How to Get Started with Home Testing!

So, you’ve learned why home glucose testing is non-negotiable—now, let’s talk about how to do it.

I won’t sugarcoat it (pun intended 😹)—home testing isn’t easy at first. No one ever says, “Oh, this will be a walk in the park.” You know Adonis as the pro he is today, but trust me, that took a lot of practice.

Our first test? A total disaster. During his first month of diagnosis, I was nervous before every test, Adonis was confused, and I kept thinking, How am I supposed to poke his ear multiple times a day?! His poor little ear—it’s going to fall off! (I laugh now because this is the most common comment on our videos. Spoiler: ears don’t fall off. 😆)

But the truth? It gets easier. One day, it will feel as routine as brushing your teeth.

Here’s everything you need to know to get started!

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Step 1: Get the Right Glucose Meter & Testing Supplies

Before you start testing, you need the right tools. The most important one? A reliable glucose meter.

You have two options:

🔹 Human Glucose Meter – Affordable, reliable, and commonly used for diabetic cats. Our vet who is known for his feline diabetes expertise agrees and uses a human glucometer.

🔹 Pet Glucose Meter – Designed for cats but expensive, and the test strips cost significantly more.

Both work, but human meters are the most widely used because they’re cost-effective and just as reliable. What’s most important? Pick ONE meter and stick with it. Switching between human and pet meters can cause confusion since they use different reading scales.

📊 Human Meter Target Range: 50-120 mg/dL

📊 Pet Meter Target Range: 80-150 mg/dL

💡 Pro Tip: If you’re unsure which meter to get, I’ll list exactly what I use for Adonis at the end of this blog! Or, if you’re eager to check it out now, feel free to SCROLL down.

Gathering the Rest of Your Testing Kit

Along with your meter, you’ll need a few key supplies to make testing easier:

✅ Test strips (must match your meter)

✅ Lancets (26-28 gauge) – Thicker lancets help when starting out, as they make it easier to get a blood drop. Once your kitty’s ears “learn” to bleed, you can move to a thinner 30g lancet for a gentler poke.

✅ Lancing device (optional, some brave people prefer freehand)

✅ Cotton pads (to stop bleeding after the poke)

✅ Vaseline (a tiny smear helps blood bead up)

✅ Rice sock (for warming the ear)

✅ TREATS! (because testing = treats, always)

💡 If you’ve seen our spreadsheet on socials and wondered how to get it—we got it from the Feline Diabetes Support Group (FDSG)! It’s an essential tool for tracking glucose numbers and spotting trends. If you haven’t joined yet, I highly recommend it!

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Step 2: Desensitizing Your Kitty to Testing

Before you even attempt your first test, you want your kitty to associate the testing kit with good things—not fear or stress. This is where desensitization comes in!

Make the Testing Kit a Normal Part of Their World

🐾 Keep treats next to the glucometer at all times. Your kitty should see the kit and think, Oh, that thing? That means snacks.

🐾 Click the lancet device near their ears—without poking. The goal is for them to get used to the sound so it doesn’t startle them when it’s time to test. Click → Treat. Repeat!

🐾 Let them sniff everything. Bring out the meter, strips, and lancet device without using them. Place them next to your kitty while giving praise and treats.

🐾 Do fake tests (Step 8). Hold their ear gently like you would for a real test, but don’t poke (remove the lancet first!). Then, give a treat and let them go.

😂 Don’t forget to put the lancet back in afterward! This actually happened to us—we thought Adonis’ ears suddenly “stopped bleeding.” Turns out, we had just forgotten to put the lancet back in after a fake test 😬.

🐾 Build trust, not fear. Testing should feel calm and routine—never a surprise attack.

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Step 3: Pick Your Testing Spot & Get Your Kitty Comfortable

Cats thrive on routine and predictability, so choosing a dedicated testing spot makes a huge difference. The right spot helps them feel safe, relaxed, and more willing to cooperate. Here are some great options:

🐾 On your lap – Perfect for kitties who love cuddles.

🐾 On a counter or table – Easy access and well-lit. Adonis has officially declared our kitchen table as his testing throne—and he generously lends it to us for meals… if we’ve given enough treats.

🐾 Where they usually relax – Less stress if they’re already comfy. This is where we started. If I saw Adonis sleeping, I’d grab my laptop and work next to him—not for testing, just to hang out. I wanted him to associate me being there as normal, not a “testing ambush.”

Then, about 15 minutes before testing, I’d quietly take out the testing kit. I had everything ready next to him but wouldn’t touch it right away. Instead, I’d pet his ears, give him compliments—nothing more. Then, I’d attempt a test.

💡 Notice I said “attempt.” In the beginning, you don’t want to try more than 3 times. Always give praise, no matter what. Whether you got a test or not, and no matter the number, it’s always a great number—because your kitty is great regardless of diabetes.

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Extra Relaxation Tips

🎶 Soothing Music – I’d play YouTube music for cats about an hour before testing. It worked every time—Adonis would be snoozed out. If he ever feels sick, I still play it. (Insert link).

