The 10 Best Glucose Meters for Cats in 2024

Price: $$$

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 25 test strips, lancing device and 30 lancets, control solution, user guide, carry case, and instructional DVD. CR2 battery included.
• Requires coding based on strips. Pre-calibrated for cats.
• Requires 0.3uL of blood.
• Stores 250 test results and offers 7 and 14-day averages.

Zoetis, Inc, is the largest manufacturer of livestock medication and vaccines in the world. The Zoetis AlphaTRAK 2 meter is so reliable and accurate that it has become the favored device of professional veterinarians. By choosing the AlphaTRAK 2, not only are you ensuring reliable measurements to help calibrate insulin dosages, you are receiving the same readings you would receive at your local vet. This means it is easier to notice long-term trends that can be reliably communicated to the professionals.

Only requiring 0.3uL of blood to function, there are fewer opportunities for errors in reading, and less necessity to re-prick the skin of the cat. While the device requires coding during every use and cannot be used with generic testing strips, this provides greater accuracy in readings. The kit is provided with a control solution; however, this is for peace of mind rather than any required calibration.

While the lancing device may be one of the more uncomfortable ones on the market, it is also the most effective. You do not need repeated attempts to draw blood. Lancets are of generic construction, and so less expensive ones are available.

It’s helpful that the AlphaTRAK 2 stores up to 250 test results, but this does include the occasional error, which throws off long-term averages. Fortunately, the kit also includes a diary for recording results.

The AlphaTRAK 2 is one of the most expensive meters available and the replacement strips can cost over a dollar a strip, making it the most costly choice over the long term. Diabetes is a life-long condition and with multiple tests needed a day, you could end up spending over a hundred dollars a month on top of the meter itself.

If you want the best available meter, there is no better alternative on the market.

Price: $$

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 25 test strips, lancing device and 25 lancets, control solution, user guide, carry case, and instructional DVD. 2xAAA batteries included.
• Does not require coding. Pre-calibrated for cats.
• Requires 0.3uL of blood.
• Stores 400 test results and offers 7 and 14-day averages.

The Advocate PetTest may not be as accurate as its greatest competitor, but it is very close, with readings often only being 1 or 2 points off a veterinarian test. It does this despite not requiring coding at every testing and only taking 5 seconds to record a result.

The PetTest lancing device is the most comfortable of those tested and we would recommend purchasing it even if you choose another meter. Like the AlphaTRAK 2, it only requires 0.3uL of blood for reading and uses its own specific strips to increase accuracy.

The Advocate PetTest does have one minor issue. If any blood touches the strip, it will attempt to analyze the result. This leads to a larger number of errors as you practice using the meter and the very occasional inaccurate recording. Fortunately, the PetTest does not record errors in its 400 result memory and each strip costs half the price of the AlphaTRAK 2 strips.

Price: $$$

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 10 test strips, lancing device and 10 lancets, user guide, carry case. 2xAAA batteries included.
• Does not require coding. Pre-calibrated for cats.
• Requires 0.4uL of blood.
• Stores 400 test results and offers a 14-day average.

iSens is a leader in human blood glucose testing and so it is no surprise that its “made-for-pets” monitoring system is one of the most accurate on the market and is used by some veterinarian practices. Coding is not required for the VetMate system and they market their lack of control solution as “not required, thanks to our highly accurate pre-calibration.”

The meter itself is comfortable to handle and the negative LCD screen makes it easy to read in bright sunlight. The lancing device, on the other hand, can sometimes fail to draw blood and is not as comfortable as the Advocate PetTest.

The VetMate requires little blood compared to most of the market, but not quite as little as the AlphaTRAK or Advocate systems. The VetMate can use generic strips without any coding required and is the only system in which this does not decrease the accuracy of readings.

The VetMate kit comes with just enough strips and lancets to see you through the first few days, and so your initial purchase will need to include refills of both immediately. Fortunately, these refills can be far less expensive than other brands and, in the long term, you end up saving money.

Price: $$$

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 50 test strips, lancing device and 50 lancets, code strip, user guide, carry case. 2x AAA batteries included. User guide videos given via URL.
• Requires coding. Precalibrated for cats and dogs.
• Requires 0.7uL of blood.
• Stores 500 test results with 7, 14 and 30-day averages.

Auvon makes some of the most popular glucose monitoring devices for humans, so it is natural that they would make a move into the pet market. In fact, the only difference between this monitor and one for humans is that this has been calibrated for cats and dogs. While requiring a higher amount of blood, it accurately produces a reading in under five seconds.

The lancing device is capable of doing the job and the lancets are generic, which means you can use less expensive ones easily. Auvon strips are close to half the price of the AlphaTRAK 2, and the starter kit contains twice as many strips as the Advocate PetTest. A great little addition to the device is a 4-alarm reminder system that doesn’t give you a heart attack when it goes off.

If a lifetime warranty and the reputation of a medical company offers extra peace of mind, this is the kit you want to buy.

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 25 test strips, lancing device and 25 lancets, 2x code keys, user guide, carry case. 1x 3V battery included.
• Requires coding from provided keys. Pre-calibrated for cats.
• Requires 0.5uL of blood.
• Stores 1000 test results.

While the Cera-Pet blood glucose meter is not as accurate as the AlphaTRAK 2 or VetMate products, it has been scientifically vetted by independent researchers. For the budget-conscious, this scientific backing assures cat owners that saving money isn’t risking the health of our pet. Very few products at this price range can say the same.

