The following diabetic cat diets aim to reduce the amount of insulin necessary. And may even put your cat into remission.
Please read this page in full before you take action.
You should take this information to your cat’s doctor. And figure out a plan that works for your individual cat.
Every cat is an individual and should be treated as such.
To help reduce the risk of diabetes in your cat, keep him at a healthy weight, switch from kibble to a fresh meat-based diet, offer him safe access to the outdoors, opt for vaccine antibody titers and avoid corticosteroid therapy unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Dr. Karen Becker, Bark and Whiskers.
IMPORTANT: Work with your cat’s doctor to come up with a transition plan. And be sure to dose insulin based on your cat’s blood glucose levels during the transition. Switching to a low-carb food can dramatically reduce your cat’s need for insulin. Avoid insulin overdose by dosing insulin according to blood glucose.
If you change your diabetic cat’s diet to one with lower carbohydrates, he will, in all probability, IMMEDIATELY (not days or weeks later) require a reduction in his insulin dosage. He may also immediately go into ‘remission’ and not need any insulin at all.
Dr. Lisa Pierson, Catinfo.org.
Diabetic cat diets included on this page:
- Homemade Raw Diet with Whole Food Supplements
- Homemade Raw Diet Premixes
- Premade Raw Cat Diets
- Freeze-dried Raw Non Prescription
- Freeze-dried Raw Metabolic Prescription Diet
- Low Carb Wet Foods (Non Prescription)
- In-Home Blood Glucose Monitoring
- Test Your Water Quality
- Veterinary Resources on Diabetes
Please note: Do not use this information to treat your cat by yourself at home.
I’m only writing this article because people email me about diabetic cat diets very frequently.
Disclaimer: I earn a commission if you make a purchase through affiliate links below.
Also, nothing I say is medical advice!!!!
1. Homemade Raw Diet with Whole Food Supplements
Why?
A biologically-appropriate raw cat food diet for our obligate carnivores is an absolute necessity to obtain the best glycemic control, weight control and the best chance of diabetic remission. When fed the proper diet, up to 90% of newly-diagnosed diabetic cats may become non-diabetic and stay that way.
Elisa Katz, DVM, Feline Nutrition Foundation
Why homemade with whole food supplements?
- You control the ingredients and how it’s made
- Whole food sources of nutrients are easier to digest
- Best and cheapest option (in the long-run)
Homemade raw diet base mix:
- Viva Raw Pure Blends (20% off with that link)
Why?
- Meat-only ingredients
- Variety in proteins and textures
- Human-grade quality ingredients
- Made in USDA-kitchens
Viva Raw Pure is not complete on its own. However, the owner shared a DIY whole food supplement recipe with me.
This recipe is complete and balanced based on a nutritional analysis with their products.
For every 1 lb of Viva Raw Pure, add:
- 1 scoop of NOW kelp powder (scoop included)
- 1/2 tsp of salmon/cod liver oil Grizzly OR Carlson brand (choose unflavored option)
- 1-2 drops NOW E oil
- 4 drops trace minerals manganese OR 1 oz blue mussels
- 1 tsp nutritional yeast
- 1/4 tsp NOW taurine
Note: Viva Raw packs are 2 pounds each. Double this recipe if you plan to use the entire 2-pound pack.
Check out my homemade cat food guide for transitioning, more premix options, and meal prep.
IMPORTANT: Work with your cat’s doctor to come up with a transition plan. And be sure to dose insulin based on your cat’s blood glucose levels during the transition. Switching to a low-carb food can dramatically reduce your cat’s need for insulin. Avoid insulin overdose by dosing insulin according to blood glucose.
Please see Dr. Lisa Pierson’s instructions for in-home testing.
2. Homemade Raw Diet Premixes
There are 3 homemade raw cat food premix options below.
Why homemade with a premix?
- Easier for busy cat parents and less time consuming
- Companies listed below have been creating premixes for decades
- Premixes are formulated to meet AAFCO’s nutrient guidelines
- Human-grade quality supplements
The 2 easiest premixes to use:
- Buy everything from Hare Today: Alnutrin for meat and bone supplement premix; meat, bones, and organs chubs; fish oil.
