Important Facts About Cat Nutrition

Feline nutritional needs have been studied for many decades, but the public is often misinformed about cats' dietary needs. Sometimes this misinformation stems from scientific research that failed to consider important variables; other times the misinformation is simply part of the folk myths carried from one generation to the next. So, what should you feed your cat? What should you avoid? Here are some facts every cat owner should know about cat nutrition:

Foods once deemed suitable for cats are now known to be inappropriate. For instance, it was once commonly accepted that cats should be feed bowls of cream or milk. The truth is most cats are lactose intolerant and can develop digestive distress if given cow milk or cream.

Garlic was once recommended as a food additive to help control fleas in cats. It is now known that garlic (and onions) can cause a type of anemia in cats and dogs.

Cat nutritional needs vary slightly from cat to cat. Much depends on the cat's age, general health, and genetic disposition (some breeds do better on some foods than on others. Long-haired breeds, for example, may require additional fiber to prevent fur balls. Breeds prone to skin allergy may need more essential fatty acids in their diet). But all cats have similar general nutritional needs and for all cats there are certain foods that should be avoided.

Cats require good quality protein and nutrients such as taurine

About Taurine: taurine is an amino acid essential to feline health. Lack of taurine in a cat's diet can lead to blindness, dilated cardiomyopathy* and other serious health problems. Because taurine is so important, and because cats lose taurine quickly and their body cannot create taurine/synthesize taurine , it is a common ingredient in commercial cat foods. Meat is the best source of taurine and is one reason why cats should not be put on vegetarian diets. (A link about taurine is provided at the end of this article)

Some foods you should not feed cats:

Do not feed raw fish or meats to cats. Raw fish contains enzymes that inhibit vitamin B1 and can result in brain damage in cats. Raw fish can also contain parasites and can transmit diseases to a cat.

Be cautious about feeding raw meat to a cat.

I know that there is a current trend towards the BARF (Bones and Raw Food) diet. I will not argue for or against that diet because at this moment I have not researched it thoroughly (I plan on researching that in the future). The BARF diet has many advocates but the jury is still out on whether or not this diet is suitable for cats. If you do feed your cat raw meats you should take special precautions against food poisoning.

Cats can get food poisoning such as salmonella from raw meats. Cats may seem to have a hardier system than we when it comes to eating "off" foods--and they may handle slightly off foods better. However, cats can and do get food poisoning and it can be serious. Although cats tend to be picky and will often refuse to eat unsuitable foods, you should never assume that a cat won't eat meat that contains pathogens such as salmonella or parasites such as trichinella spiralis (which causes trichinosis) which is sometimes found in pork products.

Don't feed dog food to a cat.

Dog food does not contain proper nutrients for cats. Cats require a lot more protein than dogs and a cat's physiological needs are simply very different from a dog's needs.

About feeding commercial baby food to cats

Baby food is commonly fed to cats that are ill. You should consult with your veterinarian about foods your ailing cat will do best on until she recovers. If you do feed baby food to your cat you need to be careful that it does not contain onion powder (many baby foods do). According to many respectable sources, including pet education.com (see link at end of article) , onions can cause a type of serious anemia in cats and should be avoided. (onions should not be fed to dogs either, for the same reason).

Don't feed grapes or raisins to your cat (most cats won't eat these anyway, but you never know).

Should you give vitamin Supplements to cats?

If you are already feeing a cat food containing a good balance of essential nutrients to your cat, there is usually no need for additional supplements. Certain supplements, such as Vitamin A, D, and minerals calcium and phosphorous can cause health problems if the cat gets too much.

However, when a cat is ill or not eating enough food, sometimes supplements are in order. I prefer Nutrical or similar nutritional supplements when a cat is ill. Nutrical is a flavored gel that comes in a tube and is packed full of calories and vitamins. You should always first check with your veterinarian if your cat seems ill or has a loss of appetite. Temporary loss of appetite is not always serious, but can indicate a serious medical condition. Also, sudden weight loss can be very harmful for cats. Here is why:

Cats who go without eating and lose weight too quickly can develop a very serious condition called Fatty Liver (the clinical name is hepatic lipidosis). This causes enlargement of the liver. Any cat that suddenly stops eating, or eats too little should be taken to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Feline hepatic lipidosis can happen quickly in many cases. The sooner it is addressed, the better. Feline Fatty Liver is one of the most common causes of liver disease in cats and it can be fatal.

Cat nutritional needs have been studied for many years now but cat nutrition is not an exact science. There are many variables that must be considered. Commercial cat foods claim to be balanced and fine for daily consumption. Most pet owners know, however, that there can be significant differences in quality from brand to brand. We want the best for our cats, but it is often difficult, and frustrating, to sort through all the information (and misinformation) about cats' dietary needs. I hope this article has given you a better idea of essential nutrition for cats and foods to avoid.

Sources and Helpful Links:

To learn more about trichinosis, click HERE

Learn all about Hepatic Lipidosis HERE

To learn more about taurine, click HERE