Jeffrey Salazar
A raw food diet is a popular choice for cats and cat owners, but it can be challenging to ensure your cat is getting all the necessary nutrients. If you choose to feed your cat a raw diet, you may need to supplement it with additional vitamins and minerals to fill any nutritional gaps. Before adding supplements to your cat's diet, it is important to consult your veterinarian to ensure you are providing the correct nutrients in appropriate quantities. This is because supplements can interact with medications, and some cats should not take certain supplements. For example, if your cat needs more fatty acids, your vet can recommend a suitable product and advise on dosage based on your cat's weight and current diet.
Some popular supplements for cats on a raw diet include fish oil, bone broth, and green-lipped mussel oil, which is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. However, it is important to be cautious when adding supplements, as some can be harmful in large quantities. For example, too much kelp can cause thyroid issues due to its high iodine content.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of supplements | To fill nutritional gaps in a raw cat food diet |
| Nutritional gaps | Vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, antioxidants, fibre, fatty acids |
| Supplements to avoid | Willow bark, birch, feverfew, garlic, onions, bone broth, cod liver oil |
| Supplements to consider | Fish oil, oyster, kefir, bone broth, green-lipped mussel, taurine, psyllium husk, kelp, nutritional yeast, eggs, blue-lipped mussels, mushroom supplements, multivitamin powders, Luna multi-supplement powder, Luna urinary health powder, Feline Instinkts, Alnutrin, Proviable dc, Advita, EZ Complete |
| Risks | Overdose, diarrhoea, reduced blood-clotting abilities, interaction with medication |
| Recommendations | Consult a veterinarian, research before feeding anything new, add supplements for a precise reason and in appropriate quantities, rotate whole food supplements and concentrated supplement products |
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What You'll Learn
Fatty acids and fish oil
Fish oil supplements for cats can be a great addition to their diet and offer many benefits. Fish oil can help decrease potentially harmful triglycerides, which can contribute to heart disease in cats, and it may also help prevent blood clots. It is also used to treat inflammatory skin diseases in cats, reducing itchiness and improving dry, flaking skin. For cats with arthritis, fish oil can help decrease inflammation in the joints and improve mobility. Fish oil has also been shown to help decrease a cat's blood pressure and slow the progression of kidney disease.
Fish oil is commonly derived from cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, trout, and some shellfish like mussels, oysters, and crabs. It is important to choose a high-quality fish oil product intended for cats and to consult a veterinarian to ensure proper product selection and dosing.
When feeding a raw diet to cats, it is important to be mindful of potential nutritional gaps. Cats require omega-3 fatty acids, and deficiencies can lead to skin abnormalities, reproductive issues, and other health failures. Therefore, it is crucial to supplement with fish oil or other sources of omega-3 fatty acids, such as krill oil, to ensure your cat is receiving sufficient essential nutrients.
Additionally, when increasing the quantity of omega-3 fatty acids in your cat's diet, it is important to simultaneously increase their vitamin E intake. Vitamin E is often lacking in raw diets, especially when oily fish is included. There is no known toxic level of vitamin E, and it can be supplemented without the risk of overdose.
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The importance of vitamin E
Cats require vitamin E in their diets for optimal health. It is a fat-soluble vitamin, stored in the liver and fatty tissues, and is a major antioxidant that helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress. It also supports the immune system and the body's ability to form red blood cells.
Vitamin E is produced by plants, so it is most commonly found in plant-based food sources such as dark leafy greens and vegetable oils. Cold-pressed vegetable oils contain the most vitamin E as it is lost during the refinement process.
Cats who eat a complete and balanced diet are unlikely to need vitamin E supplements. However, vitamin E deficiency can occur in cats fed a diet high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as fish or fish by-products. The more PUFAs in the diet, the more vitamin E is needed to protect against oxidation. Raw diets, especially those containing fish or fish oil, are typically high in PUFAs.
Symptoms of vitamin E deficiency in cats include yellow fat disease (inflammation of the fatty tissue), muscle weakness, anorexia, depression, fever, and reluctance to move. To treat yellow fat disease, the excessive fat source must be removed from the diet.
If you are concerned that your cat may not be getting enough vitamin E, consult your veterinarian for advice on supplements and appropriate quantities.
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Whole prey vs. homemade raw food
A raw food diet is a favourite among cats and cat owners. It can be beneficial and is a perfectly acceptable diet for cats. However, it is important to ensure that your cat is getting enough nutrients and minerals.
