Nutrient
(miminum) requirements of Cats (Growth) |
| Nutrient | NRC 1986 a |
NRC 1978 | CVMA 1987 b | CVMA c | AAFCO 1994 d | WCPN 1994 d |
| Protein, % | 24.00 | 33.30 | 28.00 | 55.00 | 30.00 | 24.00 |
| Arginine, % | 1.00 | . | . | . | 1.25 | 1.00 |
| Histidine, % | 0.30 | . | . | . | 0.31 | 0.30 |
| Isoleucine, % | 0.50 | . | . | . | 0.52 | 0.50 |
| Leucine, % | 1.20 | . | . | . | 1.25 | 1.20 |
| Lysine, % | 0.80 | . | . | . | 1.20 | 0.80 |
| Methionine-cysteine, % | 0.75 | . | . | . | 1.10 | 0.75 |
| Phenylalanine-tyrosine, % | 0.85 | . | . | . | 0.88 | 0.85 |
| Threonine, % | 0.70 | . | . | . | 0.73 | 0.70 |
| Tryptophan, % | 0.15 | . | . | . | 0.25 | 0.15 |
| Valine, % | 0.60 | . | . | . | 0.62 | 0.60 |
| Taurine, % | 0.04 | . | . | . | 0.20 (0.10) e | 0.25 (0.10) e |
| Fat, % | . | . | 9.00 | 50.00 | . | . |
| Linoleic acid,% | 0.50 | . | 1.00 | . | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Arachidonic acid, % | 0.02 | . | 0.01 | . | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Minerals | . | . | . | .. | . | . |
| Calcium, % | 0.80 | . | 1.00 | 4.00 | 1.00 | 0.50 |
| Phosphorus, % | 0.60 | . | 0.80 | . | 0.80 | 0.40 |
| Potassium, % | 0.44 | . | 0.30 | . | 0.60 | 0.40 |
| Sodium, % | 0.05 | . | 0.20 | . | 0.20 | 0.20 |
| Chloride, % | 0.19 | . | 0.30 | . | 0.30 | 0.30 |
| Magnesium, % | 0.04 | . | 0.05 | . | 0.08 | 0.03 |
| Iron, mg/kg | 80.00 | . | 100.00 | 1500.00 | 80.00 | 80.00 |
| Copper, mg/kg | 5.00 | . | 5.00 | . | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Manganese, mg/kg | 5.00 | . | 10.00 | . | 7.50 | 5.00 |
| Zinc, mg/kg | 50.00 | . | 30.00 | . | 75.00 | 50.00 |
| Iodine, mg/kg | 0.35 | . | 1.00 | . | 0.35 | 0.35 |
| Selenium, mg/kg | 0.10 | . | 0.10 | 10.00 | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Vitamins | . | . | . | . | . | . |
| Vit. A, IU/kg | 3333.00 | 27777.00 | 10000.00 | 87000.00 | 9000.00 | 3000 |
| Vit. D, IU/kg | 500.00 | 1111.00 | 1000.00 | 10000.00 | 750.00 | 250 |
| Vit. E, IU/kg | 30.00 | 151.00 | 80.00 | 1000.00 | 30.00 | 30.00 |
| Vit. K, IU/kg | . | . | . | 2000.00 | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Thiamin, mg/kg | 5.00 | 4.40 | 5.00 | 5000.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Riboflavin, mg/kg | 4.00 | 4.40 | 5.00 | 100.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Pantothenic acid, mg/kg | 5.00 | 5.50 | 10.00 | 2000.00 | 5.00 | 5.00 |
| Niacin, mg/kg | 40.00 | 44.00 | 45.00 | . | 60.00 | 40.00 |
| Pyridoxine, mg/kg | 4.00 | 2.20 | 4.00 | 50.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Folic acid, mg/kg | 0.80 | . | 1.00 | . | 0.80 | 0.80 |
| Biotin, mg/kg | 0.07 | . | 0.05 | 1.00 | 0.07 | 0.07 |
| B-12, mcg/kg | 0.02 | . | 0.02 | 6.00 | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Choline, g/kg | 2.40 | 3.30 | . | . | 2.40 | 2.40 |
| Vitamin C, mg/kg | - | - | - | - | - | - |
a DM basis, 5 kcal ME/g
b DM basis, 4 kcal ME/g
c Suggested upper limit
d DM basis, 4 kcal ME/g
e higher value for canned food, lower value for dry foodAAFCO = Association of American Feed Control
CVMA = Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
NCR = National Academy of Science, Washington DC
WCPN = Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition
Converting values "as fed" to values on a "dry matter" basis
The levels of nutrients in the tables are expressed on a "dry matter" (DM) basis. On most pet food labels, but also in the nutrient database, the levels listed in the guaranteed analysis are expressed on an "as fed" basis. To convert "as fed" to "dry matter" a simple conversion is necessary. If a dry food has a 10% moisture (water) content we know that it must have 90% dry matter. So we look at the label and check the protein level which reads eg. 20%. In order to get the protein level on a "dry matter" basis we need to divide the 20% (protein) by 90 (dry matter) and then multiply by 100 which results in 22. So, the protein level on a "dry matter" basis is 22%. Another Example: The USDA nutrient database lists the following values for 100 gr raw turkey liver:
