Enter a keyword below to search for articles and products.
According to a recent study, a cat's taste buds are very different compared to other animals. They possess more receptors for bitterness than sweetness, this makes most cats very finicky and picky about what they eat. Lack of poor eating habits can thus lead to poor nourishment and unhealthy development. Hence, cat parents are required to pay special attention to what their kitties eat, how much they eat, and how often. Feeding them a bowl full of treats and meals is not enough, caregivers also need to consider the nutritional value of their feline friend’s meal.
Choosing the right cat food to provide an adequate amount of vitamins for cats is important. Besides, being carnivorous animals, cats prefer animal-based products over the plant-based ones. IAMS cat food is high-quality animal-based protein that includes essential amino acids required for your kitty’s nourishment.
Cats need specific nutrients for appropriate growth and development. Components like vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and fat are some of the essential nutrients present in good-quality cat food. Cats can get most of these nutrients from food like dairy, bone meal, legume plants, animal organs, and dietary supplements. The following are the necessary cat food nutrients to look for:
Look for the following to ensure you only invest in the best meals for your cats when buying cat food:
You can also choose IAMS cat food to feed your kitty a complete and nourishing meal. IAMS cat food contains unique fatty acids that result in healthier skin, shiny fur, adequate membrane structure, and improved health. Besides, the fermented fiber present in IAMS products improves intestinal health by boosting your kitty’s digestive and gastrointestinal functions.
With our wide range of cat foods, you can choose the one that fits your pet’s needs and preference. IAMS Proactive Health Healthy Adult is made with love to ensure your cat has a shiny coat, healthy skin, and strong muscles. It comes in different flavors like Chicken, Tuna and Salmon Meal as well as Chicken and Salmon Meal.
If you are concerned about issues like unhealthy weight and hairball, you can include IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care. It is loaded with L-carnitine, natural fiber and high-quality protein for weight management and hairball care.
The following are some essential minerals for cats:
Cats need potassium for nerve function, muscular contraction, and heart rhythm as this mineral is an electrolyte.
Calcium is an important mineral for bone and teeth growth.
This mineral ensures muscle contraction, provides hydration, and powers nerve impulses.
Sodium and chloride work together as electrolytes to maintain acid-base balance, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission, and hydration.
This mineral is essential for your metabolism and vital growth. It also supports your teeth and bone health.
Cats need iron for transporting energy in their bodies.
This mineral works in conjunction with vitamin E and works as an essential antioxidant.
Cats require copper for bone growth, skin pigmentation as well as the absorption and transportation of iron.
This mineral is significant for enzyme function and digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in cats.
Another essential mineral for cats is zinc. They need it for metabolising lipids, protein, nuclei, and carbohydrates.
This mineral for cats is important for the development of thyroid hormones.
A lack of vitamins can result in the abnormal functioning of essential enzymes in cats. Hence, vitamins are important for its healthy growth and development. The following are some of the most essential vitamins for cats:
This vitamin improves the cat’s vision, bone, dental, reproduction, mucous membrane, and skin health. Kittens and pregnant cats need more vitamin A compared to adult and senior cats.
Cats need vitamin B12 for metabolising fat and carbohydrate. This vitamin is also necessary for a cat’s nerve conduction.
Cats require a minimum of 280 IU of vitamin D per kilogram of food as this vitamin helps in improving their calcium and phosphorous levels. Both calcium and phosphorous are necessary for better bone density, hence vitamin D is one of the most essential vitamins for cats.
Every adult cat should consume at least 1 to 3 IU of vitamin E per day as this vitamin is an essential antioxidant that protects them from cell oxidative damage.
Cats need very little vitamin K for preventing their blood from clotting.
This vitamin is necessary for releasing energy from fats, protein, and carbohydrates. Riboflavin deficiency may result in anorexia, bilateral cataracts, fatty liver, testicular hypoplasia, and periauricular alopecia.
It improves carbohydrate metabolism in cats. Lack of this vitamin may result in weight loss, vomiting, neurological distress, impaired vision, dilated pupils, vestibular signs, and seizures.
Niacin deficiency may result in fever, oral mucosa, tongue ulcer, and weight loss. This vitamin is essential for breaking down fats, carbohydrates, and proteins present in food.
Important for the synthesis of DNA and methionine (an amino acid), folic acid deficiency may cause anemia, weight loss, and leukopenia.
This vitamin is necessary for digesting amino acids, glucose, and fatty acids.
Biotin deficiency may cause skin issues in cats. This vitamin helps in the formation of fatty acids, certain amino acids, and DNA/RNA in cats.
Choline is an important neurotransmitter for the cell membranes and lipid.
Therefore, when buying cat food for your feline friend, make sure to check if it contains all the necessary nutrients to aid their better growth and development. You can also buy supplements to provide the necessary vitamins for cats. However, it is best to consult a veterinarian before choosing a new cat food brand or supplements for added vitamins and minerals for cats.
Some essential vitamins for cats include vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin E, niacin, biotin, and folic acid.
Cats absorb most of their mineral requirement from the food they consume. Cat food containing meat, liver, cereals, and fish are some of the good sources of minerals for cats.
Cats usually absorb all necessary vitamins from the food they eat. So, it is better to feed them a nourishing meal over vitamin supplements. Cats may need vitamin supplements only in case of deficiency. Please consult a veterinarian for more guidance on the same.
Cats need trace minerals like iron, copper, zinc, and manganese in very small quantities. They ideally depend on their daily diet for getting these minerals.
Cats ideally do not need additional supplements as they can absorb all necessary vitamins and minerals from their meal. However, it is best to consult a veterinarian doctor to know which supplement can be beneficial for your kitty.
