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Antioxidants are good for your cat because they play a key role in minimizing damage to cells, including cells of the immune system.
These important, naturally occurring nutrients help maintain health by slowing the destructive oxidative process of cellular molecules. They also can be important in supporting immune responses and vaccine recognition in cats. This may be especially critical for kittens that are being vaccinated while their immune system is still developing.
Additionally, antioxidants can reverse decreases in immune-cell function for senior cats, increasing them back to healthy adult levels.
Antioxidants are nutrients found naturally in the body and in plants such as fruits and vegetables. Common antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E and certain compounds called carotenoids (including lutein and beta-carotene). A blend of several antioxidants in moderate amounts may be more effective than high levels of one antioxidant.
As cells function normally in the body, they produce damaged molecules called free radicals. These free radicals are highly unstable and steal components from other cellular molecules, such as fat, protein or DNA, thereby spreading the damage.
This damage continues in a chain reaction, and entire cells soon become damaged and die in a process called peroxidation. Peroxidation is useful because it helps the body destroy cells that have outlived their usefulness and kills germs and parasites. However, when left unchecked, peroxidation also destroys or damages healthy cells.
Antioxidants help prevent widespread cellular destruction by willingly donating components to stabilize free radicals. More importantly, antioxidants return to the surface of the cell to stabilize rather than damage other cellular components.
When there are not enough antioxidants to hold peroxidation in check, free radicals begin damaging healthy cells, which can lead to problems. For example, free radical damage to immune cells can lead to an increased risk of infection.
Because antioxidants play a key role in minimizing damage to cells, such as those that make up the immune system, recent research examined the benefits of certain antioxidants on the immune response of cats. The results of these studies indicated that antioxidants are important in helping cats maintain a healthy immune system.
The research also showed that each antioxidant benefits the immune system uniquely, so one antioxidant at high levels is not as effective as a group of antioxidants acting together.
| Antioxidant | Source | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin E | Plant oil extract, tocopherols | Optimizes immune system’s T-cell activation |
| Beta-carotene | Vitamin premix, corn meal, chicken by-product meal and chicken fat | Optimizes types of cells present in the blood, increases antibody levels in the blood and optimizes vaccine recognition |
Recent research also examined the effect of aging on immune responses. The findings indicate that as cats age, immune cell responses may decline. Including antioxidants in your cat’s diet can help reverse the age-related decrease in immune cell function, returning it to healthy adult levels.
Author: Dr. Siti Zaenab
Most owners understand that protein is one of the key nutrients that cats need to thrive and stay healthy, but what many may not fully realize is just how important it is for their long-term wellbeing. Protein is a cat’s primary energy source, and cats need more protein than other domestic animals like dogs and even people. In order to fuel their bodies and nervous systems, cats require more than 50% of their dietary calories to come from protein.
Cats then break the protein down into 11 specific amino acids, which are also known as essential amino acids, which are not found in cats’ natural systems. These essential amino acids are the building blocks that create new proteins and make glucose for energy. On the other hand, amino acids that are found within cats’ natural systems are called non-essential amino acids, and these are not required in a cat’s diet.
A cat’s diet requires animal protein that contains all the essential amino acids that cats need but are not found in plant proteins. This aligns with the understanding that cats are obligate omnivores, needing meat-based protein to survive.
The slightest deficiencies in any of the essential amino acids can lead to serious health problems for cats. For instance, taurine deficiency can cause a host of problems such as blindness, inadequate immune response, poor growth and poor reproductive function.
Another essential amino acid, arginine, is important to remove ammonia from the cat’s body through urine. Without sufficient arginine content in a cat’s diet, ammonia can build up in the bloodstream, which is toxic for the cat. Additionally, the essential amino acid histidine, is a structural protein that acts as a precursor to a number of neurological compounds such as histamine. Histidine deficiency can result in weight loss, refusal to eat, and may result in cataracts.
Cats can consume their dietary protein and obtain their essential amino acids through animal products like chicken and fish. Chicken has one of the highest biological values of all the meats, making it an excellent protein source for cats. It is also a good source of tryptophan, calcium, potassium, and vitamin B6. Fish is also a highly digestible protein source, and fish like salmon can provide cats with important omega-3 fatty acids.
While natural food options that somewhat fulfil a cat’s protein needs are available, owners these days go the extra mile to deep-dive into research to ensure better lives for their cats. Besides relying on online sources like the Internet, cat owners are also seeking more counsel from vets about their beloved cats’ needs, while also becoming more selective in their decisions and detailed in their questions, which is very encouraging to see as a vet. With this spirit, owners can better understand that their cats require adequate protein to stay healthy.
Along with veterinary guidance, owners are on the look-out for food solutions that contain all the essential protein contents in one place. We are finding that they are increasingly turning to products like IAMS products, which contain protein necessary for a variety of needs, such maintaining a healthy coat, strong muscles, and good digestion. With IAMS products, cats can get their protein needs from chicken with IAMS Healthy Adult with Chicken, with real chicken as its main ingredient, and from fish with IAMS Healthy Adult with Ocean Fish, with real fish as its main ingredient, both aiding in healthy digestion, skin and coat, teeth, and muscles, to name a few.
Owners must ensure that their cats’ diets provide complete and balanced nutrition, a key component of which is adequate protein. This can be achieved through consulting with vets, researching good protein sources, and sharing knowledge with fellow cat owners, among others. With such a concerted effort, cat owners can be assured about keeping their cats as healthy and happy for as long as possible.
