Fancy Feast Pate + Broth?

[Daisy & Tigger]

Hi! My kitty, Tigger, was diagnosed as being diabetic in June 2025. I noticed he was drinking excess water and having huge clumps of urine for about a week, plus, eating more than usual. He'd always been on dry food because he didn't like anything wet. Now, he likes wet food, but he's picky (of course!). He prefers the higher carb varieties with gravy and hates the pates. I'm wondering if mixing a FF Pate and broth pouch would be acceptable? They are both LC, correct?
His dry kibble of choice is Dr. Elsey's Clean Protein Chicken. My vet told me he doesn't need to eat only grain-free because of potential heart issues so I'm working hard to find something he'll eat without gravy. Any suggestions? Thank you in advance!!

 

[CORKY]

Welcome to FDMB
It's a good thing Tigger now likes wet food, because a diabetic cat needs to have a diet of wet can or raw food between 0-10% carbs, Fancy Feast Pates or Friskies pates are the most common our members use between 0-10% carbs most feed up to 5% carbs, what insulin is Tigger on? ProZinc and Lantus are the best insulins for cats they are a 12 hour insulin and easy on a cat's system, are you home testing? is important to home testing especially before each shot to avoid a hypoglycemic episode, most members use the ReliOn Premier human meter and strips, (Walmart) no need for an expensive pet meter.
Back to the food, below is a carb calculator and a Drs approved food list, we are looking for dry Matter carbs, look at the label of the broth pouch and use the nutrient % in the calculator, now gravies are good to have a few in case of a dip in BG, not to mix or daily use 99.9% of all gravies contain between 16-24% carbs, cats cannot digest carbs, Please continue to ask questions we are here for you, I do not what part of the country are oyu so I am sending you the link for universal food lists


Links to FOOD CHARTS
Cat Food Carb Calculator | Carbohydrate Calculator for Cat Food - Free Tool
https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf (US Food list)

 

[squeem3]

Fancy Feast pates are fine. You can just add water to it to make "broth". Or make your own broth. Poach a skinless chicken breast or meat of your choice in water until done. The cooking liquid is now your broth and the meat can be used for your meals or shred some up to use as treats. Freeze what you won't use up in a few days. You can also make your own homemade bone broth without the useless veggies and stuff commercial pet bone broth often contain.

The Fancy Feast Broth pouches contain gums and thickeners which aren't good for cats with sensitive tummies.

There may be some low carb sauce / gravy foods. See these charts:

Links to FOOD CHARTS
Cat Food As-Fed Chart

Some diabetics are carb sensitive, even to the "good" dry foods like Dr Elsey's. You may want to slowly transition your cat off dry food. Air dried raw and freeze dried raw are healthier alternatives to dry food.