One in 400 cats has Diabetes and they can live fairly normal lives for many years. But their owners must expect some changes.

Be prepared to: give insulin injections (your vet can show you how this is done) or oral hyperglycemics; modify your cat’s diet (a high-fiber diet is recommended); and monitor their health by checking for excessive urination or water intake, noting your cat’s weight and behavior, and watching for urinary tract infections.

Above all, establish a good relationship with your vet so they can help you identify these and other hypoglycemic indicators. And keep a positive attitude – Diabetes is something that can be managed with a little extra care.

Kelly is a dog columnist and pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat.

The areas to clip short are in the armpits, inside the back legs and chest area, or anywhere you have noticed matting on your cat in the past.

Radio show host and pet expert Tracie Hotchner is the author of The Dog Bible and The Cat Bible. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

White cats are particularly vulnerable. Though it may be difficult to keep kitty out of the sun, you can apply small amounts of sunblock to sensitive areas.

1) Visitors leave doors open and windows that are open just a crack allow egress. Cats are Houdinis. ‘Nuff said.

2) ID tags facilitate a quick reunion. Microchipping is a fallback when the collar is lost. You need both.

3) In a fire or natural disaster, your cat could survive initially but be lost afterward.

4) Most disaster shelters require that dropped-off pets have ID tags or microchips. When you’re evacuating, will you have time to have tags made?

5) If your indoor cat escapes from the home, a bell can give you an audio indication of your cat’s location.

But first, consider going through a rescue group or a local shelter. Shelters often have purebreds for adoption, and rescues often have foster purebreds that are awaiting furever homes. Most purebred rescues work closely with local shelters, and many rescue cats are straight from breeders.

In addition to getting exactly the breed characteristics you’re looking for at a fraction of the cost, you’ll give a discarded cat a new lease on life. Rescue groups have no shortage of kittens, either.

To find a breed’s rescue organization near you, google “[breed name] rescue” (example: Burmese rescue). You’ll save a life and get just the kind of cat you want.