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Did you know that including fat in your catโs diet may actually
be good for it? Now, fat has traditionally been looked on as an
enemy that should be steered away from. However, you may be
surprised to know that fat may be one of the most misunderstood
things in a diet! However, the fact is that a little bit of fat
is not only healthy, but also vital for your catโs life. While
this may sound very surprising, it wonโt when you understand how
fat can actually benefit your cat.
Types of fat
The first thing to know about fat is that there are two types of
fat- good fat and bad fat. The good fat can be easily digested by
your cat so that it can be used as a great energy source. Fats
can be classified in numerous ways, based on how the fatty acids
that constitute them are structured. The kind of fat that is
essential for cats is commonly known as Omega-3 and Omeg-6.
Presence of these fats in your catโs food can go a long way in
helping it lead a healthier and more active life.The reason these
fats are so important to a cat is that they cannot be naturally
synthesized by the catโs body. As such, without the inclusion of
these fats in a catโs diet, the cat is missing out on a lot of
health benefits. These oils can prevent skin diseases, arthritis,
kidney diseases, leukaemia, deficiencies in the immune system and
a host of other undesirable disorders, these oils are also used
in alleviating these medical conditions.
Source of energy
A certain amount of digestible fat is advisable as it is a richer
source of energy than even protein and carbohydrates. Fat
constitutes a part of a catโs brain cell membranes and neural
pathways. Needless to say, having good fat in your catโs diet can
help boost the health of these cells and improve the neural
communication of your catโs brain cells. It also helps in better
production of hormones such as progesterone, estrogen and
testosterone, thereby keeping your cat active and
lively.Essential fats are available in fish, poultry, beef and
pork. The fat in these meats contain Linoleic acid. Omega 3 is
found in fish oil, flax seed and krill. Corn and soybean are
other sources of Linoleic acid. In order to give your cat the
perfect diet, you may have to provide a blend of these elements
in your
catโs food
. It is important to note here that you will have to do so in
consultation with experts who will guide you better as to how you
can make optimal use of these fats. Too much of anything is too
bad, and the same goes for essential fats too.
Why Your Pet Needs Essential Fatty Acids In Its Diet
You may have been led to believe that dietary fats often lead to
obesity in pet animals. But the truth is that the good fats -
certain fatty acids such as Omega-3 and 6 are essential in diet
plans of dogs and cats, because they are unable to produce it
themselves. It is so vital that you feed your pet these fatty
acids so much so that the National Research Council of American
Feed Control Officials has included it in their nutrient
recommendations for pet food.Below are the benefits that such
fatty acids provide for your animal companions.
Provides your pets with more
energy
Essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and 6 enhance energy
production in your pets, so they actually create less fat
contrary to popular belief. Even though Omega 6 may be found in
plenty in pet foods, omega-3 is not as common. Fats from animals
like chicken and fish are the best source, so make sure to
include a healthy amount of chicken or fish oil like sardines in
your petโs diet.
Healthier skin and shinier
coat
Omega 3 fatty acids also give dogs and cats a healthy and
moisturized skin that further leads to a bunch of other benefits.
When the skin is healthy and hydrated, it leads to a shinier coat
full of luster, a sure indicator of good health in pets.
Unhealthy skin is signified by dryness, which leads to more
dandruff and shedding. It also helps to prevent scratching. A lot
of scratching causes irritation and infection in your petsโ skin,
which can be painful and annoying.
Reduce inflammation
Omega-3's encourage the production of prostaglandins and
leukotrienes, compounds that help modulate inflammation
associated with rheumatoid arthritis, immune system response,
blood clotting and inflammatory bowel disease. Anything that
causes any type of inflammation increases the risk of other
harmful diseases related to heart, kidneys, blood pressure and
respiration, and may even lead to cancer and diabetes in cats and
dogs. Essential fatty acids help to regulate all kinds of
inflammation.
Improved immunity and overall
development
By now, it is clear how beneficial fatty acids can be for your
pet animals when consumed in the right manner and amount. They
help to prevent a number of harmful and fatal diseases, and
provide increases energy. All this translates to a boost in
immunity and overall development. A lack of essential fatty acids
like omega-3 can result in undesirable outcomes like stunted
growth, eye problems, ear infections, weak muscles and poor motor
coordination.