🍪 Treats for YOU, Too! – On my first attempts? I ate a cookie. Yep. I needed the sugar treat to relax. A bit ironic… 😆

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What NOT to Do: Learn From My Mistake

Our first-ever test? A disaster. My mom and I held him down and tried to force it.

🚫 We recreated a vet situation at home.

🚫 He was restrained, with no say in the matter.

🚫 We weren’t training him—we were forcing him.

That’s why we failed. Instead of building trust, we made testing feel like the vet—a place he already hated. Don’t make this mistake. Home testing should be a team effort, not a battle.

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Step 4: Warm the Ear – The Secret to Easy Testing

Cold ears don’t bleed easily. This is where so many people struggle! Warm ears = better blood flow = easier testing.

🔥 How to Warm the Ear:

✔ Rub the ear gently between your fingers for a few seconds.

✔ Use a rice sock (fill a baby sock with dry rice, microwave for a few seconds, and hold it against the ear).

✔ Test after napping—ears are naturally warmer when they’ve been resting.

💡 Pro Tip: A tiny smear of Vaseline on the ear helps the blood bead up so it doesn’t smear or disappear into the fur. Otherwise, the drop can get lost, making testing harder.

🔥 For us, Vaseline is a MUST—an absolute game changer. Along with a warm rice sock, these two things made testing so much easier and completely changed the game for us!

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Step 5: The First Test – You’ve Got This!

Okay, moment of truth! Here’s how to do your first test:

1️⃣ Prepare everything – Have your meter, strip, and lancet ready.

2️⃣ Position your kitty – However they’re most comfortable.

3️⃣ Warm the ear – Don’t skip this step!

4️⃣ 🌿 Famous copyrighted SPA MOMENTO™, designed by Adonis 😹 – Meaning: massage the ear slowly while giving compliments. Your kitty will likely appreciate the extra pampering before the prick, and the gentle massage helps boost blood circulation for an easier test.

5️⃣ Prick the edge of the ear – Near the vein, but not directly on it.

6️⃣ Gently squeeze or massage the area – This helps the blood drop form.

7️⃣ Touch the strip to the blood drop – The meter will do the rest.

8️⃣ Give a treat, no matter what! – Even if the test didn’t work, always reward.

💡 Pro Tip: If no blood comes out, don’t panic! Try again in a few minutes—it gets easier with time. And congrats on your first attempt! Remember:

🔥 FAIL = First Attempt In Learning.

👏 Praise your kitty between each step! If your kitty sees that you know his worth, he’s more likely to collaborate. After all… who’s the real boss here? 😼

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Step 6: Track Your Numbers

Testing isn’t just about the act of testing—it’s about what you do with the numbers. Keeping a log of your kitty’s readings helps you:

📊 Identify trends – When is their blood sugar rising or dropping?

📉 See how insulin is working – Is the dose effective?

🚨 Catch potential issues early – Are numbers too low or too high?

Most caregivers use a spreadsheet to track numbers. If you’re unsure how to set one up, you can find templates in the Feline Diabetes Support Group 💕.

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Step 7: Be Patient & Stay Consistent

Testing takes practice—for you and your kitty. Some cats adjust quickly, while others take time. Stay patient and be consistent.

🎵 Talk to your kitty. A calm voice helps them relax.

🩸 Give treats every time. Even if the test fails, they still get a reward!

😂 Sing a silly song. It helps YOU stay relaxed (yes, really).

🐾 Treat for the other kitties! If you have more than one cat, let them have a treat too so they don’t feel left out. Soon, they’ll also love testing time—even if they’re just there to “support” (aka get snacks 😹).

Trust me—one day, your kitty will come running when it’s testing time. Adonis used to run away. Now? He sits and waits because he knows a treat is coming!

Or even worse… he begs for tests when he doesn’t even need one! 😹 So sometimes, when we’re absolutely sure he doesn’t need a test, we do “The Fake Test.”

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Step 8: The Fake Test (A Gentle Way to Ease Into Testing)

At first, we started doing Fake Tests because Adonis demanded extra tests just to get treats. 😹 But over time, we realized it’s actually a great way to ease a kitty into home testing without the stress of a real poke.

If your kitty is still getting used to testing, or if you want to keep the experience 100% positive, The Fake Test can be a game-changer!

What’s a Fake Test & When to Use It?

A Fake Test is exactly what it sounds like—you go through all the motions of a real test without actually pricking the ear.

🩸 When to use a Fake Test:

✔ For training! A great way to desensitize your kitty before real testing.

✔ To maintain a positive association with testing.

✔ If your kitty is being extra dramatic and you need a reset.

✔ When they randomly demand a test while being on safe glucose (looking at you, Adonis 😼).

How to Do a Fake Test

1️⃣ Remove the lancet from your lancet device. Go through all the steps like a real test—bring out the meter, warm the ear, SPA MOMENTO™ massage, enough praises for the year, and use the lancet device!

🎯 If the clicking sound of the lancet device is scary for them at first, ease into it without firing it until they feel comfortable.