- Buy everything from Raw Feeding Miami (10% off with that link): Know Better for Cats supplement premix and boneless meat chubs.
You can also buy raw premixes only and then get ingredients at your local farm or grocery store.
Know Better for Cats is available on Amazon. TC Feline is available on Amazon and Etsy.
Important: Each premix has its own recipe. Read the recipe on the bag before you buy your ingredients.
Check out my homemade cat food guide for transitioning, more premix options, and meal prep.
IMPORTANT: Work with your cat’s doctor to come up with a transition plan. And be sure to dose insulin based on your cat’s blood glucose levels during the transition. Switching to a low-carb food can dramatically reduce your cat’s need for insulin. Avoid insulin overdose by dosing insulin according to blood glucose.
Please see Dr. Lisa Pierson’s instructions for in-home testing.
3. Premade Raw Cat Diets
Premade raw cat diets:
- Viva Raw Complete (complete for cats is complete as is no supplements needed – save 20% with that link)
- Darwin’s Natural Selection (tell them about your cat to get 10 lbs for just $14.95)
Why?
- Complete and balanced as is
- Most natural diet for cats
- Premade and shipped to your door
- Human-grade quality ingredients
Please remember to transition cat food SLOWLY.
IMPORTANT: Work with your cat’s doctor to come up with a transition plan. And be sure to dose insulin based on your cat’s blood glucose levels during the transition. Switching to a low-carb food can dramatically reduce your cat’s need for insulin. Avoid insulin overdose by dosing insulin according to blood glucose.
Please see Dr. Lisa Pierson’s instructions for in-home testing.
4. Freeze-dried Raw Non Prescription
Freeze-dried raw non prescription diet:
- Quest Cat Food (use code JESSCATICLES for 20% off)
Why?
- Complete and balanced as is
- No synthetic supplements
- Easy to portion and serve
- Human-grade quality
Rehydration is a must!
Please remember to transition cat food SLOWLY.
IMPORTANT: Work with your cat’s doctor to come up with a transition plan. And be sure to dose insulin based on your cat’s blood glucose levels during the transition. Switching to a low-carb food can dramatically reduce your cat’s need for insulin. Avoid insulin overdose by dosing insulin according to blood glucose.
Please see Dr. Lisa Pierson’s instructions for in-home testing.
5. Freeze-dried Raw Metabolic Prescription Diet
Freeze-dried raw prescription diet:
Why?
- Complete and balanced as is
- Specifically for overweight, obese, and diabetic cats
- Easy to portion and serve
- Human-grade quality
Rehydration is a must!
This product is listed below the non-script freeze-dried raw option because this script diet does contain synthetic supplements. The non-script freeze-dried raw option is 100% whole food.
Please remember to transition cat food SLOWLY.
IMPORTANT: Work with your cat’s doctor to come up with a transition plan. And be sure to dose insulin based on your cat’s blood glucose levels during the transition. Switching to a low-carb food can dramatically reduce your cat’s need for insulin. Avoid insulin overdose by dosing insulin according to blood glucose.
Please see Dr. Lisa Pierson’s instructions for in-home testing.
6. Low Carb Wet Foods (Non Prescription)
There are no dry food options on this page.
Why?
Feeding a high carbohydrate diet to a diabetic cat is analogous to pouring gasoline on a fire and wondering why you can’t put the fire out. While some cats are more sensitive to the detrimental effects of carbohydrates than others, the bottom line is that cats are obligate carnivores and are not designed by nature to consume a high carbohydrate diet or one that is water-depleted (dry kibble).
Dr. Lisa Pierson, Catinfo.org.
While not proven, some holistic veterinarians believe that years of feeding corn-based foods to cats (which amounts to feeding a high carbohydrate food to a true carnivore, which is not natural) may be contributing to the high incidence of diabetes in cats.
Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats (The Natural Vet) (p. 717). Crown. Kindle Edition.
High protein low carb wet cat foods
I’m going to say it again because it’s that important.
IMPORTANT: Work with your cat’s doctor to come up with a transition plan. And be sure to dose insulin based on your cat’s blood glucose levels during the transition. Switching to a low-carb food can dramatically reduce your cat’s need for insulin. Avoid insulin overdose by dosing insulin according to blood glucose.
