The best brand & type of food

[Lilmissd]

Hi All!

I am new to the site and have a newly diagnosed kitty (like within the past month) and I am just sending some feelers out to get some feedback on what food is best for my diabetic cat buddy? I feed him Iams canned pate which he loves and I just switched him from the dry Iams to the canned. I am on a tight budget and I know that sugarcats need low carb high protein food. Is this a good food for him? Is there something better that won't break my wallet? If anyone has any ideas, opinions, feedback etc. I sure would love to hear it! Thanks Dana & Rhys

 

[Denise & Honey]

Great that you've switched to wet food - pretty much everyone here is a strong advocate for that.

There are lots of food charts out there. I use catinfo.org http://www.catinfo.org/docs/Food Chart Public 9-22-12.pdf or Janet & Binky's http://www.felinediabetes.com/diabetic-cat-diets.htm
It's useful to check them as some varieties within the same brands are great for diabetics while others are not suitable.

I'm mainly using Fancy Feast Classics (pate). I can get it for around 48cents per can so not too bad.
I also use Friskies Pates and can sometimes get the large cans for around 80cents per can.
I also get the premium ones Evo, Wellness, Merrick and give my hyper-T cat 1 per day as the 1st ingredient on them is meat (not meat by-products) - he needs as much protein as possible and although I'm not so concerned with his carbs, I try to keep to low carbs in case my diabetic cat gets into them.

 

[squeem3]

Hi All!

I am new to the site and have a newly diagnosed kitty (like within the past month) and I am just sending some feelers out to get some feedback on what food is best for my diabetic cat buddy?[/qoute]

Whatever low carb brand that your cat likes to eat, you can afford, and can find in the local stores :smile:

There really is no "best" canned food brand. As long as the food is low carb, then it is fine for a diabetic :smile:

I feed him Iams canned pate which he loves and I just switched him from the dry Iams to the canned. I am on a tight budget and I know that sugarcats need low carb high protein food. Is this a good food for him?

Most pate style foods are ok for diabetics. Some are not. Dr. Lisa's new food chart (http://www.catinfo.org/docs/Food Chart Public 9-22-12.pdf ) lists all the Iams canned foods as 10% or more carbs. Diabetic cats should be fed less than 10% carbs. I suggest changing from Iams to another brand. Some cats are carb sensitive. Even a 1 to 2% carb difference can make a big impact on blood glucose levels.

Check out Dr. Lisa's food chart and these other ones:

Binky's canned food charts
Pet Food Nutritional Values list
Hobo's Guide To Nutritional Values
Dr. Lynne's Wet Food list
List of low carb gluten free Fancy Feast

Look for foods that have under 10% carbs.

Popular brands are Fancy Feast, Friskies, Special Kitty, and Wellness. Fancy Feast is inexpensive and there are always coupons for them and store sales but those 3oz cans can add up in cost over time. Special Kitty is sold only at Walmart. Wellness costs a bit more than Fancy Feast and is available in larger 5oz and 12oz can sizes which can be more economical. Petco sells Wellness and occasionally has it on sale. Friskies is available at the supermarket and most chain pet stores. There are usually coupons for this brand.

 

[Jen & Squeak]

the best food is one that your cat will eat, one that you can afford...and that has the least amount of fillers like wheat/corn/rice/soy and that has some meat (e.g. chicken) vs all biproducts (e.g. liver). If you can feed canned vs dry, that's even better because canned food is less dehydrating, the proteins tend to be better and canned can have fewer fillers.

www.catinfo.org is a great site maintained by a great vet. But always remember to put advice into the context of your situation, you can only do what you can do

Jen

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

Here is a list I created for myself and to share with everyone.
It's easy to print and carry with you.
If I could get my cat to eat the best one, I think it would be the nature's variety Instinct Grain-free because they are low carb and low phosphorus.
Unfortunately my cat likes variety and won't stick to one.

shortcut list I created from Dr. Lisa's new values

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hi All!

...and I just switched him from the dry Iams to the canned.

Hello, and welcome to FDMB!

Was your cat on insulin when you switched from the dry food to the canned?
The reason I ask that is that removing dry food can - in some cats - greatly reduce the blood glucose levels. If your cat's insulin dose was fixed before he switched to wet food then the dose might need to be reduced.

What insulin is your cat on? And what dose?
Are you testing your cat's blood glucose at home? If not, we can help you learn to do that. :smile:

 

[BJM]

Welcome to FDMB.
Every has given you the scoop so far.

I use either Wellness Turkey & Giblet and sometimes mix in Friskies Turkey & Giblet pate for all 15 cats, since having Spitzer and having civvies with renal failure. The Wellness is higher calorie, and they eat less of it than the Friskies.