Nutrition

Feline Nutrition: Feeding the Obligate Carnivore

The single most important decision you make for your cat is what you put in their bowl. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they have a biological necessity to eat meat. Their bodies cannot produce certain essential nutrients (like taurine and arginine) on their own; they must obtain them from animal tissue.

Understanding Macronutrients

• Protein: Should be the primary calorie source. Look for named meats (Chicken, Rabbit) rather than “meat meal.”
• Fat: The primary energy source for cats. Animal fats are essential for skin and coat health.
• Carbohydrates: Cats have no biological requirement for carbs. In the wild, their carb intake is <2%. Dry foods often contain 30-40% carbs, leading to obesity and diabetes.

The Moisture Myth

Ancestral cats were desert dwellers who got most of their water from prey (which is ~70% water). Modern house cats often have a low thirst drive. Feeding a strictly dry diet (10% water) keeps them in a state of mild, chronic dehydration, straining the kidneys and bladder. Incorporating wet food is the best preventative medicine for urinary health.

Raw vs. Cooked

Raw feeding is growing in popularity, aiming to mimic the natural prey diet. While it has benefits (enzyme preservation, high bioavailability), it carries pathogen risks if not handled correctly. Commercial freeze-dried or high-quality canned foods are excellent, safer alternatives for most owners.

Reading Labels

Ignore the front of the bag (“Gourmet,” “Nature”). Look at the ingredient list. The first three ingredients should be meat. Avoid corn, wheat, and soy, which are cheap fillers that spike blood sugar. Also, beware of “splitting”???where a company lists “peas, pea flour, and pea protein” separately to make them look like smaller ingredients than they are.