Read the cat article, "The Truth About Feeding Your Cat Raw Meat".
The Truth About Feeding Your Cat Raw Meat
Myths about proper diets for our cats seem always to be with us. Some of
these myths may have a grain of truth, but this truth is often greatly
exaggerated or misapplied. Other myths are nurtured by misinformation and
mistrust.
A current myth that could be threatening to our cats’ health involves raw
meat diets for dogs and cats. The proponents of this belief question the
wholesomeness and nutritional value of commercial cat foods. But, in fact, there
is no scientific substantiation for raw meat diets.
The truth is that good quality cat foods are backed by years of feline and
canine nutrition studies. They are the result of scientific studies by
researchers in veterinary colleges and animal nutritionists at reputable cat
food manufacturers. Ralston Purina Company, for example, began its cat nutrition
studies over 70 years ago. This work continues as researchers launch new studies
to learn even more about the relationship of diet to our cats’ health.
In our own diets, meat is combined with vegetables, fruits, breads and other
foods to give us the balanced nutrition we need. If we were to eat one
particular food consistently, chances are we would become malnourished or
develop health problems. No single food or food group can provide all the
nutrients we need in proper proportions. Manufacturers of good quality cat foods
have incorporated all the nutrients a dog or cat needs during a particular life
stage into nutritionally complete and balanced diets.
Although meat is a source of protein, it has very low levels of calcium, a
mineral our cats require for proper bone and tooth development. Calcium also
plays an important role in blood clotting, muscle contraction and transmission
of nerve impulses.
It’s important to remember that nutrients do not work alone, and calcium is
no exception. Mineral nutrients are interrelated. Calcium and phosphorus have a
scientifically established relationship in the formation of bones and teeth,
provided a proper balance is maintained. This balance is usually not present in
meat. If large quantities of raw meat are fed over time, skeletal problems may
develop.
We tend to think of liver as being a "healthy" meat. Served with other foods,
it is a beneficial part of many human diets. Liver has a high level of vitamin
A, a fat-soluble vitamin that is stored by the body. When liver is fed to cats
in large quantities over a period of time, vitamin A toxicity can result. This
can lead to improper bone development, lameness and bone decalcification.
Raw meat carries the threat of bacteria and parasites. Salmonella is a
bacterial organism that can cause a variety of disease in humans and animals.
The risk of salmonellosis is always present when cats are fed raw meat diets.
Certain species of tapeworm can be found in raw meat and passed on to a cat who
ingests the meat. High quality commercial cat foods are carefully processed to
protect against salmonella or internal parasite infection.
It’s true that cats and dogs consume a certain amount of muscle meat when
they eat wild animals for survival. However, they also consume the bones,
intestinal contents and internal organs which come closer to providing a
complete and balanced diet.
Attempting to supplement a raw meat diet with vitamins and minerals is risky
for your cat’s health. Certain vitamins and minerals react with one another.
Unless they are present in the proper amounts a cat may suffer malnutrition.
When a myth involving cat nutrition is suddenly exploited, we should ask
ourselves: "What scientific research supports this statement?" "Have veterinary
colleges done research to validate it?" "Do respected researchers in the fields
of canine and feline nutrition support it?" "They said" or "I heard that" do not
provide the substantiation we need when confronted with myths involving the
nutrition and well-being of our special companions.
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