Glucose Monitors for Cats: A Guide for Cat Owners

If your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, you will need to monitor their glucose levels regularly. A glucose monitor is the best way to measure your cat’s blood sugar throughout the day. It also helps your veterinarian determine how much insulin your cat may need.

There are two types of glucose monitors, and they work in different ways. Traditional monitors require you to collect a tiny blood sample from your cat. Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) use a sensor to load measurements into an app. Both are good options for monitoring glucose.

How does a glucose monitor work?

Traditional glucose monitors work differently than CGMs. Since you’ll most likely monitor your cat’s glucose levels for the rest of their lives, it’s a good idea to consider the pros and cons of each type of monitor.

Traditional glucose monitors 

Traditional monitors test glucose levels from a blood sample. This type of monitor requires you to prick your cat in the ear or paw pad with a lance. A tiny drop of blood is placed on a test strip, which is attached to a meter. Results are available in a few seconds and can be uploaded to an app or written into a logbook.

Using a traditional monitor can be stressful for cat owners. Some pet parents don’t feel comfortable collecting blood samples. Others don’t have time in their schedules to test their cats regularly. The plus side is that traditional monitors for cats cost less than CGMs. They may also be more accurate for cats compared with continuous glucose monitors.   

Traditional glucose monitors for cats are available over the counter without a prescription. 

Continuous glucose monitors

A continuous glucose monitor, also known as a flash monitor, uses a sensor to measure a cat’s glucose levels. The sensor is inserted into a shaved area of your cat’s upper back during a quick and relatively painless procedure. 

As the name suggests, a CGM continuously monitors glucose levels. Measurements are sent to an app every few minutes. That’s a benefit to cat owners with busy schedules. 

While it may sound like CGMs are more convenient, it’s important to know they’re made for humans. There are some reports of the sensor becoming detached or failing to read glucose levels in cats. They also cost more, and the sensors must be replaced every 7 to 15 days.

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CGMs are only available with a veterinarian’s prescription.  

Which glucose monitors are available for cats?

Traditional glucose monitors are available over the counter from retailers such as GoodRxForPets.com, Chewy, and Amazon. They come with everything you need to get started with glucose monitoring, such as lancets and test strips. 

CGMs are only available with a prescription. These kits include a sensor and an applicator (also called an introducer).

AlphaTrak 3 

The AlphaTrak 3 Blood Glucose Monitoring System comes with 50 test strips, a lancing device, and 30 lancets. You can register your meter with AlphaTrak’s app to review and graph your pet’s blood sugar. It has been studied in cats, and test results suggest it’s accurate for felines.

The AlphaTrak 3 starter kit costs $75. A pack of 50 replacement strips runs around $60.

eBpet 

The eBpet blood glucose monitoring system comes with two cards, one for cats and one for dogs. This is a good option if both your feline and canine pets have diabetes.

eBpet’s starter kit costs $33, and replacement strips cost around $22 for 25.  

iPet PRO

The iPet Pro blood glucose monitoring kit includes a logbook for tracking your cat’s glucose history and sharing it with your veterinarian. 

The starter kit for the iPet PRO costs $46. Additional test strips cost $29 to $49 for 50 strips. 

OHC GluNEO 

The OHC GluNEO blood glucose monitor’s app stores up to 500 test results. Data can be exported into a PDF and shared with your veterinarian. 

OHC GluNEO’s starter kit costs $55. A refill pack of 50 test strips costs $45.

PetTest

The PetTest glucose monitor can keep track of 400 test results, with dates and times. It requires only a drop of blood the size of a pinhead to measure glucose levels. 

The PetTest starter kit costs $50, and a pack of 50 strips costs $40 to $55. 

FreeStyle Libre

The FreeStyle Libre is a continuous glucose monitor for humans, but many veterinarians prescribe it for cats. This CGM uses a sensor to send glucose readings to an app every minute. The real-time alarm immediately notifies you of any serious changes in your cat’s glucose levels.

Because the FreeStyle Libre is not approved for cats, the manufacturer will not provide support or replace a faulty or detached sensor. 

The FreeStyle Libre 2 and 3 kits come with readers. But these kits will be discontinued after September 30, 2025. They will be replaced by the 2 Plus and 3 Plus models. The newer models do not use readers.

