Can cat only eat meat?
Cats are obligate carnivores. Like other carnivores, their staple food is meat. However, the owner discovered that eating only meat would cause the cat to become constipated, so he began to feed the cat a lot of vegetables. Vegetables are known to be good for humans, they are rich in vitamins and fiber, which help in peristalsis and digestion. So is it really good to feed cats vegetables? The answer is yes. Appropriate vegetables are indeed good for cats, but they should not be fed too much. In this article, I'll detail why.
1. Teeth structure of cats
Cats, like humans, are bidentate animals. This determines that we have two consecutive sets of teeth. But cats are born without deciduous teeth, and after about 3 weeks, the cat's deciduous teeth will appear. After 3 months, The deciduous teeth will fall out and permanent teeth will appear. Cats also don't have the chewing teeth that herbivores have, and cats have sharp permanent teeth that are perfect for tearing apart prey. This also determines that the cat's staple food is meat, not vegetables.
2. Cat stomach structure
Cats as carnivores have very different stomachs than herbivores. Cats also have only one stomach cavity and a simple digestive system. Herbivores, on the other hand, usually have several stomach cavities and a longer digestive tract. Special bacteria in the longer digestive tract are better able to break down the fiber in plants. That's why herbivores take longer to digest than carnivores. If a carnivore like a cat eats a lot of vegetables, his stomach will have a hard time digesting the fiber, which can easily burden the cat's gut.
3. What are the benefits of proper vegetables for cats
Even though cats are carnivores and shouldn't eat a lot of vegetables, that doesn't mean they don't need vegetables. Vegetables contain many vitamins, minerals, potassium, riboflavin, antioxidants and other nutrients. These help cats boost their immune system and reduce the effects of aging. Cats don't like to drink water, and vegetables tend to be high in water content, and it can also help your cat stay hydrated. It's much better than putting a big bowl of water in your cat bowl and the cat doesn't take a few sips.
4. Vegetables for cats
Although cats can eat small amounts of vegetables, not all vegetables are suitable for cats. Broccoli is the preferred vegetable for cats. One is because it is easy to store and not easy to corrupt. The second is that it has good antioxidants, which can reduce the effects of aging in cats and reduce the risk of cancer. The second type of vegetables is carrots, which have various vitamins and calcium. And the hard texture of carrots is very suitable for cats to grind their teeth. It can be said to be a natural cat supplies.
5. Daily vegetable content
Cats' daily diet is still dominated by meat, accounting for about 90%, while vegetables account for no more than 10%. You also don't need to feed your cat vegetables every day, as long as you feed them 3-4 times a week, your cat's nutritional needs will already be met. Remember, cat food also contains vegetables. When feeding vegetables to cats, remember to wash the vegetables. Some cats don't like to eat vegetables alone. You can feed them vegetables and meat together. Having a scientific cat bowl can also greatly increase the cat's interest in eating cat food containing vegetables.
