Cats

10 Best Food for Cats with Diabetes

Mary
August 1, 2020

The best food for cats with diabetes should be high in proteins and low in carbohydrates. This helps to keep blood sugar under control. Diabetes usually affects middle-aged or older cats. Some of the common symptoms of diabetes in cats include;

Excessive urination
Diluted urine
Increased water consumption or increased thirst
Overweight or obesity
Lethargy
Walking lower on the ground

What to look for in Cat Food for Diabetic Cats

Rich in moisture content (at least 70% by weight)
Minimal carbohydrates (no more than 10%) from digestible sources
Moderate protein from healthy, animal-based sources
High-quality animal protein (at least 50% or more)
Complete and balanced in terms of nutrition

Benefits of feeding low-carb food for diabetic cats

Whether your cat is diabetic or not, it is essential to feed them with food low in carbohydrates and high in proteins. Some of the benefits of doing this include:

Reduced blood sugar levels
Higher energy levels
Reduced gastrointestinal discomfort
Minimized risk of developing chronic kidney disease

Best Food for Cats with Diabetes

1. Nom Nom Flavorful Fish Feast Cat Food

Nom Nom Flavorful Fish Feast is a fresh food delivery service for pets that sends fresh-made cat food. It’s a perfectly-portioned meal that you can choose based on your cat’s weight goals.

It contains five ingredients including tilapia, salmon, beef fat, yuca, and carrot. The company’s recipe is low in carbohydrates, with just 5% calories, high in protein, and high in moisture.

Pros

Food prepared is fresh
Conveniently shipped to your door
Low-carb at 5% calories from carbohydrates
Customized portion size help with weight loss
High in protein and moisture; over 50% calories

Cons

Cost is above the market average
Fish should not be a pillar of your cat’s diet

2. Tiki Cat Hookena Luau Cat Food Review

The Tiki Cat brand is made in Thailand, is very affordable, and offers a wide variety of flavor options. It contains five ingredients including tuna, chicken broth, chicken, sunflower seed oil, and tricalcium phosphate.

Besides, it contains 17% protein, 3% fat, and it’s ideal for adult cats. Tiki Cat brand comes in two types – canned or wet.

Pros

Affordable price
Extremely low in carbohydrates
Contains tuna fish oil as a source of coat-nourishing omega-3 fatty acids

Cons

Some cats are sensitive to chicken ingredients

3. Purina Fancy Flaked Fish & Shrimp Feast Canned Cat Food Review

Purina Fancy Feast is made in the United States. It’s suitable for adult cats. Fancy Feast highly palatable, very affordable, and extremely low in carbohydrates. It has minimal protein of 17.5%, minimal fat of 2.0%, and the maximum fiber content of 1.5%.

Fancy Feast contains five ingredients including shrimp, ocean fish, fish broth, vegetable oil, and Tricalcium Phosphate.

Pros

One of the most affordable options on the market
Extremely low in carbohydrates
Rich in animal-sourced protein
Moisture-rich and low-fat content for healthy weight
Doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or colors

Cons

Most fish is not the best option for long-term feeding
Contains vegetable oils, which isn’t an ideal source of fats for cats

4. Ziwi Peak Grain-Free Canned Cat Food Recipe

Ziwi Peak is made in New Zealand. This wet cat food contains 3% of New Zealand green mussels, which are a great source of chondroitin and glucosamine for healthy joints. This is vital since obesity and diabetes can increase the risk of arthritis.

It’s completely free from all major additives including grains, corn, soy, rice, wheat, fillers, sugars, glycerin, and meat by-products. It contains 9% crude protein, 4% crude fat, 2% crude fiber, and 78% moisture content.

Pros

Chunky style makes it highly palatable
Does not make cat’s feces smell bad
Great for cats with allergies

Cons

It’s expensive
Slightly lower crude protein content than others at 9%

5. Royal Canin Feline Glycobalance Dry

This dry cat food is a great choice because its ingredients are good for cats with diabetes and help with weight loss. Proteins and carbohydrates get released slowly into the cat’s bloodstream, which means your pet will not experience lethargy or hyperactivity as a result of spikes in blood sugar levels.

