Presentation Transcript
Cats are not Dogs How many differences can you list?: Cats are not Dogs How many differences can you list?
Nutrient Classes: Nutrient Classes Protein - meat and milk products, soy products
Carbohydrates - corn and grain products
Fat - vegetable oil, tallow, lard
Vitamins - mostly added in synthetic form
Minerals - mostly added as salts (iron sulfate, etc.)
Water - the most important nutrient
Protein Needs for Cats: Protein Needs for Cats Kittens need more than puppies.
Adult cats need more than adult dogs.
Dogs and people eat a lot of carbohydrates.
Examples of carbohydrates?
Cats need carbohydrates too - but they make a lot of their own.
Take home lesson - don’t feed dog food to cats. They won’t get enough protein.
Amino Acids: Amino Acids Hook a lot of amino acids together and you have a protein.
20 amino acids total - cats can make 10, the other 10 must be in the diet.
Most amino acids used to make special proteins (like enzymes and muscle)
Some, like taurine, needed for digestion, fighting disease, and blood clotting.
Taurine only found in animal products - cats need meat.
Protein Quality: Protein Quality Affected by digestibility and amino acid balance.
For people - milk and eggs provide high quality protein. Peanut butter and gelatin poor quality protein.
Fats: Fats Certain “fatty acids” must be in the diet.
Without these - dry, itchy skin, digestive problems, maybe problems with eyes.
Some cat food list Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Buy a good quality cat food to be sure it contains enough of all nutrients.
Vitamins - here are a few: Vitamins - here are a few Vitamin A - people, dogs and other animals convert B-carotene to Vit A. Not cats - they need the real thing. Don’t overfeed liver or organ meats - too much Vit A is toxic.
Vitamin D - helps with calcium absorption. Sunshine helps provide some D.
Niacin - some animals can convert an amino acid into niacin. Not cats - they need this in the diet.
Dry or Canned: Dry or Canned Dry is cheaper.
Dry is less palatable - some cats may not eat enough.
Canned may be more convenient because it provides one portion.
Nutritional Problems - Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD): Nutritional Problems - Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD) Similar to kidney stones in people. (Small mineral crystals).
Difficulty urinating. Very painful.
Watch for the smell of ammonia, or blood in the urine.
Older cats, certain genetic lines and overweight cats more susceptible.
Nutritional Problems - Food Allergies: Nutritional Problems - Food Allergies Similar to problem in dogs.
Itchy skin - maybe hair loss.
Remove all sources of protein.
Try a new source - like duck, venison or rabbit.
Nutritional Problems - Obesity: Nutritional Problems - Obesity Cornell study: 25% overweight, 20% heavy, 5% obese.
Check by rubbing your fingers over the back - you should be able to feel each rib.
Check for a fat pad between the rear legs - sometimes it drags on the ground.
Like dogs and people - caused by minimal exercise and overfeeding.
Nutritional Problems - Diabetes: Nutritional Problems - Diabetes Type 1 - pancreas can’t produce insulin. Not as common in cats. Shots needed.
Type II - pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin. Most common type in cats.
Usually occurs between 10 and 15 years.
Signs of diabetes - high water intake and increased urination.
Summary: Summary Cats different from dogs.
Need more protein, less carbohydrate.
Need meat.
Don’t feed dog food to cats.
The one thing they have in common with dogs is obesity - don’t overfeed.