You may still be able to use discontinued models. Ask your veterinarian for guidance.

You will need a veterinarian’s prescription to get any FreeStyle Libre monitor. Prices range from $72 for one box of FreeStyle Libre 3 sensors to $84 for a box of FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus sensors. Sensors last up to 15 days.

Dexcom 

Dexcom systems are CGMs made for humans but available for use in cats. They come with a sensor that must be implanted into your cat’s back. Once inserted, the sensor will continuously measure glucose and load data to an app. The Dexcom G7 can also connect directly to an Apple Watch.

CGMs come with built-in alarms. You can set them to let you know if your cat’s blood sugar is too high or too low.

Dexcom monitors are only available with a prescription. A carton of 3 Dexcom G7 sensors costs $172 to $190. The sensor lasts up to 10.5 days. An optional reader costs $228 to $351. 

Guardian

Guardian Sensor CGMs have been studied on cats, with accurate results. The Guardian Sensor (3) and Guardian 4 send glucose levels to an app. These sensors can be worn for up to 7 days.

A carton of 5 Guardian (3) sensors costs $635 to $700. 

Does pet insurance cover glucose monitors for cats?

Pet insurance may cover glucose monitors for cats. If your cat already has diabetes when you sign up for pet insurance, it’s considered a pre-existing condition. Most pet insurance companies won’t reimburse claims for pre-existing conditions. 

If your cat is diagnosed with diabetes after you purchase a pet insurance plan, your policy may cover glucose monitoring. Glucose monitoring is considered an important component of treating diabetes in cats. So many insurance policies will cover the cost based on your plan benefits.

Tracking your cat’s glucose at home

There are several ways to track your cat’s glucose at home, depending on the type of monitor you use. Many glucose monitors connect to an app. Each time you test your cat’s blood sample, the reading is loaded and stored digitally. Older traditional glucose monitor models may require a logbook in which you manually jot down your cat’s levels. 

Regardless of how you track, ask your veterinarian how often you should check your cat’s glucose levels. Glucose curves — a series of glucose measurements — may need to be taken every 2 to 4 hours for the first 12 to 24 hours after starting your cat on insulin treatment. Your vet may ask for more or less monitoring, depending on your cat’s readings.

Continuous glucose monitors send messages and data from the sensor to an app, as well. If you decide to try a CGM, it’s important to know how to place the sensor on your cat.

How to place a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)

Placing a continuous glucose monitor sensor on your cat can be scary. You may feel more comfortable asking your veterinarian to insert it the first time or two. After watching your vet a couple of times, you may be ready to try it yourself. 

Follow these steps to place a CGM sensor:

1. Shave a small area on your cat’s upper back, along the side of the rib cage. (Ask your veterinarian for guidance if you’re not sure.)

2. Clean the skin with an alcohol wipe.

3. Open the package and familiarize yourself with the sensor and applicator.

4. Load the sensor into the applicator. 

5. Add a few drops of tissue glue or super glue to the disc’s edges.

6. Make sure your cat is calm and comfortable. 

7. Hold the applicator against the skin and press firmly until you hear a clicking sound.

8. Press down on the edges to make sure the glue adheres.

9. Scan the monitor with your phone’s app to look at readings.

CGMs typically track and upload glucose levels to an app every few minutes. Some models also come with a reader. The Dexcom G7 can also send readings to an Apple Watch.  

Can you use a human glucose monitor on your cat?

It depends. You can use continuous glucose monitors made for humans, such as the FreeStyle Libre, Guardian, or Dexcom systems, on your cat. These monitors use sensors that are implanted into your cat’s upper back. They send glucose readings to an app. Research suggests that CGMs can accurately measure glucose levels in cats.

But traditional human monitors — the type that require a blood sample — are calibrated to measure glucose levels in humans only. If you use a traditional monitor, it’s best to get one made for cats. Traditional veterinary monitors are specifically calibrated to measure glucose in cats and dogs from blood samples. 

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Written by:

Ana Gascon

Ana Gascon has over 15 years of writing and editing experience, with 8 years in health and medical content work. She is a versatile health and medical content creator who writes about acute conditions, chronic diseases, mental health challenges, and health equity.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM, is from Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Princeton University for undergraduate studies. After a year of biology research at Duke University, he attended Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.

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