When a feline friend is diagnosed with diabetes or requires a low-carbohydrate diet for health reasons, finding suitable food options is crucial. This guide provides a comprehensive list of low-carb canned food choices to help manage your cat’s condition, emphasizing the importance of eliminating dry food entirely.
Transitioning your cat to a low-carbohydrate diet involves a significant change in their feeding habits. The veterinarian’s recommendation to discontinue all dry foods and exclusively feed canned options from the list below is essential for the diet’s effectiveness. Dry foods typically contain high carbohydrate levels that can negatively impact a diabetic cat’s health. The foods listed are readily available at local grocery and pet stores and their carbohydrate percentages are calculated on a dry matter basis. It is important not to limit your cat’s intake of these canned foods; offer them freely as they are formulated to be lower in carbs and higher in protein, which is beneficial for diabetic cats. Most cats will consume approximately 1 to 1.5 cans (5.5 ounces each) per day. Feeding your cat 3-4 times daily is ideal for freshness, although twice daily is often sufficient. Be aware that a higher protein intake can lead to stronger-smelling feces and increased moisture in the litter box.
Recommended Low-Carbohydrate Canned Cat Foods
Here is a detailed list of low-carb canned food options, categorized by brand:
Avoderm
- Pinnacle – Chicken & Tuna: 7.1% carbs
- Pinnacle – Chicken & Oceanfish: 8.2% carbs
- Pinnacle – Oceanfish: 5.0% carbs
Blue Buffalo
- Basics – Duck & Potato: 4.5% carbs
- Basics – Turkey & Potato: 5.5% carbs
- Bistro – Beef: 4.0% carbs
- Bistro – Chicken: 3.0% carbs
- Bistro – Turkey: 3.0% carbs
- Healthy Gourmet – Flaked Salmon: 3.5% carbs
- Healthy Gourmet – Flaked Tuna: 5.5% carbs
- Healthy Gourmet – Flaked Chicken: 6.5% carbs
- Healthy Gourmet – Flaked Turkey: 4.5% carbs
- Healthy Gourmet – Sliced Chicken: 5.5% carbs
- Healthy Gourmet – Sliced Turkey: 5.5% carbs
- Spa Select – Tuna: 6.0% carbs
- Spa Select – Turkey & Chicken: 3.5% carbs
- Spa Select – Salmon: 3.5% carbs
- Spa Select – Beef & Liver: 3.5% carbs
- Wilderness – Chicken: 0.5% carbs
- Wilderness – Duck: 0.5% carbs
- Wilderness – Salmon: 0.5% carbs
- Wilderness – Turkey: 0.5% carbs
Evo
- Duck: 7.0% carbs
- Turkey & Chicken Adult: 6.3% carbs
- Turkey & Chicken Kitten: 6.3% carbs
- Beef: 5.7% carbs
- Chicken & Turkey (No fruit & veggies): 3.7% carbs
- Venison: 8.2% carbs
Fancy Feast
- Elegant Medleys:
- Shredded Turkey Fare w/Garden Greens in Broth: 2.6% carbs
- Shredded White Meat Chicken Fare w/Garden Greens in Broth: 3.2% carbs
- Shredded Wild Salmon Fare w/Garden Greens in Broth: 3.2% carbs
- Shredded Yellowfin Tuna Fare w/Garden Greens in Broth: 3.2% carbs
- Tender Turkey Primavera w/Garden Veggies & Greens: 3.7% carbs
- White Meat Chicken Primavera w/Garden Veggies & Greens: 3.7% carbs
- Yellowfin Tuna Primavera w/Garden Veggies & Greens: 3.9% carbs
- Wild Salmon Primavera w/Garden Veggies & Greens: 3.6% carbs
- Turkey Florentine w/Garden Greens: 2.6% carbs
- White Meat Chicken Florentine w/Garden Greens: 2.6% carbs
- Wild Salmon Florentine w/Garden Greens: 2.7% carbs
