Low-Carb Foods for a Diabetic Cat

Feline diabetes is common in overweight cats, though some cats that aren't overweight may still develop this condition. If your cat has been diagnosed with feline diabetes you know that there is a lot of care involved, sometimes even insulin shots. In addition, cats with feline diabetes need to be on a special diet.

Dry Food

There are some dry cat foods that claim to be low in carbohydrates and mixed specifically for diabetic cats. Although these products may be intended for diabetic cats, they should not be given to any pet with feline diabetes. Cats' bodies were not built to process dry foods, they were made to digest meat. Dry food actually is a factor that increases the risk of developing feline diabetes and therefore is only acceptable if your budget doesn't allow you to get any specialized foods.

Canned Food

There are plenty of wet or canned cat foods available for cats with feline diabetes. Some are prescription while others are available at the pet store. These are almost always low in carbohydrates and are more like what a cat would eat in the wild. Try to avoid wet foods that contain any type of plant product like vegetables. Although vegetables are healthy for humans, cats do not need any amount of fruits or vegetables in their diets.

Treats

Many people love to give their cats little treats every now and then, but there are no low-carbohydrate store-bought cat treats suitable for cats with diabetes. If you would like to give your pet a treat you can give him little pieces of meat. You can even dry the meat out like jerky or freeze it so that you can have treats handy. Cats will love these meat-treats just as much, if not more, than any that are store-bought.

Homemade

Instead of buying expensive, specialized cat food for your cat, you can choose to cook food for them (see Resources). Homemade cat foods are basically bits of chicken or fish that have been mashed up for your cat to enjoy. Egg yolk is great for a healthier coat. You can even add vitamins to the food to make sure that she is still getting all the nutrients she needs. Since the main ingredient in homemade cat food is meat, it will be low in carbohydrates.

Making the Right Choice

There are so many low-carbohydrate foods to choose from for your cat that it may be hard to know which is best. If your budget is limited you might want to choose homemade or dry cat food. Wet cat foods are more expensive but combine ease of use with the benefits of a meat-based diet. The most expensive food is not always going to be the best. Always look at the ingredients to check for plant items that add unwanted carbohydrates to your pet's meal.