Why Diabetic Cats Should Only Be Fed Canned Cat Food

Carbohydrate and Protien Levels in Canned Cat Food Are Much Healthier Than in Dry Food

When special diets were first being created by pet food companies, diets for diabetic cats were modeled after the recommended diet for a diabetic human, one high in fiber. More recent research has shown, however, that a low carbohydrate, high protein diet is the very best option for a diabetic cat's diet. The very best way to feed your cat a high protein, low carbohydrate diet is to feed canned cat food.

What's wrong with dry cat food?

The problem with dry cat food for diabetic cats is it's inherent high level of carbohydrates. Cats are exclusively meat eaters. According to Lisa Pierson, DVM, only 3 to 5 percent of a cat's diet would be carbohydrates if they were hunting on their own in the wild. Yet most commercially made dry cat kibbles contain over 30 percent carbohydrates. There is increasing evidence that due to a long evolution of eating a low carbohydrate diet in the wild, cats don't metabolize carbohydrates well, especially in high volumes.

While some canned cat foods also have carbohydrate levels higher than 5 percent, they are, on average, much lower than any dry cat food. They are also much higher in water, and many cats, even healthy ones, don't naturally drink as much as they should, and the extra fluids can be very beneficial to overall health.

Even dry prescription diets that are formulated specifically for diabetic cats and sold through veterinary offices are not as healthy for diabetic cats as almost any canned cat food is. The problem is that in order to make a cat food into a dry kibble, carbohydrates have to be added. It's just how dry cat food is made. So while a dry diabetic prescription cat food is better than a dry over the counter cat food, almost any non-prescription canned cat food is even better yet in regards to carbohydrate content.

How to switch your diabetic cat to canned food.

Any diet change should happen gradually. If your diabetic cat has eaten a dry kibble her whole life, she may not want to switch to canned. Keep offering it, while gradually reducing the amount of dry food offered. Try different brands to find the one she likes best.