Are Cats Carnivores?

Members of the cat family (Carnivora Felidae) have been fierce predators since saber-toothed tigers stalked the earth during the Pleistocene era. Equipped with an acute sense of smell, keen eyesight and hearing, great speed and agility, and specialized dentition, the cat appears to be the consummate predator. Nonetheless, many animals we might consider carnivores are actually omnivores and will thrive on a more varied diet. Cats, however, are a highly specialized animal and are considered "obligate carnivores," creatures that by their very physiology are designed to be carnivorous.

  1. Dentition Designed to Cut and Tear

    • Teeth modified to pierce and tear

      Cats possess dentition perfected to pierce, cut and tear. The long, curved incisors enable the cat to seize small rodent prey and to dispatch the victim swiftly. Their jaw movements are restricted to cutting and slicing motions, rather than grinding and chewing. Unlike herbivores or omnivores, their jaws cannot move sideways to grind morsels between heavy molars, so cats do not chew; rather they seize, tear and swallow their food in bite-size chunks.

    Specialized Digestive Process

    • The cat has a small, short intestinal tract and a small stomach admirably suited to the digestion of meat, which needs speedy processing to ensure that bacteria does not flourish. Strong stomach acids neutralize the bacteria. In contrast to dogs or humans, though, cats lack essential enzymes for carbohydrate digestion. Salivary amylase, the enzyme that begins the digestive process on carbohydrates in the mouth, is completely lacking, and only a trace amount is present in the stomach. In the wild, cats would only ingest meat, fat, bone and tiny amounts of partially processed stomach contents.

    Higher Than Normal Requirement for Protein

    • These active predators require lots of protein.

      Proteins are made up of a variety of amino acids. Dogs and humans can synthesize missing amino acids from plant sources, whereas cats cannot. Despite the fact that cats require 20 different amino acids to function, only 10 can be synthesized in the liver. These are referred to as nonessential amino acids. The other 10 are referred to as essential amino acids because they must come from the diet. Cats have a higher need for the acids taurine and arginine, and these must be supplied in animal proteins. Deficiencies cause severe health problems, notably blindness.

    What To Feed Your Cat

    • Lion eating a zebra carcass

      Feed a domestic cat a diet that closely resembles what cats eat in the wild. Ideally, your cat should be eating a variety of raw meats with small bones. Do not offer cooked bones as they could splinter. If you choose to use commercial cat foods, feed canned foods with a high water content and high animal-based protein content. Provide your cat with fresh water at all times.