To keep your cat healthy and happier, you need to feed it a source of animal protein. They are carnivores, so they require all the right nutrients for growth. Furthermore, high-quality commercial cat food keeps them active, maintains their body, and prevents illness. Being a pet parent, you need to know what you should feed to the best cat food. Moreover, here is a breakdown of what you should feed them.
What essential nutrients should you add to your cat’s diet?
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Protein to add to cat food
Cats require more protein in their diet than any other animal. Protein helps them maintain their skin, muscles, nails, ligaments, hormones, and antibodies. The cat’s body can produce amino acids by itself, but there are a few amino acids that you must add to your cat’s diet.
- Arginine
- Histidine
- Leucine
- Methionine
- Taurine
- Valine
The following amino acids can be supplied through meat and other animal tissues.
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Amount of fat in your cat diet
When proteins are necessary energy sources for cats, fat is also required in their rich diet. Furthermore, it acts as the transport molecules & assists in conducting nerve impulses. The necessary fats you should add to your cat food are Omega-3 & Omega-6. Furthermore, it assists them in the health of coat & skin, wound healing & inflammation. The necessary ingredients that contain healthy fats are Soybean oil, chicken, salmon, fish oil, beef, and liver.
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Necessity of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are necessary energy sources for cats. Cat diet contains not natural but huge amounts of carbohydrates, but it may promote weight gain, diabetes, and heart issues. So, you should add less than 10% of carbohydrates to your diet.
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Adding vitamins to cat diet
Vitamins are organic compounds, and you must add vitamins in a small amount to their diet. Without vitamins, multiple enzymes are necessary for improving the metabolism in cats. Here are some of the benefits of adding vitamins-
- Vitamin A– Necessary for bone, tooth growth, vision, reproduction & maintenance of skin.
- Vitamin D– It assists blood circulation & supports bone growth and maintenance.
- Add Vitamin E & K– The necessary antioxidants require for normal blood clotting.
- Riboflavin– Release energy from the fats, carbohydrates and protein
- Niacin– Required for the processing of carbohydrates, fats & amino acids
- Vitamin B12– It is necessary for carbohydrate & fat metabolism & nerve conduction
- Folic acid– This is required for the synthesis of DNA & amino acid
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Adding minerals to cat diet
Minerals should be there in your cat’s food to keep their body functioning smoothly. Furthermore, you should add animal & plant-based ingredients to keep their meal balanced. The necessary minerals you should put in your cat diet are potassium, calcium, magnesium, Iron, copper, Phosphorus, Chloride & sodium, Zinc, Iodine, & Selenium.
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Give them enough water.
Water can make your cat’s body active and hydrated. It improves their metabolic function. Moreover, add some ingredients like whole meats, which are rich in water. Water is also necessary for commercial cat foods. A healthy cat should drink 4 to 5 ounces of water.
The amount of nutrients your cat needs depends on its size, weight, and age. Furthermore, don’t compare your cat’s diet to any other cats in your neighborhood. You can also take advice from the vet.