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Healthy Skin and Coat for Your Cat
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Why Is Nutrition Important to Skin and Coat Health?
Nutrients such as protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals play important roles in the skin and coat health of cats. Skin and hair are used to prevent things (such as water or heat) from leaving, or things (such as viruses and bacteria) from entering the body.
The hair coat is composed almost entirely of protein. If your cat's diet doesn't contain enough quality protein, her hair may fall out or become dry, weak, and brittle.
Skin is made up of flat cells tightly packed together. These cells have tough membranes that are composed of proteins and fats. Without proper nutrients, cell membranes weaken, allowing water to escape and bacteria and viruses to enter more easily.
Essential Amino Acids and Fatty Acids
Proteins are found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients. Animal-based proteins contain all of the essential amino acids cats need, whereas plant-based proteins may contain only some. Cats need the nutrients in animal-based proteins for the best of health.
Fats also can be found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients, and are incorporated into skin cells as fatty acids. There are two essential fatty acids for skin and coat health. Linoleic acid and arachidonic acid maintain skin and coat condition in cats. Without them, cats may experience a dull, dry coat, hair loss, greasy skin, and increased risk of skin inflammation. Both of these are found in animal tissues such as chicken fat, whereas vegetable oils such as corn and soybean are rich in linoleic acid but do not contain arachidonic acid. Omega-3 fatty acids, another type of fats, are found in vitamin-rich fish oils. IAMS™ Company research has found that the fatty acids in fish oils help promote excellent skin and coat health.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential for the development of healthy skin and coat. The best way to provide them is through a complete and balanced diet rather than through supplements.
Vitamin or Mineral Important for skin and coat health
Vitamin A Necessary for growth and repair of skin
Vitamin E Protects skin cells from oxidant damage
Vitamin C Helps heal wounds
Biotin Aids in the utilization of protein
Riboflavin (B2) Necessary for fat and protein metabolism
Zinc Necessary for fat and protein metabolism
Copper Involved in tissue, pigment, and protein synthesis
Changes in Coat Condition
Diet is often believed to be a factor when changes in skin and coat condition occur. The most common causes, however, are changes in season and life stage. As cold weather approaches, most cats grow a thick coat to help keep heat in and cold air out. As the weather begins to warm up, they shed their thick, heavy coat.
Most kittens are born with soft, fuzzy hair, but as they age, a coarser coat grows. Pregnant and nursing cats may also experience a change in coat condition or hair loss.'
Why Is Nutrition Important to Skin and Coat Health?
Nutrients such as protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals play important roles in the skin and coat health of cats. Skin and hair are used to prevent things (such as water or heat) from leaving, or things (such as viruses and bacteria) from entering the body.
The hair coat is composed almost entirely of protein. If your cat's diet doesn't contain enough quality protein, her hair may fall out or become dry, weak, and brittle.
Skin is made up of flat cells tightly packed together. These cells have tough membranes that are composed of proteins and fats. Without proper nutrients, cell membranes weaken, allowing water to escape and bacteria and viruses to enter more easily.
Essential Amino Acids and Fatty Acids
Proteins are found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients. Animal-based proteins contain all of the essential amino acids cats need, whereas plant-based proteins may contain only some. Cats need the nutrients in animal-based proteins for the best of health.
Fats also can be found in both animal-based and plant-based ingredients, and are incorporated into skin cells as fatty acids. There are two essential fatty acids for skin and coat health. Linoleic acid and arachidonic acid maintain skin and coat condition in cats. Without them, cats may experience a dull, dry coat, hair loss, greasy skin, and increased risk of skin inflammation. Both of these are found in animal tissues such as chicken fat, whereas vegetable oils such as corn and soybean are rich in linoleic acid but do not contain arachidonic acid. Omega-3 fatty acids, another type of fats, are found in vitamin-rich fish oils. IAMS® Company research has found that the fatty acids in fish oils help promote excellent skin and coat health.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential for the development of healthy skin and coat. The best way to provide them is through a complete and balanced diet rather than through supplements.