Whole prey feeding consists of feeding entire prey animals that a hunting cat would eat, such as chicks, rats, and mice. The prey is fed dead and previously humanely dispatched. Whole prey can be an occasional addition to a raw diet or an entire diet. It is considered the optimal diet as it is as close as possible to what cats would eat naturally. The chewing and gnawing required on whole prey make cats' gums stronger and healthier. Consuming fur, feathers, feet, and beaks is also good for cats because these pieces act as a natural fiber source.
Some cats may not initially recognize whole prey as food, especially if they have never eaten anything with feathers or fur. Cats can also get very excited when served whole prey and may play with it before eating it. This can create a mess that can be hard to clean up.
Homemade raw food diets can be beneficial, but it is important to ensure your cat is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs. It can be difficult to know what nutrients your cat may be consuming or lacking. A study by the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that a large portion of raw cat food recipes lacked essential nutrients. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian to see what needs to be added or deducted from your cat's food.
Some supplements that can be added to a homemade raw food diet include psyllium husk, fish oil, and bone broth. However, it is important to be careful with supplements, as too much of certain substances, such as iodine, can cause health issues. It is also important to avoid toxic substances, such as grapes, raisins, chocolate, garlic, and onions.
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Supplements to avoid
When preparing a raw cat food diet, it is important to be aware of nutritional gaps and supplement accordingly. However, it is equally important to avoid certain supplements that can be harmful to cats.
Firstly, it is recommended to avoid supplements with artificial preservatives, such as BHT, BHA, and ethoxyquin. These preservatives have been linked to serious health issues in animals, including tumours and liver damage.
Secondly, carbohydrate fillers like wheat gluten should be avoided. While wheat gluten is a cheap source of protein, it can contain melamine, an industrial chemical that has been implicated in kidney failure and kidney stones in cats.
Rendered fats, often labelled as "chicken fat" or "beef fat", are another ingredient to avoid. The rendering process involves heating animal tissues to separate fats, and it may include low-quality or diseased meats. This process can strip fats of their nutrients and expose cats to health risks.
Additionally, artificial colours and flavours should be avoided. For example, iron oxide, used to enhance meat colour, is likely unsafe, and flavour additives like sodium nitrate and titanium dioxide can cause serious health issues, including cancer and genetic disorders.
It is also important to be cautious with certain vitamins. While vitamin E is often added to raw diets, it should be noted that fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K can accumulate in a cat's body, and large doses can be toxic. Synthetic vitamin K3, often listed as menadione or menadione sodium bisulfite complex, has been a subject of controversy due to potential toxicity.
Lastly, it is advised to avoid supplements with herbs such as willow bark, birch, and feverfew, as well as garlic and onions, as these can be toxic to cats.
It is always recommended to consult a veterinarian before adding any supplements to your cat's diet to ensure they are safe and appropriate for your cat's specific needs.
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Consult a veterinarian
A raw food diet is a favourite among cats and cat owners. However, it can be challenging to determine whether your cat is getting enough nutrients and minerals, and if there are nutritional gaps in their diet.
If you are considering adding oil supplements to your cat's raw diet, it is important to consult a veterinarian. They can advise on the precise reason for adding a supplement and the appropriate quantities. Veterinarians can also recommend suitable supplements and advise on the correct dosage, based on your cat's weight and food.
Fatty acid supplements, for example, can interact with certain medications, and some cats should not take them. It is therefore crucial to consult a veterinarian before starting your cat on any new supplement. They will be able to determine the best dosage and product for your cat's specific needs.
Additionally, some supplements can be harmful if given in large quantities. For instance, while kelp supplements can provide iodine and have beneficial effects on teeth tartar, too much iodine can cause thyroid issues. Similarly, while vitamin E is often lacking in a raw diet, increasing the quantity of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet also increases the need for vitamin E. Consulting a veterinarian can help you understand the precise needs of your cat and ensure that any supplements are provided in safe quantities.
Veterinarians can also advise on the specific type of oil supplement that may be most beneficial for your cat. For example, green-lipped mussel oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids and is easier to feed to cats due to its milder flavour and small, easily digestible tablet form.
In summary, consulting a veterinarian before adding oil supplements to your cat's raw diet is crucial to ensure your cat's nutritional needs are met safely and effectively. They can guide you in choosing the right supplements, dosages, and products to optimise your cat's health and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
Oil supplements such as fish oil are a great source of omega fatty acids, which support heart, brain, kidney, and liver functions. They also decrease or prevent gut, skin, and joint inflammation.
Other supplements that you can add to your cat's diet include bone broth, green-lipped mussel, krill oil, and bone meal.
It is important to give supplements for a precise reason and in appropriate quantities. Some supplements such as kelp can be harmful if given in large quantities. Also, be sure to avoid toxic supplements such as garlic and onions.
