Best Diabetic Cat Food (2024): 12 Wet and Dry Foods for Diabetic Cats

So that’s the chart showing our top 3 best diabetic cat foods, but let’s take a deeper look at the best and a few more to really give you some options.

To start with, let’s look at the top 3 in a little more detail.

1. ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Morsels In Gravy - Best Overall

Royal Canin’s Feline Glycobalance Morsels in Gravy comes in as our best overall diabetic cat food becuase it's the wet cat food that your vet is likely to recommend.

But, in addition, the owners we've canvassed who have fed it to their diabetic cats are very positive about how their cats take to it and the positive effect it has on their health.

They talk about how it improves their cat's condition, how much their cats like it and how relieved they are to know they are giving their cat a food designed to directly help with their condition.

Other health issues, such as bladder complaints, are also greatly assisted by this food.

We also regularly hear that senior cats are particularly fond of this food so that's a winner too. Our senior citizen felines need to intake as much high quality nutrition as possible! And, sadly diabetes and older age can often be related.

It is expensive, but it does what it is supposed to do because this formula specifically focuses on balancing blood sugar in diabetic cats. 

Unlike regular cat food, it has a reduced level of starch and moderate calories. The key is to prevent excess weight gain which often leads to diabetes and aggravates the condition. 

If your kitty has a ravenous diet, which is often common in cats with diabetes, this cat food would be a good option. It is not calorie-dense, so you don’t need to worry about weight gain, but it still has high protein content. 

Another thing we like about this cat food is the focus on providing the right amount of protein to maintain the muscle mass in overweight diabetic cats.

Loss of muscle mass is one of the most common problems associated with feline diabetes, so maintaining protein levels in a diabetes food is important.

The cat parents in our surveys have praised Royal Canin for coming out with this diabetic-friendly cat food.

The only downsides are the price and that you will need a veterinary authorization to buy it. Chewy.com, in particular, make handling this very easy as they check with your vet for you after you order (and it works really well).

This really is the best diabetic cat food you can get and it deserves our vote and you taking the time to get your vet to recommend it. Your diabetic cat deserves it!

2. Tiki Cat Luau Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food - Best Value 

This Tiki Cat food is not a specific diabetic cat food, but it has a formula that provides most of the elements that a cat food for diabetic cats needs to have. And, many owners of cats with diabetes choose to feed this, with the backing of their cat's vet.

The reasons it's a good choice as a diabetic cat food is that it's very low in carbohydrate, but still high in protein. Importantly, it's a wet cat food that is very high in mositure and that helps hugely as diabetic cats need to be well hydrated. That moisture comes from the use of real chicken stock, so it's nutrient dense as well.

This formula has both tuna and chicken as the high quality animal protein in the recipe. This is made into a consomme and our community reported that the mixture of the two flavors and the moistness made this super popular with their cats (they dig the flavour!).

Another thing that helps with cats that have diabetes is that this recipe has no grains, gluten, starches or flours, which is why it's low carb. That lack of grains is also a big plus as it prevents spikes in glucose that grains can cause.

Although it is nutrient dense and free from fillers, it manages not to be calorie dense. That means your cat will get all the protein and nutrition they need, but won't be as likely to gain weight, which often goes hand in hand with diabetes.

Critically this recipe is so much less expensive than the so-called 'prescription' diet diabetic foods, but it's as low in price as we'd go when feeding a diabetic cat.

So, although it isn't sold as a diabetic cat food, it has most of the properties of those specific formulas, but at much less cost.

Our vets are happy to recommend this as a cheap diabetic cat food on that basis. If you try this food you also won't need your cat's vet to sign off and it is widely available.

3. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food - Premium Choice

The main treatment for diabetic cats, other than insulin (which your vet may very well prescribe) is to manage their weight and diet. The aim is to give them as close to what they have naturally evolved to eat as possible - and that means giving them a very high protein and very low carbohydrate diet.

If that diet is made from high quality animal proteins and is as natural as possible and also high in moisture content, then you're giving your cat the best food possible, and that will naturally help with diabetes (and prevent them gaining weight).

That's why we rate Smalls so highly for any cat and why it makes a great choice (if you have the budget) as the main food for your diabetic cat.

Smalls offers two types of cat food on their subscription plans. Among the two options, Smalls' Human-Grade Fresh Cat Food stands out as the best choice for diabetic cats. It has a low-carbohydrate formula, ensuring minimal impact on blood sugar levels and better glycemic control. The human-grade animal proteins provide diabetic cats with the necessary nutrients while minimizing carbohydrate intake.

