Nutritional Requirements for Cats
Pet owners of today face a wide variety of choices when deciding what to buy
for their cats. These choices can and will determine the health of the feline.
Good nutritional choices will mean a long, sustainable, illness-free life. Bad
choices can mean suffering and premature aging and death for the animal.
So what are some basic concepts to understand about the needs of your cat?
The first thing to remember is that a cat is a carnivore. In the wild, felines,
like lions and tigers, feed on meat. The same should be so for any
domestically raised cat. They need meat and also an abundant supply of
water. Water is the single most important nutrient on earth. Carnivores
need extra water due to their higher muscle content.
Other vitamins your cat needs include vitamin A, D, E and B complex. Also
niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin are needed for a complete nutritional
complement. Taurine is an important amino acid for felines. They cannot
manufacture enough of this nutritional supplement by themselves. One
supplement they do not need to consume is vitamin C. Cats synthesize enough
of this nutrient within their bodies, as well as vitamin K.
Other vitamins and minerals like calcium are important but keep in mind that
overdoing the supplement portion of your pet’s intake can be problematic as
well. Always check to make sure the proper dosage has been adhered to
before feeding your cat vitamins and minerals. And keep in mind the vitamins
they do not need to consume.
They need copper, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, selenium, and other
supplements but they also need natural sunlight, exercise, though not as much
as a dog, and proper attention in order to be fully healthy. Think of your cats
as total beings, not just something you feed everyday. Make sure they get
plenty of play everyday with household toys or furniture they can climb on.
Many items can be designed with their enjoyment in mind, including where
they sleep.
There are plenty of ways to feed them prepared meals and if this is the
route you go, make sure the storage and handling of this food, especially any
meat, is done in the proper way. The benefit of preparing meals for your pets
is twofold. First, it encourages the pet owner to take responsibility for the
health of their pets. By taking the direct responsibility of what goes into
their pet’s mouth, the owner is learning by doing and seeing what works for
their animal.
The second and arguably the most important benefit to preparing your pet’s
meals yourself is that you can avoid the chemicals and by-products found in
most store bought food. These by-products have no place in the natural diet
of a cat or any animal. Cats need nutritious substances that come from the
earth and do not include man-made chemicals or additives.
Get More Info Below....
Correct your cat behavior
problems! Check out this
site for the latest info on
cat behavioral problems.
Informational sites
and eBooks.
|
