Diabetic Cats vs. Diabetic Dogs: Why Their Diets Are So Different

By Theresa Gibilisco, owner, The Hungry Puppy

We have plenty of households with a dog and a cat, and every so often both of them end up with diabetes. People ask us at the counter if they can just feed the same "diabetic" plan to both. The honest answer is no. Diabetes in cats and diabetes in dogs are different enough that in 2026 the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) split its diabetes guidelines into two separate documents, one for each species, for the first time.

Here's what's different, and why it changes what goes in the bowl. This is general information. Your vet has the final word on what your pet eats.

Is diabetes in cats the same disease as in dogs?

Not really. Most diabetic dogs have something close to what people call Type 1 diabetes. VCA Animal Hospitals describes total or near-complete destruction of the beta cells, the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Once those cells are gone, the dog can't make enough insulin on its own. The Merck Veterinary Manual says the cells are usually lost to the immune system attacking them or to severe pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

Most diabetic cats have the Type 2 form, according to the Cornell Feline Health Center. The cat's cells don't respond to insulin properly. Cornell lists obesity, increasing age, inactivity, being male and long-term steroid medicines among the risks for cats.

Can a diabetic cat or dog go into remission?

Cats sometimes can. Dogs almost never do.

• Cats. The 2026 AAHA cat guidelines put the average remission rate at about 30% in the United States. Remission means normal blood sugar for more than 4 weeks without insulin or oral diabetes drugs. AAHA says most cats that get there do it within 6 months of diagnosis, and Cornell says a cat that hasn't reached remission by six months will almost certainly need insulin for life.
• Remission isn't a cure. AAHA says these cats aren't cured, because the pancreas has a permanently limited insulin supply. VCA notes relapse back onto insulin is not uncommon. AAHA reports second remissions are less common, between 0 and 22%.
• Dogs. The 2018 AAHA guidelines say remission in dogs occurs only rarely. In dogs, diabetes is treated as a lifelong condition: the 2026 AAHA dog guidelines note that "Many dogs who require lifelong treatment tolerate insulin therapy well." They also say spaying or neutering after diagnosis may help reduce hormonal effects on how well insulin works.

We go deeper on this in what it means when the vet says your cat is in diabetic remission.

What should a diabetic cat eat?

High protein and low carbohydrate, usually canned. The 2026 AAHA cat guidelines give these targets for most diabetic cats:

• Protein: more than 40 to 45% of the food's calories.
• Carbohydrate: less than 12 to 15% of calories, with about 12% as the target.
• Canned preferred, or a mix of canned and dry. AAHA says canned food is lower in carbohydrates, easier to portion, less calorie dense and adds water.
• High-fiber diets are generally not recommended for diabetic cats, per AAHA. One study, as summarized in Today's Veterinary Practice, found a high-fiber diet improved control in diabetic cats, so this is one for your vet.

"Percent of calories" isn't the percentage printed on the can. It's how much of the cat's energy comes from protein or carbs. Your vet, or the food company, can tell you those numbers.

Two cautions. VCA says not all low-carb foods are the same, and many are calorie dense enough to put weight on a cat. And AAHA says obese cats may do well on a lower calorie weight loss food with moderate carbohydrate (15 to 25% of calories). An overweight cat's plan may look different.

What should a diabetic dog eat?

For dogs, the biggest rule is consistency. The 2026 AAHA dog guidelines say diabetic dogs can do well on any complete and balanced diet fed at consistent times and in appropriate portions, in a food the dog likes enough to eat reliably. Tufts Petfoodology sums it up as same food, same treats, same times every day.

• Fiber helps more than cutting carbs. AAHA says diets with more soluble and insoluble fiber can help blunt the rise in blood sugar after meals. Tufts says studies found carbohydrate content isn't as helpful as fiber for dogs. One study of canned diets, as summarized in Today's Veterinary Practice, found no difference in diabetic control between diets with 2% and 26% of calories from carbohydrate.
• Skip the sugar. Merck says diets high in simple sugars, like semi-moist foods, should be avoided.
• Eating matters most. A veterinary internal medicine specialist writing in Today's Veterinary Practice put it this way: for dogs, it's more important that they eat regularly than be strictly limited to certain foods. The same article notes diet matters more for cats.

The overweight or senior dog has its own twists, covered in feeding a senior or overweight diabetic dog.

Should a diabetic pet eat meals or graze?

Dogs usually eat set meals. With the common intermediate-acting insulins, the 2026 AAHA dog guidelines say to give the insulin after the dog eats a full meal. Newer long-acting insulins don't have to be timed with food, per AAHA. Your vet will tell you which plan your dog is on. Our post on feeding a diabetic dog around insulin shots walks through it.