The appearance of your cat’s skin, coat, and fur are indicators of its health. A healthy coat is luscious, smooth, and shiny, not coarse or brittle. Healthy cat skin is soft, supple, and clear, not greasy, flaky, or bumpy. While your cat’s diet and nutrition fuel the shine on the outside, basic grooming will surely add an extra touch of beauty.
There is so much you can do as a pet parent to make sure that your feline’s skin and hair stay healthy. From feeding it the right foods to investing in appropriate products for your cat’s well-being, treating skin problems in cats is not that confusing. Keep reading to learn more about cat skin conditions and how you can keep your cat’s coat and skin healthy.
Since there are various cat breeds, several coat characteristics are considered to be healthy, such as:
Hairless coat (Sphynx cat)
Curly hair with minimal shedding (Rex cats)
Smooth coats with sparse undercoats (oriental breeds)
House or domestic cats with a regular outer coat of short hair and a soft layer of undercoat to provide additional insulation
Longhaired cats with silky smooth hair that knots easily
As the largest organ of the body, your feline’s skin health should always take priority. For most cats, their skin is mostly covered with hair that sheds and grows back throughout their lifetime. The best way to maintain your feline’s skin and hair health is by feeding a balanced diet that includes high-quality digestible proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. This will help your cat consume enough calories to maintain its energy needs. In fact, this will also cause the liver and kidneys to work more efficiently to eliminate all waste products.
While there are many nutrients that you can include in your kitty’s diet, some stand out as essentials for your kitten’s skin and hair health. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are two nutrients that you should include in your cat’s diet without fail. Omega-3 fatty acids such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) help maintain skin and coat health and help sustain the skin’s water permeability barrier. Omega-6 fatty acids such as linoleic acid and arachidonic acid ensure that the epithelial tissues stay healthy in your cat’s body.
You can decide your cat’s meal plans with your vet who can suggest the right foods according to your cat’s age. If you have not consulted a vet and notice that your cat’s coat has become dull, dry, and sheds excessively, make sure that you visit a professional and make appointments for regular checkups.
Vitamins should be an integral part of your cat’s diet and must be fed in the right proportions. Many important vitamins are found in the raw materials of your cat’s food and are synthesized from there, making a balanced and nutritious diet key to your feline’s good health. Here are a few vitamins that a cat must receive from its diet:
Vitamin A: A fat-soluble vitamin that is eminent for a strong immune system and healthy vision. However, large amounts of Vitamin A can be toxic for your cat. Make sure you consult a vet to know the right amount of dosage for this particular vitamin.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps heal wounds and helps cats use protein effectively.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D helps retain phosphorus and calcium in your cat’s body. It is also known as the “sunshine vitamin” as it helps the bones, muscles, and nerves function well.
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): A water-soluble vitamin that is important for healthy metabolism, and maintenance of normal growth and nerve impulse transmission.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Vitamin B2 helps your cat’s body break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, to produce energy, and to let the body use oxygen. This vitamin also helps maintain your cat’s skin and coat health.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): A water-soluble vitamin that is eliminated through your cat’s urine, this vitamin should be restored regularly in your feline’s body. It helps keep your kitty’s gastrointestinal functions, nervous system, and skin healthy.
Vitamin B6: This vitamin helps your cat’s body break down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to produce energy and supply oxygen throughout the body.
Like vitamins, minerals are also essential for your cat’s body. They promote enzyme formation, oxygen supply, nutrient utilization, and pH balance. Here are some minerals that should be included in your cat’s diet:
Calcium
Iron
Sodium
Magnesium
Chloride
Consult a vet to know the right amount of vitamins and minerals your cat should be consuming to stay healthy.
Common cat skin conditions such as excessive scratching and licking, redness and swelling of the skin, loss of fur, scabby and flaky skin, and more are inevitable. What you can do is follow these steps to ensure that these skin problems in cats are kept at bay:
Ensure that you are feeding your cat the best diet food available. A balanced and nutritious diet will help it derive the most important vitamins and minerals to synthesize carbohydrates, fats, and protein. It will also help in maintaining your cat’s overall skin and coat health.’
Good grooming habits can really help your cat’s skin and coat health. While regularly brushing and combing your cat’s hair is a great way to bond, doing so will also prevent mats from developing. Mats can cause great discomfort for cats and can also cause hair loss and skin infections. Use a good grooming tool to ensure that your feline’s hair is combed with ease and there is no irritation or discomfort.
Shampooing your cat’s fur is not exactly common. Cats have a habit of self-grooming and they are not the most cooperative when it comes to baths. However, if your cat is itchy or just too dirty, it is best to use a shampoo that is formulated especially for cats. Ensure that you do not use any cat shampoo with tea tree oil since it is toxic to your feline’s skin and coat. If you do not know which shampoo to use, consult your vet to find out the ideal medicated shampoo for your cat.
Flea diseases are the most common skin problems in cats and should be treated immediately. Flea diseases can cause your cat to scratch and lick continuously, which can lead to wounds or partial baldness.
If you have a cat that is suffering from severe anxiety and stress, there will be signs. Excessive licking and grooming are signs that your cat is conscious and is acting out. This can cause a great amount of hair loss. Apart from appearance, stress and anxiety in cats can also induce serious health issues such as idiopathic feline lower urinary tract disease. If you notice your cat licking itself all the time, take it to a professional for a regular checkup.
Cat skin conditions are usually a sign of some imbalance in the body. If you have noticed that your furry pet has been having some skin troubles that are not getting resolved even after continued efforts, take it to a vet and rule out any serious conditions.
