Feline Nutrition and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Cats are obligate carnivores with specific nutritional requirements that differ fundamentally from dogs and humans, making appropriate nutrition critical to their welfare.

Key Facts

Cats require dietary taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A that they cannot synthesise from plant sources
Cats have a low thirst drive and are prone to chronic dehydration on dry food diets
Urinary tract disease is strongly linked to diet, with wet food substantially reducing risk
Obesity affects up to 59% of pet cats in some surveys and is a major welfare concern

Welfare Considerations

Feline nutritional welfare requires understanding cats as obligate carnivores with evolutionary adaptations to meat-based diets. Deficiencies in taurine, arachidonic acid, or other carnivore-specific nutrients cause serious health problems including heart disease and blindness. Chronic dehydration from dry-only diets predisposes cats to urinary and kidney disease. Appropriate nutrition providing adequate moisture, high-quality animal protein, and species-appropriate nutrient profiles is foundational to long-term feline welfare. Portion control to prevent obesity is equally important, as obese cats have significantly reduced quality of life.

What You Can Do

Include wet food in your cat's diet to support adequate hydration
Choose foods with named meat sources as primary ingredients over plant-based fillers
Monitor your cat's body condition score regularly and adjust portions to maintain healthy weight
Consult your vet about nutritional needs if your cat has specific health conditions