What clinical signs are commonly associated with diabetes mellitus in cats?

Diabetes mellitus in cats is characterized by a specific set of clinical signs that reflect the metabolic imbalances caused by insulin deficiency or resistance. The correct answer includes polydipsia (increased thirst), polyuria (increased urination), polyphagia (increased appetite), weight loss, and a plantigrade stance, which is when a cat walks on its hocks due to weakness in the hind legs.

Polydipsia and polyuria occur because high blood glucose levels lead to glucosuria, which causes osmotic diuresis, resulting in increased thirst and urination. Polyphagia is often observed as the body’s cells are unable to utilize glucose efficiently for energy, prompting the cat to eat more. The weight loss results from the body using fat and muscle for energy due to the inability to effectively process glucose. The plantigrade stance indicates peripheral neuropathy, commonly seen in diabetes, where nerve damage affects the cat’s ability to walk normally.

This combination of symptoms is typical of feline diabetes and helps in diagnosing the condition when observed in a clinical setting.