It contains high proteins and a low amount of carb. The food comes at quite a decent price.

Pros

The food is made so that there are no spikes in your cat’s blood sugar levels
It has L-carnitine, which helps with cat’s weight loss
It contains a high protein and a low amount of carb

Cons

The food smells medicinal, and the taste doesn’t seem palatable to most cats
It contains cereals which might cause allergies

6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Dry Cat Food

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Natural Dry Cat food is made in the United States and has plenty of great omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that promote healthier skin and coat. It also contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This food is tasty and it seems to help control your cat’s blood sugar.

This dry cat food contains 40% crude protein, 18% crude fat, 14% crude fiber, and 9% moisture content.

Pros

Highly digestible grain-free recipe
Includes Omega-3 fatty acids from eggs, fish meal, and other ingredients such as flax seeds
Uses rich-in-antioxidant ingredients, including kelp, vegetable juice, and sweet potatoes
Contains chelated minerals, which are easy for your diabetic cat to absorb

Cons

Some cats are sensitive to chicken ingredients
May be too high in fat for some cats

7. Merrick Before Grain Meat

Merrick Before Grain is great cat food with 0% grain content and 9% fat. Chicken is the main ingredient and contains taurine. This dry cat food is the most organic on the market and contains fewer carbs and ultra-high protein content. It’s an excellent choice for kittens, adults, and senior cats as well as for obese and diabetic cats.

Pros

Affordable price
It has small kibble sizes, so all cats can eat at ease
Its primary ingredient is meat
Contains antioxidants such as fruits, vegetables, vitamins, minerals, and taurine

Cons

It’s dry food and diabetic cats should supplement it with wet food for moisture

8. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Wet Cat Food

Most veterinarians recommend Rachael Ray cat food because it’s the most affordable and the most beneficial natural wet food on the market today. This wet cat food is the top diabetic meal as it contains high levels of proteins and its primary ingredient is chicken or fish.

This food comes in lots of different flavors, including chicken & salmon, ocean fish & chicken, tuna, and chicken & shrimp.

Pros

Affordable price
Made only from natural organic ingredients
Free from artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors
High levels of animal-based protein
Does not contain grain, corn, soy, and wheat

Cons

May contain small bones
May trigger an allergic reaction in some cats

9. Wellness Core Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Liver

This cat food is another great option for cats with diabetes. Wellness Core food products are made from ingredients natural, organic ingredients. This wet cat food comes in five different flavors and contains no meat by-products, artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors.

Additionally, it includes lower calorie intake that helps indoor and cats with diabetes to maintain their healthy weight.

Pros

Available in five different favors
Appropriate for nutritional needs of indoor and diabetic cats
Has no meat by-products, wheat, soy, corn, preservatives, flavors or artificial colors
100% grain-free

Cons

Some flavors are unpleasant
Some cats may experience diarrhea

10. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Natural Wet Canned Cat Food

This wet cat food is suitable for cats of all ages, shapes, and sizes. It is a vet-recommended food full of animal protein of about 95% with chicken as the primary ingredient. It also includes about 5% of vegetables and fruits. Instinct Natures Variety is one of the most respected brands which produce grain-free cat food that does not contain any artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Pros

Very affordable price
Free from chemical preservatives, flavors, and artificial colors
Has eight different formulas for every taste
Contains no grain, soy, wheat, and corn
Rich in animal-based protein
High in moisture

Cons

Not suitable for obese cats because it’s relatively high in fat
Some cats don’t like the fruit and vegetable ingredients which are included in the formula

If your cat suffers from diabetes, it surely needs a lot of care and attention. Diabetes in cats is manageable and your cat can enjoy a normal, playful, and happy lifestyle. Ensure the food is high in protein and low in carbs whenever you buy cat food for cats with diabetes.