- Yellowfin Tuna Florentine w/Garden Greens: 3.0% carbs
- White Meat Chicken & Cheddar Cheese Souffle w/Garden Greens: 7.1% carbs
- White Meat Chicken & Egg Souffle w/Garden Greens: 4.0% carbs
- Wild Salmon & Egg Souffle w/Garden Greens: 3.9% carbs
- Tender Turkey Tuscany w/Long Grain Rice & Garden Greens: 4.4% carbs
- White Meat Chicken Tuscany w/Long Grain Rice & Garden Greens: 4.5% carbs
- Yellowfin Tuna Tuscany w/Long Grain Rice & Garden Greens: 4.8% carbs
- Wild Salmon Tuscany w/Long Grain Rice & Garden Greens: 4.5% carbs
- Gourmet:
- Kitten Tender Turkey Feast: 1.0% carbs
- Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feast: 1.0% carbs
- Chunky Chicken Feast: 1.2% carbs
- Chunky Turkey Feast: 1.5% carbs
- Chunky Chopped Grilled Feast: 1.5% carbs
- Classic Chopped Grill Feast: 1.1% carbs
- Classic Cod, Sole, & Shrimp Feast: 0.6% carbs
- Classic Chicken Feast: 0.9% carbs
- Classic Salmon & Shrimp Feast: 1.2% carbs
- Classic Seafood Feast: 0.6% carbs
- Classic Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast: 0.6% carbs
- Classic Savory Salmon Feast: 1.1% carbs
- Flaked Chicken & Tuna Feast: 1.9% carbs
- Flaked Fish & Shrimp Feast: 0.0% carbs
- Flaked Salmon & Ocean Whitefish Feast: 1.8% carbs
- Flaked Trout Feast: 1.7% carbs
- Grilled Salmon Feast in Gravy: 3.1% carbs
- Grilled Salmon & Shrimp Feast in Gravy: 3.1% carbs
- Grilled Seafood Feast in Gravy: 3.0% carbs
- Grilled Tuna Feast in Gravy: 3.3% carbs
- Grilled Turkey Feast in Gravy: 3.1% carbs
- Grilled Beef Feast in Gravy: 3.4% carbs
- Grilled Tender Beef & Liver Feast in Gravy: 3.6% carbs
- Grilled Chicken Feast in Gravy: 3.1% carbs
- Grilled Chicken & Beef Feast in Gravy: 3.1% carbs
- Grilled Liver & Chicken Feast in Gravy: 3.2% carbs
- Grilled Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast in Gravy: 3.4% carbs
- Roasted Chicken Feast: 2.2% carbs
- Roasted Turkey Feast: 1.9% carbs
- Sliced Beef Feast in Gravy: 3.8% carbs
- Sliced Beef & Giblets Feast in Gravy: 3.6% carbs
- Sliced Chicken Feast in Gravy: 3.3% carbs
- Sliced Chicken Hearts & Liver Feast in Gravy: 3.7% carbs
- Sliced Salmon & Chicken Feast in Gravy: 3.4% carbs
- Sliced Turkey Feast in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Sliced Turkey & Giblets Feast in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Tuna & Mackerel Feast: 2.1% carbs
- Tender Beef Feast: 1.1% carbs
- Tender Beef & Chicken Feast: 1.3% carbs
- Tender Beef & Liver Feast: 1.1% carbs
- Tender Liver & Chicken Feast: 0.8% carbs
- Turkey & Giblets Feast: 0.9% carbs
- Gravy Lovers:
- Beef Feast in Roasted Beef Gravy: 4.0% carbs
- Chicken Feast in Grilled Chicken Gravy: 3.4% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Feast in Sauteed Seafood Gravy: 3.6% carbs
- Salmon Feast in Seared Salmon Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Growth & Maintenance:
- Tender Beef Feast: 1.2% carbs
- Tender Beef & Chicken Feast: 1.8% carbs
- Tender Beef & Liver Feast: 1.3% carbs
- Tender Liver & Chicken Feast: 1.9% carbs
- Turkey & Giblets Feast: 1.2% carbs
- Marinated Morsels:
- Beef Feast in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Chicken Feast in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Salmon Feast in Gravy: 3.7% carbs
- Tuna Feast in Gravy: 3.9% carbs
