Instinct By Natures Variety: Original Grain
As canned and wet cat foods go, they can help stave off diabetes, even if they donât do much for your catâs waistline. Thatâs not the case when you opt for Instinct wet cat food, which offers lighter fare, making it ideal for overweight diabetic cats, as well as those dealing with skin and coat challenges.
Made almost entirely of real lamb and lamb broth, along with a touch of turkey and turkey liver, this is an excellent, healthy food with a very low carbohydrate and high crude protein intake. Even though Instinct contains a small amount of plant matter, it still comes in under 4% carbohydrates and right at 37 calories per serving.
To address skin and coat issues, this grain-free food offers something you wonât find in most cat foods: montmorillonite clay. This type of soil material is known to help pick up impurities and fight toxins within the body. In addition to this, the Natureâs Variety Real Lamb Recipe also contains ground flaxseed, vitamin E, and a host of other minerals to help keep the digestive tract, skin, and coat in balance.
How Is Feline Diabetes Diagnosed
A vet diagnoses feline diabetes.
Vets use diagnostic tests to find whether your cat classifies as diabetic.
Blood glucose of 180288 mg/dL is indicative of diabetes at any time point.
Fasting blood glucose in cats ranges from ~3.06.5 mmol/L . Anything above that suggests diabetes.
Bottom Line: A vet diagnoses feline diabetes using blood tests.
Purina Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals Alaskan Salmon Pat
Fancy Feasts Gourmet Naturals Salmon recipe is a wet cat food paté made with wild Alaskan salmon as the first ingredient. Its an affordable option thats low in carbohydrates, and offers a complete and balanced nutritional profile.
Key Features:
- One of the most affordable low carb options
- Complete and balanced formula for cats
Cons:
- Higher fat content compared with other options
- For those looking for purely seafood, this option does contain chicken
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What Should Pet Owners Feed Diabetic Cats
Several studies have shown that a low-carbohydrate, low fiber, high-protein diet improved insulin sensitivity in cats.
Other studies have shown that supplements such as taurine might belong on a diabetic cat food list.
Taurine is an amino acid which appears to improve the symptoms of diabetes, possibly by the way it supports cellular functions.
Always consult your vet when considering a change in diet for diabetic cats.
Our reviews include Royal Canin diabetic cat food, Purina diabetic cat food, and Hills diabetic cat food, as well as other specialized brands .
Ask your vets advice about which might be most suitable for your cat, and how to transition them over to it.
Switching The Diabetic Cat To A Low Carbohydrate Diet
Caution: This must be done very carefully if the patient is already on insulin. See above if you have not already read the Critical Points section.
If your cat is not on insulin because he was just diagnosed with diabetes, then you can change the diet more rapidly either immediately or within 2-3 days. More on this issue below.
Unless the patients clinical signs warrant immediate insulin administration, I try a diet change with no insulin for 3-5 days to see what impact the new diet will have on the blood glucose. In most cases, I do not agree with waiting much longer than a week to start insulin. This is because you will have the best chance of getting your cat into remission if both diet and insulin are used very early on. The longer your cats body is under the effects of glucose toxicity, the more his body will be damaged and the less chance of remission he will have.
When I have a new diabetic patient present to me, the two most important tasks are:
1) getting the patient onto a low carbohydrate diet preferably canned and not dry
2) teaching the client how to home test
If your cat is already on insulin, the safest way to implement a diet change is to incorporate home testing into your management protocol.
The goal is to get your cat off of dry food and on to a 100 percent canned food diet but if your cat is on insulin, this must be done carefully especially if the cat refuses to eat canned food.
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An Excellent Dry Food Option For Diabetic Cats
For those of you hoping for one dry food option for your diabetic cat, we do have an honorable mention, and that goes to Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Cat Food.
Ziwi Peak is a good diabetic cat food option because its air dried. In other words, rather than relying on fillers and carbs to do the work of keeping the food dry, this food is naturally dehydrated, maintaining its healthy low-carb edge and high crude protein amount!
Using every conceivable part of the lamb, including tripe, heart, lung, and bone, this option can also help out in the weight loss department without sacrificing flavor.
To help fend off skin and coat issues, Ziwi contains ingredients like dried kelp, green mussel, and an amino acid complex, which all work together to help maintain a healthy coat and resilient skin, free of flakes and over-shedding.
When it comes to selecting a food for your diabetic cat, always look for low carb content, high protein content, and a lack of filler. If you keep these in mind, and prioritize a limited ingredient list, youâll have a happy, healthy cat. Of course, be sure to discuss your catâs diet with your vet to ensure optimal health.