This 'wet' recipe also has a high moisture content, and this helps promote hydration and support urinary tract health, both of which combat the possible dehydration issues that diabetic cats can suffer.

Smalls' Human-Grade Fresh is also high in digestibility because of the quality of the ingredients. Easily digestible meals make for higher levels of nutrient absorption and minimize digestive issues for your cat.

The Freeze-dried Raw formula still has all the nutritional content a diabetic cat needs, but the low hydration makes it less suitable - although, of course, you can ensure hydration by also having a fresh supply of water, such as from a cat water fountain.

Because Smalls focus on low carbohydrates, high-quality protein sources, optimal moisture content, and digestibility, both formulas (but especially the Human-Grade Fresh) are a high quality tailored solution for diabetic cats. Your diabetic cats will get a nutritionally balanced diet, that effectively manages their condition and promotes overall well-being.

If it's within your budget, Smalls has our highest recommendation as a great choice of food for diabetic cats, especially as they offer a money back guarantee if your cats don't like it.

4. ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Dry - Best Dry Diabetic Cat Food

When speaking with our diabetic cat owners we did notice a trend that when their cats were FIRST diagnosed with diabetes ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Dry was a common first food that owners would feed their newly diagnosed kitty. 

Many said that their diabetic cats were pretty sick at this point, but they dove right in and ate the food straight away, and more importantly, consistently. They didn't stop eating it after a few days. Which can be a common hurdle to overcome.

Ultimately it also helped with their diabetic condition.

In all honesty, we've always tried to stay away from putting our kitties on an only dry food diet. The regular dry food you get in the market isn’t usually enough on its own and many vets and nutritionists believe it can contribute to a cat developing diabetes (although there are no studies that confirm this - yet).

Another reason diabetic cats are usually not put on dry food is that it contains a higher amount of carbohydrates, and, obviously, less moisture. The former causes blood sugar issues and the latter can cause dehydration.

But it seems like Royal Canin was lending a patient ear to all cat parents facing these troubles, because this formula is a dry diabetic cat food that seeks to address those exact issues.

It makes their Feline Glycobalance dry cat food a great choice if you're searching for the best dry food for diabetic cats.

It has low carbohydrate content and high protein to release energy slowly. It regulates blood glucose levels and prevents spikes and crashes after eating. It also has prebiotics and both soluble and insoluble fibers that further help minimize glucose fluctuations.

You will still need to adress the lack of mositure as you would with any dry food but the speficic formula makes this a key option when it comes to a dry cat food that is actually a good choice for diabetic cats.

If you want a hassle-free dining time for your fur baby, this one can certainly make a place on your shelf. Since it is a specially formulated diet, make sure to check with your cat’s vet after six months.

Yes it is expensive but unfortunately these foods to treat diabetes generally are. 

5. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Wet Cat Food

It can be quite a task to find the right type of wet food for diabetic cats with sensitive tummies. They need a formula that prevents spikes in blood sugar as well as has limited ingredients to prevent flare-ups of allergies. 

Instinct does step ahead to take matters in their own hands and offer you one of the best limited-ingredient wet foods for your furry feline. There is just one high quality meat sourced protein and one vegetable to keep things simple and healthy. 

You can choose the meat source as per your kitty’s liking. There are duck, rabbit, turkey, and salmon variants.

We like the fact that they specifically mention there is no grain, chicken, fillers, eggs, beef, wheat, soy, corn, fish, artificial flavours, and preservatives. These are all tick boxes when it comes to recipes that won't cause issues in your diabetic cat.

The formula is raw inspired and great for cats with food allergies. High protein content makes sure energy is released slowly and there is no spike and crashes in blood sugar.

Many cat parents with diabetic cats expressed their satisfaction with this product.

6. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Natural Dry Cat Food

If you have a diabetic cat who is a picky eater averse to the idea of dining on kibble, but you want to try a dry food, Instincts has a solution for you.

The brand claims this to be the first raw coated kibble. Each kibble piece is coated in freeze-dried raw ingredients  to add addtional quality nutrients but also to ensure your furry feline is enticed into devouring the food by the taste and texture.

There is no grain, eggs, wheat, soy, chicken, beef, dairy, chickpea, corn, potato, fillers, preservatives, and artificial flavours in this formula. In short, you can add this one to your cat’s regular diet and ensure her sensitive tummy is safe from flare-ups. 

But, this low carbohydrate and high protein approach is aslo what is needed to ensure blood sugar control and weight maintence for diabetic cats. So this recipe works for a cat with diabetes combined with other food sensitivities.

