Cat Vitamins

Like they are for people, cat vitamins are an important part of cat nutrition. Cat vitamins work to keep your pet’s body functioning properly, and they also help to prevent disease and illness. A number of factors affect how much of a particular vitamin a cat needs. For example, vitamin requirements for male cats differ from those of female cats. A cat’s age and general health status also affect vitamin requirements. A cat with a chronic illness such as diabetes or an acute condition such as anemia may need more vitamins than a healthy cat. Cats with digestive problems may become malnourished because they do not absorb nutrients as well as cats with healthy digestive tracts. If your cat lacks energy, has skin problems or is losing hair, he or she may need extra nutritional support. Cats need the same vitamins that people need. Specifically, these are vitamins A, D, E and K, which are fat soluble plus the B complex vitamins and vitamin C, which are water soluble. The difference between fat soluble and water soluble vitamins is that fat soluble vitamins are stored in fat cells, while water soluble vitamins are really not stored in the body at all. A cat’s body uses the vitamin C or B complex vitamins that it needs and excretes the excess when the cat urinates. Fat soluble vitamins, on the other hand, are stored in the body if not used, so in theory it is possible for a cat to overdose on fat soluble vitamin supplements. In general, then, a multivitamin supplement for cats should contains only the recommended daily allowance of both water soluble and fat soluble vitamins.

Not all cats need vitamin supplements, though many people give their pets cat vitamins for insurance. However, if your cat is a finicky eater or is on a weight loss diet, it is very possible that she will not get enough vitamins in her diet. There are also some specific signs of vitamin deficiency that you might notice in your cat. For example, while a deficiency of fat soluble vitamins is rare, vitamin A deficiency can affect a cat’s eyesight and skin, while vitamin D deficiency may result in problems with teeth and bones. A cat who suffers from colds and similar illnesses may not have enough of the fat soluble antioxidant vitamin E. Water soluble vitamin C is also important in preventing colds because it too is a powerful antioxidant. However, healthy cats can make vitamin C from glucose, so a vitamin C deficiency is only likely if your cat is ill in some way. The B complex vitamins are important cofactors in metabolic reactions that help your cat create and use energy. A weak or lethargic cat may lack sufficient amounts of B vitamins.

If you believe that your cat would benefit from nutritional supplements, you can ask your veterinarian or a pet nutritionist to help you choose high quality cat vitamins. When you choose a product, be sure to follow the directions given to be sure that your cat is taking the vitamin safely in the correct amount.

BACK to Cat Health

BACK to Cat Nutrition Topics

Back to All About Cats Home Page