If you just found out your cat has feline diabetes, we can’t overstate the importance of getting a top-notch glucose meter for your cat. You’ll need accurate readings to give them the correct dosages of insulin, and you’ll be giving them tons of tests throughout the day, so you want it to be as comfortable as possible.
That’s why we took the time to track down and create reviews of five of the best glucose meters out there. We also developed a comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know to manage your cat’s condition.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
PetTest Blood Glucose Monitoring
Easy-to-use system
Stores up to 400 previous test results
Includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get you started
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Best Value
Cera-Pet Blood Glucose Monitor
Affordable
Easy to use
Easy-to-read display
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Premium Choice
AlphaTRAK Blood Glucose Monitor
Large digital display
Does not require much blood
Includes many test strips and lancets
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iPet PRO Blood Glucose Monitor
98% accurate
Affordably priced
Decent number of lancets and test strips
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VetMate Diabetes Monitoring Kit
Accurate device
Affordably priced
Easy-to-read LCD screen
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The 5 Best Glucose Meter for Cats
When you’re looking for the best overall glucose meter for cats, look no further than the PetTest Advocate Blood Glucose Monitoring System. It has a large digital screen that makes it easy to read the results. Really, it’s everything from start to finish that’s easy to use with this system.
Minimum Blood Sample Size: 0.3 uL
Number of Test Strips: 25
Number of Lancets: 25
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It includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get you started. What sets it apart from the rest is its ability to store up to 400 previous test results. It’ll also give you the average numbers over a 7-, 14-, and 28-day time period, and it’ll set up to four daily alarms to remind you to check your cat’s glucose.
It’s due to all these extra features that it’s the best glucometer for cats!
Pros
Includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get you started
Easy-to-use system
Easy to view screen
Stores up to 400 previous test results
Cons
Slightly expensive
Just because you don’t want to spend a ton of money doesn’t mean you can’t get a great blood glucose meter. That’s exactly what you get with the Cera-Pet Blood Glucose Monitor, which is why it’s the best glucose meter for cats for the money.
Includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get you started
Easy-to-use system
Easy to view screen
Stores up to 400 previous test results
- Includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get you started
- Easy-to-use system
- Easy to view screen
- Stores up to 400 previous test results
Slightly expensive
- Slightly expensive
Minimum Blood Sample Size: 0.5 uL
Number of Test Strips: 25
Number of Lancets: 25
Not only is it affordably priced, but it has an extremely easy-to-read display and comes with everything that you need to get started. However, it is a budget option, and as such, it requires slightly more blood than most other monitors to get a reading, and it doesn’t have any advanced features.
The amount of extra blood it needs is almost nominal, but it can be enough to make it a little more frustrating for you. Combined with its lack of advanced features, it’s not hard to see why this is a lower-priced option even though it does a great job!
Pros
Affordable
Includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get started
Easy to use
Easy-to-read display
Cons
Needs slightly more blood than most other monitors
No advanced features
If you’re looking for the best glucometer for your cat and aren’t worried about the cost, the AlphaTRAK 2 Blood Glucose Monitoring System is exactly what you need. It’s incredibly easy to use and doesn’t require much blood, and the digital display makes it easy to read the results.
Affordable
Includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get started
Easy to use
Easy-to-read display
- Affordable
- Includes plenty of lancets and test strips to get started
- Easy to use
- Easy-to-read display
Needs slightly more blood than most other monitors
No advanced features
- Needs slightly more blood than most other monitors
- No advanced features
Minimum Blood Sample Size: 0.3 uL
Number of Test Strips: 50
Number of Lancets: 30
Moreover, it comes with tons of test strips and lancets to get you started, and it gives you incredibly accurate results. It’s expensive, but it’s also the best of the best. When you’re trying to keep your cat’s glucose levels in check, you don’t want to cut any corners.
Pros
Includes many test strips and lancets
Easy to use
Does not require much blood
Large digital display
Cons
Expensive
The iPet PRO Blood Glucose Monitoring System Starter Kit is an outstanding choice. It comes with everything that you need to get started, and it’s 98% accurate! Since it has a large digital display, it’s easy to see the results, which means fewer mistakes.
Includes many test strips and lancets
Easy to use
Does not require much blood
Large digital display
- Includes many test strips and lancets
- Easy to use
- Does not require much blood
- Large digital display
Expensive
- Expensive
Minimum Blood Sample Size: 0.3 uL
Number of Test Strips: 25
Number of Lancets: 30
The iPet PRO Blood Glucose Monitoring System Starter Kit comes with enough test strips and lancets to get you started, but there are not quite as many as most other starter kits. It’s also not as easy to use as other glucometers, and it doesn’t have any advanced memory functions.
