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Best Cat Food for Diabetic Cats 2025
Written by Emily Bayne
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 03/04/2024, edited: 01/21/2025
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 diabetic cat foods! Let's dive right into the best foods for diabetic cats.
Overview
JustFoodForCats Fish & Chicken Recipe Frozen Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food
5
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 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
4.5
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.
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore High Protein Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
4
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.
Purina Pro Plan Dietetic Management Dry Cat Food
3.5
Best high calorie prescription recipe
Ideally, a diet for diabetic cats should be high in protein and low in carbs. This prescription recipe from Purina Pro Plan is just what the doctor ordered since it is specially formulated for the needs of diabetic cats. It also has ingredients to help prevent the formation of urinary crystals. Unfortunately, you'll need to get a prescription from your vet to acquire this recipe.
Purina Pro Plan Dietetic Management
Why Wag! Loves It
- Formulated specifically for the needs of diabetic cats
- Alters the PH of the cat's urine to prevent bladder stones and crystals
- Antioxidant-rich formula to boost the immune system
- Low in carbs
- Many pet parents have had success with this food in diabetic and pre-diabetic cats
Considerations & Concerns
- Only available by prescription only
- Poultry by-product meal is the first ingredient (we much prefer to see a named meat as the first ingredient
- Expensive
What pet parents say about Purina Pro Plan Dietetic Management Dry Cat Food
"My Rosie was having terrible pain when she urinated. I took her to her vet, and it was not a urinary infection. It was a side effect of being pre-diabetic. Before going the insulin route she recommended the Diatetic Food. That was a year and a half ago, and her blood work is good! We've had no problems since, and her new diet has had her out of the pre-dietetic range. I also save money with my auto-ship. What a difference in Rosie's health."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Nestlé Purina.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Glycobalance Dry Cat Food
3.5
Best low calorie prescription recipe
Royal Canin has a variety of prescription pet foods, and their glycobalance cat food is highly praised by customers and vets alike. This recipe centers around high-protein chicken by-product meal, complex carbs, and insoluble fiber to improve digestion and prevent dramatic spikes and dips in blood glucose levels. Like the Purina Pro Plan Prescription food, this food also affects urine PH, which can prevent bladder crystal formation.
Royal Canin Glycobalance Dry Cat Food
Why Wag! Loves it
- Packed full of soluble and insoluble fiber which can help keep blood sugar in check
- High protein content to fuel feline adventures
- Low in calories
- Protects against bladder crystals
Considerations & Concerns
- Prescription only
- Expensive
- The kibble is on the larger side, which some cats dislike
- Chicken byproduct meal is the leading ingredient
What pet parents say about Royal Canin Glycobalance Dry Cat Food
"My little buddy "Beans" loves this dry food. When we ran out recently he wouldn't eat any other diabetic food or dry food. When the pkg arrived-he finally stopped meowing at me around his feeding time. Content again. The kibbles are on the large side. Almost as large as a small dog kibble."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Royal Canin.
FAQ
Should I feed my diabetic cat wet or dry food?
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