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Pretty much like us humans, your cat might need to take vitamin supplements to stay healthy, energetic, and strong. But how often and how many vitamins your cats should consume is a question most cat parents have. Also, there are plenty of companies that produce cat supplements, and finding the right one is crucial.
If you’re looking for ways to determine your cat’s vitamin needs, you’ll find this article really helpful! Here are some great ways through which you can find out whether your cat needs vitamins or not.
Your cat’s diet quality
As a pet owner, you wouldn’t want to compromise on your cat’s food quality. Brands such as VetriScience, Scruffy Paws Nutrition, and Nutri Vet offer various multivitamins and other such supplements, including kidney support for cats, that can be used when your cat doesn’t have a properly balanced diet.
For most people, getting the right cat food takes time. Some packets might provide a ton of nutrients but may not taste so good, making your cat eating little or nothing at all. Others may seem good but may not provide the right nutrition. If the cat food your cat prefers doesn’t provide it all the vitamins it needs, you can consider getting multivitamins to cover up any lack of those necessary vitamins.
How nutrient-rich and balanced your cat’s diet is will be the most important determining factor whether or not you need to get vitamins for your cat. It’s also important for you to remember that supplements should only be a secondary source of nutrition and should only be used to provide nutrients that may not be fully provided by your cat’s food.
Consulting your vet before you purchase multivitamins for your cat is also advised as there are many companies that sell cat supplements and most of them have just popped up online with no real credentials. Getting supplements that provide the most amount of benefits with the least amount of risk should be your preferred choice. Your vet will be able to guide you in this process and recommend the best option out of all those that are in the market.
Has your cat been sick?
As mentioned before, multivitamins are meant to be a supplementary source of nutrition that will help keep your cat healthy. Some cats under the age of 1 may have some medical conditions that are treatable and require an intake of good nutritious food to fix. In such circumstances, providing supplements that help in boosting your cat’s recovery can be beneficial.
Cats that are older than ten years of age can encounter medical problems as well and often require supplements. Again, dietary changes must be made before you even decide to start giving vitamin supplements. If the food is sufficient for a balanced diet, you need not consider getting supplements at all.
Supplements also become important in cases where your cat cannot directly get nutrients from food. Some conditions such as small intestinal disease don’t allow your cat’s body to absorb essential vitamins such as Vitamin B. In such situations, even a good diet cannot help and the use of supplements becomes necessary.
Again, before taking any decision on your own, you must consult your vet. If you regularly go to the same vet, they’d have a clear idea of what deficiencies your cat may have and what is needed to keep them healthy.
Is your cat pregnant?
If your cat is pregnant, vitamin supplements may be required. Quite often, during pregnancy, cats require more nutritious food and may even be unable to absorb the vitamins during digestion. Moreover, due to a reduction in space to digest, your cat may not be able to digest all the food or might have a smaller appetite. In such circumstances, with the recommendation of your vet, you can get some vitamin supplements for your cat.
Similar supplements may be required during your cat’s nursing stage. It is important to note that not all supplements are good for your cat. Taking the wrong supplements can cause problems in pregnancy, so making the right choice in supplements becomes more important than ever. As the same nutrition will go to the baby, try to keep the nutrition source as natural as possible. There's nothing better if you switch to natural and organic supplements due to lower the risk.
Conclusion
From the above pointers, you must have understood that it’s always better to choose natural sources over supplements. But in situations where it is necessary to provide supplements to your cat, going for supplements can be highly beneficial. Always consult your vet while purchasing medications and supplements for your cat and don’t compromise on the quality of the products. Do your research before you buy vitamin supplements and opt for multivitamins only when there is a deficiency of more than one vitamin.