- Turkey Feast in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Minced:
- Turkey Feast in Sauce: 3.5% carbs
Friskies
- Classic Pate:
- Supreme Supper: 2.1% carbs
- Seafood Entrée: 2.0% carbs
- Country Style Dinner: 2.4% carbs
- Poultry Platter: 2.3% carbs
- Liver & Chicken Dinner: 2.3% carbs
- Mariner’s Catch: 2.1% carbs
- Mixed Grill: 2.6% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Dinner: 2.0% carbs
- Chicken & Tuna Dinner in Sauce: 2.2% carbs
- Salmon Dinner: 1.9% carbs
- Sea Captain’s Choice: 2.0% carbs
- Turkey & Giblets Dinner: 2.1% carbs
- Flaked:
- Tuna in Sauce: 1.8% carbs
- Tuna & Egg in Sauce: 1.6% carbs
- Gravy Sensations:
- Chicken in Gravy: 3.7% carbs
- Tuna in Gravy: 3.8% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Gravy: 3.7% carbs
- Salmon in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Beef & Chicken in Gravy: 3.7% carbs
- Turkey & Giblets in Gravy: 3.6% carbs
- Meaty Bits:
- Beef in Gravy: 4.0% carbs
- Chicken Dinner in Gravy: 3.6% carbs
- Gourmet Grill: 3.8% carbs
- Prime Filets:
- Beef in Gravy: 3.8% carbs
- Chicken in Gravy: 3.4% carbs
- Chicken & Tuna Dinner in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce: 3.4% carbs
- Salmon & Beef in Sauce: 3.8% carbs
- Turkey Dinner in Gravy: 3.5% carbs
- Savory Shreds:
- Chicken & Salmon Dinner in Gravy: 2.9% carbs
- Turkey & Cheese Dinner in Gravy: 3.0% carbs
- Beef in Gravy: 3.3% carbs
- Chicken in Gravy: 3.0% carbs
- Salmon in Gravy: 2.9% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish & Tuna in Sauce: 3.0% carbs
- Turkey & Giblets in Gravy: 3.3% carbs
- Whitefish & Sardines in Sauce: 3.0% carbs
- Selects:
- Indoor Chunky Chicken & Turkey Casserole w/Brown Rice & Garden Greens: 6.6% carbs
- Indoor Classic Chicken Entrée w/Brown Rice & Garden Greens: 6.0% carbs
- Indoor Flaked Ocean Whitefish Dinner w/Rice & Garden Greens: 7.1% carbs
- Indoor Homestyle Turkey Dinner w/Brown Rice & Garden Greens: 7.2% carbs
- Indoor Saucy Seafood Bake w/Rice & Garden Greens: 6.7% carbs
- Indoor Herbed Salmon Entrée w/Rice & Garden Greens: 6.3% carbs
- Senior Diet:
- Classic Pate Pacific Salmon Dinner in Sauce: 2.6% carbs
- Classic Pate Turkey & Giblets Dinner in Gravy: 3.2% carbs
- Meaty Bits w/Lamb & Rice in Gravy: 4.3% carbs
- Tender Cuts Chicken & Tuna in Gravy: 4.4% carbs
- Special Diet:
- Classic Pate Beef & Chicken Entrée for Adults: 1.3% carbs
- Classic Pate Beef & Liver Entrée for Adults: 1.4% carbs
- Classic Pate Turkey & Giblets Dinner for Adults: 1.4% carbs
- Classic Pate Ocean Whitefish Dinner for Adults: 1.1% carbs
- Classic Pate w/Salmon for Adults: 1.7% carbs
- Meaty Bits Sliced Chicken in Gravy for Adults: 3.6% carbs
- Tasty Treasures:
- Chicken & Cheese in Gravy: 4.0% carbs
- Chicken, Tuna, & Cheese in Gravy: 4.1% carbs
- Oceanfish, Tuna, & Cheese in Gravy: 4.0% carbs
- Turkey & Cheese in Gravy: 4.1% carbs
Merrick
- Cowboy Cookout: 6.1% carbs
- Grammy’s Pot Pie: 9.9% carbs
- Ocean Breeze 5.5 oz: 9.5% carbs
- Southern Delight 5.5 oz: 5.3% carbs
- Surf-N-Turf 5.5 oz: 4.1% carbs
- Beef: 1.2% carbs
- Chicken: 3.0% carbs
- Quail & Chicken: 2.3% carbs
- Salmon: 3.0% carbs
- Tuna: 2.4% carbs
- Turkey: 2.8% carbs
Nature’s Variety
- Instinct – Venison: 8.0% carbs
Purina