We like the fact that the brand specifically mentions that turkeys are cage-free and salmon caught from the wild and that rabbits have been farm-raised. This all speaks of their commitment to high-quality protein sources. You can choose any one from these flavours and set your picky eater up for a treat she will relish. 

Many cat parents have expressed their satisfaction with the value for money for this dry diabetic cat food, which can also be used in combination with a wet food as a topper.

The one regularly mentioned downside is that owners say this makes for pretty stink cat poo!

7. CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food

Let me start with what I liked the best. I’ll be honest, I simply loved this one because of how affordable CRAVE has made it to put your cat on a high-quality, high protein diet. Whenever I think about high protein cat foods, the biggest deterrent has been the hole they would burn in my pocket. 

But with CRAVE’s Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food, price won’t be a headache. Now coming to the protein part - it's great that there is no filler, by-products, grain, wheat, corn, and soy.

This means cats with sensitive digestive systems can try it and also means that low carbohydrate formula helps with blood sugar control. 

This recipe is made from real single protein sources (in this case, Salmon) and Crave like to try to match the natural ingredients that your cat would have got in a natural pre-domestication diet. Their formula therefore has all the nutrients your cat needs for developing muscle, aiding digestion, providing energy, and supporting a healthy immune system

The texture is good and many cat parents have expressed their delight as their picky eaters liked it. Since there is a good amount of high-quality protein, the energy from the food will get released slowly into your cat’s system preventing spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels. 

The nutritional profile of this cat food makes it a great choice if you want to put your fur baby on a high-protein diet that also boosts its immunity, aids in muscle development, and digestion.

8. ZIWI Peak Canned Wet Cat Food – All Natural with Superfoods

We made a different formula canned cat food from Ziwi Peak our overall best wet cat food some time ago and have kept it there ever since. We very highly rate all the recipes of cat food that this New Zealand pet food specialist makes.

We're impressed by the several boxes ZIWI strikes off from our list of good diabetic-friendly cat food in this formula. This chicken recipe is high-protein without any added filler by-products, artificial flavours, preservatives, BPA, sugars, and glycerin. The same applies to the range of other recipes that you can choose including beef, lamb, venison, mackerel and various other combined protein sources.

Meat is ethically sourced from New Zealand’s free-range farms and waters. Your worries about added hormones, antibiotics, and growth promoters have been put to rest by ZIWI - there are none! This recipe is completely grain free, with no fillers and is low carb.  

And there's another thing that we loved about this wet cat food. All variants of ZIWI Peak Wet Cat Food contain 7% Tripe along with 3% New Zealand Green Mussels (and other superfood ingredients). Both those ingredients are natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin to support your kitty’s bone and joint health. 

Since the protein component is high and the carb content is low, energy is released slowly, thus, preventing peaks in blood sugar. Cats with sensitive tummies can chomp on this without their human parents stressing over allergy flare-ups. 

Many cat parents have expressed delight in how their fur baby has developed a liking for the product. Maybe that’s because of the combination of the ingredients and flavor and the chunky loaf style texture that manages to win every kitty’s heart!

9. Purina Veterinary Diets DM Dietetic Management

Well, this cat food has dual benefits to offer. As the name suggests, it is indeed a tailored feline diabetes specific recipe meant to manage weight and help diabetic cats  get their diet back on track. 

There is the right balance of high protein and low carbohydrates to help your diabetic cat get proper nutrition without causing spikes in the blood sugar. 

There is another benefit that could make Purina your go-to option - relief from urinary stones.

The brand claims that this particular cat food creates an unfavourable urinary environment for calcium oxalate crystal and struvite and thereby helps prevent the formation of urinary crsytals and stones.

We're looking at the wet vartiant here (as wet food is generally preferable for diabtetic cats), but both wet and dry variants contain antioxidants.

However, we were slightly disappointed by their ingredient list. Poultry by-products and meat by-products are listed as the second and third ingredient.

This needn't be a deal breaker as this terminology can cover a wide range of protein sources and we trust that Purina are using high enough quality ingredients in such a disease specific formula.

This one is also a special diet available only on a vet’s recommendation (although that's rarely an issue when ordering online these days).

9. Rachael Ray Nutrish Wet Cat Food Grain Free

If you're still looking through this group test, you'll get the idea by now that a good food for a diabetic cat will be high in protein, low in carbs and free from grain and other fillers. That all helps control blood sugar and weight. If the food is a wet cat food then that's another bonus as it means your cat's hydration is being taken care of as well.

