The nutrients he needs, and why

With the introduction of nutritional labelling, we can all read about the nutritional content of our own food. So what should your kitten’s diet ideally contain?

Vitamins.

Vitamins are essential for your kitten’s vision, bone growth and efficient metabolism. Every action in his body needs the help of vitamins, which are essential catalysts for chemical reactions, and each vitamin has a very specific role. For example, if he cuts a paw, one vitamin will help stop the bleeding and another will help to repair the skin.

Water-soluble vitamins:

Vitamin B1 (thiamin); vitamin B2 (riboflavin); vitamin B6; vitamin B12 (cobalamin); and vitamin C.

Fat-soluble vitamins:

Vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin K.

Good sources of vitamins in cat foods include vitamin supplements, dairy products, vegetables, liver, kidneys, yeast and grains.

Minerals

Minerals are required to give your kitten strong teeth and bones, and for an efficient metabolism. The major minerals he needs are calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium chloride, magnesium. He also needs the trace elements of minor minerals such as iron, copper, manganese, zinc and selenium.

While minerals are virtually indestructible, they can be difficult to absorb, and too much of a mineral can be toxic. Good sources of minerals in cat foods include mineral supplements, fish, meat, liver, dairy products and cereals. If you feed your kitten a balanced, prepared kitten food, there’s no need to give him any mineral supplements.

Essential fatty acids

Your kitten needs essential fatty acids to maintain the health of his skin, coat, reproductive system and metabolism. Fats and essential fatty acids (major components of fats) are a major source of energy and help to make food taste better. Fats also help in the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins - A, D, E and K

Good sources of fats and essential fatty acids in cat foods include animal fats, vegetable oils, meat by-products and poultry by-products.

Carbohydrates and fibre

Carbohydrates and fibre are important for your kitten's energy and good digestion. Fibre supports good digestion and proper stool consistency. Your kitten's body converts carbohydrates for immediate energy, whilst reserve energy is stored as glycogen. Grains such us rice, corn and wheat are good sources of carbohydrates and fibre in cat foods.

Protein

Protein is essential for your kitten's healthy growth and muscle tone and is the major structural material in most living tissue. Hair, skin, nails and muscles, for example, are all mostly protein.

There are thousands of different proteins in your kitten's body, all performing different functions. All proteins are made from smaller units called amino acids. Some amino acids can be manufactured in the body while others must be provided in the diet.

Good sources of proteins in cat foods include meat, eggs, fish, grains, dairy products and yeast.