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Diabetic Cat Care

Acceptable Healthy Treats
for Feline Diabetics
Diabetic Cat Eating Mouse

 

Does your diabetic cat circle around your feet, yowling loudly, wanting more food even though they've just been fed a meal?  Are you just starting to learn how to home test your cat's blood sugar and they're not being cooperative when it comes sitting still? 

 

Species appropriate treats will prove to be a very useful tool not only to help stave off the typically ravenous appetite of a newly diagnosed diabetic cat, but also to help your cat learn there's good things to come in return for co-operating at test time. Many of us know, cats are quite easily trained, especially when there's a treat involved! 

 

It's very common when first diagnosed that your cat will want a lot of food - this is because when the BG isn't yet well regulated, their bodies are not able to absorb all the nutrients from their meals.  The key when your cat is ravenous is to find a balance that works which allows for more food than  might be normal, without allowing that extra food to affect their blood sugar too greatly.  Most cats will need approximately 6 ounces (170 grams) of food a day - split into smaller meals given more often over the course of the day; some need more, some need less ECID - Every Cat Is Different. 

 

Depending on the size and weight of your cat, how unregulated their FD is, how hungry and/or how motivated by food they are; adding approximately 1 ounce (28 grams) of treats a day may help with the ravenous appetite and as well, reinforce there's a reward for good behavior when it comes to testing BG.  It's always advised to discuss your cat's weight situation with your vet to have a better idea of how much food you should be feeding on a daily basis, and to be factoring treats given into the daily amount of food determined to be appropriate for your cat.  If you need assistance when it comes to how to deal with food and feline diabetes, please feel free to join DCC's forum where other diabetic cat owners from around the world will be happy to share their knowledge with you.

 

While it's important to learn how to properly read the labels on tinned wet food, it is just as if not more important to learn how to read and decipher the labels on treats for cats to determine dry matter carbs.  Cats are obligate carnivores, needing meat, meat and more meat.  It might even the high carb ingredients in dry food and treats which has contributed to your cat`s diabetes;  things like grains, glutens, veggies, fruits, starches from corn, tapioca, oats, and things like vegetable glycerin, even actual sugars or syrups added as cheap fillers by pet food companies.  Here's an example that fits to a "T"; we took a look at a highly popular mass-produced US brand claiming to be All Natural Chicken Treats;  ingredients start out with "Chicken Meal, Ground Corn, Animal Fat, Dried Meat By-Products, Brewers Rice, Wheat Flour and end with Natural Free Range Chicken Flavor" -there are more ingredients on their label but none of them are "all natural".  In addition, dry matter carbs for this very popular brand calculate at a whopping 43.9% !!!!!!!!! 

 

You likely already have many food items in your home right now which are far more nutritious than any highly processed dry kibble cat treat could ever be!!!!! 

 

Dry kibble-like treats are NOT good for dental health.  A cat's jaw and teeth are built to tear meat, not grind grains.  Anyone telling you dry kibble promotes good dental health in cats isn't telling the truth!   Here are some things to know about acceptable treats for diabetic cats;

 

Raw Meats

While the idea of raw meat isn't always well accepted by humans, the truth of the matter is cats are obligate carnivores - their physiology requires meat, meat and more meat. While a well-balanced bone-in raw diet is considered the gold standard of feline diets and can be made at home quite easily, raw meats can also be given to cats as treats.   When in the wild, cats don't stop to cook their meat first.  Most feline diabetics will take to raw meat with a frenzy, almost as if to say "wow, real food finally!".  Raw meats provide the highest level of nutrition because there's been no processing which reduces nutrient levels.  Cutting raw meat into one inch cubes helps when it comes to keeping our cat's teeth and gums healthy.

 

Raw chicken hearts are a very nutritional treat because of the taurine they contain - an essential amino acid for feline health.  Raw chicken hearts can be sliced in half, and the small hole in the center can be used as a "pill pocket" when needing to give medications. 