That's why this Rachael Ray variety pack is a diabetic wet cat food that you should definitely consider trying.

It meets all of those needs, and it's not too expensive, plus it gives you the chance to try out three different recipes to see which flavor your cat likes the most.

The variety of flavours Rachael Ray brings into this cat food variant is amazing and that's a help if your cat is like mine and gets bored easily.

This particular pack is all fish based, so there's a tuna formula, a white fish one and another that is shrimp and chicken. If your cat is a chicken lover then there's an alternative chicken variety pack.

All variants are real recipes by Rachael and contain high-quality protein to help diabetic cats maintain energy levels. 

There is no ground corn, soy, wheat, poultry, and meat by-products. I like it that they have kept this cat food free from fillers and instead focuses more on vitamins, minerals, and taurine. And if reports from my kitty are to be believed, the Ocean Fish-A-Licious variant is pure love!

Several cat parents are amazed at how much cats love this wet food. The downside is some cat parents did comment they found a few small bones in the product.

10. Nulo Adult & Kitten Grain Free Wet Food

This high meat content low carb wet food recipe by Nulo is suitable for cats that need to be put on a weight management program, and especially if that is part of feline diabetes management.

It has the high protein low carb formulation that helps control diabetes and a key selling point for cat owners is that there are very few cats that don't like it. So, if your cat is one of those that won't eat our Tiki Cat Lau budget pick, then this Nulo wet food is a great alternative for picky eaters. It's also in the same cheaper price bracket.

The Nulo wet food is all natural as it doesn’t contain grains like wheat, corn, and soy. 

If your kitty is prone to allergies, this one might suite well as there is no artificial flavouring, preservatives, or carrageenan - not even white potatoes.

The blend contains five animal protein sources reinforced with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to boost immunity and overall health. 

Our pick here is the Turkey and Duck minced wet cat food as this was the recipe that most owners found was the one all cats would eat. But there are a range of flavors and you can opt for minced, shredded, or pate versions as per your cat’s liking.

Cat parents we surveyed have also expressed satisfaction over the value for money Nulo offers with this variant.

11. Nulo Adult & Kitten Grain-Free Dry Cat Food with BC30 Probiotic

We've already discussed what could be the best diabetic dry cat food from Royal Canin (but it needs vet approval) and we've covered great alternatives from Instinct and Crave.

We've also mentioned how dry might not be best for diabetic cats because they need their hydration to be well monitored.

But, if you have a cat that likes dry and you know gets enough water, then another dry food option is this one from Nulo, which comes with additional benefits.

My cat has digestive issues and I'm always on the lookout for probiotic enriched foods because they can help keep that under control.

Nulo appears to be acing the race in my opinion because they have managed to bring the best of both the worlds in one food - diabetic health support and digestive aid. 

This dry cat food contains patented BC30 probiotic to boost healthy gut flora. If your cat has digestive issues, try this variant for its metabolism-boosting properties as well.

For easy gigestion, the kibble is in the shape of discs that look like small morsels which are easy to chew and swallow. 

The brand claims the texture is palatable for even picky eaters and aids in removing plaque buildup in teeth. The high meat and low carb proprietary formula have a high 83% animal protein. 

Ingredients used are low on the glycemic index to prevent spikes in blood sugar levels. Since it is grain-free and has no fillers and by-products, sensitive cats can try this product to see if this suits them.

12. Hills M/D Weight Loss Diabetic Cat Food

We get to the end of our recommendations with a vet recommended dry diabetic cat food. You shouldn't think it's any less good than all the other options in the test just because it comes at the end.

In fact, this is a serious contender for the best diabetic dry food because of its specific formula.

Simply put, our community of testers siad that if they were going for a cat food that required vet approval, then they had a slight preference for the Royal Canin, but this was usually because their cats seemed to eat it more readily and so prefer it.

On the other hand, many said that, in their particular case, this Hills GlycoSupport formula had been recommended to them instead and they had found it instrumental in helping with their feeding and weight management of their cat with deline diabetes.

In short, it's a great dry otpion, and if your vet suggests it, you should at least give it a try.

Hills is a brand known for its science-based proprietary blends and they have again done a good job with this diabetic cat food which controls blood sugar and promotes weight loss. The brand also claims this cat food helps maintain lean muscle mass despite that weight loss or if your cat is losing weight because of their diabetes. 

There is carnitine to increase glucose utilization in diabetic cats. Carnitine does this by improving energy metabolism. Hills says that this variant will also prevent the accumulation of fat in the liver. 

