It is quite definite to be worried about your cat’s health and diet. And this concern increases when your cat is already suffering from a serious medical condition like diabetes. It’s a good thing that you are here for looking that, ‘Is Fancy Feast for diabetic cats?’ Well, there might be several reasons like it has to offer low carbs and dietic management wet cat foods.
Hence, there are many varieties of fancy feasts classics mentioned here that you could provide your cat with but DO consult your vet about it beforehand.
Calculate Your Diabetic Cat’s Balanced Diet
Put the weight in KG, approximate age, and choose the activity level from the drop-down list.
The calculator above will give you a rough idea of how much food nutrients your diabetic cat may need. You may correlate this with fancy feast and see if the fancy feast food you have chosen is going to help your cat. Alternatively, you may check with your vet.
Overview of the Diabetic Cats?
Deciding what to feed your diabetic cat with, it is important to understand that what diabetes is and what medical condition your cat is facing.
Only then you can offer a proper fancy feast for a Diabetic cat of yours.
The Diabetes in Cats:
Diabetes in cats is also known as Diabetes Mellitus.
Basic Introduction:
- It is the second well-known and common endocrine disorder that is found in cats.
- Studies show that approximately 0.5% to 2% cat population is suffering from diabetes, and the number might increase on daily basis.
- It is most of the time found in the cats which are overweight or older ones.
General Mechanism:
Diabetic cats face the same mechanism like the one in a diabetic human.
Cat diabetes happens when the cat’s body is not able to make enough insulin, or could not use this insulin properly, which is very important to regulate the glucose which is the blood sugar.
Insulin is defined as the hormone which is secreted in the pancreas and allows the blood sugar- glucose to be absorbed into the human cells and be used as energy later on.
But when diabetes, there is an extreme of glucose in the blood, hence, resulting in a high sugar level in the blood.
As a result, when the body fails to make energy from glucose, it starts to break down other vital biomolecules like proteins and lipids as an alternative.
This is not a preferred situation for the body.
What to feed your Diabetic Cat with?
Thinking of feeding fancy feasts for diabetic cats, the following points must be kept in mind. They would help your cat to lead a healthy life regardless of diabetes.
1. Feast low on carbohydrates:
Having already increased blood sugar levels, you must feed your cat with food that is low on carbohydrates.
This is because your cat’s blood sugar level is already high due to the failure of insulin, to break it for energy purposes.
So, you do not need to elevate it more as it will cause harm to your feline.
That is why, by the consultation of your vet, go for the diet that contains low carbohydrates that will keep up balance and would not add fuel to fire like situations.
2. Wet food vs Dry food:
For diabetic cats, one needs to decide the choice of what to feed very carefully.
Keeping in view the blood sugar level in the cat’s body, the food must be chosen fairly. Hence, the debate comes to whether to feed wet or dry food.
Following the reasons that wet food is way better than dry food as a choice for diabetic cats:
· The Carbohydrate quantity:
When you look through the wet food components, they are low in carbohydrate quantities, in contrast to the dry foods for felines.
Thus, the lower carbohydrate is much needed for diabetic cats. That is why wet cat food is usually prescribed for older cats.
· The Water Content:
Wet foods also known as liquid foods, offer more water content to the felines as compared to dry foods.
Water is very much essential and preferable for diabetic felines.
Therefore, wet food is again another good option for cats that have already high blood sugar levels. Water is needed to maintain the level of sugar in some instances.
Precautions for wet food:
Wet foods are a good option, but they also needed to have a proper check and balance. You must check the wet food components to know about the carbohydrate content in them.
- Only choose the wet food with lower carbohydrates.
- Try to elude the ‘gravy’ of the wet foods. The gravy has the most carbohydrate content in it.
3. Dietary Fibers in the food:
Dietary fibers are the component in the food that would help to:
· Balancing the Sugar level:
They maintain the blood glucose level. They help in managing sugar levels to a balanced one.
· Weight Loss:
Dietary fibers are the ones to help in weight loss. Weight loss is important here because diabetes is said to be associated with felines overweight.
