Necessary Nutrients

Whichever type of food you feed your cat, either the one you buy in specialized stores or homemade food, there are some basic elements that cannot miss in their diet: nutrients.

Proteins
These are fundamental for their growth, good for their bone structure for their reproduction. They are also a source of energy and give shine to their hair. 

We can find them in meat, eggs, milk and their derivatives. They represent in their diet between 25 to 35%.

Fats
It is an indispensable source of calories. It has great importance for their coating. We can find them in vegetable or animal oil. Their percentage goes between 15 to 35% of their nutrition. 

Fiber
It is essential for the good intestinal functioning. They can be found in the beets pulp, corn, etc. Special diets exist with high source of fiber for those with intestinal problems or that need to loose some weight.

Carbohydrates
They are not well tolerated by cats if its not well cooked and in small amount in their diets. We find them in potatoes, rice and corn. Good source of energy and help control a good intestinal functioning. 

Minerals and Vitamins
Necessary in many vital functions as the good functioning of muscles, skeleton, organs in general and nervous system. We have calcium, phosphorus, potassium and all the vitamins of group A,B and C.

Trace elements
Like copper, zinc, magnesium etc, should be included in all diets so the nutrition is complete. All of these elements give good nutrition, and after that give some importance of giving prepared food and of good quality. 

Cats need a lot of proteins since they are carnivorous and if they have a deficit, it provokes alterations in the skeleton, coating or any other organic system. If we want to cook a daily portion for our cat, we have to keep in mind all the ingredients mentioned and we have to control the portions as the quality of the food.

The importance of water
Cats are not known to be good drinkers in general, although they love to drink water out of the sinks or water fountains., especially if its fresh.

Water is an essential part of their diets, drinking water helps them avoid any urinary problems in the future. Give them fresh water everyday in a clean bowl.

If our cats food is moistened, it will require less water in their daily intake and keep in mind that they don't eliminate water as much as we do (sweating, for example). Even though we see them drink little, it is not necessary to worry so much.

When nursing cats pass to eating solid foods, they need to drink more water, in fact, they will drink more than when they are adults. Once finished the nursing period, they don't need any more milk.