Cat Nutritional Needs

It is very important to indicate that the cat, in spite of having more than 5,000 years of domestication, is still a carnivorous animal. Therefore, the nutritional program must be based on meat. Cats are incapable to digest and absorb nutrients of most of food coming from vegetable.

Proteins: Proteins are the bricks of which the organism is built of, and are necessary for the growth and maintenance of the different tissues of the body.

There are approximately twenty different amino acids. Proteins are biological compounds formed by the combination of different amino acids

Cats protein needs are much more than that of dogs; a cat´s typical food serving must contain in between 25 - 30% of proteins, specially of animal origin.

Fatty acids: Fat composed by fatty acids, is an immeasurable source of heat and energy. Cat's need nourishment that contains high level of fat (more than a dog). Between 15 and 40% of the total energy coming from their food ration must come from fat.

According to the chemical structure, fatty acids are classified in omega 6 and omega 3; they are also divided in essential and non essential. Fatty acids regulate blood flux, and contribute with the immune system in order for this to respond in an adequate way and help keep cat's skin and hair in healthy conditions.

Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates main purpose is to serve as a source of energy, for which they are considered very important in animal nourishment. Cat's need a diet that contains small quantities of carbohydrates, being this about 5% of the total energy provided by the serving.

The main sources of carbohydrates are starch and sugars. Cat's assimilate sugars best. A way of helping cats assimilate more complex sources of carbohydrates - for example, those coming from potato, corn, pastas, etc,- is cooking them well.

Minerals: Minerals are essential in developing bones and tissues and for the correct functioning of the organism.

Cats need several minerals such as calcium and phosphorus which contribute to teeth formation and healthy bones. Iron and copper participate in the formation of red blood cells, etc. There are also other minerals of which cat´s need small quantities to preserve their good health. Lack of minerals can be noticed when cats start being fed with "home" diets or commercial foods that carry different formulas.

Vitamins: If the cat is young and healthy and its food servings are adequately balanced, supplementary vitamins should not be necessary. Unnecessary provisions of supplements can lead you to toxemia, which could be very dangerous for the cat.

Hydro soluble vitamins are those that can be soluble to water and these are B1, B2, B6, nicotinamid, panthotenic acid, folic acid, B12 or cobalamine, biotin and colina.

These vitamins are involved in several metabolic processes and are essential in blood formation, the normal functioning of the nervous system, the maintenance of a healthy skin and hair, and others.

Lipoid soluble vitamins are soluble in the same solvents that fats are. Some of these lipoid soluble vitamins are vitamins A, D, E and K.

Vitamins help keep a healthy vision, it also regulates the absorption of calcium. Vitamin E, for example, is an antioxidant and it helps reproduction while vitamin K helps blood to coagulate.

Water: Water is not only a means to satisfy thirst, but also, to help transport proteins and other main nutrients throughout cats metabolism. Besides, a cats corporal weight is formed by 70% of water.

For cats it is most important to have fresh water at all times, being necessary to settle its drinking area in a fresh, shadowy and accessible place, where its food and water will not be contaminated by any strange particles.