Please see Dr. Lisa Pierson’s instructions for in-home testing.
Raised Right wet cat foods are all less than 4% carbs. Use code PETS20 for 20% off your first box.
Smalls wet cat foods are all less than 3% carbs. Use code CATICLES for $5 off your first box.
I think Raised Right is better because there are fewer synthetic supplements. However, variety is great both in proteins and brands that you feed.
Just focus on one change at a time.
Why not use prescription dry food?
“Prescription/therapeutic diet” is another label that is certainly not indicative of a high quality diet or one that is necessary… Many of these very expensive products contain corn, wheat, and soy which have no logical place in your cat’s diet. These diets are often very high in carbohydrates and, of course, all of the dry versions are water-depleted. Many of them also contain by-products as the main – and often only – source of protein.
Dr. Lisa Pierson, catinfo.org.
100% ideal would be the fresh, raw food options above.
In-Home Blood Glucose Monitoring
Unfortunately, some vets may not encourage in-home blood glucose monitoring. However, this is critical! Human diabetics do it!
Here are two studies to show your vet:
Please read through Dr. Lisa Pierson’s diabetes page thoroughly for instructions. There is a section about in-home blood glucose monitoring.
Dr. Pierson talks about different tests, what to look for, how to test at home, and how to work with your vet.
Find an integrative vet in your local area on AHVMA if your vet is not open to in-home monitoring.
Or book a virtual consultation with Dr. Monique Lewison on FirstVet. She is an integrative vet and raw feeds her cat.
Get labs done in your home with Affordable Pet Labs. Their urine and feces are mail-in kits that you collect and mail in. They will come to you to do bloodwork if you are in their service area. Get 10% off with code JESSCATICLES.
Test Your Water Quality
Water is the most essential nutrient, and it’s essential for life.
Water quality (just like food quality) matters a lot. I tested my water quality with Tap Score (get $10 off $100+ purchase with that link).
My water quality was above the US average but still contains a bunch of chloroform and other chemicals that negatively affect the kidneys, liver, and immune function.
I found the best water treatment: AquaTru reversis osmosis. Read my AquaTru review here.
Buy the Glass carafe model (10% off with that link). Or the Classic model (10% off plus a free 1-year filter pack with that link).
Veterinary Resources on Diabetes
Please read the following:
Most cases of diabetes in cats is a result of being overweight or just plain obese from an abundance of high carb food, a too sedentary lifestyle and over vaccinations (which can cause autoimmune disease in the pancreas and negatively affect the insulin-secreting cells).
The obesity issue is most often directly related to diet, which means the diabetic, overweight cat has been eating too many carbs.
Dr. Karen Becker.
Also read, “The Best Treatment for Feline Diabetes” by Dr. Karen Becker.
Cats are strict carnivores. This means that they must eat meat as the major portion of their diet… Additionally, unlike many other species, cats break down protein to maintain blood sugar and have a limited ability to use carbohydrates, like starches and sugars, as a source of energy.
Elisa Katz, DVM. Feline Nutrition Foundation.
Cats, diabetics or otherwise, need a high-protein, high-fat, and low-carbohydrate diet. This is the closest to the fresh prey they were designed by nature to eat. Commercial dry foods are high in carbohydrates, mainly in the form of cereal grains, for which cats have no dietary requirement and cannot adequately digest.
Zucker, Martin. The Veterinarians’ Guide to Natural Remedies for Cats (p. 136). Crown. Kindle Edition.
Please also show your veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins’ patent on treating diabetic cats.
Final thoughts on diabetic cat diets
Holistic vets say natural, fresh foods are best for all cats.
Switching your diabetic cat from dry food to a high protein, low carb, high moisture food can even help your cat go into remission.
Take these options and resources to your cat’s doctor to discuss what will work best for your cat. Test blood glucose at home and dose insulin accordingly. An insulin overdose can happen if you don’t do this properly!
I am not a medical doctor. I cannot tell you how much of what and what mixture to use for your cat.
Please do not email me with questions about this.
I understand you need help. But I cannot advise any more than I have in this article.
Need a centralized place to keep track of everything related to your cat? Grab my Cat Care Binder Bundle!