How to Check a Feline's Blood Glucose

If your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, learning how to measure your cat's blood glucose level at home has many benefits. Having this simple procedure conducted in the security of home eliminates the stress your cat would likely have with frequent visits to the veterinary clinic. Doing the monitoring yourself will also save you money, allow you to more closely monitor your cat's diabetes and allow you to do the testing on your own schedule.

Things You'll Need

  • Soap
  • Water
  • Towel
  • Small flashlight
  • Lancet
  • Glucose test strip
  • Tissue
  • Glucometer
  • Cat treat
  • Notebook
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Assemble all of your supplies.

    • 2

      Wash your hands with soap and water, and towel dry them.

    • 3

      Place you cat in your lap and wait for the cat to feel comfortable and relaxed.

    • 4

      Shine a small flashlight behind your cat's ear to locate a vein. This will look like a red string near the edge of the ear.

    • 5

      Massage the area with your fingertips to increase blood flow and enlarge the vein.

    • 6

      Prick the ear using the lancet.

    • 7

      Touch the test strip to the blood drop.

    • 8

      Hold a piece of tissue over the ear, applying a bit of pressure, for a few seconds. This will stop the bleeding.

    • 9

      Insert the test strip into the glucometer to get a reading.

    • 10

      Give your cat a special treat--if permitted under the pet's prescription diet--and lots of praise.

    • 11

      Record the date, time and numbers from the glucose reading.