Is your cat gaining weight or eating more than usual? Overweight cats are at high risk for feline diabetes.Obesity, indoor confinement, decreased physical activity and a diet high in carbohydrates are directly associated with diabetes in cats.

Diabetes occurs when the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels due to a lack of insulin or insulin action. Most cats (and people) suffer from type 2 diabetes, or “insulin resistance.” The body produces insulin, but does not respond to it properly. As a result, the body’s cells shut down, causing other health problems.

Why do cats get diabetes?

Cats are true carnivores. They need meat to survive. There are proteins and fats in meat that cats need and cannot produce on their own. The problem begins when high levels of carbohydrates are introduced into a cat’s diet. For people, carbohydrates are transformed into glucose (sugar) which is the energy source of the body. For cats, glucose comes not from carbohydrates, but from high dietary protein and fat.

Most commercial cat food is moderate to high in carbohydrates. In susceptible cats, long-term feeding of these foods can lead to feline diabetes. Cats should be fed a holistic natural cat food formulated with high-protein foods.

What can we do about feline diabetes?

You can manage your cat’s diabetes with dietary therapy, weight loss and increased exercise—without insulin. Feed your cat high-protein, low-carbohydrate, canned cat food twice a day. Canned cat food contains much lower carbohydrate levels than dry forms of the same food.

If your cat continues to be diabetic, insulin therapy may be the next step. But make a commitment to monitor your cat’s diabetes at home. Your vet can show you how. Most cats with diabetes go into remission with home monitoring.

Dr. Donna Spector , DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Donna Spector is a board-certified veterinary internist who practices in New York City. She has written and lectured extensively on nutrition, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and other animal health issues.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

Whole-grain foods may be healthy for humans, but when it comes to cats, a meat-based, high-protein diet is the key.

For many Americans, healthy eating has become a top priority. Whole grains and vegetables are the superstars of the holistic diet—but not for cats. Cats are true carnivores. Though many commercial cat food companies promote “gourmet cuisine” that includes grain and vegetables, a meat-based diet is best for a cat’s special dietary needs.

Cats require twice as much protein as dogs. For cats, protein, not carbohydrates, fuels the cells with energy. High-carbohydrate cat food, on the other hand, can cause digestive problems for cats and may even lead to obesity and feline diabetes. Commercial cat food is often moderate to high in carbohydrates, but low-carbohydrate, meat-based cat foods best support a cat’s unique biology.

When pet owners feed homemade cat food, vegetable- or grain-based foods, or food designed for dogs to their cats, deficiencies can occur in the health of their cats. Cats require several essential nutrients that their bodies do not make—nutrients that can only be found in meat. Cats adapted to a small-prey diet and have no dietary requirement for carbohydrates. Their livers are unable to break down large amounts of carbohydrates to produce glucose, which is the energy source of the body. If cat food has more than 40% carbohydrate levels, the result can be poor digestion which causes diarrhea, gas, bloating and changes in a cat’s metabolism to a pre-diabetic or diabetic state.

In my professional opinion, for your cat’s best health, a natural cat food diet should be composed of 35-50% protein, 10-30% fat and 20-25% carbohydrates. For strong bones, healthy digestion and a beautiful, full coat, cats require a well-balanced diet.

Dr. Donna Spector , DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Donna Spector is a board-certified veterinary internist who practices in New York City. She has written and lectured extensively on nutrition, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and other animal health issues.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.

We love our pudgy, fat cats and dogs, but couch-potato pets may be paying a price. Pet Obesity is associated with diabetes in dogs and cats, arthritis, heart disease and more. So how can we help? Get your pet a full, medical checkup and talk to your veterinarian about a nutrition plan. Halo® pet food can help to keep your pets lean and healthy. Pay attention to how much and how often you’re feeding your pet. And most importantly, exercise! Physical activity helps your pets just as much as it helps you, so get moving!

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Dr. Donna Spector , DVM, DACVIM
Dr. Donna Spector is a board-certified veterinary internist who practices in New York City. She has written and lectured extensively on nutrition, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and other animal health issues.

Do you need vet advice? Post a comment with your veterinary questions and we will send them to Dr. Donna Spector to be answered in a future column.