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Best Cat Food for Diabetic Cats 2024
Written by Emily Bayne
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 03/04/2024, edited: 05/08/2024
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Having a cat with diabetes is a lifestyle adjustment. Adapting to new meds and injections and orchestrating a whole diet change is a lot on a pet parent's plate. Plus, the sheer number of cat foods on the market (and sometimes their misleading labels) can make it tough to decide which food is right for your kitty.
Diabetic cats need a high-protein, low-carb diet to help keep their blood sugar under control, but finding foods that meet these requirements can be tricky.
Luckily for you, we've done some digging to find 5 of the best cat foods for diabetic kitties! Let's dive right into the best foods for diabetic cats.
Overview
JustFoodForCats Fish & Chicken Recipe Frozen Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food
Best human-grade fresh food
JustFoodForCats is a frozen human-grade cat food recipe with all-natural ingredients and a fish and chicken flavor that cats crave. Since the parent company is primarily a dog food company (Justfoodfordogs), their cat food line is only available in a single recipe. This brand does offer an additional recipe in a cat treat formula- Salmon Bark Treat. We are crossing our fingers that there will be more variety to come!
JustFoodForCats flavor:
Fish & Chicken Recipe - Featuring cod, chicken, chicken heart, chicken liver, cassava root
JustFoodForCats Cat Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Made with human-grade ingredients
- The soft pate-style meal is enticing and easy to chew for senior kitties.
- Not only is this food made in the USA, but they welcome pet parents to their factories to see their manufacturing processes.
- Developed with the guidance of a vet team and undergone nearly a decade of feeding trials to ensure the best quality
Considerations & Concerns
- Unsuitable for kittens or pregnant and nursing cats since it is formulated solely for adult maintenance (we would love to see more variety)
- This food must be kept frozen, and once thawed, it should be refrigerated and used within 3-5 days
- Thawing should be done in the fridge since defrosting in the sink or on the counter carries a risk of food poisoning.
- It is much more expensive than commercial kibble
What pet parents say about JustFoodForCats
"Why not give you feline the best source of natural diet? My [nearly] 18-year-old cat loves this. He looks so healthy. He was suddenly obese and diabetic and within 3 months his blood sugar went too low. So he was put on Science Diet WD for cats wet and dry. With lots of research we discovered Just Food For Cats. This has really made a huge difference in him. His coat shimmers and he is a happy cat. If you can't afford it for every meal, it's great for at least one time a day or a special treat instead of those temptations which are really bad for your pet. It's best preserved in a mason jar in the fridge."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright JustFoodForDogs.
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food
Best vet recommended for all life stages
This grain-, gluten- and potato-free, high-protein food checks all the boxes for diabetic kitties. The high protein content in this food will help keep your baby full, and the lower-carb formula will help prevent blood sugar spikes. We even gave this food an extra half-paw rating for the impressive 84% animal protein recipe.
Nulo also contains essential fatty acids to support brain health and ensure your kitty's coat stays luxurious. Plus, it contains natural sources of vitamin C, vitamin E, taurine, and antioxidants to boost their immune system and keep them feeling great for years to come.
Even Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, recommends it! “Nulo is known for its high-quality, animal-based protein recipes and offers low-carb, grain-free options that are free from artificial additives and fillers. Rich in essential amino acids, it supports lean muscle development and is specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of cats.”
Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free flavor:
- Turkey & Duck - Featuring deboned turkey, turkey meal, menhaden fish meal, deboned cod, yellow peas
- Chicken & Cod - Featuring deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, deboned cod, whole peas
Nulo Cat Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Since this food is low glycemic, it can help prevent blood sugar spikes and keep their levels stable.
- This recipe is made with a whopping 84% animal protein, which is very rare for commercial cat food
- Has probiotics that support gut help and can help alleviate stomach upset for cats with sensitive stomachs
- Suitable for kittens, adults, and pregnant and nursing cats
Considerations & Concerns
- While some parents loved the extra small kibble others complained that it was too small for their preference.
What pet parents say about Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free
"Nulo makes an excellent product. It's biologically appropriate for felines! My cats love this food! I'm so glad the "Freestyle" line has a resealable bag!"
"This food is healthy and has a good protein base, which I believe is important at all ages. This was my first try; and, all three of my adult cats like this food. I also appreciate that it made with small nuggets. My four new rescue kittens will be eating this food when they are past the canned stage."
