Here’s the Dirt on Feline Diabetes

Welcome to Sunday’s Cats.com Newsletter.

In today’s newsletter, we’ll answer some common questions about feline diabetes and offer some simple suggestions for managing it with a low-carb diet. 
 
And read to the end to learn about Peachy, a 3-month old kitten in dire need of medical care after being thrown from a car. 

Most Cats With Diabetes Have Type 2.

Diabetes mellitus is a hormonal condition that affects the way your cat’s body processes the energy (glucose) from their food. Though diabetes can be inherited, cats usually have Type 2 diabetes, which is affected by dietary and lifestyle factors. Being obese and sedentary greatly increases your cat’s risk, as can certain medications or health problems.

• Diabetes affects the amount of insulin your cat’s body produces (or how well it responds to it), so treatment may involve supplementary insulin injections.
  
  
• Insulin injections need to be timed with your cat’s meals and dosed according to their weight and diet.
  
  
• Weight loss may be beneficial for overweight or obese diabetic cats—it can help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce your cat’s reliance on insulin injections.
  
  
• Consistency is key for diabetic cats, so stick to a schedule for meals and treatments, and keep tabs on your cat’s water intake, activity level, and litter box usage.

• The Best Cat Food
• The Best Cat Litter
• The Best Cat Litter Boxes
• The Best Cat Insurance

The best cat food for diabetic cats is low in carbohydrates to help prevent spikes in blood sugar levels and to maximize the efficacy of insulin treatments..

A wild feline diet is naturally low in carbohydrates but many commercial cat foods aren’t. The average dry cat food contains over 20% dry matter carbs—sometimes as high as 40% or 50%. To help manage a diabetic cat’s blood sugar and reduce their reliance on insulin injections, look for a cat food with under 10% dry matter carbohydrate.

Check below for some products to help you manage your cat’s diabetes.

Reduce Blood Sugar Spikes With This Low-Carb Cat Food.

Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein is specifically designed to be a low-carb alternative to traditional dry cat food. It relies primarily on animal sources of protein and fat, with just 7.95% carbohydrates measured as dry matter.

Not only is this recipe diabetic-friendly, but it’s easily digestible and free from artificial additives. My cat Munchkin loves the chicken flavor, and I find the small, round kibbles work perfectly in all the automatic cat feeders I’ve tried.

Boost a Diabetic Cat’s Moisture Intake With Wet Food Toppers.

Increased thirst is a common symptom of diabetes so, naturally, increased urination (known as polyuria) is, too. To help keep your diabetic cat hydrated, consider switching to canned food or add a wet food topper to their daily kibble.

Consisting primarily of chicken bone broth and shredded chicken breast, these Applaws wet cat food toppers are one of my cats’ favorites. They come in 3-ounce pouches with a handy twist-off top that makes it easy to pour and store partial servings.

• Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food 
• Applaws Chicken Broth with Chicken Breast Wet Food Toppers

Cats.com receives a commission on purchases made through this product recommendation. This helps us to continue our mission of giving you the best cat information on the web. Thank you for your support!

CATS.COM CAUSE OF THE MONTH: PEACHY

Despite being mistreated and abandoned, Peachy won’t let her circumstances get her down. This 3-month-old kitten suffered a serious neck injury after being thrown from a car, and she needs our help to turn her life around.

Little Peachy needs X-rays and an MRI to survey the damage, and that’s just the beginning. Peachy’s foster caregivers describe her as a fighter, but the rescue’s resources are limited and the road to recovery is bound to be long.
 
Will you help us raise $2,000 by the end of July to get Peachy the lifesaving care she needs? She deserves a second chance and your support makes all the difference. Donate here.

A Sneak Peek At Tuesday’s mailer.

Tired of dealing with dusty clay cat litter but underwhelmed with other options? In Tuesday’s mailer we’ll discuss the pros and cons of alternatives and reveal one of our new favorites.