The Diabetic Cat Diet

For years veterinarians advised owner to watch the weight in older house cats. They emphasized that obesity in older cats many time lead to feline diabetes. Now most veterinarians recognize that weight alone is not the root cause. Rather, it is the content of many modern felines diet that feeds that obesity that makes them more at risk for diabetes. Many cats tend to have a genetic predisposition to diabetes. Yet, not all cats that develop feline diabetes are overweight. Many times diabetic cats can reduce their dependence on insulin with a change of diet long before the excess weight is dropped.

Genetics do play a role. A cat with a diet high in carbohydrates and other environmental risks with good genetics can avoid diabetes and a large number of other feline diseases. Most pet owners want to put the odds in favor of their pet's health. The truth that many owners do not understand is that veterinarians rarely see diabetic cats that are on a strictly wet cat food or homemade meat cat food diet. There may be issues with obesity and poor dental health in cats on strictly wet food. Certainly, cats that have a tendency toward obesity early in life may benefit from a wet diet to prevent developing diabetes when they age. Changes in your cat's diet should be discussed with your veterinarian so you know what the trade offs are for your cat's health.

The root cause of feline diabetes and many times the tell tale obesity that goes with it; is the presence of too much refined carbohydrates in the cat's diet. The cat's pancreas cannot handle the excess sugar. Cats are basically carnivores and their natural diet was not meant to include carbohydrates that they get from the standard dry cat food diet. In fact carbohydrates were never required at any level in a cat's diet.

Again, diabetic cat food manufactured by companies like Eukanuba or Iams is almost always wet cat food. You veterinarian may also recommend a raw meat diet. This diet can be expensive and pose storage problems. It is many times to best start a diabetic cat with the food from the veterinarian office Later you can find appropriate alternatives to introduce your diabetic cat too over time. Low calories diets and food with very controlled carbohydrates; can help your obese diabetic cat lose weight and become less insulin dependent.

You can look for diabetic recipes for your cat online. Consult your veterinarian before making a major change in your diabetic cat's diet. If you have other cats in the household who are doing well on a dry diet; try to feed them separately from your diabetic cat. Wet cat food is a temptation for all cats, the dog, and the occasional ferret.

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