ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Small animal practice
Volume 50 | Issue 5 (September 2020)

Understanding the Nutritional Needs of Healthy Cats and Those with Diet-Sensitive Conditions.

Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. September 2020;50(5):905-924.

Dottie P Laflamme¹

¹ Veterinary Communications, 473 Grandma's Place, Floyd, VA 24091, USA. Electronic address: JunqueDr@yahoo.com.

Abstract

Diets for cats must provide complete nutrition and meet the needs of the individual patient. There is no single diet that is perfect for all cats, and veterinarians must consider the needs of the cat as well as the preferences of the owners when making dietary recommendations. This article focuses on the interface between animal factors and nutritional needs in cats and is divided into 3 sections. Section 1 addresses the dietary needs of healthy cats, including differences among life stages. Section 2 addresses common myths regarding feline nutrition. Section 3 addresses common nutrient-sensitive conditions in cats, including sarcopenia of aging.

Keywords

Carbohydrate; Diet-sensitive disease sarcopenia; Kidney disease; Lean body mass; Myths; Obligate carnivore; Protein;

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