 

Raw chicken livers are also something most cats cannot resist.  It's important to know raw liver has a high Vitamin A content; in excess Vitamin A can be toxic to catsIf feeding raw liver, try to keep to an ounce per day at most.  It's noteworthy to mention, raw liver can also be helpful when dealing with mild anemia in cats. 

 

If your cat's hunger stems from boredom and habit, raw chicken wings can be a great treat - not only because they'll help keep dental issues at bay, but also because it takes time to chew the wing keeping them occupied for a while.  It is very important when feeding raw chicken wings to supervise your cat the entire time.  Some cats will swallow wings whole if given the chance!  You might be worried about the mess it will make and if so, then feeding a wing outside, or in the bath tub might be alternatives to consider; as might putting down a plastic mat to protect your floors. When feeding raw chicken wings, cut the tip off and discard.  Then cut the wingette portion into two pieces to separate both bones; these pieces can be given separately, as can the "drumstick" portion.   For some cats, separating the bones in the wingette portion but leaving it attached to the drumstick piece of the wing will help keep them occupied longer.  The key though is to never feed raw chicken wings without constant supervision as they can be a choking hazard.  It might be that your cat doesn't get what they're supposed to do with a raw chicken wing right away - that's normal as they've only eaten kibble and/or canned all their lives.  If this is the case for yours, don't give up - make a few slices in the meat and keep trying.  Once they do catch on, you'll be able to watch a true obligate carnivore at work!   

 

Lastly about raw meats - never feed raw fish or raw pork as there can be live parasites in the raw forms. 

 

Cooked Meats  

When it comes to cooked meats, there are two major rules especially when it comes to diabetic cats - NEVER feed cooked bones, and NEVER give meats laden with BBQ sauces or other sugar laden syrups to feline diabetics.  Deli meats are fine as long as they've not got sugar in them, and ideally would have no nitrates either - nitrates aren't good for us either!    Canned tuna (in water only, not oil) is also a consideration for diabetic cats, however it's important to note that tuna is highly addictive for some cats!

 

Dairy Products (and the like)

 It's important to mention, most cats are lactose intolerant.  Yes, they get milk from their mothers when born, but it isn't loaded with sugars like most dairy products we buy at the store.  When giving dairy oriented products to diabetic cats, it's important they are "full fat" versions, as these are the least adulterated during processing.  Things like hard cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, unflavored yogurt, or any fermented or cultured milk products (like kifir) are acceptable treats for diabetic cats.  Things to avoid are products like "cat milk" in those tetra packs (loaded with sugars), plain milk or cream. 

 

Freeze Dried and Dehydrated Treats

 For the past few years there have been major issues with protein sources originating from Asian countries causing sickness and death in cats and dogs - it is very important to double and triple check with manufacturers as to where their protein sources actually come from.  China is a very popular source for pet food ingredients around the world, and the truth is, current laws do not require pet food manufacturers to clarify on their labels not all ingredients they are using are sourced from reputable countries.  Our best advice is to be very diligent when it comes to confirming the source of ingredients for treats (or any foods) you're buying for your cat.

 

It's relatively easy to make your own healthy treats at home, they can be made in a conventional oven, or by using a food dehydrator available at big box stores. Simply cut any raw meat into uniform sized pieces (1/2" to 1" pieces work well) so it all dries out evenly. Keep the same type of meat on one tray, so you can remove the trays separately as each type of meat is dehydrated enough, to the point it isn't cracking hard, but not overly soft either. Dehydrating your own treats takes about 6 - 8 hours depending on the type of meat and how full the trays are - it can be a "smelly" process, some have been known to dehydrate meats on decks out of sunlight!  Some meats like liver, take less time. Chicken hearts make excellent dehydrated treats and are a good source of Taurine.  To store dehydrated treats, place them in an air tight container out of direct sunlight, away from heat and moisture, they'll keep about a week or they can be stored in the freezer but do tend to soften when thawed.  There is a lot of information about how to properly dehydrate meats for pet treats online.