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What Is Catlike Diabetes
Having a solid perception of how feline diabetics is and what it affects your catlike will give you the instruments that will you to properly zero in on your kitty. Dealing with your cat an eating schedule that is low in carbs will help you with bettering arrangement with your catlikes diabetes, like how much carbs that youre dealing with your cat has a close relationship with your catlikes glucose levels and insulin.
Insulin is a substance that is made in the pancreas and is taken out into the circulatory framework when there is a spike in glucose levels. Insulin urges cells to allow sugar into them, as the sugar is used as fuel for the body.
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Why Cats Benefit From A Low Carb Diet
Historically, cats hunted their prey to get crucial nutrients from the animals they consumed. A high protein, low carb diet benefits cats because they have a relatively simple digestive system that doesnt produce certain vitamins that must be included in the food they eat. They also have trouble digesting plant-based food. One example is taurine, an essential amino acid that is found in animal protein. It is important for heart function, vision and reproduction.
Foods that are high in carbohydrates can trick cats into thinking they are still hungry. If you free feed, a cat will end up gaining weight because they dont feel full after eating.
Benefits Of Low Carb Diet For Cats
The biggest benefit of a low carb diet is the appeal to the cat’s natural dietary requirements. Cats are predators, naturally, and their simple digestive system is designed to deal with lots of protein and very little carbs.
They can also have trouble when it comes to digesting plant-based food. As such, many cats may still feel hungry after eating.
Cats are also susceptible to weight-related health problems in all life stages. Just an extra one or two pounds can make a huge difference to the likelihood of your pet having health problems in the future.
To avoid joint problems, eye concerns, liver, stomach and other health concerns, you should always be mindful of what your cat is eating. Opting for a low carb diet is just one of the ways you can help maintain your cat’s health for years to come.
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Use Low Carb Dry Cat Food To Keep Cat Diabetes In Check
Altering your cats diet is a possible alternative to controlling diabetes. A low carbohydrate and high protein cat food is deemed best for cats with diabetes. However, some species of cats are predisposed to developing diabetes. Feeding low carb cat food can keep your cats weight in check and is especially important if he is diabetic.
Tips On Living With Diabetic Cats
Apart from food, it is also essential to maintain an ideal body weight of your cat. If your cat is on insulin than he should have fixed mealtimes. An underweight cat should not be given high carbohydrates to control diabetes. Obese cats can have insulin resistance and need higher doses of insulin.
Your vet can help you calculate the perfect weight of your cat and its dietary requirements and also whether your cat needs to lose weight. Cats do not become obese by eating carbohydrates but by not getting proper exercise, spaying, consuming table scraps, and overeating fat.
In the wild, cats whose unique biology makes them true meat lovers would not eat high levels of carbohydrates contained in human made foods. A low carb cat diet food contains less starch and can be used to mimic the cats natural diet. Diabetes is a life-threatening disease but can easily be prevented by monitoring your cats weight, and taking good care of a diabetic cat can help him live a healthy, happy, and long life.
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Best Diabetic Cat Food
So, what is the best diabetic cat food for your cat?
We need to remember to concentrate on what causes diabetes in cats.
Diabetes mellitus occurs when high blood sugar/glucose levels remain elevated due to the bodys insufficient response to insulin or a lack of insulin.
In other words, carbohydrate metabolism is a key factor behind diabetes.
A diet low in carbs reduces the amount of insulin needed while maintaining more even levels of blood sugar intensities.
In many cases, diet alone can be an effective tool against diabetes, with many cats not requiring medication after switching to a low carbohydrate diet.
You can also protect your kitty by mitigating against other risk factors such as obesity and inactivity.
Do you have a special food that your diabetic kitty loves?
If so, wed to hear about it in the comments section below!
Affiliate link disclosure: Links in this article marked with an * are affiliate links, and we may receive a small commission if you purchase these products. However, we selected them for inclusion independently, and all of the views expressed in this article are our own.
What To Watch Out For When Buying Diabetic Cat Food
Liver
Avoid cat foods that list liver as the first ingredient its fine in small quantities but can cause problems when eaten in larger amounts. Tuna should also be minimized in your cats diet.
Gravy and Sauces
Look out for foods with gravy in the name or description. Thats usually an indicator that the manufacturer has used starch thickeners in the recipe that are high in carbohydrates.
Specialized or Prescription Diet Foods
While some vets may recommend a prescription diet for your cat, there are many commercial foods available with the proper carb and protein balance . In fact, some prescription foods dont even contain special medications designed to treat diabetes and can have high carb levels.
