Diet for Cats With Cancer: Nutrition & Considerations (Vet Answer)

Cancer: It’s the word that no cat owner wants to hear. While cats are living longer than ever, that longevity comes with an increased incidence of a cancer diagnosis. But it’s important to note that it’s not necessarily a death sentence. Many possible treatments are available for cats with cancer, along with various supportive measures that owners can take. One is feeding your feline a proper diet, but what are the best foods for cats with cancer? Read on to find out.

What Does Nutrition Have To Do With Cancer?

Your cat’s food is where they get the nutrients that provide them with energy, protein for muscle, and vitamins and minerals for every bodily function. Without proper nutrition, their body doesn’t function properly.

For a cat with cancer, the need for these vital nutrients is still there and increased in certain cases. Affected cats require everything that other cats do, and they might need a bit more to fuel their fight.

The trouble with cancer is that a cat’s appetite can be a major blockade when it comes to getting them the proper nutrition. Inappetence can be due to nausea or lethargy, the size or location of a tumor, or a side effect of cancer treatment.

Diet Considerations for Cats With Cancer

There’s no one-size-fits-all diet or food that is best for cats with cancer. Instead, your vet will assess the individual needs of the cat, taking into consideration the type of cancer, available treatments, other health conditions, and any other signs that are present, to determine what’s best. If the vet forgets to speak to you about feeding changes following your cat’s cancer talk, don’t be afraid to bring it up.

Also, be aware that a cat’s dietary needs may change throughout the course of their cancer journey. What works for them today may not work next week.

With this in mind, the best diet for your cat with cancer is one they will eat. A major difficulty with cancer treatment is the cat’s decreased or complete lack of appetite. Finding a food that they like and will eat even when they’re not feeling their best is crucial for getting them the nutrients that they need.

If they are currently eating a high-quality diet, continue with it unless they are diagnosed with a concurrent illness, such as kidney or intestinal disease. Then you’ll want to feed them a diet formulated for that. If this requires a switch, try to make the transition gradually, ideally starting before your cat commences treatment, to avoid combining a food switch with feeling poorly from surgery or their first round of chemotherapy or radiation.

Speak to a veterinarian about your concerns, and they can help guide you through food transition, recommend diets formulated for other health conditions, and set you up with a good quality diet well in advance.

What About Low-Carbohydrate Diets?

You may have heard that a low-carbohydrate diet is essential for a cat suffering from cancer. The main idea behind this is that carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, which is used by cells for energy. Unfortunately, cancer cells consume glucose like it’s candy, often using up to 10 times as much as normal cells. Researchers have reasoned that if you decrease the amount of carbohydrate in a cat’s diet, you can literally “starve” cancer cells of glucose, causing them to die.

While this sounds great in theory, when an otherwise normally functioning body doesn’t have glucose given to it in the form of carbohydrates, it makes its own in the liver. There have been no reliable studies to show that diets low in carbohydrates have any positive effect on a cat’s cancer survival time or remission rate.

However, if you have a diabetic cat that also has cancer, a low-carbohydrate food is likely what’s already in their bowl, so continue serving it as long as they are consistently eating it.

Should I Give Cancer Supplements to My Cat?

Along with a low-carb diet, you’re sure to be recommended different supplements that claim to be just what your cat with cancer needs. Omega fatty acids from things like fish oil, various herbs, mushrooms, turmeric, and CBD are commonly talked about.

Some of these may be beneficial, but others will not. There isn’t great research out there to support the use of any supplements in felines, so always be sure to talk to a vet before giving one to your cat, cancer or not. Most of these products aren’t regulated the way that commercial foods and medications are, so what the supplement label says might not be what you’re getting, and the dose may vary. Of course, you also want to make sure the supplement you’re looking at is safe for your cat.

Encouraging Your Cat to Eat

When it comes to feeding a cat with cancer, it’s more often about getting your cat to eat rather than the specifics of what they are eating. Cancer and its treatment can cause a decline in appetite, making it difficult to keep your cat on the right nutritional track.

For some cats, simple changes in temperature, flavor or texture may be enough to entice them to take a few more nibbles. Fortunately, most major cat food brands carry a variety of options, so you make changes without completely reconfiguring your cat’s food. Switching from chicken to beef may be what your pet is looking for, or they may prefer a softer, moister food over dry kibble. Whatever the case, give in to your cat’s desires. You may want to look into high-calorie foods too, such as kitten food or those meant for hospitalized cats.

You may even turn to human food mix-ins, such as cooked eggs, lean chicken, or plain rice, to make their meals more interesting. However, since these foods are not complete on their own, they should only be used as meal toppers, not as a major part of their diet, especially for extended periods. Otherwise, your kitty could end up with nutritional deficiencies.

What Not to Feed a Cat With Cancer

Although there isn’t a specific roadmap to follow when it comes to knowing what to feed a cat with cancer, there are some definite no-nos, and raw meat is at the top of that list. Although raw food diets may be beneficial to some cats, they come with an increased risk of bacterial contamination, and that’s the last thing that your cat’s already struggling immune system needs to deal with.

While freshly-prepared foods made from whole-food ingredients can be an excellent option for any cat, homemade diets may not be balanced, meaning they are lacking in essential nutrients, which can end up being deleterious to your cat’s well-being. If you choose to go the homemade route, check that the recipe you’re using is formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, and be ready for frequent sampling and check-ins to ensure that you’re maintaining the proper nutritional content.

In Conclusion

Certain cat food brands have released special diets for cats with cancer, and while there is no shortage of information online about what cats with cancer should and shouldn’t eat, the most important consideration is that they eat. If your cat is on a good diet and eating well, stick with it. If they have another health condition that requires specialized food, keep using it. If your kitty needs a little nudge in their appetite from time to time, try changing flavors or textures.

Above all else, work with your veterinarian to ensure that your cat with cancer is getting the treatment and nutrition they need.

Featured Image Credit: Asasirov, Shutterstock