Diabetes has become pretty common in people nowadays all over the world but your adorable cat can also suffer from this disease. You can treat it by combining diet with medication. First, choose a cat food specifically manufactured for diabetic cats, generally, with low carbohydrates, and high proteins. We will help you out regarding this matter because we will discuss the 5 best dry cat food for diabetic cats here.
Best Dry Cat Food for Diabetic Cats: Summarized
1. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult -Top Pick
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Perfect Weight for Healthy Weight & Weight Management, Chicken Recipe, 3 lb Bag: Pet Supplies
2. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food- Runner up
CRAVE Grain Free Adult High Protein Natural Dry Cat Food with Protein from Chicken, 2 lb. Bag: Pet Supplies
3. Instinct Grain-Free Dry Cat Food- Best Raw-Coated Choice
Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe with Real Chicken Natural Dry Cat Food, 5 lb. Bag: Pet Supplies
4. IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH High Protein Dry Cat Kibble- Best for Cats with Skin Problems
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food with Chicken & Salmon Cat Kibble, 13 lb. Bag: Pet Supplies
5. Instinct High Protein Cat Food, Ultimate Protein Grain Free Dry Cat Food- Best for Cats with Sensitive Teeth
Instinct Ultimate Protein Grain Free Cage Free Chicken Recipe Natural Dry Cat Food, 1.8 lb. Bag: Pet Supplies.
Best Dry Cat Food for Diabetic Cats: Detailed Review
Our team of experts has chosen the best dry cat food for diabetic cats after thorough research on different diabetic cat foods of renowned brands such as Blue Buffalo Wilderness, Hill’s Science, CRAVE, IAMS, Instinct, Ziwi peak, Purina Beyond grain-free cat food, and the like.
1. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult,-Top Pick
What Makes it Different:
We have chosen Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food with 7,340 global ratings and 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon as our top pick among the best dry cat food for diabetic cats. This best diabetic food ensures your cat’s effective and healthy weight management visible within only 10 weeks. Although it’s diet food, your pet will love its delicious taste.
Mentionable Features:
- More than 70 percent of felines reduced weight only within 10 weeks after having this dry food.
- This solid food for cats builds your pet’s lean muscle and helps in its long-lasting weight management.
- Your cat will love its chicken flavor and unique taste. It won’t turn up its nose to this food ever that’s guaranteed.
- Contains Vitamin C, E, and antioxidants to ensure a sound immune system, healthier coats, and skin.
- Prepared with natural, trusted global ingredients in the USA.
- It has been recommended as no.1 by veterinarians.
What can be Improved :
- Protein content can be increased to improve the quality.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Cats love its flavor and taste. 2. Ensures long-lasting weight management for your cat. 3. Makes your pet’s coat, muscles, skin, and immune system healthier. 4. Great for less active, adult cats that are likely to gain weight. 5. Veterinarians recommended it as no.1. | 1. A bit expensive. 2. Not good for kittens, nursing, or pregnant cats. |
2. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food -Runner-up
What Makes it Different:
CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food with 6,295 global ratings and 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon is the runner-up among the best dry cat food for diabetic cats. Because as the name suggests it’s grain-free and also high-protein.
Mentionable Features:
- This protein-rich food with chicken flavor is exactly what your cat needs and loves.
- Inspired by the ancestral and natural diet of your feline, this food gives energy from healthy carbohydrate sources.
- Its essential nutrients develop your pet’s muscles, support good immune systems, and aid in digestion.
- Prepared from real ingredients with no by-products, zero grain, and contains minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients.
- Cats love the texture of each crunchy bite.
What can be Improved :
- Contains some harmful chemicals like DL-methionine, and potassium chloride. The manufacturers shouldn’t include these chemicals.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Cats love its flavor, taste, and texture. 2. Improves your pet’s muscles, and immune systems, and helps digestion. 3. The primary two ingredients are animal protein. 4. Chicken fat is used as an exact fat source for species. | 1. Contains different plant protein concentrations. 2. Includes some harmful chemicals as mentioned earlier. |
3. Instinct Grain-Free Dry Cat Food-Best Raw-Coated Choice
What Makes it Different:
Our team has chosen this cat food with 3,482 global ratings and 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon as the best raw-coated choice among the best dry cat food for diabetic cats because it’s the best and first option in this regard.