| Vitamin or Mineral | Important for skin and coat health |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Necessary for growth and repair of skin |
| Vitamin E | Protects skin cells from oxidant damage |
| Vitamin C | Helps heal wounds |
| Biotin | Aids in the utilization of protein |
| Riboflavin (B2) | Necessary for fat and protein metabolism |
| Zinc | Necessary for fat and protein metabolism |
| Copper | Involved in tissue, pigment, and protein synthesis |
Changes in Coat Condition
Diet is often believed to be a factor when changes in skin and coat condition occur. The most common causes, however, are changes in season and life stage. As cold weather approaches, most cats grow a thick coat to help keep heat in and cold air out. As the weather begins to warm up, they shed their thick, heavy coat.
Most kittens are born with soft, fuzzy hair, but as they age, a coarser coat grows. Pregnant and nursing cats may also experience a change in coat condition or hair loss.
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adp_description_block499Informations essentielles sur les chatons : faits portant sur les sous-produits contenus dans la nourriture pour chatons- Share
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Avant de conclure que tous les sous-produits alimentaires destinés aux chatons sont mauvais, voici certains faits. Un sous-produit se résume à un produit dérivé de la fabrication d’un autre produit. Par définition, un sous-produit n’est pas de piètre qualité. Par exemple, les biscuits au gingembre ne seraient pas les mêmes sans la mélasse, qui est un sous-produit de la canne à sucre.
Pour ce qui est de la nourriture pour chatons IAMSMC, comme la nourriture sèche pour chatons IAMSMC ProActive HealthMC Chaton, les sous-produits sont généralement les parties de l’animal autres que la viande musculaire préférée par la majorité des consommateurs canadiens. Le terme ne désigne que les parties anatomiques comprises, et non pas leur valeur nutritive.
De nombreux Canadiens ne sont peut-être pas habitués à consommer ces parties animales, mais il est important de comprendre que bon nombre des produits servant à fabriquer les sous-produits (p. ex. les abats) contiennent une grande quantité de nutriments essentiels, notamment des acides aminés, des sels minéraux et des vitamines, en plus d’être plus agréables au goût pour les animaux de compagnie que la viande musculaire attachée aux os.
En plus de conférer des avantages nutritifs à la nourriture pour animaux, l’inclusion de ces parties réduit les pertes et comporte vraisemblablement des avantages pour l’environnement puisque le secteur des animaux d’élevage n’a pas à élever d’autres animaux pour répondre strictement aux besoins en viande musculaire pour nourrir les animaux de compagnie en plus des humains. Utiliser ces parties goûteuses et riches en nutriments pour nourrir nos animaux de compagnie peut en empêcher la perte et permettre que tout l’animal soit utilisé à bon escient.
En grande partie, la confusion et le malaise des consommateurs à l’égard des sous-produits proviennent très probablement des stratégies de marketing de certaines marques alimentaires et peut-être du nom comme tel de l’ingrédient, le terme « sous produit ».
Il est important de se rappeler que la plupart des ingrédients contenus dans la nourriture pour animaux de compagnie peuvent varier grandement en qualité. De plus, la qualité du produit peut difficilement être évaluée simplement en consultant la liste des ingrédients. Les sous-produits ne sont pas tous de la même qualité, pas plus que les pièces de viande musculaire. Il existe des sous-produits de très grande qualité de même que du poulet et des repas au poulet (ou de bœuf ou de porc) de piètre qualité.
L’achat de nourriture ne provenant que de fabricants reconnus qui sont très sélectifs dans le choix de leurs fournisseurs, qui disposent de nutritionnistes compétents travaillant à temps plein et qui réalisent des tests analytiques en vue d’assurer que tous les ingrédients ainsi que le produit fini répondent à leurs exigences nutritives particulières, aidera à éviter les problèmes liés à la piètre qualité des ingrédients.
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