To increase the accuracy of the Cera-Pet monitor, the testing strips have been designed with holding guides that decrease the chance of contamination and errors. This is especially important because the meter itself is far more sensitive to contamination.

Surprisingly, the cost of Cera-Pet strips is still half that of other competitors.

The Cera-Pet lancing device is one of the best available, with five separate settings to help provide comfort to the pet while still drawing blood. The lancets themselves come with a clear casing on the head, to make it easier to see how far out the needles stick.

It’s hard to imagine that you can spend so little on a blood glucose meter and still receive a high-quality product. Cera-Pet does exactly that.

Price: $$$

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 25 test strips, lancing device and 28 lancets, control solution, user guide, carry case. 2x AAA batteries included.
• Requires coding and calibration using the control solution.
• Requires 0.7uL of blood.
• Stores 500 test results with 7, 14, and 30-day averages.

The iPet PRO is not the most user-friendly system on the market. In fact, for ease of use, this kit would rank at the bottom of the list. However, if you are willing to learn, this may be the perfect blood glucose meter for you.

Learning to use the system isn’t difficult. A well-written user guide and multiple online videos help teach how to calibrate and code the meter and everything you need is provided in the one kit. Once set-up, the user interface is a delight to work with and the strips are not difficult to handle. Once past this stage, it is rare to deal with any errors and readings are as accurate as any other device.

The lancing device comes with multiple settings while the lancets are of generic design, which means long term savings. While the iPet PRO requires more blood than other high-end monitors, low amounts will simply not be recorded.

If you are willing to take the time to learn how to use the iPet PRO, the long-term benefits of low-error rates and higher accuracy will make it all worthwhile.

Price: $$$

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 50 test strips, lancing device and 50 lancets, 2x code strips, control solution, user guide, carry case, logbook. 1 CR2 battery included.
• Requires coding and calibration using the control solution.
• Requires 0.6uL of blood.
• Stores 450 test results.

Pet Control HQ is an Australian company, run by a family of veterinarians, rather than a tech company with little understanding of pets. Their products are purchased by law enforcement agencies and other government organizations for their animals. This sort of reputation is bolstered by extremely friendly customer service.

The blood glucose meter from Pet Control HQ is a very accurate device with a low rate of errors. Like the iPet PRO, it requires calibration and coding but requires slightly less blood to perform an accurate reading. The kit comes with twice as many strips and lancets as most other options.

The Pet Control glucometer does take longer than other devices to come to a result, but you will only ever need to do it once. If the strip is clean and there is enough blood, the results come out perfectly every time.

Where the Pet Control kit fails is in its lancing device. It’s a flimsy pen that often feels like it might break under too much pressure, and it is also difficult to gauge if the lancet has been inserted correctly. If buying this kit, we would recommend also purchasing the Advocate lancing device separately.

If a high level of accuracy is your primary concern, the Pet Control HQ glucometer is one of your best options.

Price: $

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 50 test strips, lancing device and 60 lancets, coding strip, control solution, user guide, carry case, logbook. 2x AAA batteries included.
• Requires coding. Pre-calibrated for cats.
• Requires 0.7uL of blood.
• Stores 500 test results. 7, 14, and 30-day averages.

The EverPaw glucometer is a budget-friendly option that offers more than you might expect. Pre-calibrated, the coding strip only needs to be used once and then forgotten. It is one of the few devices that offer a strip-ejection button, making cleaning easier, and the kit offers more strips and lancets than more expensive options. The device isn’t complex to use, which means the poorly-written user guide isn’t as important as it would be in other kits.

The EverPaw system, however, will require patience. Not as accurate as other systems, it can sometimes present results that are unreliable, which means repeated testing. If there are issues with the device, customer service is neither fast nor helpful.

It has its issues, but for the price being asked, it cannot simply be ignored. If the purse strings are tight, this one purchase will give your pet what it needs for close to two months. Few other systems can say that.

Price: $

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Meter, 30 test strips, user guide, CR2 Battery NOT included.
• Does not require coding. Pre-calibrated for cats.
• Requires 0.7uL of blood.

At half the price of the next cheapest competitor, you have to give GenUltimate!4Pets a hand for taking “budget” to the next level. For less than a takeout lunch, you can have a blood glucose meter that does what it needs to do; no coding or calibration required. If you already have a lancing device and are looking for a back-up system (or one to keep in the car), this might be the option you are looking for.

As one might expect, the GenUltimate!4Pets is far from as accurate as other devices, but it is relatively consistent in its readings, which allows for the reading of trends. It requires no more blood than other low-tier devices and its replacement strips are very affordable.

Price: $$

Just the Facts:

• Kit includes: Hydrophobic cat litter, 2 testing strips, a color-coded chart, and instructions.
• Results in 60 seconds, requires little preparation.

It’s reasonable to want to know about your cat’s health before it has a problem. Being pricked for a glucose test is uncomfortable. A diabetic cat cannot really avoid the practice. Now, though, a healthy cat can be given a preventative check without having to go through such an experience. While you could subject your healthy feline friends to the blood glucose meter, there are more comfortable ways to check if you should be concerned. The best of these is the KIT4CAT CheckUp Kit.

The kit contains two strips which test the cat’s urine. These strips can indicate when there is high glucose in the kidneys (which means it is very high in the blood) but also checks for urinary tract infections and signs that your pet’s kidney is struggling due to other disorders. The strips can only tell you when the blood glucose is sky-high, so the kit cannot replace blood glucose meters when managing an unhealthy cat. But as an early warning system, there is nothing better.