Obesity is also one of the factors that are involved in the reduced insulin response.
Thus, maintaining a good body weight for the cats is also important in managing diseases, like diabetes.
4. Good Protein Content:
The cats with diabetes must be given good quality and quantity of protein. This is because diabetic cats are said to lose muscle mass, hence, the protein source is really important for them. That is why you could find your cat wandering in cobwebs.
Fancy Feast for Diabetic cats
So, fancy feast cat food could be one of the options to feed your cat with.
What is Fancy Feast cat food?
Fancy Feast is one of the fine mid-grade diets that are easy to find around. They are loved by the cats and is a particularly popular food recommended for cats with diabetes.
Diabetic cats, as mentioned above, generally must be given high protein and low carbohydrate diets. Prescriptions and special dietary foods are very expensive, so many people go for Fancy Feast as an alternative.
It is one of the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) approved food you could choose for your cat.
Common Reasons to use Fancy Feast for Diabetic cats:
Following are some reasons that you could go for a fancy feast for diabetic cats:
1. Fancy Feast-A wet food:
Dry cat food is said to have a greater number of carbohydrates than wet ones. You would not want to feed your already suffering cat with diabetes with more of them.
Also, they have more water content than dry ones that would balance the blood glucose level of your cat.
Thus, Fancy Feast is a good option as a wet food than dry ones.
2. Fancy Feast-Lower in carbohydrates:
Studies show that diabetic cats must be given below 10% carbohydrate calories. There might be a number of foods offering low carbohydrate content and Fancy Feast Classics are one of the options.
Also, it has to be a higher protein and lower fat with a lower fat content which is the main attribute of Fancy Feast Classics.
3. Fancy Feast-More protein content:
Fancy feast as compared to other cat foods contains more crude proteins.
Protein is known to be a very important part of one’s cat’s diet.
And without sufficient proteins, your already suffering cat might be forced to face more adverse effects. Thus, Fancy Feast is a good option to go for.
4. Fancy Feast Nutritional Information:
A table is given for the nutritional information regarding the Fancy Feast Classic:
| ESTIMATED NUTRITIONAL CONTENT | |||
| Proteins | Carbohydrates | Fats | |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 9% | N/A | 2% |
| Basis of Dry Matter | 50% | 14% | 11% |
| Calorie Breakdown | 55% | 15% | 30% |
From this table, it can be seen that carbohydrate content is way lesser than the protein one and therefore, is good for your diabetic cat.
5. Flavors and Taste:
Do not worry that your feline would reject them due to bad taste. They are appetizing to have!
Also are present in many flavors, therefore, go for any one of them your cat would like. Cat’s feed nutritional values can be found in Cat Canned and Pouched Food Calorie Count.
Type of Fancy feast for Diabetic cats
Now, Fancy feast is a major category involving many other classifications under it.
The three major classifications are:
- Classic Pate
- Gravy Lovers
- Flaked
Classic Pate-The best option for Diabetic cats:
Of the three above mentioned, classic pate and flaked are preferred options for your diabetic feline than the gravy one.
Classic Pate vs Gravy Lovers:
As we know from the early discussion that carbohydrates are already bad for cats having Diabetes. Thus, one must be careful that the type of Fancy Feast being used is either good or not.
Fancy feast Classic is said to have below 10% carbohydrate content in them, whereas any variety saying the ‘gravy’ has already boosted carbohydrate in them.
So, one should look properly at what to get to avoid any accident.
The Flake Variety:
Some flaked varieties also contain lower content of carbs; therefore, you can go for that too.
Things to know about Fancy Feast Classics:
Following are some points that would help you have some idea about the Fancy Feast Classics generally:
1. Consult your vet:
The major or uttermost thing is to keep your vet in the loop.
Your feline already is not doing well, and you would not like to mess it up.
So, get the proper recommendation from your vet and then go for the Fancy Feast for your cat.
Your vet can guide you in the best manner about the cat food and when to feed your cat with it with normal doses that are good for its health.
