To test cat blood sugar, warm the ear, prick the edge, collect a drop, and read it on a pet-calibrated meter as your vet directs.
Here’s a simple, safe way to check a cat’s glucose at home. You’ll set up your tools, prep a calm space, get a tiny capillary sample, and record the number so dosing and diet stay on track. The steps below reflect what feline teams teach in clinic, without the stress of a waiting room.
What You’ll Need
Most homes can set up a small kit in one pouch. Keep it in the same spot so routines feel easy for you and your cat.
| Item | What It Does | Pro Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Pet-calibrated glucometer & strips | Reads a tiny blood drop for a glucose value. | Store strips sealed and check expiry dates. |
| Lancet device or sterile lancets | Makes a quick skin prick at the ear edge. | Gauge 28–33 works well; start at a shallow depth. |
| Warmth source | Helps blood flow to the ear capillaries. | Rub between fingers or use a warm rice sock. |
| Cotton square or gauze | Backs the ear and blots the drop. | Hold behind the ear so it doesn’t wiggle away. |
| Treats | Pairs the routine with something your cat likes. | Offer at the start and end to build a positive link. |
| Log (paper or app) | Keeps readings, time, food, and insulin notes together. | Write as you go so nothing gets missed. |
Testing A Cat’s Blood Glucose At Home: Step-By-Step
Work in a quiet spot. Set out the meter, strip, lancet, and cotton before you bring your cat over. A towel on your lap adds grip and comfort.
Step 1: Warm The Ear
Slide a finger under the tip of the ear and rub small circles for 30–60 seconds, or hold a warm (not hot) rice sock to the edge. Warm skin brings capillary blood closer to the surface so you need only a tiny prick.
Step 2: Back The Ear
Place a folded cotton square behind the outer edge of the ear. This steadies the ear and gives you a firm surface to press against.
Step 3: Prick The Margin
Load the lancet device and touch the bevel near the hairless rim, just outside the visible vein. Aim for the capillary bed, not the vein itself. A quick click is enough.
Step 4: Catch The Drop
Touch the test strip to the bead. Don’t smear. Most pet meters sip the sample once the strip meets the drop. If the bead is small, let gravity help by tilting the ear.
Step 5: Read And Praise
Wait for the meter to beep and show a number. Say the cue you’ll use every time, then treat. End the session on a friendly note so tomorrow feels easy.
If Ear Samples Are Hard
Try a slightly warmer ear, a new lancet, or a touch of unscented lip balm on the edge to help the drop form. You can also alternate ears from day to day. Some cats give better drops from the outer edge; others from the inner side.
Paw Pad Option
Some families use a rear paw pad. Clean and dry the pad, use a fresh lancet, and press gently after the draw. Skip this method if your cat has kidney disease, neuropathy, or pad injuries, and ask your veterinarian which site fits best.
How Often To Check
Schedule comes from your veterinarian and the insulin used. Early on, many cats need curves at home to map the rise and fall over 12 hours. You’ll take a reading every 2–3 hours across one dosing cycle and log food times and insulin. This trims stress spikes and gives a truer picture than clinic-only testing. See the AAHA blood glucose curves guide for curve timing and when to shorten intervals near low points.
What The Numbers Mean
Your vet will set a target range for your cat. Meters read in mg/dL in North America and mmol/L in many other regions. If your meter allows unit switching, pick one and stick with it across your log. The table below shows sample ranges used in practice; your cat’s plan may differ.
| Meter Reading | What It Might Mean | Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| < 80 mg/dL (4.4 mmol/L) | Low sugar or dropping fast. | Offer a small meal; if sleepy, shaky, or wobbly, rub a honey or corn-syrup film on gums and call your clinic. |
| 80–200 mg/dL (4.4–11.1 mmol/L) | Common fasting/pre-shot band in many plans. | Follow the dosing advice you were given for this band. |
| 200–300 mg/dL (11.1–16.7 mmol/L) | Often seen mid-day or with stress. | Log food, water, and behavior; finish the curve to guide changes. |
| > 300 mg/dL (> 16.7 mmol/L) | High sugar; watch for thirst, big pees, or weight loss. | Record the reading, finish the schedule, and share the log; your vet may adjust insulin or diet. |
Keep Your Cat Relaxed
Low-stress handling makes sharper data. Test in the same chair. Keep voice soft. Pair each step with a tiny lick treat. If your cat flattens ears or swishes tail, pause and try again in ten minutes. Short sessions win.
