These nutrients your cat needs
As carnivores (meat eaters), cats are completely specialized in animal food and the nutrients it contains: the cat's teeth, digestive system and metabolism are all designed to cut up and process meat. If a cat has to feed itself, small vertebrates such as mice are particularly popular on the menu. It catches between 10 and 20 of these small rodents every day and can thus cover its entire nutritional needs - including its water and fiber needs. Since cats mainly absorb fluids through food, they drink very little. Fiber is found in the stomachs of their prey - in the form of pre-digested plant remains.
But what can our carnivorous house cats not do without? Read on to find out more.
nutrient pyramid:
1: Vitamins
2: Minerals
3: Carbohydrates
4: fiber-rich supplements
5: Fats
6: animal proteins
The most important nutrients in cat nutrition
The most important nutrients - the so-called macronutrients - provide energy and building materials. These are carbohydrates, proteins and fat. However, cats hardly need carbohydrates - they absorb them indirectly in small quantities from their prey. In this respect, their tolerance for the utilization of carbohydrates is low.
Then there are the micronutrients : minerals (macro and trace elements) and vitamins (water-soluble and fat-soluble). In principle, they do not provide the body with any energy, but in smaller quantities they are absolutely necessary for the physical functions of your animal. The mouse, the typical prey of a wild cat, consists of around 65 percent water. Of the remaining portion (dry portion), around 50 to 60 percent is protein, 20 to 30 percent fat, three to eight percent carbohydrates and 6 to 8 percent minerals - this is the benchmark for species-appropriate cat nutrition.
Cats that are growing, pregnant or nursing, as well as older animals, have different nutritional needs. To ensure that your cat is receiving the right nutrition, you should consult your veterinarian.
The nutritional pyramid for healthy, adult cats provides information about the ratio of the individual nutrients to each other.
proteins
Proteins are naturally occurring substances that consist exclusively or predominantly of amino acids. Their main function is the formation and maintenance of body substances and the building of muscles. Animal proteins play the main role in cat nutrition.
The amino acids essential for cats are found in particular in muscle meat, heart, poultry and fish, as well as in eggs. Although offal, connective tissue, cartilage, tendons and skin also contain proteins, cats cannot utilize them optimally. Your furry friend needs around four to five grams of high-quality protein per kilogram of body weight per day.
Attention: Cats during growth, pregnancy and lactation have an increased need for protein! You should therefore have the food rations calculated by experts.
fats
Animal fats are another important nutrient for cats. The body converts these into glycerin and fatty acids: Glycerin provides the cat with energy and the fatty acids promote a healthy immune system and digestion. Examples of typical fats are beef tallow or goose fat. Oils can be obtained from various plants (e.g. olive oil, evening primrose oil, hemp oil, etc.) or from fish (e.g. salmon oil). Fish oils are particularly recommended for cats due to their high content of essential fatty acids.
Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that must be ingested through food, as cats cannot produce it themselves. It ensures healthy skin and fur. Another essential fatty acid is arachidonic acid , which cats cannot synthesize themselves due to an enzyme deficiency and which must also be ingested through food. It is particularly important for metabolism. Linolenic acid keeps cell membranes intact, ensures the proper functioning of the central nervous system and strong immune systems. Cats can produce this amino acid from linoleic acid.
fiber / high-fiber supplements
Dietary fiber is plant-based fiber that has a positive effect on
digestive processes and are therefore a useful addition to the bowl.
Feed cellulose or wheat bran are particularly rich in crude fiber. Requirements: approx. 1–2 g per kg of body weight.
- Vegetables: raw and finely grated, blanched, pureed
- possibly herbs
carbohydrates
Carbohydrates and starch are difficult for cats to digest because they lack a special enzyme in their saliva that breaks down starch. Their need for them and their tolerance threshold for digestion are correspondingly low. Wheat and the gluten it contains can lead to intolerances and should therefore not be included in cat food.
For production reasons, dry food can contain higher amounts of carbohydrates. The starch is therefore broken down during production and thus made digestible. You should therefore prefer wet food to dry food - also because house cats meet their fluid requirements mainly through food.
minerals
Minerals can be divided into macro and trace elements based on the amount they are needed by the body – they are involved in almost all processes in the body.