2. Classic Varieties Available:
The classic varieties that could be given to diabetic cats available are:
- Classic Seafood Feast
- Classic Chicken Feast
- Classic Savory Salmon Feast
- Classic Tender Beef Feast
- Classic Salmon & Shrimp Feast
- Classic Tender Beef & Chicken Feast
- Classic Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast
- Classic Tender Beef & Liver Feast
- Classic Cod, Sole & Shrimp Feast
- Classic Turkey & Giblets Feast
- Classic Chopped Grill Feast Classic Tender Liver & Chicken Feast
Caution for seafood products:
Remember the best thing to do is to limit serving fish or seafood products to a few times a week.
3. The price of Fancy Feast cat food:
Here is the estimated price of the fancy feast wet cat food.
But keep in mind, it may vary from variety to variety or maybe changed on daily basis depending upon the company:
| WET CAT FOOD | FANCY FEAST |
| Per pound | $5.06 |
| Per calorie | $0.0123 |
4. Buying Fancy Feast for diabetic cats:
You can buy the Fancy Feast for your cats from the following platforms:
- Chewy
- PetFlow
- Amazon
Putting an end
If you were confused with Fancy Feast for diabetic cats, this article would help you sort out the situation pretty much.
Diabetic felines need most importantly high proteins and low carbohydrate diets; hence, the nutritional analysis would state that Fancy Feast could be one option.
Make sure that gravy ones are not meant for diabetic cats due to the high carbs in them, the best is to go with classic varieties.
But everything you do; your vet must be aware of it because he knows the best about your cat’s condition and would give the recommendations that are good for your cat.
Cheers to the happy feeding of Fancy Feast Classics! Additionally if you are want to compare Friskies and Fancy Feast then you may want to go with the latter.
FAQs
Is Fancy Feast okay for diabetic cats? ›
“Hill's m/d diet is formulated to have fewer carbohydrates and less fat than other cat foods, but it still may have too many simple carbohydrates for some cats. The reason Fancy Feast Classics worked so well is that the ingredients are also high-protein, low-fat, high-moisture and lower-calorie ones.
Is there a problem with Fancy Feast cat food? ›In our opinion, Fancy Feast dry foods are not good for cats because it contains a lot of bad ingredients, including meat by-products, fillers, corn, gluten, soybean meal, and artificial flavors. Sure, eating fancy feast is relatively affordable.
Does Fancy Feast have a lot of carbs? ›To review, on a dry matter basis, this food is 50% protein, 11% fat, and 14% carbs. As a group, the brand has an average protein content of 54%, and average fat content of 13%, and an average carb content of 11%.
Can any cat eat diabetic cat food? ›Since this is a prescription food formulated to meet specific diet restrictions from known health issues, this food should not be fed to any other animal than the one prescribed due to the restriction of specific nutrients.
What is the best food to feed a diabetic cat? ›Good options like freeze-dried chicken, beef, salmon, tuna, and liver are high in protein and low in carbohydrates, just like the foods recommended for diabetic cats. Stop giving treats if they interfere with your cat's appetite at regular mealtimes.
What not to feed a diabetic cat? ›If your cat is diabetic, it is best to stay away from foods that are based on white flour. Generally, white flour is not a preferred food for both humans and animals and it should be strictly avoided in case your cat is diabetic. Instead, feed your cat food that is based on whole grains or even no grains.
Do vets recommend Fancy Feast? ›Many veterinarians and other animal experts often recommend Fancy Feast because it's highly palatable and low in carbohydrates, which is important for animals with diabetes.
Is Fancy Feast cat food made in China? ›Fancy Feast is made in the USA to offer 100% complete and balanced nutrition for the healthy growth of cats. The vast majority of ingredients used in Purina products made in the U.S. are sourced here in the U.S. Like other food companies, they do source a limited amount of ingredients from other cou...more.
Has any Fancy Feast been recalled? ›It is listed as a brand under the Purina collection of products. The Fancy Feast cat food line produces wet and dry food. The brand has never had a recall.
