How to Understand a Cat's Nutritional Requirements

From a metabolic point of view, a cat is truly unique in his nutritional requirements, closely mimicking those of his wild big cat cousins. A cat is a meat eater with teeth and claws designed to kill and devour other animals. So they need large quantities of fats and proteins all at one time, instead of smaller meals spread throughout the day.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Keep the water bowl full and fresh at all times. Water is a basic element required for good health as it transports nutrients and wastes through your cat's body.

2. Provide protein for your cat as the largest source of calories in his food. Experts agree that it is the most important element in a cat's diet, responsible for health, tissue growth and repair. Look for meat meal on the ingredients list. It is a highly concentrated form of protein, since the water has been removed from the meat and only digestible nutrients remain.

3. Supply natural fatty acids, like those from fish cat's love to eat. These omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are natural suppliers of vitamins A, D, E and K your cat needs.

4. Understand your cat's minimal need for carbohydrates. Although cats are carnivores, a wild cat's hunting includes the vegetable and grain matter in the stomachs of his prey. So choose a food that includes some brown rice and vegetables for healthy digestion and bowels.

5. Identify the vitamins he needs: fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K are stored in his body, water-soluble B vitamins and vitamin C must be replaced on a daily basis from his food.

6. Manage your cat's minerals. You need to protect a cat's teeth and bones, so calcium and phosphorous should be included. Also necessary for cats is magnesium, potassium, sodium and taurine to help regulate body systems and tissues.

Tips & Warnings

• Your cat's individual requirements may differ depending upon his breed, life stage, activity level, any illness or health issues, climate and age.
• Whether or not your pet food provides the appropriate balance of these nutrients depends on how the food is processed and the quality of the ingredients. Learn from the related eHow article titled "How to Spot a High Quality Pet Food."
• Don't rely on claims made on the bag of cat food. Learn from the related eHow titled "How to Interpret Advertising Claims on Pet Food Labels" and "How to Understand Pet Food Labels" to make educated choices for your cat's food.