CAT FOOD

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Just like us, cats need protein. However, they shouldn't get it by drinking milk. There are many cats with a lactose intolerance. If it doesn't give your cat soft stool or downright diarrhea, then a sip from your cereal bowl when you're finished is ok, but don't overdo it. After all, cow's milk is really for cows.

However, Cats absolutely need protein. In fact, they need more protein than dogs do or than we do. Dietary protein supplies the essential amino acids for cats and is needed for the manufacture of antibodies, enzymes, hormones, tissues, and proper pH balance.

Protein and its component amino acids are necessary for energy and for growth and development. So where should a cat get the appropriate amount of protein? Meat, fish, eggs, and poultry. These foods supply COMPLETE proteins which in turn supply the essential amino acids. DO NOT MAKE YOUR CAT BECOME A VEGETARIAN. Plant proteins from legumes, grains, and vegetables contain incomplete proteins which do not provide all essential amino acids that a cat needs. A great example of this is taurine which come from animal protein. Without taurine, cats have become blind and developed serious heart disease. Cat food used to be deficient in taurine and many cats suffered because of this. Taurine is now added to cat food in sufficient amounts to avoid these problems. Cat food nutrition is NOT compatible with being a vegetarian.

Dietary fat is a concentrated source of energy for the cat. It also provides essential fatty acids. Linoleic and arachidonic acids have long been considered to be essential fatty acids (EFAs) for cats. Fat also aids in nutrient utilization and transportation and is involved in cell integrity and metabolic regulation. Saturated fat is found primarily in animal sources and this is what cats need. Cats do not efficiently convert plant sources of essential fatty acids to the needed derivatives.

DHA also adds an important contribution to feline vision, reproductive health, and the immune system. EPA may also be of benefit. Cats must eat meat to obtain arachidonic acid. Also, cats do not convert LA to GLA (as some animals do), but studies show that GLA can benefit feline skin and coat health. The cat would also consume Omega 3s and CLA when eating its natural herbivorous prey.

The bottom line again is that cats are carnivores. Cat food nutrition MUST include animal protein and animal fat.

Minerals must also be included. They are essential to the cat. They are stored in bone and muscle tissue and contribute to enzyme formation, pH balance, nutrient utilization, oxygen transportation, and more. Elemental minerals are generally taken from the earth or water. However, chelated minerals are those that are bound with other organic substances often making them easier for the body to absorb. Minerals, like vitamins, work synergistically. They have a cooperative action between them.

Vitamins are essential for metabolism regulation, normal growth and function. Vitamins are found in food and some are synthesized within the animal's body. There are water- or fat-soluble vitamings. Generally, fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body, while water-soluble vitamins pass through more quickly. Once again, cats break down animal sources of nutrients more readily than plant sources. For example, cats cannot convert beta-carotene from plants to vitamin A (as some animals do), so they need preformed vitamin A from an animal source. Preformed vitamin A needs no conversion.



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Have you ever noticed that your young, normal, healthy cat doesn't seem to ever drink water? I have received calls and letters many times from concerned cat owners who are worried that they never see their cat drinking. This is usually a good sign. The time to be concerned is when you see your cat suddenly drinking more. Cats naturally have a low thirst drive. They are designed to fulfill most of their water requirements by eating fresh raw food. This can lead to health issues for cats that eat only dry cat food. Cats can actually become dehydrated eating the dry food, because they are not "programmed" to drink more water. Their urine can become too concentrated. Along with that can come excess crystal formation and even blockage of the urinary tract.

Even though a healthy cat doesn't drink much, you should always have clean good quality drinking water available to them. Tap water should not be used if your community puts fluoride and chlorine in the water supply. If you have well water, have it tested annually for contaminants.

Providing your cat with a cat drinking fountain has been shown to increase a cat's interest in water. I recommend them to all my patients.

I imagine you're starting to see why cats need a very specific diet and why cat food nutrition is not the same as that of dogs or people. Cats have higher requirements for some things and they cannot break down some things into the parts they need for the proper functioning of their bodies. It is, therefore, essential to feed your cat CAT FOOD.

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