Is Fancy Feast unhealthy? ›Fancy Feast is Safe
The food is fortified with vitamins, it has high protein and low fat. This helps to boost the nutritional content to some degree. Not all cat foods are fortified with vitamins. Some veterinarians feel that this will ensure that your cat has a nutritionally sound diet.
How many cans of Fancy Feast should a cat eat a day? ›
The average cat should eat 4-6 ounces of canned food per day split between 2-3 meals but this is just a general guideline. One can of Fancy Feast is 3.5 ounces. When determining how much you should be feeding your cat once transitioned to canned food, keep it simple. Too fat-feed a little less.
How many cans of Fancy Feast Can a cat eat a day? ›can (Fancy Feast-size can) twice daily may work better. This amount is also cat-specific and often needs adjusting up or down. Feeding canned food seems to create the best balance between calories and feeling full, and the meal seems to tide the cat over better than a dry food meal.
Which Fancy Feast is best for diabetic cat? ›- 9 Lives: Pate varieties only.
- Dave's.
- Evo.
- Evolve.
- Fancy Feast: Stick with chunky, classic, flaked, and roasted varieties; avoid gravy lovers, marinated, medleys, and sliced varieties as they are higher in carbohydrates.
- FreshPet: Found in the pet food aisle in a refrigerated case.
If it is a small amount (one level teaspoon) once, maybe twice a day, then it should not adversely affect his blood glucose. However, tuna is almost all protein and very little fat. Excess protein in relationship to low fat will cause the blood glucose of a cat to spike.
Is Friskies wet food good for diabetic cats? ›The ER vet did mention that Friskies was actually ok for diabetic cats.
What raises blood sugar in cats? ›Some of the causes for hyperglycemia may be pancreatitis, and the resulting inability to produce insulin; normally occurring hormones, especially in female cats; diet; and infections of the body (such as teeth, or urinary tract).
What wet food can diabetic cats eat? ›- ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Morsels In Gravy. ...
- CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Wet Cat Food. ...
- ROYAL CANIN Feline Glycobalance Dry. ...
- Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Wet Cat Food. ...
- Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Recipe Natural Cat Food & Toppers. ...
- CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food. ...
- ZIWI Peak Wet Cat Food.
A diet low in carbohydrates has been shown to improve blood sugar regulation in diabetic cats. There are several prescription food options that are available in both wet and dry food forms, though feeding a wet-food only diet may be beneficial for many cats.
What are the signs of too much insulin in cats? ›"If a cat receives too much insulin, it is possible for the blood sugar level to drop dangerously low." Clinical signs displayed by a cat with a very low blood sugar level include weakness and lethargy, shaking, unsteadiness and even convulsions.
How much food does a cat need to eat before giving insulin? ›Tips for a Healthy Diet
Time feedings and insulin treatments so that glucose absorption coincides with peak action of given insulin. In general, feed half of your cat's total daily food right before or with injections.
How long after a cat eats do you give insulin? ›
It's to be given twice daily, 12 hours apart and 30 minutes after a meal. It's helpful to find the best times that work for your schedule to feed and give the insulin. For example, my cat, Spaz, gets fed around 7:30 am and 7:30 pm every day.
Is Fancy Feast canned healthy for cats? ›“Plenty of the Fancy Feast are actually quite high in protein and very low in carbohydrates.” This variety pack of protein-rich, meat-in-gravy flavors checks all her boxes and would be a good option for cats who like to mix up their meals.
Is Fancy Feast a good cat food brand? ›Yes, Fancy Feast cat food is good. Fancy Feast Cat food is a luxury food brand but is surprisingly affordable. Most cats love the flavorsome recipes, loaded with essential vitamins, instead of the dry kibble with average taste.
Does Fancy Feast have iodine in it? ›In this variety pack, the Chicken Feast Classic Paté has an iodine content of 0.87 parts per million(ppm), the Beef Feast Classic Paté has an iodine content of 0.90 ppm, the Tuna Feast In Gravy Minced has an iodine content of 0.40 ppm, the Chicken Feast In Gravy Minced has an iodine content of 0.43 ...more.
