Providing pets with vitamins, minerals and other nutritional components is important to the pet's health and well-being. The best way to do so is by feeding a high-quality, complete and balanced diet. Supplementing pet food often upsets the balance and may lead to a variety of health problems. Like their feline cousins in Africa, cats require a high-fat diet of animal protein. Eukanuba® Cat Foods provide your cat with the ultimate in taste and nutrition in a completely balanced diet.
People supplement their pet's diet for different reasons. Some of these reasons might include:
It is important for concerned cat owners to realize that a quality cat food is carefully formulated to meet the caloric needs of the animal. In addition, the food provides the essential amino acids, like taurine, and an adjusted ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as an optimal balance of vitamins and minerals specific to the nutritional requirements of the cat. Quality foods are complete and balanced for a specific life stage or lifestyle. By adding table scraps or other supplements, the delicate nutrient balance can be disrupted.
The interaction between different minerals is very complex. Fortunately, this is an area of nutrition that has been the focus of extensive research throughout many years. Research has shown that not only are the individual levels of minerals in a diet important, but so is the proper balance. An excess of one mineral may affect the absorption of a second, and lead to a deficiency in that second mineral.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulates the pet food industry and has established certain nutritional requirements for cats. These requirements are published annually in the AAFCO Manual. Only pet foods that have met the strict testing criteria established by AAFCO can carry the "complete and balanced" statement on the label.
Supplementing a high-quality, complete and balanced diet with vitamins, minerals or other foods is unnecessary and can upset the delicately balanced nutritional requirements of your cat.
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