Besides humans, antioxidants are also essential for cats. Foods enriched with antioxidants play a key role in preventing and treating numerous feline diseases. It helps to combat health issues like diabetes, allergies, and various immune disorders.
Antioxidants are also vital for maintaining cardiovascular and respiratory health. It helps in getting rid of free radicals that have a detrimental effect on the cat. These nutrients help to maintain overall health by removing harmful toxins from the body. They also boost immunity and elevate vaccine recognition in cats.
Ensuring that your furry companion is having a proper diet enriched with antioxidants can go a long way. This article will discuss the various advantages and tips regarding these super nutrients.
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are naturally occurring chemicals that are present in the body and in food like veggies and fruits. These are also known as free radical scavengers. Antioxidants were dubbed this name as they neutralize the free radicals and protect the body from their damaging effect.
You must have heard of Vitamin C, which is found in abundant quantities in almost all fruits and vegetables. This well-known nutrient is also an antioxidant.
Antioxidants are also found in natural sweeteners as well, like honey and jaggery. The question might arise, can cats eat honey? The answer is yes they can have honey but in very small quantities.
The proper combination of numerous antioxidants in moderate amounts makes a difference in the general health of your feline friend.
What are Free Radicals?
Free radicals are molecules that are incredibly toxic to the body at high levels. They are very unstable and can destroy cells, enzymes, and DNA. Hence, they are associated with or even can be the cause of numerous diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
High levels of free radicals make your cat’s immune system more vulnerable. They are now also considered as a contributing factor to cardiomyopathy (HCM) and premature aging in cats. The defense against these toxic substances can be carried out by antioxidants effectively.
How Do Antioxidants Work?
Free radicals are one of the byproducts of the body’s metabolic processes. These free radicals are very reactive and take away the integral components of cell membranes like fats and proteins. This disrupts the cells and worsens the health of the individual.
This disruption of cells sometimes continues in a chain reaction, and the majority of the cells get destroyed in a mechanism called peroxidation. Peroxidation is essential for killing viruses, parasites, and various other germs. However, if this process is not controlled, peroxidation can damage healthy cells.
Uncontrolled peroxidation occurs when the free radicals are not eliminated properly and in time. Antioxidants control this process by stabilizing the free radicals by donating the necessary elements.
They also return the integral components to the affected cells, hence restoring the normal state of the cells. When there are not enough antioxidants in the body to control the free radicals, potential infections can progress and diseases can develop.
Antioxidants and Immunity
Antioxidants play an important role in reducing the damaging effect on cells, especially the ones involved in the immune system. Fatal infections occur when the immune cells are destroyed by the free radicals. Antioxidants protect the cells and boost their functions.
A blend or a combination of different antioxidants is found to be highly effective in optimizing the body’s immune system by acting together. The combination of vitamin C, E, and beta carotene is found to be immensely helpful in multiple studies.
Vitamin E enhances the T-cell activation of the body’s immune system. This vitamin is abundant in various types of fish, which is the favorite food of cats. Vitamin C is naturally produced in the cat’s liver, so they do not require any additional supplements.
Beta-carotene enhances the functions of all the cells in the blood. It also gives rise to antibody levels and has a significant contribution to the body’s vaccine recognition. Krills are rich in these nutrients and can be incorporated into your cat’s diet.
Antioxidants and Elderly Cats
There are multiple studies and researches that have evidence that including supplementary antioxidants in an aging cat’s diet is highly beneficial. As your feline ages, their immune system also weakens.
Age also affects their liver functions. Hence, aging cats produce less vitamin C. The free radical scavengers promote immunity. Elderly cats can restore their healthy immune system when they get antioxidant supplements with their food.
Antioxidant-Rich Foods for Cats
As mentioned earlier, antioxidants are fundamental for preventing your cat from falling sick. The best way to acquire antioxidants naturally is through eating enriched food. It is also crucial to give your feline companion the right cat food.
One of the best foods for cats is krill and is considered better than fish because they do not have the risk of heavy metal poisoning. It has numerous antioxidants namely beta carotene, vitamin A, and vitamin E. Krill also contains astaxanthin, a carotenoid antioxidant.
Astaxanthin has been linked with cancer prevention and improves general health conditions. It can also be found in shrimp. Everyone knows how cats love to eat fish. Fish are rich in numerous minerals and antitoxins.
Some preferred choices are cod and tilapia, as they are rich in selenium.
Selenium is a vital mineral that has antioxidative properties. Mackerel, herring, and salmon are great sources of vitamin E. Salmon is also a good source of taurine. This is an organic compound that is vital for a cat’s health.
Shrimp is enriched with vitamin A, zinc, and copper. It also has selenium and vitamin E. Feeding your cats a small amount of fish twice every week will suffice.
You can also feed mixed seaweed to your cats. This has high amounts of antioxidants and is incredibly nutritious. They are also easy to digest. Seaweed is rich in selenium, various flavonoids, and carotenoids. They also have high concentrations of zinc, copper, vitamins A and E. Grass-fed meat and various organic poultry also have vital nutrients and minerals.
Final Thoughts
Your cat is unaware of the nutrients that are good for them. As a caregiver, it is your responsibility to take great care of your cat and be aware of their health necessities. Give your fluffy friend the ultimate care they deserve by providing them with a well-balanced diet with vital antioxidants.