Preventing Low Sugar
Know the signs: sudden hunger, tremors, glassy eyes, unsteady steps, or odd behavior. If you see these and the meter reads low, feed a small portion of regular food right away. If your cat will not eat, rub a thin layer of corn syrup on the gums, wait five minutes, and retest. If numbers stay low or your cat seems dull or unresponsive, go to urgent care.
Meters, Strips, And Accuracy
Pet-calibrated meters read feline blood more reliably than many human models. That said, any meter can drift if strips are old or damp. Wash hands between handling treats and strips. Match the strip code if your meter needs one. Control solution checks once a month help you catch a problem before it skews a curve. If a reading does not match how your cat looks, repeat with a fresh strip on the other ear.
Logging That Vets Love
A clean log speeds decisions. Write down time, reading, food type and amount, insulin dose, treats, and notes like “played after dinner” or “slept all afternoon.” Many clinics ask for a full day curve one week after any dose change, then regular spot checks. Cornell’s overview on feline diabetes explains why home data often beat clinic numbers.
Ear Technique Tips From The Field
Find The Sweet Spot
The best spot sits near the hairless rim, between the vein and the edge. Aim there and you get capillary flow with less bruising.
Use Fresh Lancets
Tips dull fast. A fresh lancet glides and needs less pressure. Rotate ears and sites so one area never takes all the pokes.
Control The Wiggle
Hold the ear between finger and thumb with the cotton square behind it. Cats often relax if you rest the other hand on the shoulder blades.
Warmth Beats Force
If drops are tiny, increase warmth rather than depth. A warmer edge often fixes the problem without extra pokes.
When The Curve Looks Off
If every value sits high, look for missed doses, a meter issue, spoiled strips, or a cat who ate outside the plan. If values dive low mid-cycle, the dose may be too strong or meals too small. Share the full log and any changes in food or routine before anyone adjusts the plan.
Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes
A few habits trip up many first-time testers. Squeezing the ear hard can dilute the drop with tissue fluid and skew the number; warm the edge longer instead. Touching the strip to skin before the bead forms can wick oils onto the chemistry pad; wait for a rounded droplet, then touch the strip to the side of it. Reusing lancets drags across skin and leaves tiny bruises; swap in a fresh tip. Skipping logs makes pattern-spotting slow; record the reading, the time, food, and dose the moment you finish. If the meter throws an error, check strip seating, try a new strip, and repeat on the other ear. When in doubt, take a second reading and write both numbers with a short note.
Urine Checks And Sensors
Urine glucose strips can flag trends, but they lag behind blood and miss dips. Some clinics place a small sensor under the skin that reads interstitial glucose every few minutes. Sensors add cost, yet they help some families avoid pokes during dose changes or when numbers swing.
Sanitation And Safety
Wash or sanitize hands before and after. Use a fresh lancet for each draw. Toss used lancets in a sharps container or a thick, clearly labeled bottle with a screw cap. Wipe the ear edge with a damp cotton pad if any residue builds up.
Diet, Timing, And Readings
Numbers track with meal timing and insulin action. Feed on the same schedule each day. Keep treats small and counted in your totals. If your cat skips a meal, check a reading before any dose. If vomiting or diarrhea pops up, get guidance before the next dose.
When To Call The Clinic
- Two low readings in a row or any seizure activity.
- Persistent highs over several days with thirst, weight loss, or lethargy.
- Breath that smells sweet, deep breathing, or fast weight loss.
- Any wound or infection; illness can swing numbers fast.
Make The Routine Stick
Keep all gear in one basket. Test in the same spot each time. Use the same words and the same treat. Praise matters. Cats learn quickly when the pattern is clear and the handling is gentle. With a steady routine, readings get smoother and you spend less time chasing surprises.