"I've had a hard time finding a food that would not make my cat sick. He's loves both the wet and dry Nulo food. He does not get sick with this food. It's worth the price."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy and Nulo websites. Copyright Nulo.
Wellness CORE 95 Canned Food
Best vet recommended wet cat food
Wellness really brought their A-game when they released their CORE 95 wet food series, which contains 95% real meat. This food checks all the boxes for a great diabetic food option since it's grain-free, low-carb, and high-protein. This food is available in two flavors: turkey and chicken. It was also offered in beef and chicken and chicken and salmon flavors, but sadly, these were discontinued.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah notes, “Wellness cat food offers a protein-rich, grain-free option for those on a budget, featuring both wet and dry varieties complemented by toppers and treats. Their CORE line prioritizes gut health with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes. Wellness diets have been the center of several recalls in recent years and those seeking a safe wet-food alternative might consider the batch-tested “Raised Right” range.”
Wellness CORE 95 flavors:
- 95% Turkey: Turkey, water sufficient for processing, cassia gum, xanthan gum, ground flaxseed
- 95% Chicken: Chicken, water sufficient for processing, cassia gum, xanthan gum, ground flaxseed
Wellness Cat Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- You'll never see yucky ingredients, like artificial dyes, flavors, or preservatives, in their recipes.
- This limited-ingredient formula is made with 95% single-source meat with absolutely zero fillers or soy.
- Wellness is one of our favorite cat food brands, period; with their high-quality ingredients and named meat sources that are always the first ingredient!
Considerations & Concerns
- Since it's a higher-end cat food, you can expect to pay a premium price tag.
- Unfortunately, this food only comes in one life stage: adult maintenance. Our fingers are crossed that they will add senior and kitten recipes!
What pet parents say about Wellness Core 95
"I originally bought Wellness Core 95 because my two feral-born youngsters are overweight, and I decided a grain-free diet was my best bet in bringing their weight down. After a lot of research and reviews, I decided to try three brands that fit my requirements. The Core 95 won the taste test hands down — even my finicky 10-year-old gobbles his meals up! As a bonus, their litter [boxes] don’t stink up the house anymore, either! I do add a tsp. of salmon oil and organic pumpkin to their meals for hairball control and to [ensure] regular healthy bowel movements. Good quality cat food is not inexpensive, however, Chewy's subscribe and save will save me about $300 a year compared to the pet stores and it comes right to my door!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Company.
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore High Protein Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Best vet recommended dry cat food
This food is a great high-protein, low-carb option from Tiki Cat that can be fed as is or mixed with your cat's favorite wet food for a refreshing boost of hydration. It has a minimum of 47% protein, which is super high for dry food; what's more, 80% of the protein is from animal sources.
While we would like to see 100% of the protein from animal sources, we appreciate that the recipes use all-natural protein sources and no meat by-products.
Dr. Jeremiah says, “Tiki Cat cat food is known for high-quality, human-grade ingredients, focusing on natural, whole foods, rich animal proteins, limited ingredient options for sensitive cats, grain-free, low-carb recipes, and palatable flavors for picky eaters.”
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore High Protein flavors:
- Chicken, Herring & Salmon Meal - deboned chicken, chicken meal, herring, salmon meal, herring meal,
- Deboned Chicken & Egg - Deboned chicken, chicken meal, dehydrated chicken, dried egg product, tapioca
- Herring & Salmon Meal - Herring, herring meal, salmon meal, dried egg product, chicken fat
Tiki Cat Food
Why Wag! Loves It
- Mainly comprised of named animal protein sources like chicken.
- Contains the prebiotic inulin to help with gut health
- All natural ingredients with no sketchy dyes, artificial preservatives, or genetically modified ingredients
Considerations & Concerns
- A few reviews food claimed the Herring & Salmon Meal recipe had a very unpleasant odor
- With this being a premium cat food, resealable packaging would be preferable
What pet parents say about Tiki Cat Born Carnivore
"I noticed my cat was eating less of her food, and someone suggested I try a different flavor in case she had gotten bored of her current one. It turned out to be the answer! Now she is eating a lot more. She loves this flavor."
"I switched my two cats from Blue Buffalo indoor to this. I know they love chicken so I was hoping it would be a smooth transition and it definitely was. It keeps them full longer and is even helping my chonky boy lose weight. I'm really happy with this product and I think it's worth the price."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image from Chewy. Copyright Tiki Pets.
FAQ
Should I feed my diabetic cat wet or dry food?
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