Cats aren’t very different from humans when it comes to developing diabetes. Feline diabetes is very similar to Type 2 diabetes in humans, wherein the condition affects the insulin hormone. Though the body produces sufficient insulin, it becomes significantly sensitive to the effects of the hormone. Similar to humans, cats develop symptoms like increased urination and thirst, and sugar builds up in the bloodstream.
Some diseases like chronic pancreatitis and hyperthyroidism are the common causes of diabetes mellitus in cats, and insulin injections are required when the organs don’t respond to insulin. Diet plays a significant role in managing feline diabetes, so read on for some guidelines to follow when feeding a cat with diabetes mellitus.
Tips to ensure a healthy diet for diabetic cats
Whether feeding your cat a prescription or non-prescription diet, there are important rules to follow to prevent and regulate diabetes in cats:
- Be consistent
You’ve to constantly feed your cat the same amount of food at the same time every day to help prevent fluctuations in blood glucose levels. You can check with a veterinarian and see whether your cat prefers grazing or a meal. - Timely feeding and insulin treatments
This step is crucial to ensure that glucose absorption coincides with the optimal action of the given insulin. Ensure that you feed your cat half of their total daily consumption either before or with the insulin injections. Also, talk to a veterinarian about the volume of food and timing if your cat prefers grazing. - Concentrate on proteins
Choose foods with high-quality proteins that are easily digestible, like meat and eggs. Avoid feeding your feline soybean or corn gluten, and ensure that you avoid giving fatty foods and foods rich in carbohydrates to prevent any complications.
Discuss with a veterinarian about other guidelines to follow when feeding a cat with diabetes mellitus, including the right caloric value to maintain a healthy weight.
Best foods for diabetic cats
When it comes to feeding diabetic cats, one size doesn’t fit all. That being said, some types of foods tend to give good results:
- Low-carbohydrates, high-protein diet
Foods rich in carbohydrates elevate blood sugar levels and increase the need for insulin. Cats also get a significant number of calories from animal-based protein. Your cat also needs healthy fats to maintain a healthy weight and manage diabetes. It’s good to feed your cat food that includes 50% calories from protein and 40% from fat. It’s also advisable to ensure the food contains less than 10% carbohydrates for optimal results. - Canned food
An important part of the guidelines to follow when feeding a cat with diabetes mellitus is to feed them canned food. While a lot of canned food is high in carbohydrates, there are also ones with no carbohydrates at all. Feed over-the-counter canned foods for your cat since they’re low in carbohydrates and high in protein. A prescription diet is not necessary; you can also feed dry foods that are low in carbohydrates to manage diabetes.