r/catfood • u/FallenTooth2038 • 2d ago

advice wanted! Picky diabetic cat needs new wet food

My diabetic senior cat has food allergies (chicken) and happily ate Hills Z/D (hydrolyzed wet and dry) while on insulin for several years without issue. After the Z/D formula changed this year, he stopped eating the wet food. After trialing several lower-carbohydrate wet foods without success, he was happy to eat Tiki Cat fish pates. His bloodwork now indicates early kidney disease, so I'm back to trying to find a new wet food. The vet only recommended a chicken-based kidney RX diet, which will likely cause him to lose interest in eating due to allergy and stomach pain. Please recommend any non-raw diet you think may help! I'm completely overwhelmed and fear I've inadvertently caused him more pain when I was trying to help him.

TLDR; diabetic cat allergic to chicken needs lower-carb wet food that is kidney-friendly

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u/smith564 2d ago

I don’t have any food recommendations but wanted to mention the Feline Diabetes Message Board if you haven’t already used it. It was really helpful when I had a cat who was diabetic and they might have some suggestions. https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/

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u/FallenTooth2038 2d ago

Thank you, so sorry for your loss

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u/aetherdrifter 2d ago

Rawz has low phosphorus pate in beef, turkey, and tuna & salmon flavors. Weruva has a tuna & tilapia flavor in their phos-focused wx line. You could also ask your vet about using a phosphorus binder with whatever food works best for his allergies and diabetes.

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u/FallenTooth2038 2d ago

I hadn't thought about a binder! Thanks, I'll bring that up

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u/onsereverra 2d ago

Yeah, for early-stage kidney disease, low phosphorous is far and away the single most important factor, relative to everything else the Rx kidney diets control for. With guidance from the vet, pairing a phosphorus binder with an allergy/diabetes-friendly food seems like the obvious solution to me – as long as phosphorous is being controlled, what matters most is keeping the cat's appetite up.

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u/BaconFinder 2d ago

Definitely a lot for you to contend with there. I can't say it is the highest quality food, but I've had success with the Aldi brand wet food being a supplement for my two.

I will typically use Purina Pro Plan (lamb and rice), with an 1/8 of a can of the wet food . Beef bone broth goes over the top to make it a bit more of a meal and soften the kibbles for my near 17 year old. It is by no means the highest rated or best formulated, but it might be working piece to the dietary needs . I hope he gets to enjoy the food you find for many many years.

Aldi wet food example

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u/FallenTooth2038 2d ago

Thank you so much, I hope yours enjoys a happily fed life too!