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When do cats need additional food supplements?

Cats need nutritional supplements when their usual diet leads to a deficiency of vitamins or minerals. Animals under exceptional stress such as illness, pregnancy or old age are particularly at risk.

Young growing animals also benefit from supporting nutrients. Food supplements can also be used prophylactically to prevent illnesses or deficiency symptoms.

Note: When administering food supplements for cats, the dosage must be carefully observed. An overdose of certain minerals, for example, can have a negative effect on the animal's health.

How do food supplements help cats?

Food supplements for cats contain additional vitamins and minerals. These are intended to compensate for acute or impending deficiencies and can thus promote the cat's health. In some cases, an additional dose of certain nutrients is even absolutely necessary to maintain the life of the animal.

The individual vitamins and minerals sometimes have very different functions. A deficiency can therefore manifest itself in very different ways. This is why food supplements are used, for example, to supplement a veterinary diet for cats. However, the administration of supplements cannot replace veterinary treatment for cats.

Vitamins for cats

• Vitamin A is important for a cat's eyes, skin and hair. A deficiency can lead to disease. However, an overdose of vitamin A is also dangerous for a cat because it can lead to changes in the skeleton and growth disorders.
• Vitamin B1 must be continuously absorbed by a cat. Cats are particularly at risk of deficiency if they are fed a lot of raw fish, as this contains enzymes that break down thiamine. They manifest themselves in loss of appetite, cramps, muscle weakness, paralysis, inflammation of the nerves or gait disorders.
• Vitamin B12 is found in almost all body cells and is necessary for their division. Cats also need vitamin B12 for their metabolism, nervous system and mucous membranes. Vitamin B12 is only found in animal products. Deficiency symptoms can therefore occur if cats are fed a purely vegetarian diet.
• Vitamin C is produced by cats themselves. In contrast to dogs, cats can nevertheless be dependent on a supplementary supply via food to strengthen the immune system, especially in old age, during stress or illness.
• Vitamin D regulates a cat's calcium and phosphate balance. The vitamin also supports the intestines, bones, kidneys, mammary glands and uterus. While deficiency can lead to rickets, excessive intake promotes calcification of the blood vessels and organs. While humans can produce vitamin D3 with the help of sunlight, cats are completely dependent on dietary intake.
• Vitamin E is only found in plant sources. It can then enter the body of cats via the stomach contents of prey. The vitamin is a natural antioxidant and protects the animal's fatty tissue. A deficiency in cats is manifested by fatigue, degeneration of the muscles, fertility problems and a loss of performance.
• Vitamin K is necessary for blood clotting and bone formation. Poisoning with rat poison or treatment with antibiotics in particular can lead to a deficiency in vitamin K.

Find out more from Dr. Sabina Büttner about this: Vegetarian and vegan diets for dogs and cats

Minerals for cats

A cat's organism is dependent on numerous minerals. Some are found in almost all of the animal's cells and are known as bulk elements. Other minerals, on the other hand, are only needed in very small quantities. They are therefore called trace elements.

If there is a deficiency, these minerals can be fed to the cat via food supplements. Examples of such minerals are

• Calcium and phosphorus must have the correct ratio in the cat's diet in order to ideally support the metabolism of the bones.
• Chlorine, sodium and potassium are necessary for the regulation of the water balance and for the absorption of nutrients into the body.

Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids

Cats change their summer coat for a winter coat in the fall. In spring, the winter coat is then replaced by the summer coat. These phases are a strain on the cat's body. Food supplements with a high content of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids can support this process and help the animal to have a shiny coat.

Find out more from Dr. Sabina Büttner about this: Coat care in the fall