2️⃣ Pretend to get a reading. I usually “look” at the meter and say something dramatic like, “Oh wow, Adonis, what an excellent number!!!”

3️⃣ Give the treat! The goal is to reinforce that testing = good things, without them feeling anything on their ears. So when the real test comes, they’ll be as brave as Adonis.

4️⃣ MOST IMPORTANT FINAL STEP: PUT THE LANCET BACK! 🔄

Yes, we have forgotten before, and then panicked thinking Adonis’ ears had suddenly stopped bleeding. Spoiler: his ears were fine—we just forgot to put the lancet back in. 😹 Learn from our mistake!

Why Fake Tests Work

😻 Eases new kitties into testing – No pressure, just positive reinforcement.

💖 Builds trust & routine – Your kitty learns that the testing kit isn’t scary.

🐾 Prevents over-testing when it’s not needed – Saves test strips.

📹 How We Do A Fake Test:

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Final Thoughts: You Can Do This!

I know getting started with home testing feels like a huge hurdle, but trust me—it will become second nature before you know it. And more importantly, it is the only way to keep your kitty safe.

Home testing gives you the power to prevent complications like DKA, hypoglycemia, and unnecessary struggles with regulation. You cannot find your kitty’s ideal insulin dose without testing.

🏆 The more you test, the better you’ll understand your kitty’s diabetes.

💡 The more data you have, the safer insulin dosing will be.

❤️ The more confident you are, the calmer your kitty will be.

If you have questions or need help, join the Feline Diabetes Support Group on Facebook. Be sure to answer the diabetes-related questions to get admitted!

And don’t forget—you also have Sugar Kitty AI Mentor, the AI assistant I created using the knowledge I gained from this group (with their permission). It’s available 24/7 to help you with home glucose testing.

You’ve got this! 🐾💖

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🐾 Adonis’ Glucose Testing Kit 🐾

Here’s exactly what we use daily for Adonis’ glucose testing setup. These are products I trust and personally recommend!

🩸 Glucose Meter

📑 Test Strips

🩹 Lancets (26-28 gauge for easier blood collection, with the option to move to 30g later): We used similar ones at the start.

🖊 Lancet Device (for 30g lancets): We’ve tried several—from fancy ones to regular ones—and this one is by far the best. It’s gentle, affordable, and honestly, for the quality, it could easily cost double! Highly recommend when transitioning to finer lancets.

🛑 Rice Sock (for warming the ear):  I’ll be doing a tutorial soon on our cute-looking ones, but your kitty shouldn’t wait on me! A simple solution: add rice to a sock and tie a knot.

🧴 Vaseline: Nothing fancy, so no link—just grab any plain one at your local pharmacy. :)

🩹 Cotton Pads (for after testing): We use circle cotton pads but cut each one into 8 pizza-like slices since Adonis’ ears are tiny. This keeps things clean, reduces waste, and means we don’t have to reuse a giant pad. – Also nothing fancy, just grab them at your local pharmacy or grocery store.

🧴 What we call “The Desinfect!” 😹 – A gentle antiseptic (no alcohol!) to keep the ears clean after testing. Ask at your local pharmacy for something safe for kitty’s ears. No fancy brand needed!

🐾 TREATS! [IG Highlight link] (Because testing = treats, always!) – The best treat brand varies by country, so we go in-depth on this in our IG Story highlights.

🐾 Going Beyond Glucose Testing—Don’t Ignore Those Ketones!

🩸 Ketone Glucometer: While we haven’t talked about ketones in this blog, staying alert to ketones is crucial to prevent nightmare complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

When a diabetic kitty isn’t getting enough insulin, their body starts breaking down fat for energy, producing ketones—which can quickly lead to DKA, a life-threatening emergency.

✔ What’s a safe range? Below 0.6 mmol/L is negative—anything higher means you need to monitor closely and take action.

A ketone glucometer allows you to catch rising ketones early, so you can act before things become dangerous. This simple test can literally save your kitty’s life.

💬 Disclaimer: These are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase through them. These help support what we do so we can keep providing resources for the feline diabetes community. Thank you for your support! ❤️

🔋 Final Note: Always Have Backups!

Like all technology, things can fail. Always have a backup glucometer if possible. It’s rare, but meters can stop working when you least expect it. Or… if you have slippery hands and drop them (oops).

✔ Extra batteries – Glucose meters always run out of battery at the worst time, so keep extras on hand!

✔ Stock up on lancets – Some months, they last forever. Other months? They disappear FAST. I always reorder when I have two boxes left, ordering 4-6 more (or at least 2).

✔ Order supplies ahead of time – Saves you from overpaying at the pharmacy or having to rush with expensive express shipping.

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Next Up: Blog 3!

Now that you’ve got the basics of home testing down, there’s still more to learn to make the process even smoother for both you and your kitty. 😺

In the next post, we’ll keep building on what you’ve learned so far—because the easier testing becomes, the more confident you’ll feel. Stay tuned! 🚀🐾