A cat is an obligatory carnivore.  This means they must eat meat to be healthy!

A cat’s digestive system evolved thousands of years ago and nature designed it to get its nutrients from whole foods.  In order to accomplish this, it must eat a species appropriate diet (a diet that evolved in nature for a specific animal).  A cat’s digestive system is short and acidic so when consuming the proper foods, the body utilizes the food quickly and efficiently.

Animal protein is a natural source of taurine which is a requirement for all cats.  Health problems such as dilated cardiomyopathy and blindness have been associated with diets lacking the proper amounts of taurine.  In addition, proteins provide essential amino acids which are required for the body to manufacture antibodies, enzymes, hormones, tissue, and maintain proper pH balance.  They also provide energy and are essential for growth and development.

Complete proteins are found in meats, eggs, and fish.  Incomplete proteins are found in legumes, grains, and vegetables.  Plant proteins are considered incomplete proteins because they do not supply all the necessary amino acids that a cat needs to maintain health.  Cats cannot convert beta-carotene from plants into vitamin A so they need to get their vitamin A from an animal source.

Carbohydrates are not necessary nutrients for cats.  A cat’s natural diet based on evolution, did not contain carbohydrates.  Grains are not needed and can actually cause problems because they break down into sugars, which is known to cause health issues including cancer.

The very best diet that you can provide your cat is a species appropriate, raw food diet that is high in animal proteins.  Cats who eat this way are vibrant, energetic, and have very little health problems throughout their lives.