Feline Nutrition

Can cats eat eggs?

Yes, cats can eat eggs, but as with any ‘treat’, limit the amount and frequency you feed as this adds excess calories to the cat’s diet. An average 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) cat on a maintenance diet should consume 246 calories per day, and one egg is approximately 74 calories (310 kilojoules), which is just under 1/3rd of the cat’s total daily calorie allowance.

While eggs contain many beneficial nutrients, they are not balanced and complete. Cats are obligate carnivores and must consume a diet that is made up of predominantly animal protein. So feed eggs as a treat, and feed less at the next mealtime. As a general rule, treats should not make up more than ten percent of a cat’s diet.

Are eggs good for cats?

Eggs are good for cats. The protein in eggs is easily digestible protein and eggs provide many essential nutrients which include vitamins A, B6, B12, D and E, riboflavin, folate, niacin, iron, zinc, calcium, omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids (arginine, histidine, isoleucine, lysine, methionine, methionine + cysteine, phenylalanine, phenylalanine + tyrosine, threonine, and valine) and antioxidants (lutein and zeaxanthin).

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Feeding cats in a multi-cat household can be a challenge for pet owners, there are many reasons why it may be necessary to feed cats separate diets.

• One cat is on a medication that is mixed into the food
• An obese cat who is on a weight-controlled diet
• To prevent one cat from eating all the food which means another cat misses out
• Cats on a prescription or therapeutic diet, for example, hyperthyroidism, urinary or kidney disease

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What do cats eat?

Cats are obligate carnivores which means they must have meat in their diet to survive. Their primary ancestors lived on a diet of small rodents and birds. Cats require a high protein diet with a variety of different nutrients such as taurine, arginine, calcium, niacin (vitamin B3), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and thiamine (vitamin B1), to name a few. Many of these nutrients are found in animals only, making a vegetarian diet impossible for cats.

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At a glance

About: Vitamin D toxicosis is a build-up of Vitamin D in the blood, which leads to increased levels of calcium in the blood.

Causes:

• Rodenticide poisoning
• Secondary poisoning, eating a rat who has ingested rodenticide
• Over supplementation of vitamin D
• Feeding a diet high in liver and fish

Diagnosis: Baseline tests will reveal high levels of calcium in the blood and the urine. X-rays to look for mineralisation of tissues and bone loss.

Treatment: Gastric decontamination for rodenticide ingestion along with activated charcoal and vitamin K injections. Phosphate binders to decrease phosphate levels in the blood, diuretics to increase excretion, prednisolone to reduce bone and intestinal absorption. IV fluids to treat dehydration and help the body excrete excess calcium.

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What is vitamin A?

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that has multiple functions within the body. It helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. Approximately 80% of vitamin A is stored in the liver and is released in small amounts as it is needed. Vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis) occurs when too much vitamin A is ingested, leading to toxicity.

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What is taurine?

Also known as 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, taurine is a sulfur-containing amino acid that was first isolated in the bile of an ox in 1827 by Austrian scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin. Most mammals can synthesise taurine from other sulphur amino acids such as methionine and cysteine; however, while cats can manufacture some taurine, it is not in adequate amounts to meet their needs. This is due in part due to the low activity of two enzymes essential for taurine synthesis; cysteine dioxygenase and cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase.

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Being able to read pet food labels really helps when choosing which food to buy for your cat. It is not a difficult task if you know what you are looking at. This article hopes to simplify what these labels mean, giving you, the carer more power and knowledge to choose the best possible food for your pet. Bear in mind that rules and regulations will vary from country to country, but many will follow the regulations of AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

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Human foods cats can’t eat at a glance

• Alcohol
• Apricot, peach, plum, nectarine pips and apple seeds
• Caffeine
• Citrus
• Chocolate
• Tuna (in excess)
• Onion and garlic
• Potato (green parts and the eyes)
• Cooked bones
• Grapes and raisins
• Bread dough
• Macadamia nuts
• Xylitol
• Mushrooms
• Fat trimmings
• Liver (in excess)

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What is food intolerance?

Food intolerance is an adverse reaction to food, one of its ingredients or additives. It differs from a food allergy in that there is no immune system involvement. Food allergies typically cause nonseasonal itching, especially around the head and face, swollen and inflamed areas on the face and ears, hair loss due to itching, vomiting, and diarrhea.

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