Putting together a home-cooked meal is a wonderful way to show someone special that you care and our cats are no exception. But before you start pulling out those pots and pans to whip up a fancy feast meal or treats for your cat, read this first.
Here’s what you should know about the digestive system and dietary needs of your cat, as well as what foods to stay away from and what foods are safe to feed to felines.
Dr. Elisabeth Broussard the Veterinary Surgeon at CitiVet Gardens reminds us: “Cats are obligate carnivores, and they require meat to meet their energy and protein requirements, and fat requirements. They do not require carbohydrates, but they do need fiber. Out in the wild, when a cat catches prey, they eat the fur with the rest of the animal and the fur is the fiber. Also, there are some vegetables in the intestine of the prey animal—a mouse, a bird, or whatever—so they’re getting fiber there too, but mostly from the fur.”
Dr. Elisabeth also points out that when you add vegetables to your cat’s diet, you’re providing them with a healthy helping of phytonutrients, which provide valuable bioflavonoids and phenols that impart extra health benefits and can help fight against cancer, autoimmune disease, and infections.
Human foods that are toxic to cats
There are certain plants that are toxic to cats and so are certain foods. If you’re wondering if there are any human foods that you should never offer as a treat for your pet, Dr. Elisabeth says the answer is a resounding yes.
“Stay away from iceberg lettuce and onions—those are the only two biggies to stay away from. Iceberg lettuce will just make everything too runny, or give your cat diarrhea, and the onions will cause anemia.”
Dr. Elisabeth, who specializes in Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, among other things, adds, “I would stay away from potatoes and squash also, because those are carbohydrate vegetables and cats don’t need that. In fact, starch is antithetical to their digestive system. They don’t do great with it, and it causes in the long run obesity and metabolic diseases, or diseases that throw off their hormones and metabolism, like diabetes and hormonal imbalances.”
Another basic principle regarding cats that Dr. Elisabeth points out is, “Cats, by nature, require most of their water, if not all of their water, to come from their food. So if you see a cat drinking water, there’s usually something a little wrong. You should always feed wet food, meaning that if you have to give dry food, at least wet it.”
Along with all of the “food for thought,” take stock of your running grocery list and add the Cats of Cape Town’s list of eight approved foods, because giving your cat some fresh human food will go a long way to maintaining and supporting your feline’s health.
1. Broccoli
Broccoli is loaded with antioxidants as well as vitamin C and bioflavonoids, helping to support the immune system of your cat. Broccoli also offers fiber. When serving broccoli to your cat, be sure not to overexpose it to much heat (the rawer, the better) and do not season. Remember that this is a special order for your cat and seasoning add-ons can upset their stomachs.
2. Carrots
Carrots are a great defense against degenerative diseases and cancer cell growth. One out of every two dogs gets cancer, but one of out every five cats gets cancer. The lycopene-rich food also slows the progression of vision loss with age. Be sure to make carrots mushy, or else your cat will not eat them and they won’t receive any of the benefits of carrots.
3. Kale
Leafy green vegetables like kale have a lot of vitamins and nutrients that can be very beneficial to your cat. Kale is rich in vitamin A and copper, which are very important. Lightly steamed and minced kale should be mixed in with the meat that you will serve your cat.
4. Spinach
Just like kale, spinach and other collard green vegetables offer a healthy dose of fiber. Be sure the leaves are fresh and green, to ensure maximum vitality of the vegetable and benefit to your cat. To prepare these vegetables, mince them then expose them to a bit of steam for 30 to 50 seconds to soften the spinach to soften the cell membranes and expose the nutrients of the vegetables. Cooking spinach destroys the nutrients, so do not expose them to high heat or fire if you want your cat to reap the maximum benefits.
5. Bok Choy
Bok choy is a vegetable that may take a little getting used to for your cat as it tends to be a bit on the bitter side, but the benefits of this super-food are many. When eating optimally, the average life span of a healthy cat should be 18 to 20 years. Comparably, on store-bought cat food, you can expect your cat to live 12 to 15 years.
6. Apples, Pears, Plums, and Peaches
Though it’s best to avoid citrus fruits because some cats do not do well with them, apples, pears, plums, and peaches are all fine treats for your cat in small amounts. Be warned however that excessive amounts of these fruits can cause the runs, so moderation is key.
7. Meat
Roughly 70 percent of a cat’s diet should be muscle meat, with about 25 percent of the diet being organ meat: chicken, beef, turkey, and lamb are all accepted varieties to feed your cat. The meat should not be exposed to any heat whatsoever. It’s very important to give a variety of organ meats because of glandular therapy theory, which dictates that if you need help with a certain organ, you should eat that organ, from a different species of animal. Whereas humans and dogs make taurine in their bodies, cats do not, so they need to eat it. Taurine is an amino acid that cats can get from meat, hearts, tissue, and from brains. Hearts, livers, kidneys, spleens, and a little bit of stomach or skin are all important organs that can be purchased from your local or neighborhood butcher. Giblets come in a little bag that has animal gizzards in it that are available for purchase, as well as the pancreas, also known as “sweetbreads.” Once home, simply grind up the raw organs and meat in a grinder, or you can request that the butcher grind the meat.
8. Fish
No more than 15 percent of your cat’s diet should be comprised of fish or about once a week. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish make it really healthy for cats. Always remember to give your cat the best quality fish you can. Aim for fresh cuts instead of pre-packaged, ready-to-eat, or canned varieties that contain salt, preservatives, and other potentially harmful ingredients. As for serving the fish, never give raw fish to your cat. It can cause severe depletion of essential vitamins. Find out what’s the best way to cook fish for cats and opt for oily fish like tuna and sardines. They offer more significant nutritional benefits to your cat in the form of healthy fats than white fish such as hake.
