Why Diabetic Cats Should Only Be Fed Canned Cat 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.

A prescription canned cat food formulated for diabetic cats is usually a good choice, but if your cat refuses to eat it, then another brand is better. It is better for your cat to refuse the fancy prescription food, and eat an over the counter canned food, than for your diabetic cat not to eat anything at all. Always watch you cat to make sure she's getting enough to eat during the transition.

You will need to sty in contact with your veterinarian over the course of the food transition, and for the following few weeks, or months. Many diabetic cats, when moved on to a canned cat food diet will greatly reduce their insulin need. Some cats, like mine, were able to give up insulin altogether and be purely treated with diet alone. According to Prof. Dr. Claudia Reusch " In previous years, when we did not limit the type of food our remission rate was 15%-25%. We were able to increase the remission rate to 50-70% by using a low-carbohydrate high-protein diet. (Remission refers to no further need for insulin.)"

You'll want to watch for signs of too much insulin. Your veterinarian may want to check your cat's blood sugar levels often, and you can ask for glucose testing strips that you can put in your cat's litter box. They are nice because, as you gradually reduce your cat's insulin dosage under your veterinarian's supervision, you can make sure there is no glucose in your cat's urine. It's an easy, and inexpensive way to monitor your diabetic cat at home.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/947485/why_diabetic_cats_should_only_be_fed.html