Food For Felines: Why Nutrition Is So Important To Your Cat

Allison Salonko — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 23:48:14 +0000

Cats, just like all creatures, require specific nutrients and minerals for optimum health. Feeding our feline friends a balanced diet is truly important for growth and overall maintenance of their bodies. Pet parents should always be informed on what nutrition is the most important and how we can keep our lovely kitty companions happy and healthy for many years.

A nutritious and balanced diet is important for healthy growth and development, as well as the overall physical and mental health of cats.

What Essential Nutrients Do Cats Need?

As a veterinary technician I am often asked by new pet parents what food would be best for their cat. I always tell them, anything that is balanced and complete like an over the counter cat food. But it is important to understand what makes a commercial diet nutritionally balanced.

When it comes to cats, there are several nutritional components in their diet that are key to their longevity. All of these necessary nutrients perform a specific job in the body and are broken down into 6 different categories.

Fat
Protein
Carbohydrate
Water
Vitamin
Mineral

While all of these nutrients are essential, there are a few that are particularly important for our feline friends. Such as protein, fat and carbohydrates, which are major energy sources for cats. Protein provides essential amino acids and fat is also important for their coat and skin and helps promote wound healing.

How Much Protein Should Cats Eat?

Many people are familiar with how cats are carnivores, but did you know that they are what’s called “obligate carnivores”? Meaning that they MUST have meat protein in their diet for appropriate growth, health and ultimately survival. A cat will die if they are not fed a diet that consists of a meat based protein.

Protein is a very important energy source for felines and it also helps develop and maintain muscle, fur, nails, skin, ligaments, tendons, hormones and so much more. A cat should eat no less than 30% of their diet in protein.

Why Do Cats Need Animal Protein?

A cat’s body requires the nutrients that animal protein provides. The main reason for it is the amino acids that the protein breaks down into and then reassembled into the type of protein the feline needs at the time. Many other species of animal, such as those that are omnivores or herbivores can synthesize certain amino acids, but cats, unfortunately, cannot. Which is why felines have evolved to ingest specific amino acids that are exclusively in other animal tissues.

Because eating meat is necessary for survival, that is why they have been dubbed obligate carnivores. Sorry to say, but your feline overlord can’t live off a vegan or vegetarian diet.

What Extra Amino Acids Do Cats Need?

Most animals only need about 9 essential amino acids to stay healthy and well balanced, but cats actually require 2 more, called Taurine and Arginine.

Taurine is necessary for their overall eye and heart health. Cats that are deprived of meat based proteins will eventually go blind from retinal degeneration and heart failure from dilated cardiomyopathy. Other issues with their central nervous system can be seen as well.

Arginine deficiency can be a swift killer. It leads to elevated levels of ammonia in the bloodstream, which can lead to seizures and death due to effects it has on the neurologic system.

Feline Nutrition: How Do I Make Sure I Am Feeding My Cat What They Need?

Many commercial diets are going to cover the basics of what a cat needs nutritionally. I know there are hundreds of cat foods on the market but you can’t go wrong with most dry foods from a reputable source.

Recommended Brands:

Trying to feed a homemade diet can potentially run into disastrous issues with lacking in certain essential ingredients. Make it easy on yourself and your cats by providing them with a good brand of food that is balanced and nutritionally complete.