Does your cat need supplements? It’s a question you may well have posed to yourself. Especially as there have never been more supplements available to add to your cat’s food.
We’ll look at what cat supplements are, and whether you need to introduce them to your cat’s diet.
What are cat supplements?
Supplements and vitamins are designed to supplement your cat’s diet with minerals, foods and vitamins that might be missing.
It’s important to note that they’re different to human supplements — this means you must ensure you purchase supplements specifically designed for feline consumption.
They’re designed to be added to meals as a nutritional ‘booster’. If you’re providing your cat with a healthy, well-balanced diet, you may not need to give your cat supplements, but sometimes — as we’ll expand on below — supplements can help with certain health issues.
Types of cat supplement
Multivitamins
Some of the ingredients you’ll find in multivitamins for cats include:
- Iron – key to red blood cell function. If your cat’s lacking iron, it can lead to anemia
- B vitamins – helps produce red blood cells as well as aiding digestion
- Omega-3 – improves brain function in addition to having anti-inflammatory effects
- Taurine – an amino acid that aids heart health
Joint supplements
Joint supplements are used to help cats with joint issues and pain such as arthritis, autoimmune disease or other chronic conditions affecting the joints and bones, especially the type seen in senior cats.
- Glucosamine and Chondroitin – help protect and repair damaged cartilage
- Green-lipped mussel – provides natural pain relief
- MSM — provides natural anti-inflammatory properties
In addition to these types of supplements, you will also find supplements for cats that help their coat or to aid with stress and anxiety, among other benefits.
How do I know if my cat needs supplements?
This is a difficult question to answer. If you know that your cat is suffering from a specific ailment, for example osteoarthritis, then joint supplements may help with their condition.
But you might also question how do you know if your cat is unwell or suffering from a specific health issue in the first place. There are certain signs to look out for — read more in our article, How do I know if my cat is feeling unwell?
Also, deciding whether to supplement your cat’s diet may depend on the type of diet you’re feeding them. If you’re feeding them homemade food, you may need to think about supplementing any vitamins or nutrients that might be missing from their diet.
If you’re buying them cat food, however, all the nutrients they require are usually included in their meal.
Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
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