Mentionable Features:
- Prepared with 81% natural animal content and healthy oils, 19% fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious ingredients. The primary ingredient is cage-free real chicken.
- Contains omegas for coats and skin and probiotics for easy digestion.
- Contains no grain, corn, potato, soy, wheat, by-products, artificial preservatives, or colors.
- Each kibble is raw coated with freeze-dried materials. Not only delicious but also healthy for your cats.
- Made from raw, real, minimally processed, and finest materials from the whole world in the USA.
What can be Improved :
- Contains peas and tapioca. The manufacturers shouldn’t include them because peas can cause upset stomach, kidney, and bladder failure. Again, tapioca can cause gas, cancer, and constipation in your pet.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Contains no by-product meals. 2. Includes no artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. 3. Animal protein is the primary source. 4. Contains chicken fat, chicken muscle meat, freeze-dried hearts, and livers of chicken. 5. Low in carbohydrates. | 1. Expensive. 2. Contains peas and tapioca. |
4. IAMS PROACTIVE High Protein Dry Cat kibble-Best for Cats With Skin /Shedding Problems
What Makes it Different:
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH High Protein Dry Cat Kibble with 2,856 global ratings and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon can be the best for cats with shedding /skin problems among the best dry cat food for diabetic cats. Because one of our team member’s cats had both of these problems, and after having this food we all checked that its coat had become shiny and sleek, and the owner noticed that its shedding or losing hair was also reduced.
Mentionable Features:
- The primary ingredient is chicken, which also has salmon. It helps strengthen muscles and the heart and gives healthy energy.
- Contains beet pulp and prebiotics that support the digestive health of your cat.
- Made from real ingredients with the nutrients and flavors your feline needs and wants.
- Includes calcium to ensure healthy bones and strong teeth.
- Also includes Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids to ensure your cat’s healthy, shiny, and soft coats.
What can be Improved :
- It has a paint-like smell, that many cats might not like. Includes chicken by-products. The manufacturers should take care of these issues.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. Rich in exact animal protein. 2. Solves your cat’s skin and shedding problems. 3. Strengthens bones, heart, muscles, and teeth. 4. Affordable | 1. Has a paint-like smell. 2. Includes chicken by-products. 3. Some cats can have fish allergies. |
5. Instinct High Protein Cat Food, Ultimate Protein Grain Free Dry Cat Food – Best for Cats with Sensitive Teeth
What Makes it Different:
We have chosen this food with 1,658 global ratings and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon as the best for cats with sensitive teeth among the best dry cat food for diabetic cats. Because one of our teammates’ cats’ had this issue it was too difficult to feed it any food, but this one with an easy-chewable texture made the task easier.
Mentionable Features:
- 95% of its protein source is chicken, and the rest is from animal meals and vegetables.
- Made with natural probiotics for easy digestion, omegas for coat and skin, and antioxidants to ensure immune health. Contains no corn, grain, potato, soy, wheat, by-product meals, artificial preservatives, or colors.
- As the third product on our list, this one is also a raw-coated product of the same brand.
- Made from real, raw, minimally processed, finest ingredients of the world in the USA.
