Canned food diets for Cats:

Recent research has caused us to change our dietary recommendations for cats. We are now recommending that all cats receive at least some of their daily diet as canned food. Cats are true carnivores and have unique nutritional needs. They need a meat based diet because they are not able to use carbohydrates very efficiently. In order to formulate a food into dry kibble, it has to be at least 40% carbohydrates. Feeding a high carbohydrate diet causes cats to gain weight and can also predispose them to diabetes. 

 We recommend that our feline diabetic patients receive a high protein, low carbohydrate diet such as Iams® canned kitten food or Purina® DM diet. This type of diet helps diabetic cats lose weight and gain muscle and thus reduces their insulin requirements.