to support conversations about home care.
Call to Action for Australian Cat Carers
If you share your home with a diabetic cat, or suspect your cat may be at risk this Pet Diabetes Month, the release of these guidelines is a major step forward.
These new guidelines are endorsed by the Feline Veterinary Medical Association (FelineVMA), confirming their status as the gold standard for care.
Your Next Steps This November:
- Talk to your vet about the new 2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines and how they might inform your cat’s treatment plan.
- Ask your clinic for the free Cat Carer Guide to ensure you have the best, most current information available for home management.
Guidelines: 2025 iCatCare consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus in cats.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1098612X251399103
Nursing Guide: Nursing the cat with diabetes mellitus.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/suppl/10.1177/1098612X251399103/suppl_file/sj-pdf-3-jfm-10.1177_1098612x251399103.pdf
Cat Carer Guide: Managing the diabetic cat: a guide for caregivers.
https://icatcare.org/resources/cat-carer-guide-managing-the-diabetic-cat.pdf
