2006-11-29 14:10:19 · 5 answers · asked by una ragazza siciliana 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
They do not have the enzymes necessary to properly digest plant proteins (not just corn; soy, wheat, or other cereals are also not good).
So food that contains mainly plant proteins are not really nutritious for them. It's kind of like having fast food for every meal for a human.
2006-12-01 07:29:37 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats and all felines are obligate carnivores and they get all the nutrition they need from the meat and organs of their prey. You do not find cats in corn fields for the corn, they are there to catch the mice that eat the grain.
Corn is allergenic for cats, gives only calories not nutrition to the cat, is very indigestible (resulting in voluminous and stinky stools.)
Inexpensive commercial pet foods have 60% of their formulations in corn products. 60% of a cat's diet should be high quality meat protein - a minimum.
I feed my cats a raw meat diet that is ALL meat protein with a supplement powder for calcium, some B vitamins, psyllium for roughage etc. I use the liver of the chicken or turkey, hearts for extra taurine.
2006-11-29 14:21:25 · answer #2 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its no that it is absolutely BAD, its just that corn fillers are fattening (carbohydrate) and cats need a High Protein diet to keep them in optimum health. The corn fillers are used to bind the other essential ingredients in cat food; but being "fillers" means that the cat will tend to eat MORE to satisfy their need for protein. So, if you feed kitty with cat food that lists "corn meal" or somthing like that as the first ingredient, you'll end up with a FAT kitty. Ahhh... I hope I've explained this clearly :(
2006-11-29 14:25:59 · answer #3 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because cats are designed to eat meat and get their veggies from the stomachs of their prey items. Corn is just a filler and doesn't provide the correct nutrition for a carnivore.
2006-11-29 14:13:43 · answer #4 · answered by hoodoowoman 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
think about this: cats are basically tiny tigers, cougars, pumas etc. they are a small version of big cats. what do big cats eat? MEAT meat and meat. have you ever heard of lions and tigers attacking a corn field or a wheat field? no. they just aren't supposed to eat it.
2006-11-29 14:12:34 · answer #5 · answered by somebody's a mom!! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