There are at least 15 million cat guardians in Canada, and they undoubtedly want to know whether their feline is getting the food it needs for optimal health. For the domestic housecat, the wrong diet can contribute to fitness problems ranging from kidney disease and diabetes to allergies and cancer.
Making the most of its nine lives, your cat requires a diet that strengthens its immune system. That means the natural foods that closely resemble the diet of the cats' ancestors.
The Evolution of Cat
Felis catus has been lounging around since ancient times. It has fed itself on birds, insects, and anything else it could get its claws on-especially small animals. The small animals of course nibbled on wild grasses, seeds, and nuts. The bones of small prey cleaned the cat's teeth, and their fur provided fiber for their innards. The preys' organ meats provided moisture for them. The cat would graze on small quantities of low growing grains and berries for variety. It all added up to a wild but well-rounded diet.
As cats' domesticity evolved, so did their food; mice and squirrels were replaced by dry kibble. According to Michael Dym, VMD, a homeopathic veterinarian in Morristown, New Jersey, dry food “is not in [cats'] evolutionary diet.” Because feline biology isn't suited for kibble, many holistic veterinarians believe that dry, processed food is a main cause of illness and premature death in the modern cat.
The cats' digestive system is short and acidic, meaning it can handle and process meat, bones, and most bacteria effectively. But a grain-heavy or purely vegetarian diet spells trouble for a cat's tiny fermentation system. Carbohydrate rich foods, such as dry grain and plant material, are difficult to digest and they cause an imbalance in the normal pH levels of a cat's urinary system, potentially leading to irritation of the bladder lining and increasing risk for urinary tract infections.
Overworked by production of the digestive enzyme amylase, the pancreas becomes stressed; undigested grains and a pH imbalance create toxins in the kidneys and bladder; and the weakened immune system can't fight off illness.
According to Prof. Dominique Grandjean, cats are by nature nibblers. If left to their own devices, a cat will eat between ten and sixteen small meals per day. It has been observed that total darkness inhibits eating. Their meals last only two to three minutes. A cat drinks ten times per day on average.
Raw Foods
Dry food may be the preferred option for many cat caregivers, yet in a purr-fect world, cats would eat moist, low-carbohydrate diets, with supplements as necessary. Raw food holds sway with holistic vets. While experimenting on the function of cats' adrenal glands, Dr. Francis M. Pottenger (1932/42), discovered that felines fed a raw-meat diet were much healthier than those given cooked meats. Raw or cooked, the safest meats for cats are chicken, turkey, and beef. Organ meats are crucial for the vitamins and minerals they offer cats, according to Marty Goldstein, DVM, and a Palm Harbor, Florida-based holistic vet.
Though cats are strict carnivores, they are, on occasion, attracted to vegetables -particularly puréed pumpkin, green beans, broccoli, zucchini, and carrots-supply fiber, vitamins A and C, and water including catnip, valerian, sage, mint, and olive. Vets also recommend salmon or other fish oils for omega-3 fatty acids, plus finely ground eggshells and ground bones for calcium.
A few cat-food cautions: Avoid onions; they destroy red blood cells and cause anemia in cats. Many holistic veterinarians forgo feeding fish to cats because of mercury concerns. Try fish treats two to three times a week. Under no circumstances feed your cat chocolate; even a tiny amount can kill. Chocolate contains the chemical theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and cats.
Whether homemade or purchased, a diet that doesn't meet your cat's nutritional needs is still a raw deal. Consult with your veterinarian or an animal nutritionist to find a recipe that is suited to your cat.
