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Choosing the Right Food for Your Cat's Nutrition

Loving your cat vs. knowing your cat

Being a cat lover doesn't automatically guarantee that you shall know best about your cat's dietary needs. You need to take special care to provide them with the special combination of food elements which are necessary for their growth, good health and survival.

What your kitty really, really wants

The dietary requirements of the feline species differ considerably from those of human beings. So trying to base your cat's daily fare on what you yourself normally eat may be detrimental to its health. There is a reason why cat food is a separate industry.

For instance, cats have little need for carbohydrates in their diet. Carbohydrates are sugars and starches, the principal component of such food items as sugar, glucose, bread, rice, flour, corn and so forth. Human beings depend on carbohydrates for the most part of their diet. It is their staple. That is because humans are omnivorous – they eat nearly everything that can be eaten, including both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Their alimentary system is constructed to deal with all these kinds of food.

The alimentary system of cats is totally different. They do not have most of the enzymes and other stuff needed to handle a diet based mainly on carbohydrates. Rather, they require high-quality proteins to form the greatest part of their diet.

Not manufactured here

Human beings also need proteins, but their need is much less, because their bodies can synthesize proteins from other food like carbohydrates. Cats cannot manufacture their own proteins. They need a direct source of animal protein. In particular, they need two amino acids (which are the basic building blocks of proteins) called taurine and arginine, without which they might develop severe health problems like a disease of the retina in their eyes, a certain type of heart disease, and dysfunctions of their reproductive system.

So when you buy cat food, avoid cheap brands which do not mention the exact components on the label. Responsible cat food manufacturers will always give you detailed nutritional information about the product you are buying. Look for the sources of protein they mention. In addition to naming the animal sources, some brands also mention the parts of those animals from which the food has been derived. Chicken livers and chicken hearts are particularly rich in taurine and arginine, the two essential amino acids for cats.

Why kitty shall never be a buddhist

Some vegetarian or vegan people try to impose their dietary preferences on their pets too. This can be fatal for your cat. Cats almost completely lack the ability to process or derive nutrition from vegetable sources. Forcing them to eat non-animal foods will seriously compromise their health, and may lead to illness or even death.

Some cats will overcome this problem by going outside and hunting little animals (for cats are very efficient and natural hunters) for food. However, cats that are confined to the house will suffer greatly if restricted to a vegetarian or vegan diet. This type of restriction amounts to cruelty towards your pet. If you are totally averse to allowing animal protein inside your house, you had best give your cat away to someone who can take better care of it.