Best Dry Cat Food For Diabetic Cats | iPetCompanion

Best Dry Cat Food For Diabetic Cats

Just like in humans, a diagnosis of diabetes does not have to be a catastrophic event for cats. With a combination of both medication and diet, diabetes can be reversed in your kitty and thus they can be weaned off having to use insulin. The first step in doing this is choosing a product that has been specially formulated for diabetic cats. This is typically low in carbohydrates and has a high proportion of protein.

Even though there is specialist food currently available on the market, any cat product that is high in protein will do the same job. To help you find a suitable product to treat your cat’s diabetes we have taken a look at reviewed a number of cat foods for diabetic cats in order to create a list of top picks and then make a final recommendation as to which one we think is the best. We will take a look at things like nutritional content, ingredients, and pros and cons in order to provide you with all the information any cat owner needs to make a purchasing decision.

The Best Dry Cat Food For Cats With Diabetes: Our Top Picks

crave grain free dry cat food

  • Affordable price
  • High protein
  • No grains

Rated by: Amber

royal canin dry cat food

  • Stops crashes
  • Liked by picky eaters
  • Maintains muscle

Rated by: Amber

tiki grain-free dry cat food

  • Low in calories
  • Blood glucose
  • Contains omega 3

Rated by: Amber

1. Blue Buffalo nWilderness High Protein Dry Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Despite this being rich in protein, 25 percent of it is made up of a blend of carbohydrates, such as cranberries, blueberries, carrots, and peas.

This makes it only suitable for those cats that are diabetic and on medication.

No animal by products have been used in the formulation, nor have any grains.

What has been included are Blue Buffalo’s Life Source Bits, which come packed with various nutrients. 

There are three different size bags in weights of 2.5 pounds, 6 pounds, and 12 pounds.

PROS

  • Comes packed with various nutrients
  • Free from grains and animal by products
  • Rich in protein

CONS

  • Can cause digestive issues in some cats

2. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

A premium cat food that is really high in meat protein (approx. 40 percent).

The food is free from artificial additives and preservatives, corn and soy, and contains no grains.

Despite all of this, it is still relatively affordable.

Containing all of the essential nutrients, CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food provides your kitty with complete and balanced diet.

It comes in four different flavors, including Turkey, Chicken, & Duck; Salmon & Ocean Fish; Chicken & Salmon; and Chicken.

With all this choice, you will be guaranteed to find a flavor that your diabetic kitty likes the taste of. There are three different size food bags in weights of 2 pounds, 4 pounds, and 10 pounds and is available in two different formulations for either adult cats or kittens.

PROS

  • Affordable price point
  • High protein content
  • Includes no grains or artificial additives

CONS

  • Not affective on some certain cat breeds

3. Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Low in calories and high in meat protein, this feline food works perfectly at stabilizing your cats blood glucose level.

As well as this, it is also really good for those cats that are overweight, because this kibbles have been baked rather than extruded.

Additionally, it contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to help keep your pet kitty in good health.

PROS

  • Low in calories
  • Stabilizes your cat’s blood glucose level
  • Contains omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids

CONS

  • Food pieces are hard

4. ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Dry Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

This has been formulated in a way that it regulates the levels of glucose within your diabetic cat.

It has a high protein content that slowly releases energy in order to avoided any crashes or spikes in blood sugar after your cat has eaten.

This is something that can be very troublesome for felines that suffer from diabetes.

ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Cat Food is only recommended to be used for a short amount of time. 

After around six months of your feline friend eating this product you should check with your veterinarian to see if there condition has improve. It contains L carnitine to help build muscle mass and it tastes nice enough for even the pickiest of eaters.

PROS

  • Stops energy crashes and spikes
  • Liked by even picky cats
  • Maintains muscle mass

CONS

  • Can only be used for a short amount of time

5. ORIJEN Regional Red Dry Cat Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

Consisting of 90 percent meat, and 10 percent vegetables and fruit, this cat food is free from both starch and grains.

Because it is so high in protein (approx. 40 percent) and has few carbohydrates, it is the perfect cat food for managing weight.

With the food having been dried at such a low temperature, all of the essential nutrients have been fully preserved to the benefit of your diabetic cat’s overall health.

PROS

  • Full of essential nutrients
  • Contains a high proportion of protein
  • Perfect for weight management

CONS

  • Can make some cats vomit

6. Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline Glucose Management Dry Food

Quick Summary

Rated by: Amber

The perfect cat food for managing your cat’s weight and blood glucose levels, Hill’s Prescription Diet Feline Glucose Management Food is low in both fat and calories.

Its high fiber content leaves your cat feeling fuller for longer.

Rich in L carnitine, which helps to promote weight loss whilst also allowing your pet cat to maintain its lean muscle mass. 

PROS

  • Promotes a feeling of fullness
  • Rich in L carnitine
  • Low in both fat and calories

CONS

  • Lacks protein
  • High in carbohydrates

FAQ – A Buyer’s Guide

Below we have listed some of the most commonly asked questions regarding diabetic cats and their diet. These should help you with the decision of choosing a speciality food to treat your cat’s diabetes.

What is the best cat food for a diabetic cat?

Having looked at cat foods in our above list of top picks, we will now consider some of the best wet cat foods for diabetic cats. Again, all of the big brands are producing this type of specialist wet food.

Some of these include ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Morsels In Gravy, AvoDerm Natural Tuna, Halo Grain Free Indoor Whitefish Recipe Wet Cat Food, Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Wet Cat Food, and Purina Veterinary Diets DM Dietetic Management.

What dry cat food is good for diabetic cats?

In our list of top picks we have included several different cat foods that are good for diabetic cats. Each one is from a different brand in order to make it easier for you to find one that both you and your cat like.

Other cat foods that did not make our list of top picks but are worth considering include Purina Veterinary Diets DM Dietetic Management Feline Formula, Solid Gold Fit as a Fiddle Cat Food, Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Grain-Free Cat Food, Instinct Raw Boost Cat Food, and Ketogenic Pet Foods Keto-Kibble.

What can diabetic cats eat?

Cats suffering from diabetes will benefit from eating a diet that is low in carbohydrates. However, scientists are still un sure as to what the optimal amount of carbohydrates is that your cat should be eating. One thing to remember is that those cats which suffer from diabetes may also suffer with problems relating to kidney function, such as kidney disease. Such conditions are likely to be aggravated by a diet that is low in carbohydrates. 

Additionally, diets that are low in carbohydrates are in nature high in the amount of calories that they contain. Therefore, it is not as straightforward as simply choosing a cat food that is low in carbohydrates, as this may not be a good option for a diabetic cat.

Is Fancy Feast good for a diabetic cat?

Fancy Feast is a good food for those cats that are diabetic. This is because it is low in fat, high in protein, low in calories, and high in moisture. 

The Best Dry Cat Food For Cats That Are Diabetic Of All

From the list of our top picks above we have come to the final decision that the ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Dry Cat Food is the best cat food for diabetic cats. This is primarily because it stops your cat’s energy levels from spiking and then crashing, is tasty so will be eaten by even the pickiest of eaters, and enables your cat to maintain its muscle mass thanks to the addition of L carnitine.

If you try this one and your cat does not like it, then any of the other foods in our list of top picks is definitely worth trying.

About the Author Amber