You’ll need to mix things up and dip test strips to get your results, but due to how accurate the results are, it can be worth the extra hassle.
Pros
Affordably priced
Decent number of lancets and test strips
Large digital display
98% accurate
Cons
No memory functions
Not as easy to use as some other options
- VetMate Diabetes Monitoring Starter Kit
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Minimum Blood Sample Size: 0.5 uL
Number of Test Strips: 10
Number of Lancets: 10
The VetMate Diabetes Monitoring Starter Kit is an extremely accurate device, and it’s available for an outstanding price.
Affordably priced
Decent number of lancets and test strips
Large digital display
98% accurate
- Affordably priced
- Decent number of lancets and test strips
- Large digital display
- 98% accurate
No memory functions
Not as easy to use as some other options
- No memory functions
- Not as easy to use as some other options
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Minimum Blood Sample Size: 0.5 uL
Number of Test Strips: 10
Number of Lancets: 10
The screen is a large LCD monitor, making it easy to see. However, while this kit is affordable, it doesn’t have many test strips or lancets.
Second, it requires slightly more blood compared to many other glucometers, which can add to the overall inconvenience. It’s a good choice at a low price, but it’s also a basic glucometer through and through.
Pros
Accurate device
Affordably priced
Easy-to-read LCD screen
Cons
Requires slightly more blood than most other glucometers
Does not include many lancets or test strips
Accurate device
Affordably priced
Easy-to-read LCD screen
- Accurate device
- Affordably priced
- Easy-to-read LCD screen
Requires slightly more blood than most other glucometers
Does not include many lancets or test strips
- Requires slightly more blood than most other glucometers
- Does not include many lancets or test strips
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Glucose Meter for Cats
If you’re still confused about why you need a glucometer or what to look for in one, you’re not alone. That’s why we created this comprehensive buyer’s guide, to walk you through everything that you need to know about glucose testing meters and help you get the right one the first time!
What Is a Good Glucose Number for Cats?
When you’re checking your cat’s glucose levels, you need to know the healthy baseline that they should be at. For cats, that level is anywhere between 80 and 120 mg/dL. While that number might not make much sense if you’ve never had to deal with diabetes before, it’s what you need to shoot for.
If you’re still confused about the correct glucose number for your cat or what those numbers mean, we highly recommend reaching out to your cat’s vet to get the most accurate information and ensure that you’re treating your cat correctly!
How Often Should You Check a Cat’s Glucose Level?
If your cat is dealing with feline diabetes, one of the most important questions that you need to answer is how often you should check their glucose levels. You should conduct the first glucose test of the day right before they eat their breakfast and get their insulin.
From there, you need to check their glucose levels every 2 to 3 hours for about 12 hours. Once you give your cat their evening dose of insulin, you should be good to go until the morning, when you need to provide them with their morning dose of insulin and breakfast.
Of course, you should always ask your cat’s vet for specific testing recommendations and requirements that are best for your cat based on their specific health history.
If your cat does not have feline diabetes, you only need to check their glucose levels every 1 to 3 months, depending on what your vet recommends.
How Much Blood Do You Need for an Accurate Reading?
The amount of blood that you need to get an accurate reading entirely depends on the testing kit you’re using. Some kits require more blood than others to get an accurate reading, and you can find the specific amount of blood requirements for each testing device in the instruction manual.
However, for most testing kits, you can get accurate results with 0.3 to 0.5 uL of blood on a test strip. This is an extremely small amount, even if you need the full 0.5 uL, which means fewer pricks for your cat and an easier testing experience for you!
Can You Use a Human Glucometer on Cats?
You might think that since you have a human glucometer, you don’t need to get a pet-specific one for your cat, but that simply isn’t true. This has to do with where the glucose is stored in a cat’s blood cells compared to a human’s.
The average human has about 58% of their glucose in the plasma and about 42% in the red blood cells. For the average cat, those numbers are closer to 93% of their glucose being in the plasma and about 7% in the red blood cells.
So, while you can use a human glucometer on cats, it won’t be nearly as effective as a cat-specific one that is more accurate at getting the glucose numbers almost exclusively from plasma.
Conclusion: Glucose Testing Kits for Cats
If you’re still confused about which glucometer is right for your cat after reading through the reviews and the buyer’s guide, don’t overthink it. There’s a reason that the PetTest Advocate Blood Glucose Monitoring System is our top choice, as it gives you everything that you need at a great price. However, if you’re on a tight budget but still need a solid glucometer, the Cera-Pet Blood Glucose Monitor is a top-tier choice too.
The important thing is that you get a glucometer on order so you can get your cat’s glucose levels in check as soon as possible!
Featured Image Credit: Yaya Photos, Shutterstock
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