Cats and supplements

Cat Vitamins and Supplements

Are Cat Vitamins and Supplements Necessary?

Cat supplement manufacturers and advocates say such products should be seen as an extension of a cat’s diet, adding that they can help the pets live longer, healthier lives.

Others, including Cruz and members of the Pet Food Institute, say if your cat is generally healthy, a good quality cat food is all that’s needed. Giving your cat more vitamins or minerals could cause more harm than good.

Supplements may be recommended if your cat is sick.

“There are some circumstances where a cat has an underlying condition that may warrant a supplement, but many supplements are untested and unproven in veterinary medicine. The key point is that most cats consuming a complete and balanced diet probably have a better balanced diet than most humans,” says Sherry Sanderson, DVM, PhD, of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Supplements are meant to correct deficiencies.

For example, your cat may need a supplement if she has a medical condition that makes her unable to absorb a particular nutrient. Small intestinal disease can cause an inability to absorb the B vitamins folate and cobalamine. In this case, the cat would require injections of those two supplements, as oral supplements won’t be absorbed either.

Cats that are pregnant and nursing may develop nutritional deficiencies that require supplementation, particularly if the cat becomes pregnant before age 10-12 months, Cruz says. Your vet can direct you to the appropriate product.

Types of Cat Supplements

• General vitamins and minerals: A variety of single or multivitamin products are available for cats. Most cat foods contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals that a cat needs.
• Essential fatty acids: Omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids are touted for their ability to keep a cat’s coat shiny and to prevent shedding. They also protect a cat’s immune system, liver, eyes, brain, and joints. And, just like in humans, omega-3 fatty acids boost heart health and fight high cholesterol. Cat foods contain a lot more omega6 fatty acids than omega-3 fatty acids, so some think supplementation is needed. But not everyone is sold on the idea.
• Probiotics: Probiotics are healthy, “good” bacteria that help improve digestive health. They contain microorganisms such as Lactobacillus acidophilus or Lactobacillus casei (also found in some yogurts), which control the overgrowth of "bad" bacteria in the large intestine.

Cat Supplements vs. Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals are herbal or natural remedies that fall in a bit of a gray area where supplements are concerned. Advocates for pet nutraceuticals say such products simply supplement the cat’s natural diet. They’ve referred to them as “more than feed additives but less than pharmaceuticals."

But the Pet Food Institute’s Nancy Cook says “nutraceuticals are intended to treat or prevent a disease and are therefore a drug, not a supplement.” The AVMA defines nutraceutical medicine as “the use of micronutrients, macronutrients, and other nutritional supplements as therapeutic agents.”

Types of Nutraceuticals

Nutraceutical products are found in the supplement section in pet stores and online. Some of the top sellers for cats are:

• Glucosamine helps increase joint mobility and is often touted as a treatment for arthritis, although Cruz says it doesn't relieve its pain.
• Chondroitin is also for healthy bone and joints. It is often found with glucosamine.
• Milk thistle extract helps remove toxins from the cat’s liver. It may be used for cats with liver disease.

Cat Vitamins and Supplements: Do They Work?

Cat supplements spark a big debate. Find out if your feline really needs them.

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Cat Supplements to Avoid

Experts say there are a lot of unsafe supplements, but the biggest ones to avoid include:

• Garlic: destroys red blood cells, leading to anemia
• Onion: destroys red blood cells, leading to anemia
• Calcium: too much can be toxic
• Vitamin D: too much can be toxic
• Vitamin C: too much can cause overly acidic urine, which can lead to crystal formation and a lifethreatening blockage

Second source on supplements

Taurine – Use powdered taurine. It comes in 500 mg capsules. You can also buy loose powder taurine online.

Wild Salmon Oil or Wild Caught Small Fish Oil – Some cats don't like the taste of salmon oil. Get capsules, not a liquid in a bottle. Once opened, the liquid can go rancid quickly. It's okay to drop the whole capsule into the grinder, the gelatin capsule is edible. This oil replaces the Omega acids that would usually be in the eyes and brains of the animal eaten. Do not use cod liver oil as it can be high in vitamin A which is toxic in large amounts.

Vitamin E – Get the dry form in capsules, it's much easier than using the liquid capsules. If you can't find the dry form, you will need to pierce the capsules and squeeze the liquid out.

Vitamin B Complex – Get capsules with powdered content.

Lite Salt – Make sure it contains iodine. If Lite Salt is unavailable, use regular iodized table salt, but half the amount the recipe calls for.

Psyllium Husk Powder – An optional ingredient that may be helpful when first feeding a raw diet. This adds fiber with minimal carbohydrates. If your cats have been eating dry food for a long time, they may have lost elasticity in their bowels and may benefit from fiber in their food. Also, some cats may have constipation issues when initially fed a raw diet, so adding fiber in the beginning is a good idea. You can omit it later as your cats adjust to the new diet.
Read more at http://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/making-raw-cat-food-for-do-it-yourselfers 
Follow us on Twitter: @FelineNutrition

Supplements are not optional. These supplements are required. Skipping supplements or letting your recipe "drift" can have serious health consequences for your cat. There are different recipes that call for slightly different supplements, but they cover the same basic needs of the cat. What these supplements make up for is the fact that we aren't feeding cats the whole prey diet they would get in the wild. People have used recipes such as the one below for years without any deficiencies showing up. It is always a good idea to vary the meats you feed, not only for variety for your cat, but also to cover any unknown gaps in the nutrient profile of a particular meat. There may be an as yet unidentified essential micro-nutrient in one kind of meat and not another.
Read more at http://feline-nutrition.org/nutrition/making-raw-cat-food-for-do-it-yourselfers 
Follow us on Twitter: @FelineNutrition