Many cat owners, although they have their pet’s interest at heart, fail to realise the importance of a good pet diet. The food an animal consumes provides them with the fuel they need to survive, just like humans. However, their requirements often differ drastically from humans and it is important to be aware of this. Too much or too little of something in a cat’s diet can have a detrimental effect on its health. Ensuring cats eat a well balanced diet helps contribute towards positive health and wellbeing. This is why brands such as Hills Pets are perfect when choosing pet food as their diet plans contain everything to ensure any cat receives the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals.
Common deficiencies that can be avoided with good cat nutrition.
Anaemia is one of the most common deficiencies in cats caused when the animal is deficient in iron causing red blood cells to develop abnormally. Symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite and weakness. Anaemia can be attributed to other more severe causes but can be prevented from being caused by poor cat nutrition by ensuring they eat iron rich food such as liver, lean meat and wholegrains. Taurine deficiency is also common and causes decreased activity, impaired vision and breathing problems. As taurine is an amino acid making sure your cat eats enough protein, such as meat and fish should prevent this. Problems can also arise if a cat is fed too much of a substance. Vitamin A is found in beef liver and can prove toxic when consumed in large amounts. Reducing the amount of beef liver a cat consumed can prevent this problem or combat any symptoms. Finally, obesity is one of the most frequent cat nutrition complaints causing other problems such as diabetes. Feeding your cat the correct amount will prevent obesity and promote good health.