are-cats-carnivores

Are you a parent to a pet cat? What do you feed your cat? Can your cat survive on a vegetarian diet? Does she like plant-based food or only relishes meat? Cats belong to a category of mammals called Felidae who are direct descendants of the group called carnivorans. So unlike dogs who are omnivores (people or animals that can eat all kind of food – both plant and animal based), zoologists and scientists have classified cats are pure carnivores (animals who live and survive by eating other animals).

Tigers, jaguars, cheetahs, and leopards are distant cousins of the cat, and they have all descended from the same ancestors. Dogs can survive on a vegetarian diet, but cats cannot! Cats are carnivores by necessity, and that’s why they are called obligate carnivores. They must eat meat. Dogs, on the other hand, belong to a category called scavenging carnivores. They can survive on plant food also. So, don’t try to put your cat on a continuous vegetarian diet. She will need to consume meat in some form daily.

 

Why so?

While dogs also belong to the order carnivorans, they can sustain on veg food because over the centuries their body and the metabolic processes evolved and adapted to the changes in the environment. For cats, these changes did not take place. Let’s understand this in a little more detail.

For cats to remain alive and healthy, several chemicals are required within their bodies. Some of these substances are produced internally within their own bodies. However, there are other chemical substances that they need and can get only by consuming meat.

And that’s why members of the cat family (the domestic cat and all its cousins mentioned above) evolved and learned to hunt down other animals. You may have observed some neighborhood cats hunting mice, squirrels or birds. This is a skill that is genetically ingrained in their DNA.

To enable cats to hunt nature has blessed them with a healthy eye-sight, softly padded claws (so that noise is not made while walking), sharp sense of smell, pointed and razor-sharp claws, sharp teeth and the ability to pounce, stalk and chase the prey.

Some of the chemical substances which their bodies do not produce are:

 

Vitamin A

While dogs’ digestive system can derive vitamin A (called retinol) from plant food, cats are unable to do so. So, they need to eat other animals whose bodies have pre-synthesized vitamin A.

 

Vitamin B

Niacin is another vitamin which cats need, but they are incapable of processing it internally. So, they need to consume meat which supplies them with the required quantity of this vitamin.

 

Vitamin D

Like humans, cats also need vitamin D, and since they can’t synthesize it naturally, they need to consume it. Fat lining and animal liver contain vitamin D.

 

Arginine

It is a type of amino acid essential to keep the cat’s metabolism running. In the absence of this critical chemical, the metabolism is severely affected. A cat can die in the lack of a meal which does not supply arginine.

 

Taurine

It’s another amino acid that is required by the cat’s body to keep some of its organs like bile fluid, heart, and retina functioning. Since the body is not able to produce its own, it must be compensated by eating meat.

 

Felinine

Cats need this critical compound as well and not being able to synthesize it, need to be externally supplemented through the animal meat.

 

Proteins

Cats need more dietary protein compared to dogs, and that can be provided only from animal sources.

 

Arachidonic Acid

Cats are unable to manufacture this essential fatty acid that is required to convert fat to energy.

 

What’s the ideal cat diet?

For the reasons discussed above. First, your cat must eat a meat-based diet every day. Second, cannot fast for extended hours as it may lead to severe disorders.

Unlike dogs who in a state of fasting will utilize the body’s fat reserves, cats start breaking down their own body tissue and organs. This condition is called feline lipidosis. In fact, the lack of above chemical substances in diet can lead to serious health problems in cats and can affect their heart, liver, hearing and cause skin irritation.

Cats can happily eat and digest raw meat (cooking can kill some of the chemical substances). In fact, it is good for them as it provides them with all the required ingredients mentioned above for their body to function normally. Meat provides them with higher amounts of protein which they utilize to produce blood glucose as well. Raw meat can lead to an improvement in overall health and energy levels.

The next best option is to prepare food for them at home. You could boil eggs, chicken, meat or fish with a little bit of rice. Remember not to include cooked bones in the diet, they can hurt the digestive tract. Relying on commercially available cat food should be your last option. This includes wet food and dry kibble.

The dry kibble tends to have excessive starch (more than they need) and can lead to obesity or diabetes. If your cat is on commercially available diet and you would like to transition her to natural raw meat, ensure that the transition is gradual and not sudden.

Your cat should also drink a lot of water. Always leave a bowl of water for her to drink from.

 

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Can Cats Be Fed Dog Food?

Since cats’ nutritional needs are different from those of the dogs, the commercially available cat food has higher percentages of protein, fat, vitamins and amino acids. While nothing serious would happen if your cat nibbles on the dog food occasionally/accidentally, giving her dog food regularly may not be appropriate.

 

Bringing Up A Healthy Feline Pet

Cats can’t digest carbohydrates properly as they have very short digestive tracts. Nature made it that way so that any microbes (like bacteria) can’t form colonies inside. For the same reason, they have the presence of strong acids in their stomach which help to kill the microbes.

 

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Conclusion

Now that you know everything about your cat, her ancestors, her biological processes and needs, I am sure you are better placed to understand why she loves and needs a particular kind of food. With this knowledge, you can tailor and create the appropriate diet plan for your pet.

 

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