 

Freeze dried and dehydrated treats are great to use in cat treat balls, simply break up pieces to make them small enough.  When first starting out until your cat gets the hang of it, adjusting the holes to the largest size will allow for more treats to be dispensed.  Make sure to measure out the amount of treats given and deduct them from the daily food amount.  These are especially good for cats who need exercise or to lose some weight, especially if their motivated by food!  The cost of treat balls vary; they can be picked up for as little as $1 at a dollar store, or for approximately $10 at specialty pet retailers.

 

There are a variety of dehydrated and freeze dried low carb meat products on the market. A few of them are listed here, on DCC's country specific information stickies, and you can also find some great deals from online sources by doing a search for the name of the product; many list their retailer's on their websites.   Please check out DCC's Affiliates Programs as most treats are available through online merchants and in some cases, discounts are available for DCC members.  When a purchase is made by direct "click thru" from the Affiliates page, DCC is able to earn a small commission and monies earned are used to pay site costs and help members who are in financial need.

 

Pure Bites Snacks

 Most cats love these, they're made of 100% meat.  For cats the recommended flavors are chicken or turkey.  These can be bought at most big box stores; they are available in small bags in the cat food aisles if you're not sure your cat will like them.  The best value though is buying a bigger bag in the dog food aisle.  They also come in a variety of flavors; cheese (high fat content), beef liver (high Vitamin A content), and shrimp (which is fish based so hard on the kidneys).

Pure Bite Chicken Breast flavor only wet Mixer • Topper: DMC 3.846% This product is sourced in Thailand.
Mixers can be fed as a treat, an appetizer, a topper or a mixer. This product is a intended for supplemental feeding only and may be fed daily along with a complete & balanced cat food diet. Added water helps with feline hydration.

 

Halo’s Liv-a-Littles Please note, the Dinner Sprinkles contain carrot and rosemary powder (rosemary has been known to cause issues for cats)

 

Grandma Lucy's Pet Treats

 

Whole Life Pet Treats

 

Kitty Kaviar These freeze dried fish flakes can be found at a number of online sources and are great treats when first starting to learn how to test BG.

 

Greens and Chlorophyll

Many cats love their greens, whether that's cat grass, catnip or even house plants which can actually be toxic to cats Some cats also have a taste for green vegetables, likely looking to up their chlorophyll levels.  If your cat is one of those who eats green veggies, make sure to select ones which have a lower carb content.  For example, raw green beans and broccoli contain only 7% carbs, avocado is 9% carbs - all three are high in potassium.  When treating your cat with green veggies, because their bodies are not naturally built to digest plant material, it's wise to lightly steam (and cool) before giving them to cats.  Vegetables shouldn't become a daily staple in feline diets - especially when it comes to diabetic felines, whereas cat grass and catnip can be enjoyed often.  It's really easy to grow your own cat grass just as it is to grow your own catnip (which can be dried and stored).  Keep in mind, when growing catnip indoors, your cats will likely find it pretty quickly - and you can count on them making a good mess when they do! 

 

Using Treats to Pill Cats 

Dr. Lisa Pierson, feline nutritional expert explains why dry pilling cats is not recommended. If you need to dry pill, always follow pills with a syringe of at least 6cc of water, squirted into the side of your cat's mouth to prevent choking; do not squirt water straight down the throat!

 

When you need to give your FD cat a pill, Pill Pockets are one tool you can use to make pill giving easier, but they are high carb (containing glycerin, glutens and flours). It is a better idea for a diabetic cat to use low carb foods to help make things easier.  If you decide that you would rather use Pill Pockets, we recommend you cut the Pill Pocket in half or quarters because they are so high in carbs. Most cats will readily accept small pills right out of your hand wrapped in a damp morsel of freeze dried chicken, rolled into the center of a small ball of canned food, soft cream cheese, a piece of hard cheese, sugar-free cold cuts, or even tucked into the hole in the center of a slice of raw chicken heart.  A little trick to make sure the pill doesn't get spit out;  put the treat in your hand around your cat's mouth level, then as they're reaching for the treat with their tongue, lift your hand slightly so they'll need to stretch their tongue out a little further.  Then once they've taken the treat, place their meal on the floor right away to help wash the pill down without having to syringe water.

 

 



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