Last Updated on October 3, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research. freeze dried snacks s
Cat owners want their beloved felines to live a long, happy life, and that long and happy life starts with nutrition. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require nutrients found in animal meat to thrive. A critical aspect of being a responsible cat owner is ensuring your cat receives all necessary nutrients through the cat food you feed, and knowing what to avoid is also crucial for your cat’s overall well-being.
Let’s dive into the six essential nutrients your cat needs to be healthy to ensure you are providing all necessary components for optimum health.
Protein is an important source of energy for cats, and felines require more protein compared to other animals. Dietary protein enables a cat to develop and maintain healthy skin, fur, muscle, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, nails, hormones, enzymes, antibodies, and more.
Cats need animal protein rather than plant protein due to the nutrients animal protein provides. A cat’s digestive tract breaks protein down into amino acids, or building blocks, and there are 11 essential amino acids cats need in their cat food derived from meat and other animal tissues:
How Much Protein Does My Cat Need?
According to The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the mandated amount of crude protein in adult cat food should be a minimum of 26% for dry kibble—the minimum for growth and reproduction is 30%.1
Fats are energy-rich nutrients for cats, store the fat soluble vitamins and make up part of nerve cells. Essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are also an important part of your cat’s diet and are essential for skin and coat health, healing wounds, and helping reduce inflammation.
Cats receive these essential fats through animal fat found in cat foods. Additional fatty sources may be added to cat food, for example, in the form of fish oil, beef fat, or soybean oil.
How Much Fat Does My Cat Need?
According to AAFCO, your cat requires a minimum of 9% fat for dry kibble. Higher levels of fat may be more appropriate for active and healthy cats. Fat content is typically fed at the minimum requirements for cats who need to lose weight.2
For many animals, carbohydrates are essential energy sources; however, not so much for cats because they have adapted to getting most of their energy from protein and fat. Carbs should not be a significant amount in cat food. A small amount is acceptable, as cats are capable of digesting a small amount to be used for energy.
A diet high in carbs should be avoided, as too many carbs are unnatural for cats and can sometimes lead to weight gain, which increases the risk of diabetes.
How Many Carbs Does My Cat Need?
In an ideal world, cats should receive only a small portion of their calories from carbohydrates. Dry kibble has more carbs in order to maintain the kibble matter’s form; however, wet cat food contains fewer carbs and is ideal for feeding a cat in need of fewer carbs in their diet.
cat skin and coat supplements That said, a high carbohydrate won’t hurt your cat, as long as their weight is maintained. Note that some controversy surrounds the topic of just how much carbohydrates should be in cat food. Some cats do just fine with eating dry kibble their entire lives, which has much more carb content than wet food. Other cats seem to do better with a low carb content. The answer ultimately is up to your individual cat, but a general consensus is to watch your cat’s weight and feed some wet food alongside the dry.