A575
Nutrition

1. Water
2. Protein
3. Carbohydrates (Insoluble carbohydrates = Fiber)
4. Fat
5. Vitamins and minerals

Each of these must be found in the diet in the proper proportions and in sufficient quantities to meet all the nutritional needs of any animal during the various stages of life (kitten, adult, pregnancy, lactation, and geriatric). It is important to understand that cats are not merely "small dogs." They require specific amino acids and vitamins that are different from canine requirements. Because each of the above nutrients is essential, a small discussion about each one follows:

Water: Every animal, regardless of age, requires a constant supply of fresh, clean water. It is true that a cat fed a canned or moist diet may actually require less water than one fed a completely dry diet. However, regardless of the diet, each animal should always have a readily available supply of water.

Vitamins: Vitamins are utilized by the body to regulate many different metabolic and physiologic processes. In general, an animal that receives a good quality, balanced diet should not require additional supplemental vitamins. Excessive vitamins can be harmful to the animal. Pregnant or lactating females may benefit from vitamin supplementation (owners should contact a veterinarian in seeking advice for a particular situation). Cats do require niacin, vitamin B6, and vitamin A, that are usually supplied in the diet.

Choosing a type of cat food can be extremely difficult at times. Many manufacturers make claims in advertising and on the product label that may be difficult to back with scientific data. Even with a basic understanding of product labels and nutrient calculations, the task of merging the two is difficult. The following will clarify and highlight some of the most essential points, but will not attempt to take every diet, every cat, and every situation into consideration. These are general guidelines. For specific questions, a local veterinarian familiar with the cat, environment, and diet should be consulted.

Points to remember:

1. All cat foods are NOT created equal. There is a great deal of difference between generic (popular brands) and premium brands found at pet stores, some feed stores, and veterinary clinics. In general, popular brands vary greatly in quality of ingredients and focus more on palatability (taste and texture) instead of on nutritional content. The premium brands use a "fixed formula" which means that the ingredients used remain the same despite changes in cost of the ingredients.
   
   In general, the expression "you get what you pay for" holds true. (This manual is not backed by any cat food manufacturer. In fact, this manual will not list any specific brand names as "good" or "bad." The authors have left this decision up to the individual owner and veterinarian).
   
   
2. It is important to learn how to read pet food labels. Most labels contain a guaranteed analysis and a list of ingredients. This list of ingredients and the guaranteed analysis can be misleading if not properly understood. The ingredients in the guaranteed analysis are usually expressed as minimum or maximum amounts. This means that the crude protein expressed as 32% minimum could actually be much higher and not be in violation of the label.
   
   The list of ingredients should also be carefully examined. Nutrients that are contained in the highest weight amounts are found higher on the list. Many manufacturers use different "techniques" to make it seem as though animal protein sources are the first on the list.
   
   Some of these "techniques" include the following:

• Adding some ingredients in a dry form and others in a wet form to make some appear to weigh more.
• Listing some ingredients like corn and wheat in different forms such as flaked, kibbled, and ground. If all forms were added together, the particular ingredient would be found higher in the list.
• Terms like meat by-products and cereal by-products provide very little information because they can be a combination of many different components.

3. A product that has been proven through standardized feeding trials is generally a better and more balanced diet.
   
   
4. Table scraps and most human foods are NOT beneficial to pets.

In general, all cat foods should have the ash content on the label. This is not required, but any diet containing over 6% ash should be avoided because of the potential for urinary tract problems (see page F889). A canned diet should contain a source of calcium. Sources of calcium can include calcium carbonate, chicken parts, poultry, or fish meal. Any cat food that uses the terms ground, kibbled, or flaked for the same ingredient should be avoided.

Table #1: Basic nutrient requirements on a dry matter basis

The numbers in the guaranteed analysis section of a cat food label CANNOT be directly compared to the ones found in Table #1. The numbers in a guaranteed analysis are formulated using the moisture content of the diet. In contrast, the numbers in Table #1 are calculated on a dry matter basis. Use Hints #1 and #2 below and the information from Example A to take the guaranteed analysis numbers from a diet label (such as the one below) and convert them to the percentages that can be compared to the numbers in Table #1.