5 Safe Foods for Diabetic Cats
House cats, unlike strays, do not have to run around to find their next meal. This is one of the main reasons these cats end up getting obese and diabetic at some point in their life. If your cat is diabetic, you should be administering insulin to the pet regularly. You should also be choosing the right kinds of foods. Here is a list of the best foods for cats with diabetes to choose from:
Low-carb foods
It is common knowledge that people with diabetes should try and stay away from carbohydrate-rich meals. This logic works for cats too. Low-carb meals are some of the best foods for cats with diabetes. You can cook low-carb foods at home without adding grains or opt for low-carb packed foods that are easy to serve and use.
Over-the-counter diabetic foods
Keeping in mind the increasing number of cats with diabetes in the country, there are a lot of over-the-counter and supermarket branded diabetic foods that contain a lot of nutrients, proteins, and very fewer carbs. These do not need a prescription to buy. You can switch the regular packed foods you buy with these. These are definitely one of the best foods for cats with diabetes.
High-protein foods
Cats are basically carnivores and love their sources of meat and seafood. All the cat-accepted meat sources are rich in proteins and these are perfect meal choices for cats with diabetes. You can cook meat at home or opt for packed foods that contain at least 50% protein and 30%-40% fat. Diabetic cats need just 10% of their caloric intake as carbohydrates.
Canned wet foods
Another addition in the best foods for cats with diabetes is the canned variants. The problem with dry food/kibble is that it needs carbohydrate concentration to become the easy-to-use dried form that pet owners love. So, kibble is not great for diabetic cats. Canned foods, however, come with high proteins, moderate fat, and low carb compositions and hence are perfect to choose.
Fresh vegetables
Vegetables are also a perfect choice as food for diabetic cats. Almost all the vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber. This is a good combination for pet owners with cats that are over-weight and diabetic. You can include steamed beans, asparagus, broccoli, carrots, and winter squash in your cat’s meals. This helps to curb hunger and also brings down blood sugar levels.
All these best foods for cats with diabetes can be rotated through the week and offered to your cat. Do not miss its insulin dosages and do make an appointment with your vet regularly to monitor the condition.