Cats have more room. AAHA says meal feeding is ideal with intermediate-acting insulins, but grazing is acceptable, and dividing the day's food into several meals, or using a timed feeder, can work. The ISFM consensus guidelines for cats say meal times don't have to be matched to insulin shots and free feeding may be acceptable for some cats. Advice varies, so your vet picks the schedule that fits your cat's insulin.

Are there pills for diabetic cats now?

For some cats, yes. The 2026 AAHA cat guidelines cover a newer class of oral drugs called SGLT2 inhibitors (bexagliflozin and velagliflozin), which are licensed for newly diagnosed, otherwise healthy cats that have never been on insulin. They aren't for every cat. Merck says they shouldn't be used in cats previously treated with insulin or cats with liver, kidney or pancreatic disease. AAHA also notes a risk of a form of ketoacidosis (a dangerous acid buildup in the blood) that can happen even when blood sugar isn't high, usually in the first 2 weeks. For dogs, insulin is still the treatment. This is your vet's decision. We mention it so you know to ask.

Why does my cat's blood sugar read high at the vet?

It may be stress. AAHA describes stress hyperglycemia in cats: a temporary sugar spike from stress, usually below 250 mg/dL, that goes back to normal once the cat leaves the stressful situation. The 2026 AAHA cat guidelines no longer recommend in-clinic glucose curves for routine monitoring in cats. Home readings and continuous glucose monitors are used instead. Dogs still get in-clinic curves when needed. See what it means when the vet wants a glucose curve or fructosamine test.

Cats vs. dogs at a glance

Can I switch my diabetic pet to a lower-carb food on my own?

No. Please don't. If your cat or dog is on insulin, talk to your vet before changing foods, and especially before moving to a lower-carb canned food.

• A feline specialist writing for AAHA's NEWStat warned that changing a cat off a high-carb diet at the same time as starting insulin causes significant changes in glucose levels, and the cat should be watched very closely for low blood sugar.
• Tufts says weight loss can lower a cat's insulin needs. AAHA warns that remission can be missed in cats that aren't monitored until there are obvious signs of low blood sugar.
• The 2026 AAHA dog guidelines also ask vets to dose carefully when the diet is changing.

The food may be exactly right. It's the insulin that has to catch up, and only your vet can adjust it. Guidelines ask vets to give owners written material to refer to, so ask for yours. If your pet is weak, wobbly, trembling, acting strangely, collapses or has a seizure (signs AAHA lists for low blood sugar), go to the vet now.

Where to go from here

For the bigger picture on prescription and special diets, start with special diets for dogs and cats: what the food should look like. If you're changing a dog's food, read how to switch a diabetic dog to a new food safely. Low-calorie options for cats are in our cat treats section, but count them with your vet.

Prescription diets need your vet's authorization, and we're happy to reach out to your vet for you through our prescription diets service. Our own trucks deliver free on each town's route day, Tuesday through Friday, with a $20 minimum. Find your day on our local delivery page, or call 732-938-4470. For a sit-down conversation about your pet's food, book a free 45-minute Personal Pet Consultant appointment.

Sources

• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats, Section 8: Dietary Management. American Animal Hospital Association (JAAHA), 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats, Section 9: Diabetic Remission. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats, Section 5: Recognizing and Managing Cats at Risk for DM. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats, Section 6: SGLT2 Inhibitor Treatment and Monitoring. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Cats, Section 13: Glucose Monitoring. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs (overview). American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs, Section 4: Insulin Treatment. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs, Section 6: Dietary Management in Diabetic Dogs. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs, Section 8: Client Education. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2026 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs, Section 9: Glucose Monitoring. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• 2018 AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats (2022 update). Behrend E, et al. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 2018 (doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6822).
• ISFM Consensus Guidelines on the Practical Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Cats. Sparkes AH, et al. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2015.
• Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs and Cats. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated 2026.
• Diabetic Diets for Dogs and Cats: Assessing the Evidence. Linder D. Today's Veterinary Practice, 2017.
• Nutrition and Diabetes Mellitus. Ward CR. Today's Veterinary Practice, 2019.
• Feline Diabetes. Cornell Feline Health Center.
• What's the Best Diet for My Dog with Diabetes? Tufts Petfoodology, 2020.
• Don't Sugar Coat It: The Best Diets for Cats with Diabetes. Tufts Petfoodology, 2018.
• Start Your Diabetic Cat Patients Off on the Right Paw. Rucinsky R. AAHA NEWStat, 2019.
• AAHA Releases 2026 Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs. American Animal Hospital Association, 2026.
• Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs: Overview. VCA Animal Hospitals.
• Nutrition for Cats with Diabetes Mellitus. VCA Animal Hospitals.
• Diabetic Remission in Cats. VCA Animal Hospitals.