What can be Improved :
- Contains peas, tapioca, and flax seeds. As mentioned before, peas and tapioca are not good for cats. Flax seeds can cause bloated tummy and breathing issues for your pet.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1. No by-products. 2. No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. 3. The primary ingredient is animal protein. 4. Contains chicken fat, chicken muscle meat, freeze-dried hearts, and livers of chicken. 5. Low in carbohydrates. | 1. Contains peas, tapioca, and flax seeds. 2. Some cats can have fish allergies. |
Buying Guide: Dry Cats Food for Diabatic Cats
Consider the following while choosing the best dry cat food for diabetic cats:
- Consult the Veterinary Physician
Your veterinary physician will let you know that diabetes is a common and manageable disorder in cats. S/he will advise checking your pet’s health status such as blood sugar level, body mass index, and other related conditions, before prescribing any diet. Certain insulin medications will go in line with the prescribed diet. Additionally, you will get advice from your vet about the way and times to feed your feline to manage the present situation as early as possible. Consider the following while choosing the best dry cat food for diabetic cats:
Buying Guide: Dry Cats Food for Diabatic Cats
- Low or Zero Carbohydrate
The carbohydrate content should be low or zero for your diabetic cat. However, the manufacturers include carbohydrates to minimize their production costs, and also the price is kept low. The foods with low carbohydrates are a bit expensive. If the carbohydrate percentage is not mentioned on the labels, add up the rest nutrients and subtract from 100.
This amount should not be more than 10% whether the food is diabetic or not. But this is a bit hard to find. Consider buying the low-carbohydrate ones.
- High Protein
Diabetic cat food should contain 40% or above crude protein. This protein needs to be easily digestible so that your cat eats small quantities of each serving. Diabetic dry cat foods consist of real chicken, tuna, or salmon freshly sourced and don’t have animal by-products.
- Minerals and vitamins
These foods contain minerals and vitamins that develop your pet’s immunity and ensure a smooth coating.
- Fiber-rich Content
Fiber is a kind of carbohydrate not easily digestible by the cat’s intestine. However, it makes the food move through the digestive system and helps other content to be absorbed and well-digested. Again, fiber increases the fullness feeling to stop your feline from demanding food often, and thus, helps in weight management.
- Flavors
Cats have a strong smelling sense. If they dislike the food smell, they won’t even look at it, let alone taste it. So, choose dry food with no artificial additives or flavor.
- Texture
The dry kibbles need to be easily chewable and crunchy in texture. Therefore, your cat will easily eat most of it with less or no leftovers, and thus, will save your money to spend on the medication.
- Price
Try buying quality food that fits your budget for your diabetic feline. Don’t settle for any cheap food because there is no compromise with your adorable pet’s health.
Conclusion:
Now, you must be confident about the best dry cat food for diabetic cats and other related things. Stay connected with us to know more interesting and useful things about your pet and share your queries and suggestions in our comment section.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you give your diabetic cat insulin two hours late?
If your feline doesn’t eat, don’t miss a single insulin dose unless this anorexia lasts over 48 hours. In case you miss one or two insulin doses occasionally, don’t worry. Your pet’s blood glucose level will go quite high for one or two days but won’t cause many problems.
What is your diabetic cat’s life expectancy?
80 to 95% of diabetic felines experience something like type 2 diabetes. Generally, they are insulin-dependent, and this is treatable. If you treat exactly your pet can have a usual life expectancy.
How long can your diabetic cat survive without insulin?
Diabetic remission happens when your cat’s glucose level is normal for over 4 weeks without oral glucose-managing medications or insulin injections. Though every cat doesn’t experience this remission, the one that does can survive without insulin for months or even years.
How can you treat your cat’s diabetes naturally?
Insulin can be essential to effectively manage a cat’s diabetes but you can try naturally through lifestyle and diet changes after your cat is diagnosed with this disorder. Vets recommend low-carb diets without potatoes, sweet potatoes, grains, and peas.
Which food is harmful to cats?
Some foods are toxic for all cats like onions, garlic, raw meat, raw eggs, raw bones, grapes, raisins, caffeinated drinks, chocolate, raw dough, alcohol, milk, dairy products, and dog food.
Does diabetes cause pain for cats?
Yes. Diabetic cats can have neuropathic pain. As a result, they have weaker back legs caused by damaged nerves due to continuous high blood sugar levels. They can also feel pain with this weakness along with numbness and tingling in their limbs.