One of the first things on my course was to look into the consequences of the problems our furry friends can have when we feed them poor-quality food. This article will attempt to broadly cover why a cat must have a diet rich in nutrients, what malnutrition signs are, and the results of malnutrition. Also, what happens to the nutrients once they enter the cat’s digestive system through absorption and how low-quality dry food can sometimes cause issues with inflammation. We will so look at other feline health issues, covering the symptoms, causes, recovery and treatment, and briefly talk about commercial cat food – some tips of what to look for on the packaging and some discussion around food safety.
Dry Cat Food Processes You May Not Know
So let’s talk about dry cat food, commonly known as kibble in some parts of the world. Let us say now that good cat owners know that felines are OBLIGATE CARNIVORES. This means that they are genetically predisposed to have a diet that is high in animal protein. A lack of this will break down their muscles and organs and lead to a range of issues. So why is dry food even available if we see cat food has “plant-based” ingredients in the product.
The answers are simple, it is easy to store,e and has a higher shelf life, and can be quite palatable. However there are some issues you may not be aware of that can lead to complaints from your cat. A lack of moisture in a cat’s diet can lead to kidney disease and be fatal, so please make sure if this happens look into a cat for this specific diet, a few tips for food for renal cats can be found in the link.
Advanced Lixpoidation End Products (ALE’s)
Put simply, when cat dry cat food is manufactured, the contents will be heated many times, whilst being ground and shaped up to 243° Fahrenheit (117° Celsius). The ingredients that make up dry cat food that cause these issues are high in polyunsaturated fats such as chicken fat, fish, sunflower oil and other plant proteins. The chemical reactions during this process can cause oxidative stress, which can lead to issues such as chronic inflammation, tissue damage, especially in the kidneys, liver, and heart, premature ageing, and increased risk of diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Advanced Glycation End Products (AGE’s)
Similar to ALE’s however, this is when proteins and carbohydrates are heated together and is another major driver of oxidative stress on the cat’s digestive system. Furthermore, due to the high heating of the proteins in dry cat food, for example, chicken, lamb or fish by-products or “meal”, grains such as corn, wheat, rice, and barley. The way the dry food is “browned” is a reason why your cat will find it tasty, and probably will not have a problem with it, same as humans with crisps or sweets! However, the results of poor nutrition can lead to issues seen above.
So all Dry Cat Food is bad then?
No, absolutely not, but everything in moderation. If you are going to keep your cat on a dry cat food schedule, please remember that they always have fresh, clean water to drink wherever possible. There are better products out there than others, and some dry foods have better constituents and more protein than others. Some are even specific for the type of cat you have such as indoor dry cat food, please see my article for some tips!
Common Feline Health Issues, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment and Recovery
Gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the stomach, and common symptoms can be vomiting and diarrhoea. There can be many causes, such as viral/bacterial infections, food allergies, stress or eating something disagreeable, such as plant matter or something your cat has picked off the floor that looked tasty at the time but was not left for them! Recovery takes the form of rehydration, balance of sodium, potassium and chloride restored – this can mean a bland diet in the short term, in small and regular portions.
Colitis
This is inflammation of the large intestine (where nutrients are not absorbed by the small intestine and water). Symptoms can be painful bowel movements, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhoea. Causes can be polyps, or growth on the organs, tumours and dietary changes. Always try to remember that if you need to transition your cat onto a new diet, make sure to introduce it slowly so the digestive system can get used to the new schedule. Colitis is also common in cats under 5 years old.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Inflammation of the bowel is usually stress-induced, vomiting and diarrhoea again, but other symptoms may include lethargy, blood in the stool and a decreased appetite. Causes could be from a reaction abnormality in the cat’s diet or the immune system, bacteria in the intestines not balanced or food intolerances. In my experience, human IBS is stress-related and was recommended a change in diet (again, a slow transition) that was highly digestible, and probiotics are now becoming popular.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas and is closely related to a condition called Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI), a malfunctioning of the cells in the pancreas that produce digestive hormones. Symptoms are dehydration, infections, diseases, physical trauma and loss of appetite. Treatment can come in the form of low-fat diets, but doing this could eliminate another existing problem due to poor nutrition. A vet may also prescribe anti-nausea medications to help with vomiting.
Periodontal Disease
This is an inflammation of the gums that normally occurs through a dry food diet. Bad gums can lead to disease or rotten teeth and other escalated conditions, such as stomatitis. Cat owners could be brave and pick up a toothbrush, but this may not suit the cat. We use a dental biscuit recommended by our vet – see here!
Cat Digestive System Basics
Some “house-keeping” before I start the section, this is all based on my understanding – some parts may be missing, but I will attempt to describe my learning to you! Also, this is my first attempt at Inkscape. I may have had a little help with the cat, but the system itself is all me, as the help drawing the cat did not provide everything I needed! Also, with some organs missing, I’m not going to even try and claim this is vet-verifed. However, I have seen other sites with parts missing, and they have claimed a vet has approved it! Therefore, if you need a super accurate picture (as I had done for some research), it might be best to look at a dissection for that!
The main parts and what they do
- Oesophagus – Tube that carries food from the mouth into the stomach
- Stomach – Responsible for breaking down the food. Cat’s stomach acid is particularly strong at breaking down protein and killing bad bacteria
- Small Intestine – Responsible for the absorption of nutrients from the food
- Pancreas/Liver – Produces digestive enzymes, detoxifies blood, regulates blood sugar levels, and the liver produces bile that breaks down fats
- Gall Bladder – where bile is stored and secreted into the intestines
- Kidney – Also filters out toxins and detoxifies blood
- Large Intestine – Anything the small intestine does not absorb, including water and other nutrients, will be absorbed here
- Anus – Where waste is eliminated
Food that you SHOULD never feed your cat!
- Chocolate – due to their inability to process theobromine, which can lead to serious feline health issues (also see Coffee).
- Onions/Garlic/Chives – a plant group called Alliums, which cannot be processed and will therefore cause inflammation and gut problems.
- Grapes/Raisins – have been known to be a cause of kidney issues, but in all cases for cats, it’s best to be avoided.
- Coffee (Caffeine) – contains methylxanthines that can cause all sorts of digestive issues, but also includes panting, hyperactivity and can lead to death.
- Anything labelled “sugar free”, such as toothpastes (cats can be sensitive to Xylitol)
Commercial Cat Food and Storage
We’ve talked extensively about the pros and cons of dry food so it would make sense that a wet food diet simulates the natural diet that cats are built for. Mass-produced cat food does have animal derivatives we are not accustomed to eating ourselves. You can find how much “meat” is in the product but the food has to be nutritionally “complete” as described in the ingredients. Anything you buy that’s “complimentary” will be a snack for your cat and should not form part of the cat’s main diet, primarily as it will not satisfy the cat’s nutritional needs. Mass-produced cat foods will ensure complete foods by adding amino acids, such as taurine, important for the functioning of the heart muscle.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading this article but with any learning, we talked about common health problems a cat can have if not fed properly. What happens to dry food during the heating process, and what is in wet cat food. We also had a brief look at the cat’s digestive system and what you should never feed a cat. If you feel I have missed anything massive, please let me know. All help is gratefully received!
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