Is Fancy Feast owned by Purina? ›Fancy Feast is a brand of gourmet cat food from Nestlé Purina PetCare. Introduced by the Carnation Company in 1982, it was originally offered in seven flavors of wet food.
Why is Petco discontinuing Fancy Feast? ›For example, the culling of Fancy Feast was for the usage of the ingredients artificial flavor and sodium nitrite (color retention). Another example would be the culling of Pedigree for the usage of sodium tripolyphosphate (artificial preservative for water retention) in their products.
Why is Fancy Feast out of stock everywhere? ›Canned cat food — from well-known brands like Fancy Feast, Friskies and 9 Lives — is the most elusive. Several factors are responsible, including pandemic-related manufacturing delays, bad weather, and an uptick in pet ownership and pampering.
Which cat food brands have never been recalled? ›- Chewy. Fancy Feast. $18.
- Best Friend Feline. $15.
- Tiki Cat. $17.
- Applaws. $29.
- Annamaet Grain-Free Chicken & Fish Formula Dry Cat Food. $49.
When choosing a diet for your diabetic cat, it's best to choose wet foods that typically come in cans or pouches. Wet foods are lower in carbohydrates than dry foods and contain more water than kibble.
Is Fancy Feast cat food good for cats with kidney disease? ›The most important nutritional goal for a renal patient is that the cat eats well every day. You can also use the renal diets to compare nutritional profiles to retail food. Particularly, Purina's retail diets (Fancy Feast, Friskies) will compare favorably to the renal diet's nutritional profile.
Are scrambled eggs good for diabetic cats? ›
Choose foods with a high-quality protein source that is also highly digestible (eg, meat or eggs rather than soybean or corn gluten).
How many meals a day should a diabetic cat eat? ›Feed them meals, generally twice a day. It is OK if your cat snacks during the day, but not at night. The reason is that we need the cat to eat consistently at insulin time. When it is time to administer insulin, first feed you pet.
How many times a day can a diabetic cat eat? ›Most diabetic cats are fed twice daily. Give ½ of the daily calories approximately 30 minutes before the insulin injection. After your cat eats, his blood glucose will naturally increase.
Has Fancy Feast been recalled? ›♥ No recalls.
The Fancy Feast brand was started in 1982 and has headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
there is 0.88% phosphorous, 80.4% protein, and 0.33% sodium on a dry matter basis.
Does dry cat food cause diabetes in cats? ›Feline diabetes is most often seen in overweight and obese adult cats fed dry food diets. And since dry food is biologically inappropriate nutrition for cats (high in carbs and deficient in high-quality protein and moisture), it makes sense that years of eating kibble could cause diabetes in mature kitties.
Is dry food good for diabetic cats? ›Feeding cats dry food could increase their risk of developing feline diabetes, according to new research. A number of animals can develop diabetes, with cats much more prone to the condition than dogs.
How can I lower my cats blood sugar? ›Diet Management
A low carbohydrate and high protein diet is often recommended. This kind of diet can reduce the amount of insulin the body needs and avoid dangerous dips and spikes in glucose levels. Sometimes diet changes are the only treatment needed to manage diabetes.
A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet regulates blood glucose. I recommend Purina® Pro Plan® Veterinary Diets DM Dietetic Management® Feline Formula because of its high protein and low carbohydrate content, and I ask clients to meal feed their diabetic cats twice a day.
Does Fancy Feast have a lot of phosphorus? ›what is the phosphorus percent on a dry matter basis? This recipe has a phosphorus content of 0.43% on an as-fed basis (1.81% on a dry matter basis).
What is the best cat food for kidney disease without vet prescription? ›
#1 Overall Best Non-Prescription: Weruva Wx Phos Focused Chicken Formula in Gravy Grain-Free Wet Food. Available without a prescription, this low-phosphorus wet cat food features lean protein from chicken and egg whites with nutrient-rich chicken fat and fish oil for essential fatty acids and omega-3s.