What nutrients does my cat need? What are they all doing?

As a cat owner, I know shopping for cat food can be overwhelming. We all want to give our cats the best nutrition possible, but we don’t necessarily want to spend more money on things they don’t need. It is not uncommon for pet food labels to be misleading. Manufacturers are capitalizing on trends like “grain-free” or “added probiotics” to sell their products. But which ones actually contain the nutrition your cat needs to thrive? And what exactly are all these vitamins and minerals doing for your cat?

Let’s take a look at what nutrients cats need and why. I’ll show you the essential nutrients your cat needs and what they all do!

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Cats are obligate carnivores

The cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they need animal protein to survive. In other words, they must eat meat. In fact, cats can’t digest vegetable protein and they can’t produce certain vitamins and amino acids without meat in their diet. They need meat to survive.

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. They are linked together by chains called polypeptides. Some proteins also contain nitrogen compounds called purines (adenine and guanine). Protein performs many functions in the body like building muscle, maintaining body tissues like skin and organs, transporting oxygen through red blood cells, digestion so food can be more easily absorbed , the production of antibodies to fight disease and the production of enzymes to regulate chemical reactions. in cells throughout the body.

Cats need amino acids

Your cat needs 20 amino acids that his body cannot produce on its own. These essential amino acids must be obtained from food. The most important are taurine, arginine, lysine and methionine.

The importance of taurine

While it’s important to ensure that all essential amino acids are in your cat’s diet, taurine is particularly important. Although taurine is readily available in animal protein, cats cannot store it in their bodies. Therefore, it must be consumed regularly to avoid a deficiency.

Symptoms of taurine deficiency do not appear right away. They develop over several months. By the time it becomes apparent that a cat is deficient in taurine, the deficiency is already serious. Taurine deficiency leads to impaired vision through deterioration of the retina. It also weakens the muscles of the heart, leading to dilated cardiomyopathy.

Omega fatty acids

arachidonic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid, is another vital nutrient for a cat’s health. This fatty acid is used to create prostaglandins and leukotrienes. These compounds are essential for blood clotting and the proper functioning of the immune system. Arachidonic acid also helps cats fight parasites like fleas.

Arachidonic acid can be found in chicken and eggs, but it’s especially high in fish oil supplements like salmon oil. If your cat’s food contains omega-6 fatty acids, chances are she’s getting enough. Overall supplementation should not exceed 2% of their daily caloric intake.

How much protein does a cat need?

Adult cats require a minimum of 6.5 g/100 kcal of protein per day. Pregnant or lactating cats and kittens need 7.5 g/100 kcal per day. Most commercial cat foods contain 1.5 to 2 times this amount of protein. If your cat is eating foods that meet the AAFCO Pet Nutrition Guidelines, you can assume that she is getting enough protein in her diet.

Fats as a source of energy

Fat is an essential nutrient for cats. They need about 0.5-1.5% fat in their diet, but unlike other animals, cats do not store fat for later use. This means they need a steady supply of energy from the foods they eat to maintain a healthy weight and energy level throughout the day.

Although we tend to think fat is bad, a fat-free diet will make your cat sick. Because they are small animals, cats need large amounts of energy from a small amount of food. This is called calorie density, and it’s important for your cat to stay healthy. It’s also why you want to choose foods that pack as many quality nutrients into every bite as possible.

A healthy kitten needs about 60 calories per pound of body weight to stay healthy, while adult cats need 400 to 500 calories per pound per day. The ideal diet will contain about 5-10% fat on a dry matter basis (after all water is removed). This means that if you give your cat 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of food, it should contain between 5 and 10 grams of fat (0.18 ounces).

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Other Important Nutrients

In addition to proteins, amino acids, omega fatty acids, and fats, there are a number of other vitamins and minerals that are important for your cat’s overall health.

Water

Water is not a nutrient in itself, but it is essential. A cat’s body is 70% water. Water helps a cat’s body properly distribute nutrients, maintain body temperature, eliminate toxins, and properly metabolize food. Unlike other animals, cats cannot go without water for more than 24 hours without suffering. serious health consequencesit is therefore very important that they have constant access to drinking water.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is important for healthy vision and maintaining a strong immune system.

Vitamin D

Known as the “sunshine vitamin”, vitamin D plays a crucial role in the functioning of nerves, bones and muscles.

B vitamins

• Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and nerve impulse transmission.
• Vitamin B2, or riboflavin, helps distribute oxygen throughout your cat’s body and improves nutrient breakdown. Vitamin B2 deficiency can lead to a decrease in the quality of your cat’s skin and coat.
• Vitamin B3 (niacin) keeps the gastrointestinal, skin and nervous systems healthy.
• Vitamin B6, or pyridoxine, plays a role in the functioning of the immune system and red blood cells. This vitamin is necessary for proper protein metabolism. B6 deficiency leads to seizures and kidney damage, but it is extremely rare.

The iron

Iron is important for the production of red blood cells and for transporting oxygen throughout the body. Commercial cat foods contain extra iron to meet dietary requirements.

Calcium

Calcium plays a role in a number of different bodily functions, including:

• Bone growth
• Blood clotting
• Muscle contraction
• Transmission of nerve impulses

Magnesium

Magnesium allows your cat’s body to absorb other vitamins and minerals. It also improves bone growth in kittens and helps in the production of digestive enzymes.

Sodium

For your cat’s body to efficiently eliminate toxins and waste and transfer nutrients directly to cells, it needs sodium. Although too much sodium can temporarily increase thirst, excess sodium is excreted through your cat’s urine.

Chloride

Proper protein digestion requires chloride to maintain proper body pH.

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Conclusion

In short, cats need a diet that contains enough nutrients for their bodies to function properly. In most cases, these nutritional needs can be met by feeding high quality commercial cat food. I recommend checking the AAFCO guidelines, which carefully outline the needs of cats, and foods that meet these standards are checked to make sure they contain enough of each compound. If you are unsure if your food meets your cat’s needs, the best resource is your veterinarian. They can recommend the best food for your cat.

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Featured Image Credit: Snowice_81, Shutterstock