Just like in humans, diet plays a crucial role in managing diabetes in cats. With the right diet, medication, and exercise, cats that are newly diagnosed with diabetes can achieve diabetic remission. Following a specific diet can help lower your cat’s weight and keep diabetes in check. Now that you understand the importance of diet, here are some feeding tips for cats with diabetes that you, as pet owners, must know.

Give your cat the right food

Providing your cat with the necessary nutrients is the most important feeding tip for cats with diabetes. Cats are carnivores animals and are designed to consume foods that are loaded with proteins, moderate amounts of fats, and negligible amounts of carbohydrates. The reason cats must not be given carbohydrate-rich foods is that it can cause a sudden increase in their blood sugar level, which is the exact opposite of what you want. Doctors suggest that cats must receive 50 percent or more calories from animal-based protein, 20 to 45 percent of calories from fats, and only 1 to 2 percent of calories from carbohydrates. Also, the food that you feed your cats must be rich in water, approximately 70 percent by weight.

Canned food is your best option

Now that you know the ideal composition of cat’s food, the only place where you can find this perfect blend of nutrients is in canned foods, also referred to as wet food. There are varieties of canned foods that you can find online and in stores that contain exactly the kind of nutrient composition you’re looking for. Dry food, such as kibble, although energy-rich, contains huge amounts of carbohydrates. Dry foods simply cannot be prepared with low amounts of carbohydrates that cats with diabetes absolutely need.

Be consistent with the food

Once you’ve found a diet that is working well for your diabetic cat, hold on to it. If you switch brands or switch flavors of the same brand, the nutritional content will likely change. Even though the nutritional content might change only a little, this is not an appropriate time to experiment. So, try a few brands and flavors initially, and the moment you’ve found the perfect one, feed your cat only that food. Being consistent with the food is another crucial feeding tip for cats with diabetes.

Watch the portion size

You must stick to the portion size recommended by your vet to keep your cat’s weight in check. If your cat becomes overweight, diabetes can become worse, so you have to make sure your cat is not eating whenever they feel a little hungry. If they keep meowing at you for food, try to distract them with some fun activity, or play with them. You might want to ensure that your cat is not eating anyplace else, but only the food you’re giving them. When talking about consistency earlier, you must also make sure to keep the portion size the same every time you feed your cat.