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> > > Best Diabetes Solution Available
Type 2 diabetes causes the body to become resistant to the hormone insulin. This hormone unlocks cells. There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. While both types of the disease can cause problems, you can minimize the impact by following healthy eating and being physically active. The sooner you know more about diabetes, the better prepared you will be to deal with it. Once you know more about the disease, youll be better prepared for treatment.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that causes the body to produce too much insulin. It is also known as type 2 diabetes. If you have type 1, you can control your blood glucose levels by eating a balanced diet. If you have type 2 diabetes, you can even prevent it by adopting healthy lifestyle habits and modifying your diet. Its important to seek information that can help you be your own health advocate. There are many different types of diabetes, so its important to learn as much as you can about the condition.
Wet Or Dry Cat Food: Which One Reigns Supreme
This is a question commonly asked by cat owners whenever they are on the hunt for the best cat food. Thankfully, when it comes to having low carbohydrate content, wet cat foods rules over dry.
The fact is that even the best low carb dry cat food will contain more than 10% carbohydrates, with some containing over 20% of carbs. You might ask, Why?
Carbohydrates are necessary ingredients in manufacturing kibble. Dry cat foods are able to hold their shape or form because of the binding capacity of carbohydrates. In short, the starch present in carbs binds the kibble together. It also keeps it from crumbling.
Wet cat foods, on the one hand, can be crafted with lower levels of carbs given than it is often made with higher moisture content. The amount of moisture in this type of food is also beneficial. Some may not be aware, but our feline friends generally get the majority of their liquids from what they eat.
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The 5 Best Low Carb Cat Foods Of 2022
Not much has changed since cats evolved from their hunting ancestors. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require nutrients found only in animal products to live a healthy life.
You might be looking to feed your cat low carb, high protein foods to mimic their natural diet, or because your vet recommended it. Either way, this article will provide the information you need to choose the best low carb option for your cat. We researched hundreds of products to find the 5 best low carb foods, and paired them with a guide to help you navigate the process. Heres our list:
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How To Test For Diabetes In Cats
Diabetes is one of the common diseases among felines. When you witness any of the signs including excess thirst, frequent urination, and continuous weight loss despite an increase in appetite you should visit to vet. Often owing to the stress the blood glucose levels becomes comparatively higher for a couple of days, known as stress hyperglycemia.
To make sure that whether your cat is suffering from diabetes, a serum fructosamine test is the best bet. The test gives a detailed snapshot of blood sugar level for a time period between 7 and 14 days. This test will show you the average blood sugar level and whether the urine has a substantial amount of glucose or not. If the glucose level in the blood is substantially high and the urine contains plenty of glucose, its as clear as the day is your cat is suffering from diabetes.
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Merrick Purrfect Bistro Low Carb Dry Cat Food For Diabetic Cats
PROS
- Contains meat as a primary ingredient
- Made in the form of small kibble sizes
- Suitable grain-free food formula for kittens, adult, senior, obese and diabetic cats
- Loaded with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, vitamins, minerals and taurine
- Affordable price
CONS
- This is dry food and every owner who has a diabetic cat should supplement it with wet food for moisture
Nomnomnow Fresh Food Delivery
When it comes to quality nutrition, its hard to beat fresh food. Not only is fresh food rich in nutritional value, but it is also very high in moisture because it hasnt been exposed to high-heat cooking processes like commercial dry food. NomNomNow is a fresh food delivery service for pets that sends fresh-made, perfectly-portioned meals right to your door. They offer two recipes for cats, both of which are high in protein, high in moisture, and made with premium-quality ingredients. If youre worried about the price, know that it costs an average of $14/week to feed a 7-pound cat NomNomNow. The leading canned food costs about $16 per week, so the price is better or at least comparable. If your cat has diabetes, quality nutrition that is rich in protein and moisture is essential thats what NomNomNow provides.
- Pros: Made with wholesome natural ingredients, food prepared fresh, delivered right to your door, high in protein and moisture, over 50% calories from protein, only 10% calories from carbs
- Cons: Somewhat expensive to feed as a staple diet, only two recipes to choose from
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Best Dry Cat Food For Diabetic Cats
Best Dry Cat Food for Diabetic Cats Accepting that youre endeavoring to figure out what the best low-carb cat food decisions for your diabetic feline are, youre at the ideal areas. It might be undesirable endeavoring to notice your basic eater a food that is appealing just as doesnt consume every single penny like a lot of the arrangement grade low carb cat food assortments that vets propose can do.
Be that as it may, what definitively is catlike diabetes and how might it impact your cat? We have all that you need to be comfortable with what feline diabetes is, how it affects your cat, and how you can manage to help give your cat a superior, longer life.