- DM canned: 4.5% carbs
- One Smartblend:
- Classic Beef Recipe Premium Pate: 1.1% carbs
- Classic Chicken Recipe Premium Pate: 0.7% carbs
- Classic Turkey Recipe Premium Pate: 0.6% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish Recipe Premium Pate: 0.4% carbs
- Flaked Tuna Recipe Braised Cuts in Sauce: 3.3% carbs
- Savory Beef Recipe Braised in Gravy: 3.4% carbs
- Savory Chicken Recipe Braised Cuts in Gravy: 3.1% carbs
- Savory Turkey Recipe Braised Cuts in Gravy: 3.1% carbs
- ProPlan Kitten:
- Chicken & Liver Entrée Classic: 0.8% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entrée Flaked: 1.7% carbs
- Salmon & Ocean Fish Entrée Classic: 0.9% carbs
- Purina ProPlan (General):
- Seafood Stew Entrée in Sauce: 1.2% carbs
- Chicken Entrée Chunky: 1.2% carbs
- Chicken & Liver Entrée Classic: 0.9% carbs
- Chicken & Rice Entrée in Gravy: 3.8% carbs
- Beef & Chicken Entrée in Gravy: 3.3% carbs
- Ocean Whitefish & Salmon Classic: 0.5% carbs
- Salmon & Rice Entrée in Sauce: 3.8% carbs
- Tuna Entrée in Sauce: 3.3% carbs
- Turkey & Giblets Entrée Ground: 1.9% carbs
- Turkey & Rice Entrée in Gravy: 3.8% carbs
- Turkey & Cheddar Cheese Entrée in Gravy: 3.8% carbs
- Sole & Vegetable Entrée in Sauce: 2.2% carbs
- Salmon, Shrimp, & Rice Entrée in Sauce: 4.0% carbs
- Beef, Carrots, & Rice Entrée in Gravy: 4.7% carbs
- Tuna, Shrimp, & Rice Entrée in Sauce: 3.9% carbs
- Trout & Pasta Entrée in Sauce: 3.8% carbs
- White Meat Chicken & Vegetable Entrée in Gravy: 3.6% carbs
- Chicken, Tomato, & Pasta Entrée in Gravy: 4.3% carbs
- Turkey & Pasta Entrée in Gravy: 4.1% carbs
- Formula Salmon & Rice Entrée: 5.6% carbs
- Purina ProPlan Special Diet:
- Urinary Tract Health – Chicken Entrée in Gravy: 3.4% carbs
- Management – Turkey & Rice Entrée Ground: 2.4% carbs
- Senior – Salmon & Tuna Entrée Classic: 1.3% carbs
- Purina ProPlan Selects:
- Kitten – Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Entrée Classic: 1.8% carbs
- Natural Turkey & Wild Rice Entrée Classic: 1.9% carbs
- Natural Salmon & Brown Rice Entrée Classic: 1.5% carbs
- Natural Yellowfin Tuna & Mackerel Entrée Classic: 1.6% carbs
- Natural Cod & Shrimp Entrée Classic: 1.2% carbs
- Natural Beef & Brown Rice Entrée Classic: 1.8% carbs
- Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Entrée Classic: 1.8% carbs
Weruva
- Outback Grill: 2.0% carbs
- Marbella Paella: 2.0% carbs
- Asian Fusion: 2.0% carbs
- Mac & Jack: 2.0% carbs
- Maditerranian Harvest: 2.0% carbs
- Meow Luau: 2.0% carbs
- Mid-East Feast: 2.0% carbs
- Polynesian BBQ: 2.0% carbs
- Grandma’s Chicken Soup: 2.0% carbs
- Funky Chunky: 2.0% carbs
- 9 Liver: 2.0% carbs
- Green Eggs & Chicken: 2.0% carbs
- Peking Ducken: 2.0% carbs
- On The Cat Walk: 2.0% carbs
- Steak Freaks: 2.0% carbs
- Paw Lickin Chicken: 2.0% carbs
Important Considerations
Adhering to a low-carbohydrate diet is vital for managing feline diabetes. Always consult with your veterinarian to determine the best feeding plan and specific food choices for your cat’s individual health needs. They can provide guidance on portion sizes, transition strategies, and monitoring your cat’s response to the new diet. Remember, consistency and careful monitoring are key to successfully managing diabetes in cats.
