Understanding Obligate Carnivores: Why Cats Need to Eat Meat

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies have evolved over thousands of years to thrive on a meat-based diet. Unlike omnivores, they rely on specific nutrients found only in animal sources.

In this article, we explore:

• Why cats must eat meat and the essential nutrients they derive from animal sources.
• The physical adaptations that make them natural carnivores.
• Why plant-based diets are inadequate for feline health.
• The benefits of raw feeding as one of the best approaches to meeting their dietary needs.

Evolution of feline dietary needs

Cats, have a fascinating evolutionary history that has shaped their dietary requirements. Their early ancestors were solitary hunters, relying on their sharp claws, keen senses, and stealth-like movements to capture prey.

This predatory lifestyle led to a diet composed primarily of small animals like rodents and birds – foods which are rich in protein and essential nutrients. Over time, cats’ anatomy and physiology adapted to this carnivorous diet, making them the sleek, efficient hunters we see today. 

Cats are true obligate carnivores because their short digestive tracts, pointed teeth, and reliance on animal-derived nutrients like taurine and arginine make them uniquely suited to consume meat.

Unlike cats, dogs are facultative carnivores, meaning they can tolerate some plant-based foods alongside meat. This distinction is important when raw feeding; cats require a strictly meat-based diet, while dogs can handle more flexibility.

Physical traits of cats that support a meat-based diet

Cats are biologically designed to eat meat, and their anatomy reflects this perfectly.

Sharp teeth and claws

• Sharp, retractable claws and teeth for gripping, tearing and devouring meat.
• Long, pointed canines for piercing and gripping prey.
• Back teeth (carnassials) which act like scissors, efficiently slicing through flesh and crushing bones.
• Rough tongues covered with tiny, backward-facing spines called papillae to scrape meat from bones. 

Short digestive tracts

• Allows them to quickly process animal proteins and fats.
• Lack the enzymes need to break down and digest plant matter effectively.

Metabolism

• Cats rely on protein for energy rather than carbohydrates.
• They must get essential amino acids from animal sources, as they cannot produce enough on their own.

Essential nutrients cats get from meat

Cats require certain nutrients that are plentiful in meat but hard to find in plant-based foods. These include:

• Taurine – Vital for heart health, vision, and reproduction. Cats can’t produce enough taurine themselves, so they must get it from their diet. Meat, especially animal organs, is rich in taurine.

• Arginine – Plays a crucial role in detoxifying ammonia. A lack of arginine can lead to serious health issues, including a potentially fatal condition called hyperammonemia. Cats primarily get arginine from animal proteins.

• Vitamin A – Unlike other animals, cats cannot convert plant-based beta-carotene into active vitamin A. They require preformed vitamin A from meat to support vision, immune function, and overall health.

• Arachidonic acid – This essential fatty acid is needed for skin health, to control inflammation and support reproductive functions. It is only found in animal fats.

• Protein and amino acids – Cats require specific amino acids like methionine, cysteine, and lysine, which are abundant in animal proteins, to support growth, muscle maintenance, and overall health.

Without these nutrients, cats can suffer from serious health issues and deficiencies, which is why a meat-based diet is so important.

Dangers of plant-based diets for cats 

While plant-based diets can be suitable for some animals, they do not meet the unique nutritional needs of obligate carnivores like cats. Feeding cats a vegan diet is dangerous and deprives them of essential nutrienets.

Herbivores and omnivores have digestive systems adapted to break down plant matter, allowing them to convert certain nutrients into usable forms. Cats lack these enzymatic pathways and depend on meat to obtain taurine, arginine, vitamin A, arachidonic acid, and essential amino acids.

Additionally, cats struggle to digest plant fibers, which can lead to gastrointestinal issues. Their digestive systems are designed to process and absorb nutrients from animal-based foods, not a plant-based diet.

Why raw feeding is the best choice

A raw diet is one of the best ways to meet a cat’s nutritional needs as obligate carnivores, closely mirroring what they would eat in the wild.

Here’s why:

• Naturally balanced nutrition – Raw diets provide fresh meat, bones, and organs, ensuring optimal nutrition. We recommend this homemade raw diet, which uses eggshell as a calcium substitute in place of bone.
• Maximised nutrient absorption – Raw diets are packed with essential nutrients that cats need to thrive, like high-quality proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. These are in their most bioavailable forms, making them easier for cats to digest and use.
• Better health and vitality – Cats on raw diets often show improved coat condition, skin health, and higher energy levels. They may experience also better digestion and a reduced risk of obesity and related health issues.
• Encourages natural feeding behaviours – Eating raw engages cats’ instincts to chew and tear meat, providing mental stimulation and reducing stress.

In short, raw feeding offers numerous benefits for optimal health, digestion, and overall well-being.

Final thoughts

Cats are obligate carnivores, and designed by nature to eat meat. Their survival depends on obtaining essential nutrients from animal sources. Their anatomy, physiology, and dietary needs all point to the importance of a meat-based diet, preferably raw, for optimal health.

By respecting their natural carnivorous instincts, we can ensure they lead healthy and happy lives – exactly as nature intended.