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Cat diabetes

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Diabetes, a common disease that’s chronic but manageable

That’s right: Diabetes is fairly common in middle-aged and older cats, with most diagnosed between age 8 and 13. But what exactly is feline diabetes? It’s a disease in which your cat’s metabolism is unable to control their blood sugar levels, either because their pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or because their body is unable to properly use the insulin it does produce.

Experts agree that the vast majority of diabetic cats (80% to 90%) have type 2 diabetes—similar to the type 2 diabetes seen in humans.

The risk factors for feline diabetes include:

  • Obesity
    • Obese cats are 4 times as likely to become diabetic
  • Taking certain medication
  • A genetic predisposition
  • Severe or chronic pancreatitis

Left untreated, diabetes can lead to fatal kidney, heart, or neurological complications, so take your cat in to see your veterinarian if you notice any of the following:

  • Increased thirst
  • Increased urine production (urinating more often and in larger amounts)
  • A marked increase in hunger
  • Weight loss despite increased appetite

There is no cure for diabetes—your cat will have it for the rest of their life. Fortunately, the condition can be effectively managed using a three-pronged approach combining:

  • Insulin injections
  • Physical exercise
  • Dietary changes

That means nutrition is an important aspect of your diabetic cat’s life. Why? Because it has a direct effect on their metabolism, and therefore on their blood sugar levels.

In most cases, feeding your cat veterinary food recommended for feline diabetes can reduce the amount of insulin required. You heard that right! Some cats can even be weaned off insulin injections completely if their human feeds them a proper diet combined with aggressive and early treatment.

Every cat is unique, including yours. That’s why there’s no universal recipe for treating feline diabetes. When your cat is diagnosed, your vet will do an exam and determine a treatment plan based on your cat’s needs and the specifics of their illness.

The same goes for kitty’s new diet. Your vet is in the best position to prescribe food formulated to help manage your feline friend’s diabetes based on the rest of the treatment plan.

Your veterinary team will recommend:

  • Special food
  • Precise feeding amounts and how to calculate them

They’ll also give you tips on how to safely stimulate your diabetic cat, get them moving, and still spoil them from time to time, including:

  • Feeding strategies
  • Treat options
  • Ways to motivate them to exercise

Combined, these efforts will help improve your cat’s overall wellbeing. And once their disease is under control, you can both go back to enjoying your life together.

Tailoring your cat’s diet to their diabetes: How and why

Management
Healthy weight
Nutritional intake

Help manage your cat’s blood sugar levels and their symptoms

The fibre, protein, and carbohydrate content in specialized veterinary food for feline diabetes is balanced to meet your cat’s specific needs.

In large quantities, protein helps maintain muscle mass and is a source of energy for your little carnivore. As for carbohydrates, depending on the type and amount, they can help prevent post-meal blood sugar spikes.

And finally, fibre also prevents your cat’s blood sugar from going up after eating. How? By affecting the way nutrients are digested and absorbed. Therapeutic foods for feline diabetes therefore contain different fibres chosen for their ability to regulate how nutrients are processed and absorbed in the intestine.

Canned food usually contains fewer carbohydrates, so it’s a good option as well—and kitty will be thrilled!

To choose the right dry and canned food for your cat with diabetes, talk to your veterinary team. They know which ones to recommend and how to incorporate them into Fluffy’s feeding routine.

Help your diabetic cat maintain a healthy weight

Is your diabetic cat obese as well? Lots of lap cats are. But being obese and diabetic at the same time can undermine their treatment, making insulin less effective, among other things.

That’s why, once you have your cat’s diabetes under control, we recommend helping them gradually take off the pounds until they reach their ideal weight.

But weight loss can also be a symptom of diabetes, so your cat may be underweight when diagnosed. Being too thin can put a further strain on their health. Getting your diabetic cat back to an ideal weight is important to ensure their wellbeing.

If your cat is already at a healthy weight, you’ll need to monitor it for the rest of their life to make sure they maintain that balance.

How do you incorporate weight loss, weight gain, or weight maintenance into a diet designed for feline diabetes? By following your veterinary team’s advice and recommendations. They’ll suggest a therapeutic diabetes care diet with the right calorie density and fibre content based on kitty’s current and target weight.

Ensure your diabetic cat gets a consistent supply of the nutrients they need

Your cat’s diabetes will never go away, but it can be managed by controlling their blood sugar levels. How? With insulin therapy and a steady, predictable supply of nutrients. That means feeding your cat the same foods in the same amounts.

Specialized veterinary foods and treats are always made the same way and are subject to strict quality control processes, so you know you’re serving up quality.

Your veterinary team can develop a detailed food plan that tells you how much dry food, canned food, and treats to feed your diabetic cat to stabilize their metabolism.

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