100 gr raw turkey liver contain ("as fed"):
70,5 gr water
2,48 mg Zinc
0,502 mg Copper
72,4 mcg SeleniumWhat would these values look like on a "dry matter" basis? The "dry matter" content of the raw turkey liver is obviously 29,5% (100 - 70,5). Results:
100 gr raw turkey liver contain (on a "dry matter" basis):
Zinc = 8,4 mg (2,48 divided by 29,5 multiplied by 100)
Copper = 1.70 mg (0,502 divided by 29,5 multiplied by 100)
Selenium = 245,42 mcg (72,4 divided by 29,5 multiplied by 100)
Interpretation of Minimum Requirements
Minimal requirements have been sharply defined for most vitamins and trace elements in relation to distinctive clinical signs. The lowest daily dose needed to prevent clinical signs, however, may be well below that which promotes buoyant health. For example, 10 mg of ascorbic acid may prevent human scurvy, but 100 mg might be needed to facilitate iron absorption, and perhaps 1000 mg or more might maximize immune competence. The immune system and disease resistance are impaired, in general, by undernutrition and malnutrition and by stress. Conversely, immune competence may also be stimulated by certain specific nutrients. Micronutrients of notable interest in relation to immune status are Vitamins A, D and E, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, iron, zinc and selenium. Immunity is suppressed by deficiencies of Vitamins A, D and E, pyridoxine and selenium. Further, it is depressed by deficiencies or excesses of ascorbic acid, zinc and iron.
Also note that none of the NRC (or other) recommendations address performance criteria of interest to keen fanciers of cats, such as body confirmation, skin feel and tone, coat pliancy and sheen, showing etc. nor do they address requirements in stress situations or take into account biochemical individuality or biologic variation. Physiologic differences between individuals influence nutritional requirements. When a diet is marginal in some way, not all cats consuming that diet manifest clinical signs. When thiamin is deficient or marginal, some, but not all, people develop various degrees of beri beri. Before the days of Vitamin D supplementation, some, but not all, children got rickets. When taurine content was deficient in some cat food years ago, also some, but not all, cats developed cardiomyopathy or progressive retinal atrophy. Similarly, only a few cats develop the generic catfood disease. Clearly, individuals vary greatly in their capacity to regulate their metabolism, and hence, to cope with less than optimal diets.
Mineral Requirements of Cats: Daily recommondations (Meyer et al., 1993) expressed as amount per kg BW (Bodyweight)
Nutrient Maintenance Adult Pregnancy Lactation Kittens up to 10 weeks Kittens 11 to 30 weeks Calcium, mg 80 110 250 200 150 Phosphor, mg 70 100 230 175 130 Magnesium, mg 8 18 28 28 20 Sodium, mg 80 110 260 150 100 Potassium, mg 80 110 260 160 120 Chloride, mg 120 170 400 180 150 Iron, mg 1,5 2,1 2,0 2,0 2,0 Zinc, mg 1,0 1,4 3,3 2,5 2,5 Copper, mcg 100 150 300 250 250 Manganese, mcg 100 140 300 200 200 Iodine, mcg 50 60 160 150 150 Selenium, mcg 2 5 50 5 5
Vitamin Requirements of Cats: Daily recommondations (Meyer et al., 1993) expressed as amount per kg BW (Bodyweight)
Nutrient Maintenance Adult Growth & Reproduction Vitamin A, IU 500-700 1000-2000 Vitamin D, IU 10 20 Vitamin E, IU 2 4 Thiamin, mcg 100 200-300 Riboflavin, mcg 50 100 Pantothenic acid, mcg 200 400 Niacin, mcg 800 1200 Pyridoxine, mcg 80 100 Folic acid, mcg . 20 Biotin, mcg . 2-4 Vitamin B-12, mcg . .
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