{"id":631609,"date":"2025-03-11T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=631609"},"modified":"2025-10-08T12:11:01","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T16:11:01","slug":"metformin-for-cats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metformin-for-cats\/","title":{"rendered":"Can cats take metformin?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Metformin hydrochloride<\/span><\/a> treats <\/span>Type 2 diabetes mellitus<\/span><\/a>, the most common type of diabetes in people and cats. Although metformin is typically the first drug doctors use to treat Type 2 diabetes in people, veterinarians avoid it because it\u2019s considered ineffective in most cats. <\/span>Insulin<\/span><\/a> and dietary management is the treatment of choice for all types of feline diabetes, though a few oral hypoglycemics can be used. It is possible that a veterinarian may try metformin, but the caregiver should ask about possible side effects and better treatment options.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Save up to 80% on metformin<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What is metformin used for in cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Metformin has been studied for use in cats with Type 2 diabetes. Veterinarians usually avoid metformin in cats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diabetes<\/span><\/h3>\n

About <\/span>0.2% to 1%<\/span><\/a> of cats are diagnosed with diabetes, a condition in which the cat loses the ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that tells cells in the body to pull sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream. In cats with diabetes, blood sugar levels rise and stay high, the defining characteristic of diabetes. When blood sugar levels get high enough, the excess sugar starts to damage blood vessels. Over time, this damage slowly damages vital organs such as the kidneys, liver, pancreas, and eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

In humans, most diabetic patients have Type 2 diabetes, a condition in which the body loses the ability to respond to insulin. A minority of people have Type 1 diabetes, a condition that reduces the body\u2019s ability to produce insulin. This is true in cats: most (<\/span>90% of diabetic cats<\/span><\/a>) have Type 2 diabetes, which veterinarians usually call \u201cinsulin-resistant diabetes.\u201d Cats most at risk for developing insulin-resistant diabetes are those that are older, overweight, physically inactive, kept indoors, or treated with <\/span>corticosteroids<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most people with Type 2 diabetes are treated with oral hypoglycemics, drugs that lower blood sugar. Metformin is typically the first drug used. It works with minimal side effects. It\u2019s a unique oral antidiabetic drug. As a biguanide, it increases the insulin sensitivity of the body\u2019s cells.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Veterinarians treat Type 2 feline diabetes with insulin and dietary changes. They don\u2019t use metformin or most other oral antihyperglycemic drugs used in people. Instead, the treatment of choice is insulin and dietary changes. Although commonly used in people, metformin doesn\u2019t work in most cats even though <\/span>it has similar bioavailability and plasma concentrations that it has in people<\/span><\/a>. For example, metformin achieved glycemic control in only 1 out of 5 cats <\/span>in one key study<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A veterinarian can prescribe metformin to cat owners who want to avoid insulin injections, but this is unlikely. If metformin is prescribed, ask the veterinarian about alternative oral medications and what to do if metformin doesn\u2019t succeed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is metformin safe for cats?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Metformin is not usually prescribed to cats. It won\u2019t work for most cats with Type 2 diabetes. There are also concerns about its safety.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Metformin is contraindicated in cats with:<\/span><\/p>\n