“Each individual nutrient can have a deficiency syndrome,” says Dr. Given the important roles that they play, minerals - like proteins and vitamins - must be appropriately balanced in a cat’s system. They help maintain the body’s tissues, its fluid flow, and a proper balance of electrolytes (compounds that regulate the electric charge across cell membranes), as well as serving important roles in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, sodium, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, zinc and iodine are also essential to a cat’s health. And a deficiency of vitamin E can lead to a potentially fatal disorder called steatitis, which is marked by the inflammation of an animal’s body fat. A lack of vitamin B1 (thiamine) can result in weight loss and severe neurologic disorders. “For example, a vitamin D deficiency can cause bone problems - like osteoporosis in elderly humans - that can lead to fractures,” she says.Ī vitamin A deficiency, on the other hand, may cause retarded growth, decline in appetite, eye infections, poor muscle coordination and brain damage. Heinze, depend on which vitamin is deficient in quantity. A wide array of disorders can result from an animal’s inability to produce sufficient amounts of vitamins or from a lack of these substances in her food. Some vitamins are produced within a cat’s system, while others must be consumed in the routine diet. Vitamins are water- or fat-soluble organic substances that exist naturally in plant and animal foods and are needed in small amounts for the growth and proper functioning of the feline body. Heinze says: “While cats as well as humans need them in order to maintain healthy blood sugar, cats make their own carbohydrates, so they don’t need them added to their diets.” The essential components in the feline diet include vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats. Heinze believes that owners should be aware of what the components of such diets are, their functions in the feline system and the potential risks involved in feeding a regimen - such as a homemade diet - that may be deficient. It’s really, really uncommon.”Īlthough the vast majority of owners need not worry that their animals may not be consuming a complete and well-balanced diet, Dr. There are a couple of medical conditions in which it could happen, but if you’re feeding a good-quality commercial diet, you’ll not have a nutritional problem in terms of a deficiency in 99 percent of cats. It’s very rare these days that a veterinarian sees a cat who doesn’t do well on these foods. Heinze, “Most veterinarians would credit modern commercially available diets with improving overall feline health and contributing to the longer lifespans enjoyed by today’s pet cats. The ingredients of the best commercial products are based on requirements published annually by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which stipulate that - in order to be labeled “complete” and “balanced” - the foods must comply with rigorous AAFCO nutritional standards.Īccording to Dr. Fortunately, says Cailin Heinze, VMD, assistant professor of nutrition at the Cummings School, nutritionally sound cat foods are readily available in abundance these days on the shelves of local supermarkets and pet supply stores. While individual cats may differ dramatically in various ways, all are alike in their need for a nutritionally sound and palatable daily diet.
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