Cat Food Carbohydrates - The Importance of Carbohydrates in Your Cat’s Diet

Carb-loading—you hear athletes talk about it all the time. But cats are not like people, and they not only don’t need to carb load and carbohydrates can take a back seat to protein.

Think of cats as almost being on something akin to the Atkin’s diet—a diet made mostly of meat.

Cats are called “obligate” carnivores because they are true carnivores and, as such, their diets consist mostly of meat.

Cats require protein from meat sources because their nutrient requirements for amino acids come from meat only. Plant proteins cannot fill their nutrient requirements.

But, like people, cats need a balance to their diets. Their meals should include a high-quality protein source, complex carbohydrates and some fat. Cats can use carbohydrates in other ways; one example is as a source of energy. Just like for athletes, complex carbohydrates feed us, and cats, with energy. A balanced diet ensures cats are receiving a wide range of nutrients from different sources.

And just like for athletes who carb load, cats need complex carbohydrates from quality sources like potatoes, sweet potatoes, even whole corn.

Some people even use fruits and vegetables as treats for their cats. You can experiment and see what he may like. Dr. Martin Goldstein, DVM, author of “The Nature of Animal Healing,” Knopf, noted that his cat was obsessed with cantaloupe.

What kind of nutrients can cats get from fruits and vegetables? They can vitamins like C and minerals like calcium. Fruits and vegetables also supply antioxidants that can help support a healthy immune system.

When looking at prepackaged pet foods, determine if the carbohydrates come from a healthy source. For example, as simple carbohydrates, high fructose corn syrup or sucrose are sugars and are not a healthy way for cats to receive their energy. Complex carbohydrates are a much healthier option. The label should show sources of complex carbohydrates that are easily recognizable fruits like blueberries or vegetables like potatoes and peas.

The issue about carbohydrates arises when cats have health issues that prevent them from eating the amount of protein they need. Such issues may be kidney or liver disease, where they need to eat less meat protein to reduce the strain on their already taxed organs. To meet nutrient and caloric requirements for these cats, homemade diets with quality meat sources, such as ground chicken or turkey, can be complemented by the addition of cooked grains (like rolled oats) and vegetables. Supplements can be added to balance out what may be missing from such diets such as the amino acid taurine.

So, to answer the question, does your cat need carbohydrates? Yes but not as much as she needs protein from an animal source. And you can feed your cat fruits and vegetables as a part of her diet to enhance her health, give her a treat and give her meal some zest.

Next article: Cat Food Vitamins & Minerals - How They Benefit Your Cat’s Health