Sponsored by
Hi readers,
To mark Pet Diabetes Month, we’re taking a look at a device that has changed the lives of millions (of humans) with diabetes: the continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
Unlike the blood glucose meter, which involves pricking the skin to draw blood, CGMs use an implanted sensor, which can give virtually real-time blood glucose readings. This can make diabetes care more precise and effective.
When it comes to cats, a diabetes diagnosis can be very stressful. Suddenly, life revolves around daily injections and vet visits. Heartbreakingly, 10% of cats are euthanased within three days of a diabetes diagnosis, according to Cats Protection.
And yet, despite rising numbers of cats with diabetes, CGMs remain relatively ill-suited to feline anatomy. According to one study, cats are:
three times as likely as dogs to not tolerate the sensor well;
nearly three times as likely to find CGM sensors as invasive as blood glucose meters,
more than twice as likely than dogs to detach the sensor early.
In short, CGMs are generally not (yet) a good fit for felines.
While there are growing instances of innovation in CGMs designed for pets, there is an urgent need for feline-specific CGMs.
In the news
Smart Investors Don’t Guess. They Read The Daily Upside.
Markets are moving faster than ever — but so is the noise. Between clickbait headlines, empty hot takes, and AI-fueled hype cycles, it’s harder than ever to separate what matters from what doesn’t.
That’s where The Daily Upside comes in. Written by former bankers and veteran journalists, it brings sharp, actionable insights on markets, business, and the economy — the stories that actually move money and shape decisions.
That’s why over 1 million readers, including CFOs, portfolio managers, and executives from Wall Street to Main Street, rely on The Daily Upside to cut through the noise.
No fluff. No filler. Just clarity that helps you stay ahead.
The promise and the problems with CGMs for cats
When continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) were first approved for pets in the USA two decades ago, they turned diabetes care on its head. They were:
Less stressful: CGMs are generally less stressful compared to frequent blood draws using the blood glucose meter
More data: They provide a complete picture of glucose fluctuations - more informative than a single-point-in-time blood glucose curve
Better blood glucose management: Continuous data help to fine-tune insulin dosages and schedules
More convenient: Pet parents can take readings anytime, rather than having to stick to specific times.
Academic studies and market reports indicate that thousands of cats and dogs with diabetes are currently using CGMs.
Note: CGMs remain optional and are not standard of care for cats with diabetes. Current standard of care for feline diabetes is twice-daily insulin injections, dietary management and blood glucose curves (ear-prick) using blood glucose meters.
1999: CGMs approved for human use in the USA
Early 2000s: Veterinary use of CGMs starts, mainly in dogs
Mid-2010s: CGMs become used more frequently by vets, driven in part by the popularity of Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre system
2022: The American Animal Hospital Association Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats added CGMs to their recommendations.
Rising rates of feline obesity, diabetes
Diabetes is rising in cats, driven partly by increasing rates of obesity. According to Royal Veterinary College, 1 in 250 cats in the UK live with diabetes. In the USA, estimates range from 1 in 100 cats to 1 in 400.
The prevalence of feline diabetes in the USA has also been rising: one study reported a prevalence of 1 in 1,250 (0.08%) in 1970 to 1 in 81 (1.2%) in 1999 (this may be due in part to increasing diagnosis rates).
The issues
But as in so many other areas, cats are trailing behind dogs in CGM uptake.
One reason is that cats’ blood glucose patterns can be more erratic than dogs and can spike more easily from stress or minor illness. Human CGMs (used off-label) don’t always track feline glucose accurately during rapid blood sugar swings.
Another commonly given reason is that cats are “less compliant”. In other words, current CGM design does not meet feline needs.
According to a study in Veterinary Science, a significantly lower number of cats tolerated Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre (technically, a ‘flash glucose monitoring system); or find the sensor less invasive than blood glucose curves (blood glucose meters) or easier to keep attached.
Despite these relatively poor cat responses, 86% of cat parents surveyed said the CGMs enabled better glycaemic control, versus 97% of dog parents.
This indicates that the issues cat experienced were not with the accuracy of CGMs, but their lack of feline-specific design.
🐈⬛ Enjoying this? Subscribe below to receive directly in your inbox! 🐱
Innovations in pet-focused CGMs
It needs to be highlighted that most feline patients use off-label human sensors like the FreeStyle Libre, Dexcom G6 or Medtronic Guardian, which were not designed for fur adhesion or feline anatomy.
But while pet-specific CGMs are rare, there is growing innovation in this space:
Singapore-based ALR Technologies designed the GluCurve Pet CGM as one the first “animal-first” designs
Adapet Medical markets the Adapet CGM A1 for dogs and cats
Woodley Equipment Company offers the InSight Vet CGM
Norway-based Lifecare has developed Sencell for pets, which promises a sensor as big as a grain of rice.
As CGM technology progresses, it’ll be interesting to see whether devices are developed to cater specifically to feline needs.
LIke to advertise your brand or product in Feline Business Brief? Just click here.
Want to reach top feline-focused talent? List your job opening with us.
The global pet CGM market
The global pet CGM market is still small at US$221.4 million in 2024, according to Growth Market Reports. The market is projected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 13.7% to reach US$679.2 million by 2033. The report did not break down feline / canine market shares.
Last year, North America’s pet CGM market size was US$97.2 million, followed by Europe at US$68.7 million and Asia Pacific at US$36.4 million.
Looking forward, analysts point to several potential barriers to uptake of CGMs in cats:
Affordability: Sensors can cost as much as US$400 per month
Clinic economics: Many small veterinary clinics can’t justify stocking high-cost sensors without owner demand or reimbursement structures
Data interpretation: CGM data requires significant patient education
Limited feline data: Validation studies in cats are still scarce.
#sugarcat
Feline Business Brief took a look through Reddit, Instagram and Facebook to get a better look at what taking care of a cat with diabetes (a “sugar cat”) looked like.
We found tons of posts about blood sugar rollercoasters, cat parent guilt over whether they were doing enough, and fear over getting insulin dosages wrong. Heartbreakingly, some posts were about beloved cats crossing the rainbow bridge.
Veterinary experts say that most cats with diabetes can live full, comfortable lives once their blood sugar is stabilised. But that doesn’t take away the angst many cat parents feel at managing this chronic condition.
To counter this, a small but determined online community is looking to reframe cat diabetes as something to be managed and not feared.
Adonis (@adonis.sugar.kitty), for example, is a handsome tabby ‘ambassador’ for thriving with diabetes. His Instagram shares practical tips and glimpses of a happy life and offers encouragement to nearly 150,000 followers.
This kind of catvocacy goes a long way in reassuring cat parents. Especially when they’re as cheeky as Toabie Fisher (@toabiefisher) and as cute as Cow Cat Luna (@cowcatluna).
Thanks for reading! Here's a friendly feline face for you. 😺
P.S. We’re always interested in what you think! Is there anything in particular you’d like to share?
Just reply to this email (or visit our Linkedin page), we’d love to hear from you.