The macronutrients calcium and phosphorus, magnesium, sodium and potassium are particularly important for cats. Calcium and phosphorus must be in a 1:1 ratio. This way they complement each other optimally and strengthen bones and teeth.
The trace elements iron, manganese, zinc, copper and selenium play an important role in a functioning metabolism.
- Meat provides phosphorus and zinc, but little calcium and other minerals.
- Offal/organs: Heart, liver, kidney, stomach, tripe (green and white) provide copper, iron and selenium. Offal is less digestible for cats than muscle meat.
- Fish: Iodine
- Dairy products: They are easily digestible and valuable sources of calcium.
vitamins
Vitamins, among other things, enable the metabolism to function smoothly - they increase resistance and protect the cells. A distinction must be made between fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and water-soluble vitamins (B group, C) - all of which are vital for your cat. It is important to note the limited amount of vegetables and fruit that cats can accept - which is why these should never be the main source of vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins include:
- Vitamin A (e.g. in: heart, liver, kidney, stomach, green and white tripe)
- Vitamin D (e.g. in eggs)
- Vitamin E (e.g. in: vegetable oils, meat)
- Vitamin K (e.g. parsley, chives, veal liver)
Water-soluble vitamins include the B complex vitamins (e.g. in liver, kidneys, heart, fish) and vitamin C (found in fresh fruit, vegetables, or liver, for example). When buying food, pay attention to the ingredients list - vitamin E is occasionally added as a preservative.
The functions of vitamins are diverse – among others, they are involved in:
- bone metabolism
- skin and hair health
- vision
- immune system
What happens if there is under- or over-supply?
A lack or excess of nutrients can lead to illness, so it is important for you as an owner to find out about your animal's exact needs - your most important contact person should always be your veterinarian.
Undersupply of proteins (amino acids):
- Cats cannot produce the aminosulfonic acid taurine through their own metabolism. Taurine is important for the synthesis of bile salts and is therefore added to cat food during the production process. A deficiency can lead to eye or heart disease and fertility problems.
- High arginine requirement: This essential amino acid is important for the urea cycle. A lack of it can result in ammonia poisoning in the cat. Arginine is usually present in sufficient quantities in meat.
Undersupply of trace elements:
- Iodine is a component of thyroid hormones. An excess of iodine leads to hyperthyroidism (a common disease in older cats).
- Iron (oxygen transport): Does your cat have pale mucous membranes and is weak and tired? Then it may have an iron deficiency.
Oversupply of carbohydrates:
If a cat consumes too many carbohydrates, fermentation in the intestines will occur, resulting in acidic diarrhea.
Over- and undersupply of vitamins:
- Excessive liver feeding can lead to an excess of vitamin A (hypervitaminosis A).
- Most feeds contain very little vitamin K. However, the bacteria in the normal intestinal flora produce vitamin K, so a deficiency only occurs when this intestinal flora becomes unbalanced (e.g. in the case of diarrhoea).
- The water-soluble vitamins are simply excreted in the urine if too much is consumed. In comparison to the fat-soluble vitamins, an oversupply is therefore impossible.
- If your cat is vomiting, is very thin, and even seems disoriented, he may have a vitamin B1 deficiency.
- Vitamin B6 deficiency: promotes the formation of kidney stones Lack of biotin (or vitamin B7): promotes skin problems
- Cats can produce vitamin C in their livers themselves, so there is no need to give it to them to strengthen their immune system. They simply excrete it unused in their urine.
What nutrients does my cat need?
What nutrients does my cat need?
Food emergency? The nutrition hotline helps
If you have any questions about animal nutrition, we will be happy to help you. Call us during our service hours or send us an email with your request:
- Telephone: 0800 / 474 476 0
- Email: hotline@dr-clauder.com
These are our service times:
- Monday and Wednesday 3 - 9 pm
- Tuesday and Thursday 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Friday 3 - 7 pm
- Sunday 3 - 5 pm (every 1st Sunday of the month)
Also take a look at the FAQs: Maybe the answer to your question is there?
