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Tips for Cats With Diabetes Mellitus

Tips for Cats With Diabetes Mellitus

Like humans, cats are also prone to getting diabetes. Obesity is a significant risk factor for the disease in felines. However, other factors such as pancreatitis and certain medications can also cause diabetes in cats. Nutrition plays a key factor in the lives of diabetic cats. Read on to learn about a few diet tips that can help cats with diabetes mellitus.

  • Keep track of the calories
    As obesity is one of the primary risk factors of diabetes in cats, you, as a pet owner, will have to track the number of calories that your cat consumes in a day. Therefore monitoring and measuring your cat’s food is mandatory. Many diets are found in the market for diabetic cats; however, they can be quite high in calories, thereby making it very hard for your cat to lose weight. It is hence important that you talk to your veterinarian about what diet will best suit your cat’s needs before you start on any particular diet plan.
  • Low-carbohydrate diet
    A diet that is low in carbohydrates is highly beneficial for cats with diabetes. You will need to pick out low carbohydrates for your cat, as foods rich in carbohydrates will make your cat put on unnecessary weight, and helping your cat get fat is the last thing you want when they are a diabetic.
  • Feeding schedule
    For a cat who has diabetes, feeding him/her twice a day works best. They will have to be fed a measured amount of food both times. Talk to your veterinarian to formulate an optimal medical and nutritional plan that would best benefit your cat.
  • Fiber-rich diet
    Foods that are rich in fiber may be what your diabetic cat needs. This is because fiber-rich foods can make your cat get full and stay full for a longer period. This will help your cat maintain their weight, which is what your cat needs at this point. Fiber-rich foods can also help to control the blood sugar levels of your cat.
  • Protein-rich diet
    On the onset of diabetes, cats tend to lose muscle mass. The chances of this happening are higher when your cat’s blood sugar level is not under control. Putting your cat on a protein-rich diet will help your cat to maintain muscle mass.
  • Consistency
    As the owner of a diabetic cat, it is important that you stick to a regular food schedule for your cat. Consistency is the key when your cat is diabetic. This means that you will not only have to stick to feeding your cat the same amount of food every day but that you will also have to stick to the same brand of cat food that you feed your cat. This is because all cat food, both dry and canned, are formulated differently, and hence it is better to stick to the ones that work well for your cat and stay consistent.

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