Cats & Carbs
I thought I’d update you all on some current information I got at the AVMA meeting. Over time, many have commented on grain and carbohydrates (diets that contain them) and how they affect cats. Many...
Forum Discussion
There seems to be some confusion over the term OBLIGATE CARNIVORE and what it means to the diet composition for that animal. Some assume that it means that cats CANNOT digest or utilize grains & carbs and that is not true (see my post above about current research).
In fact, it is my understanding that the most obligate of carnivores still consume up to 30% of their diet in “other” nutrients (plant, fruit and fungi).
What it does mean is that to provide a nutritionally complete diet, meat sources of nutrients are essential in the quantities necessary to meet the minimum needs. This will be modified some as synthetic sources of essential nutrients become more available. The nutrient most deficient in our domestic cat diets (homemade, commercial and raw) is taurine, but this is now commonly supplemented in most commercial diets.
Some have assumed that our domestic cats by being obligate carnivores should not have grains in their diets and that if the grains are there, they are the source of all chronic or old age disease conditions found in cats. The current research DOES NOT support this position.
I’m not advocating grains be fed to cats. Cats can do quite well on a grain free diet – your choice.
It’s just that (according to the preponderance of relevant data we have available now) all the furor over grain free as related to the diets of our domestic cats appears to be baseless.
Doug, DVM
In fact, it is my understanding that the most obligate of carnivores still consume up to 30% of their diet in “other” nutrients (plant, fruit and fungi).
What it does mean is that to provide a nutritionally complete diet, meat sources of nutrients are essential in the quantities necessary to meet the minimum needs. This will be modified some as synthetic sources of essential nutrients become more available. The nutrient most deficient in our domestic cat diets (homemade, commercial and raw) is taurine, but this is now commonly supplemented in most commercial diets.
Some have assumed that our domestic cats by being obligate carnivores should not have grains in their diets and that if the grains are there, they are the source of all chronic or old age disease conditions found in cats. The current research DOES NOT support this position.
I’m not advocating grains be fed to cats. Cats can do quite well on a grain free diet – your choice.
It’s just that (according to the preponderance of relevant data we have available now) all the furor over grain free as related to the diets of our domestic cats appears to be baseless.
Doug, DVM
