Cats do need some carbohydrates

[special]

It is a common misconception that cats do not need any grains, fruits or vegetables in their diet. Cats are natural carnivores in the wild, yes. But they don't eat cuts of steak or chicken in the wild. The eat the whole mouse or the whole bird. And what do the mice and birds eat? grains and fruit. If you put your cat on a just meat diet he will get sick. Homemade diets are a lot of work and you have to be very careful about seeing that your cat gets all it's nutrients.

Premium commercial foods are still the best bet, IMO. Just be selective and read the labels.

[Jennicat]

A very tiny portion of a mouse or bird (especially birds given their enormously fast digestion) are going to be digest. That's like claiming that humans need steady source of dirt in their diet because most foods contain some amount of dirt.

[special]

A very tiny portion of a mouse or bird (especially birds given their enormously fast digestion) are going to be digest. That's like claiming that humans need steady source of dirt in their diet because most foods contain some amount of dirt.

That is not what I said.

A cat eats the WHOLE mouse or bird because they get their nutrients etc from the organs, bones etc. The nutrients that a cat gets from eating an entire bird or mouse are created by the diet of the mouse or bird.

A cat needs many different trace minerals and vitamins and nutrients that are not in plain old meat. In the wild these nutreints are supplied by the whole animal that the carnivore hunts and eats. In the domestic world these neccessary nutrients have to be supplied by us, the ones who care for them. Premium commercial food is prepared with those nutrients. Some foods are better than others. Some cats react differently to some foods. There is no one perfect food for every cat.

But feeding your cat only meat is an unhealthy irresponsible thing to do.

[NewfieGrl]

I completely agree. And there is nothing wrong with feeding a home made diet if it's been formulated by a nutritionist that KNOWS what they are doing, regardless of whether you are dealing with cats or dogs. There are alot of "cook for your pet" books out that that are off the mark when it comes to the correct balance of nutrients. Missing just one ingredient that a pet needs on a consistent basis can do serious harm which may not be seen immediately. It's definately worth the cost to have a certified vet nutritionist formulate something for you if that is the path one is going to take.
Michele
owned by 2 Newfies, a cocker spaniel and 2 cats
RIP Bootsie-March ? 1988-April 22, 2007

[Larissa Ione]

It is a common misconception that cats do not need any grains, fruits or vegetables in their diet. Cats are natural carnivores in the wild, yes. But they don't eat cuts of steak or chicken in the wild. The eat the whole mouse or the whole bird. And what do the mice and birds eat? grains and fruit. If you put your cat on a just meat diet he will get sick. Homemade diets are a lot of work and you have to be very careful about seeing that your cat gets all it's nutrients.

Premium commercial foods are still the best bet, IMO. Just be selective and read the labels.

It is true that an ALL meat diet (as in, all flesh and no supplemental nutrients they would get from bone, skin, organs, etc.) will harm your cat. However, in the wild, cats only eat about 3%-5% carbs. Dry cat food provides up to 50% carbs. They don't need that much.

In the wild, cats get MOST of their moisture from their diet, meaning that they drink very little water. Dry food provides very little moisture, meaning that cats must make up for it by drinking, which does not come naturally to them. Canned food or a PROPERLY prepared homemade diet is better all around, for carb control AND moisture.

Check out this link to a veterinary nutritionist and see why:

http://catinfo.org/index.htm