Cat lovers are taking ever more interest in providing their feline
friends with the absolute best diet, health and life. This is a good thing, and
the fact that vitamins for cats
are now readily available means that it’s easier than ever before. These
vitamins are designed to be easy (and enjoyable) for your cat to take and meet
specific nutritional needs that cats commonly have. But how important are they?
The answer is, it depends. Many cat food brands already enhance their
food with vitamins for cats. The amount that a manufacturer puts in, however,
varies widely from one brand to another. That means it’s important to check
your standard cat food and see what vitamins and supplements are added, and in
what quantities. Premium brands of food will usually have the full amount your
cat needs. Additionally, you should make sure you’re buying the right kind of
food for your cat’s age—kittens, adult cats and older cats have different nutritional
needs.
If you’re doing all that, you may not needs vitamins for your cat unless
your veterinarian recommends them. But there are three situations where
vitamins are a good idea:
1. If your cat
has not been fed a premium diet
When you adopt a new cat, ask the owner what food they usually use. If
it’s not a premium brand, check the packaging on the food and see if it has the
vitamins they need. If not, or if you’re not sure, consider adding a vitamin
supplement for your cat to help make up for any deficiency.
2. If you don’t
know what your cat has been fed
Sometimes the dietary history of a cat is unclear. This can be true with
both adoptions and bringing in strays. With all stray cats, you should assume
their diet has been poor unless you know otherwise. With these cats, it’s wise
to get them on vitamins at least for a while. You do not have to continue them
indefinitely if you switch to a high quality food.
3. For specific
medical conditions
Some conditions can be helped by supplements. These include:
·
Allergic
dermatitis, dry skin or poor hair. Omega fatty acid supplements may help with
this.
·
Gastrointestinal
problems. Probiotics and digestive enzymes may both have a positive effect.
·
Arthritis.
Just
like in humans, a combined glucosamine/chondroitin supplement is recommended
for arthritis.
If your cat has a specific health condition, ask your vet what
supplements they recommend.
