With a glossy coat and bright eyes, a lithe lean feline full of energy is the picture of health. But as the propensity of domesticated cats to grow overweight grows quickly, keeping your cat fit and healthy requires a little bit of knowledge on your part, especially on the subject of feline diet.
Because cats are carnivores, they require a high percentage of protein specifically from animal sources that will provide necessary nutrients like the amino acid taurine. Taurine deficiency has been shown to cause heart failure, blindness and reproductive problems. Typically, cats require about 25% protein for adults and 30% protein for kittens in their daily diets.
Though not a natural part of a feline’s diet, carbohydrates are usable by cats, and the fiber in carbohydrates assists in maintaining healthy bowels.
Experts say that about 40% of cat’s daily calories come from fat, which helps aid in the absorption of vitamins.
Vitamins come in two different types—water- and fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins are excreted when taken in doses higher than necessary. Cats, like people, require such water-soluble vitamins B vitamins, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, choline, vitamin C and folic acid.
Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the fat, so excess intake can be harmful. Fat-soluble vitamins include vitamins A, D, E and K. Some oils interfere with particular vitamins; for example, hairball remedies can affect vitamin absorption, and the oil in canned tune can affect vitamin E absorption.
Also, like people, a healthy feline diet require minerals such as potassium, calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium chloride and magnesium; however, they should be fed a diet that is relative low in calcium and magnesium because these two minerals can lead to urinary tract problems in male cats.
Many pet owners wonder about the safety of feeding treats to their cats. If you feed him cat treats, that’s usually okay, but keep in mind that they are not nutritionally balanced and should not take the place of his regular food.
Weight, obesity in particular, is a serious problem for most indoor cats. A simple way of determining your cat’s weight is by feeling and observing his backbone and ribs. If the ribs and backbone show through his skin, he is too thin. And because such thinness can be a sign of parasite infestation or serious illness, your cat needs to see a veterinarian.
If the ribs cannot be felt, the cat is likely overweight. Obesity can contribute to many problems in cats including increased mortality, diabetes, joint and respiratory problems, among others. Talk to your veterinarian about the best way to reduce your cat’s weight.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) establishes regulations that pet food manufacturers provide accurate information on their pet food product labels. Experts suggest that when selecting cat food, make sure the label contains an AAFCO statement as to the “complete and balanced” nutritional nature of the food.
Because kittens require higher protein, feed kitten food to kittens. At a year old, he can be gradually switched to adult food by mixing the new food with the old over a period of days and gradually increasing the new food.
According to an article in FDA Consumer Magazine, May 2001, some experts recommend that you switch pet foods every few months to increase the variety and that doing so may help prevent deficiencies.
The Animal Medical Center in New York notes that caloric intake varies with each cat depending on how active he is, his age and his health. But a healthy, active 8-lb adult cat requires about 30 calories per pound per day. So, an 8-lb cat would likely require about 240 calories (they are actually kilocalories but are called calories in cat nutrition) per day.
Typical caloric contents are 300 calories/cup dry food and 250 calories/6 ˝ oz. can. So your 8-lb cat would likely then need 4/5 cup of dry food and slightly less than a full 6 ˝ oz can of moist food each day. Check with your veterinarian and read the labels on pet food to determine the appropriate feeding for your cat.
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