Many cat parents have expressed their happiness over how this cat food helped their cat come off insulin and maintain muscle mass despite losing weight. As we've noted, one thing cat parents might want to note is you might have to be patient with your cat to develop taste for this cat food. 

Instead of replacing regular kibble with this one, try substituting a part of it. Your kitty might take some time to warm up to this vet recommended food.

Different Types of Diabetes Call for Different Actions

Like in people, cats can suffer from two main kinds of diabetes - type I or type II. Type I is rarely diagnosed in this species, but that should be a relief for most pet owners, as that would mean that they’d have to administer insulin to them for the remainder of their lives. 

Type II diabetes is the most common form prevalent in domestic felines. It resembles the clinical picture in humans, which means that it can be acquired due to obesity and a generally unhealthy lifestyle. 

Dietary manipulation is critical when it comes to type II diabetes. While insulin administration may be recommended at the beginning of the treatment, if the prognosis is positive and the cat is otherwise healthy, many regain their pancreatic function as they lose weight. 

How your cat’s condition progresses depends on how quickly they receive treatment for diabetes and their health status. Seniors have a higher risk of developing diabetes, and they often have additional chronic diseases, which can make diabetes management even more challenging. 

Diabetes in Cats - Treatment Options

Changing your cat’s diet and opting for one of the best foods for diabetic cats out there is the first step to properly managing this condition. All vets will tell you that diet is the number one factor that influences pancreas activity in this (and other) species. 

Giving your pet canned food instead of dry kibble may be another option, especially since it allows them to properly hydrate. Always change your cat’s diet under the guidance of a veterinarian, especially if the specialist you have consulted has also recommended the administration of insulin. 

Oral medications such as glipizide can lower blood sugar if your cat doesn't require insulin. Along with diet changes, this strategy can prove to be successful, particularly in cats whose diabetes was caused by obesity. 

On the other hand, if your cat’s blood sugar levels threaten their life, you will most likely have to give them insulin shots. Your vet will tell you if this is supposed to happen twice a day, once a day, or even once every two days as the blood sugar levels improve. 

Since some pets have concurrent diseases such as hepatic lipidosis or urinary tract infections, they may also need to receive treatment for these. 

You may have to monitor your cat’s blood sugar by using a blood glucose monitoring system. Most models are very easy to use and only require a very small blood sample. When you pick your glucose meter, focus on the amount of blood required, the design of the lancing device, how fast it can offer you results, and how cheap (or expensive) the strips are. 

Reversal of diabetes in overweight cats

As previously mentioned, diet management is by far the best way to improve your cat’s diabetes. Even though the condition can rarely be cured (despite it being type II, not type I), you can make a positive difference in your pet’s health if you decide to take the right measures now. 

With overweight or obese cats, time is of the essence. Aggressive diet changes are a must, and although it can be heartbreaking to see your pet ask you for food time and again and know that they’re going hungry, they must lose between 1% and 2% of their body weight per week. 

Along with getting your cat to lose weight with food, you must institute a regime where you play with them as often as possible. It doesn’t need to be strenuous exercise, especially if your pet doesn’t have any physical resistance. However, you should attempt any tools you have at your disposal so that you get them moving -- including switching out their old toys with new ones once every two to three weeks. 

Cats are notorious for getting bored easily, whether of food or accessories. If your vet allows you to, try to switch between three to four diabetic food types, especially if your cat accepts them easily. 

Why diabetes is bad for a cat’s health

Diabetes itself has a number of negative consequences on a cat’s general health, mainly increasing the risk of ketoacidosis, which makes your pet’s blood acidic. The damage that the condition causes to the animal’s system is extreme, and very few cats recover from ketoacidosis. 

In fact, most will lose their life after exhibiting symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and severe dehydration, followed by going into shock or coma. 

On top of everything, diabetes is widely known for being associated with other conditions, such as:

• Skin and coat problems
• Kidney disease
• Eye injuries and loss of vision
• Nerve damages
• Blood coagulation issues

So, if you want to enjoy your cat’s company for as long as possible, initiating treatment through diet or medications prescribed by your vet should be done as early as possible.  

Resources:

Diabetes Classification in Cats, Merck Animal Health https://www.merck-animal-health-usa.com/vetsulin/cats/classification

Diabetic Remission in Cats, 2018, American Animal Hospital Association https://www.aaha.org/globalassets/02-guidelines/diabetes/diabetes_remission_final.pdf

Managing feline diabetes: current perspectives, Susan Gottlieb, Jacquie Rand, 2018:

Get 30% off and FREE shipping on cat supplies!

U.S.A only