What Do Cats Eat?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Cats primarily consume diets rich in animal-based proteins, but the inclusion of alternative protein sources, carbohydrates, fats, and fibers can enhance their overall health. Novel ingredients like insect meals and specialized fibers offer promising benefits, while traditional components like sorghum and green banana flour provide viable alternatives to conventional carbohydrate sources. Understanding the impact of these dietary components can help in formulating balanced and health-promoting diets for cats.

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet primarily consists of animal-based proteins. However, various studies have explored the inclusion of different dietary components to enhance feline health and nutrition. This article reviews the dietary components that cats consume, focusing on protein sources, carbohydrates, fats, and fibers.

Protein Sources

Cats require high-quality protein sources to meet their nutritional needs. Traditional protein sources include poultry byproducts, but novel sources like insect meals and black soldier fly larvae are gaining attention due to their sustainability and nutritional benefits. Insect-based diets, such as those containing black soldier fly larvae, have been shown to be palatable and nutritionally adequate for cats, although they may have slightly lower nutrient digestibility compared to traditional protein sources3 7. Hydrolysed poultry byproduct meal is another protein source that has been evaluated for its high digestibility and low antigenicity, making it a suitable option in feline diets9.

Carbohydrates

While cats do not have a high dietary requirement for carbohydrates, they are often included in commercial cat foods. Studies have investigated alternative carbohydrate sources like sorghum and green banana flour. Sorghum, both white and red varieties, has been found to be well-tolerated by cats and can serve as an acceptable alternative to corn in extruded diets5 8. Green banana flour, rich in resistant starch, can be used as a dietary fiber source and has been shown to affect the texture and color of canned cat foods without compromising nutritional value10.

Fats

Fats are an essential component of a cat’s diet, providing energy and supporting various bodily functions. The level of dietary fat can influence weight management and metabolism in cats. High-fat diets have been associated with increased body weight and altered glucose and lipid metabolism, while low-fat diets may improve glucolipid metabolism and gut health1 6. The choice of fat sources and their levels in the diet can significantly impact a cat’s health.

Fibers

Dietary fibers, although not essential, can play a role in feline gastrointestinal health. Specialized fiber sources, such as those rich in polyphenols, have been shown to improve stool parameters and deliver antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits to the lower gastrointestinal tract2 4. These fibers can enhance the gut microbiota and may have implications for managing feline inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases.