Natural Diet for a Malnourished Cat

Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, reports on her Cat Info website that cats are "obligate" carnivores requiring animal protein primarily in their diets. Dr. Pierson writes, "Cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins." Feeding a cat a natural diet high in raw animal protein is critical to its overall health, particularly if the animal is malnourished.

  1. Causes

    • One of the primary causes of malnourishment in cats is an improper diet. As Dr. Pierson reports, commercial cat foods, particularly dry cat foods, are full of grains such as corn, soy, wheat and rice. These grains are not part of a cat's natural diet and cats do not draw nourishment from them.

    Circumstances

    • Feral cats are prone to malnutrition due to low food supply.

      Malnourishment is also caused by circumstances such as abandonment and being born in the wild. Tragically, abandoned cats and their feral (wild) offspring usually starve to death because the domesticated cats can't fend for themselves and there is rarely adequate food supply to hunt.

    Natural Raw Diet

    • Cats naturally hunt, kill and eat their prey raw.

      A natural raw food diet, highly recommended by Dr. Pierson, provides cats with optimal nutrition. The raw food diet conforms to how a cat naturally eats: it kills its prey and eats it, organs and all, immediately. Raw food diets usually include a variety of raw muscle meats and organs, fish, eggs and added water, vitamins and fiber.

    Homemade or Purchase

    • Numerous recipes for natural raw food diets are available; however, it is imperative that you discuss the cat's diet with a veterinarian thoroughly to ensure you meet all its nutritional needs. You also can purchase natural raw food diets from pet stores or online.

    Alternatives

    • Ensure your cat's diet is grain-free and animal-based.

      Some cats do not make the transition from commercial cat food to a natural raw food diet successfully. Like humans, they become addicted to carbohydrates, which commercial cat foods contain. Several high-end companies manufacture wet food for cats that are grain free and contain only natural ingredients. You can buy these products at pet food stores.