Do Cats Need a High Protein Diet?
Cats are incredible animals and great pets. Unlike dogs, cats need a high protein diet. Englishtown Vet MD has some tips on proper high-protein cat nutrition for your feline carnivores.
Cat Nutrition is Different
A cat who is fed like a dog or even a human is not likely to live their best life. The nutritional needs of cats are very different from many other species.
One of the main differences between cats and dogs is their need for protein. Canids (dogs) are omnivorous and can thrive on a combination of animal and plant nutritional sources. Cats, on the other hand, are obligate carnivores. They need much more animal protein in their diet to survive and do not do well on a vegetarian diet.
Cats have unique dietary requirements that include:
- High-protein nutritional demands (up to 2-3 times higher than dogs)
- Arginine (an amino acid found in animal protein)
- Taurine (an amino acid found in animal protein)
- Vitamin A (must be ingested through animal sources)
- Vitamin D (must be ingested through animal sources)
- Increased B vitamin requirements
Cats require a high-protein, balanced diet formulated by someone who has in depth knowledge of their unique nutritional needs.
Feeding Guidelines
Feeding your cat is more complicated than meets the eye, so selecting a balanced food for your pet is important.
Choose options that you can trust to meet all of their needs. Good qualities include:
- Contact information available for the food manufacturer
- Employing a full time animal nutritionist with either a PhD in animal nutrition or a board certification by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition/European College of Veterinary Nutrition
- AAFCO feeding trial tested
- Compliance with answering information on the Pet Food Manufacturer Report
Individual cats can differ as well. Feeding a strictly indoor cat looks different from a cat who spends time outdoors. Some cats may also have specific nutritional or medical needs that should be taken into account.
High Protein and Weight Management
Most cats in the United States (about 60%) are overweight, so paying attention to this when feeding your feline is important. Being too heavy increases your pet’s risk of many health conditions such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular issues, urinary problems, and even cancer.
Please contact us so that we can help to determine an appropriate weight for your cat and get you started on the right path for keeping them healthy.
When it comes to cat nutrition, we are here to help you feed your pet appropriately. It can be a little overwhelming, but having an idea of the unique needs of the feline is a great place to start.