Diet problems

Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats

Josie F. Turner
By Josie F. Turner, Journalist specialized in Animal Welfare. January 15, 2017
Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats
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The continued use of very basic or poor quality cat food can affect your cat's health, causing nutritional deficiencies. When this happens, you will be able to notice various symptoms that appear gradually in your cat, showing that your pet has some kind of nutritional deficiency. These symptoms may also point to a digestive disease or parasites affecting the cat's health.

In order to help you maintain your cat's health, energy and happiness, we at AnimalWised have compiled an article on the different symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in cats.

You may also be interested in: The Importance of Vitamin C in Guinea Pigs
Contents
  1. Why does your cat have nutritional deficiencies?
  2. What are the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in cats?
  3. Symptoms of food allergies in cats
  4. Symptoms of carbohydrate deficiency in cats
  5. Symptoms of protein deficiencies in cats
  6. Symptoms of lipid deficiencies in cats
  7. Symptoms of vitamin deficiencies in cats
  8. Symptoms of trace element deficiencies in cats
  9. Correcting a nutritional deficit

Why does your cat have nutritional deficiencies?

The most common reason why cats have nutritional deficiencies of some sort is because of an unbalanced diet. Nutritional imbalance is often the result of feeding them low-quality food, which is very basic and does not fulfill all of a cat's requirements to stay healthy and active.

Despite the good will of owners, another type of diet that is too often nutritionally deficient is homemade diets. These homemade diets are usually too high in phosphorus and deficient in calcium, resulting in chronic renal failure.

Another serious error that occurs when cats are given homemade diets is a notable lack of taurine. Taurine is an essential nutritional element for cats to be properly nourished. It is found in beef liver and, to a lesser extent, chicken liver. Here you can find a list of foods rich in taurine for cats.

Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Why does your cat have nutritional deficiencies?

What are the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in cats?

In order to detect a dietary unbalance, it is essential to revise the most common symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in cats. You should take note of the following:

  1. Your cat's coat is not shiny: Their hair appears dull and rough.
  2. Your cat shows disruptions in appetite: There are episodes of uncontrolled consumption, followed by no interest in eating.
  3. Your cat has skin disorders: Dermatitis, seborrhea or dandruff are typically caused by nutritional deficiencies.
  4. There are changes in your cat's stool: Diarrhea or constipation are often associated with nutritional deficiencies.
  5. Your cat's body weight changes suddenly: Obesity or sudden weight loss are clear signs of poor nutrition.
  6. Your cat shows unusual behaviors: Poor nutrition causes behavioral changes in the cat.
Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - What are the symptoms of nutritional deficiencies in cats?

Symptoms of food allergies in cats

Sometimes cats develop food allergies. These are not excessively common episodes, but when they appear they can be serious. They are usually due to an allergic reaction to a protein of a particular food, which causes an inflammation. Common symptoms of food allergies in cats are:

  • Skin problems
  • Recurrent otitis
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Constant trichobezoars

If you think your cat could be suffering from food allergies, we recommend taking them to the vet to get an official diagnosis and identify the source.

Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Symptoms of food allergies in cats

Symptoms of carbohydrate deficiency in cats

Carbohydrates are a macronutrient responsible for the cat's energy balance. If there are any carbohydrate deficiencies, the cat will be listless, weak, without energy and eventually suffer from ketone disorders. The cat'sbreath will smell of acetone.

Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Symptoms of carbohydrate deficiency in cats

Symptoms of protein deficiencies in cats

If there are protein deficiencies your cat's diet, the animal will suffer from various disorders. Proteins are responsible for regenerating the body structures, forming new tissue, and protecting against infection. White blood cells and the immune system depend on proteins. Common symptoms of a protein deficiency in cats include:

  • Developmental disorders
  • Loss of muscle mass
  • Recurrent infectious diseases
  • Abnormalities in the epidermis and coat
Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Symptoms of protein deficiencies in cats

Symptoms of lipid deficiencies in cats

Lipids, that is, fats, are responsible for the creation of essential cell membranes which help protect the cat's organs and transport fat-soluble vitamins. A lipid deficiency causes the following symptoms:

  • Weight loss
  • Dry coat
  • Seborrhea and flaking of the epidermis
  • Recurrent infectious diseases
Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Symptoms of lipid deficiencies in cats

Symptoms of vitamin deficiencies in cats

Vitamins are micronutrients vital for correct chemical reactions in the cat's organism. Vitamin deficiencies cause the following symptoms:

  • Dermatitis
  • Lack of appetite
  • Blood clotting problems
  • Low body temperature
  • Neurologic abnormalities
  • Impoverishment of the coat
Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Symptoms of vitamin deficiencies in cats

Symptoms of trace element deficiencies in cats

Trace elements are essential minerals that the body needs in order to function correctly. The main symptoms of trace element deficiencies include:

  • Anemia
  • Weakness
  • Stunted growth
  • Dry dermis and hair loss
  • Alterations in the skeleton and musculature
  • Continuous infectious diseases
  • Restless nature
Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Symptoms of trace element deficiencies in cats

Correcting a nutritional deficit

You will have noticed that different nutritional deficiencies can cause similar symptoms. For this reason, if you notice any of these symptoms you will have go to your veterinarian in order to evaluate your cat's health and identify the problem.

Analyses, tests and a thorough examination by the professional will determine a diagnosis and a treatment to rectify the nutritional deficiency and regain your cat's health and dietary balance.

Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats - Correcting a nutritional deficit

If you want to read similar articles to Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats, we recommend you visit our Diet problems category.

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2 comments
Roberta Price
Cat not eating food Have changed several times to try to find something she will eat She is meowing constantly and has lost weight She is 12 yrs old Have tried moist and dry foods Any helpful advice Help
Administrador AnimalWised
Hi Roberta,

We can point towards possible reasons for a loss of appetite in our articles, but they are merely for information purposes. You cannot accurately diagnose a condition without a medical examination by a trusted veterinary expert. Please take them to the vet if you see signs and symptoms of a potential health problem and we wish you the best.
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MJ Raichyk
Hah! go to the veterinarian, what a joke... they have almost as little training in nutrition as the MDs though they might be less hostile to vitamins than MDs... better to do your own research, share ideas with fellow cat people online who are doing orthomolecular or naturopathic medicine with their cats... facebook has a few, mercola's operation include one where there are lots of knowledgeable people in the comments too... ttyl
Administrador AnimalWised
Hi MJ,

Veterinarians are trained to the highest standard of animal medicine. They require degrees from accredited and certified institutions which have the best resources and engage in vigorous methodologies to ensure the care and treatments they use are of the best standard. We cannot vouch for every individual vet and there may be some specialized nutritionists who can provide helpful information in some areas, but anyone who passes the difficult theoretical and practical examinations required to become a qualified veterinarian in the United States should have a pretty effective grasp of feline dietary requirements.

Naturopathic institutions do not, in general, have the same rigorous testing and training. Much of the assertions made by these institutions are based on skewed conclusions or improper methodology. We truly believe that many are well-intentioned and are making their conclusions based on evidence which often seems viable. We also think that there is certainly space to look at the viability of alternative medicines and more ‘natural’ remedies as even veterinary medicine has its limitations. However, this does not supersede more conclusive evidence-based results.

Saying that veterinarians are a ‘joke’ is really quite offensive and displays a certain level of ignorance (whether wilful or not). We don't think it particularly funny to choose to follow the arguments of someone like Dr. Mercola who makes dangerous claims such as HIV/AIDs being a result of ‘psychological stress’ or that sunscreen increases risk of cancer. Similarly, we consider the multiple FDA warnings sent concerning Dr. Mercola's products to be no laughing matter.
Ben
Just so everyone knows how ridiculous your logic is (since I doubt you'll read any responses)

You're the one that's a joke here. Regardless of how well of a job you think veterinarians do, the training and tools they have are significantly better in properly diagnosing a cat with a potential illness than going on facebook. A veterinarian can perform crucial physical examinations, blood tests, fecal examinations, and urinalysis in order to accurately see what is going on in your cat's body whereas the internet can only relay physical signs that can easily overlap with various conditions.

Please don't encourage people not to seek professional help it is incredibly unhealthy for the animals involved.
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Symptoms of Nutritional Deficiencies in Cats