Mary Allen
Cats would buy mice. Not only do they taste good, but they are guaranteed to contain everything a cat needs in terms of nutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and of course in an optimal composition.
That is why the substitute food that people serve their kitties must correspond as closely as possible to this natural food. Then the cat eats healthy. Like any other animal creature, it needs the nutrients protein, fat, and carbohydrates, which it ingests through food, as energy suppliers to maintain its vital functions. For example, to keep the body temperature constant, for movement and digestion, for the growth and construction and breakdown of cells and tissues, for the immune system, and for milk production. The energy is measured in joules or calories. At the same time, the nutrients protein and fat also provide building materials for the cat’s organism.
The Main Thing Is A High-Quality Protein
The prey mouse consists (apart from water) for the most part of the nutrient protein, also known as protein. This plays a special role in the cat’s energy metabolism, which is why its protein requirement is significantly higher than that of a dog, for example. So dog food doesn’t belong on the cat’s plate. Food proteins always consist of complex protein molecules, which are made up of smaller units, the so-called amino acids. There are a total of around 20 different amino acids that form the proteins in the animal organism, whether in mice, beef, or chickens. The cat’s organism can produce most of the amino acids itself. But not all of them, there are also some that the cat has to get from food, which is why they are called “essential” amino acids. It is mainly taurine and arginine that cats are very sensitive to if they are lacking. A taurine deficiency, caused by too much plant-based food, can lead to blindness and heart disease in cats. The quality of dietary protein depends on two factors: On the one hand, the amount and mix of amino acids must be right, and on the other hand, it must be easy to digest. Otherwise, protein, for example from cartilage or tendons, will not be broken down and absorbed in the small intestine in good time but will reach the large intestine, where bacterial degradation will result in unfavorable metabolic products. The high-quality sources of protein for the mouse hunter include muscle meat from beef and poultry, dairy products, and fish.
In Moderation Fat And Oil
The second important source of energy is the nutrient group fats. In addition, fat provides essential fatty acids, important because the cat’s organism cannot produce them itself, including arachidonic acid and linoleic acid. They are used to build up substances with important regulatory functions. Arachidonic acid is found in animal fats, mainly in fish, but not in plant foods, while linoleic acid is found in corn oil, for example. Incidentally, fat has the highest calorific value, i.e. one gram of fat contains more energy than one gram of protein, and here in turn more energy than one gram of carbohydrates. Consequently, fat is only healthy in moderation. Most cats prefer a fat content of 25 to 40 percent in their food.
Fats also have another function: They enable the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. And: they add taste to the food.
As A Side Dishcarbohydrates
Carbohydrates are only the side dishes of a meal for the predator cat – just as much as the prey mouse provides in the stomach and intestines in the form of pre-digested plant food. A mini portion of this nutrient is enough for her (in contrast to a healthy human diet with at least 50 percent carbohydrates). Too high a content of carbohydrates in the feed can even lead to indigestion in cats since they find it difficult to break down starch. Carbohydrates are sugar molecules of various lengths. The main complex carbohydrate is starch from grains (wheat, oats), corn, rice, and potatoes. Boiling or steaming improves their digestibility for the cat. In the case of plant-based side dishes, it is therefore not al dente.