Natural and species-appropriate diet
The cat is an obligate carnivore and is even more dependent than the dog on animal-based ingredients to meet its physiological nutritional needs. The cat's digestive system and metabolism are adapted to a protein-rich diet. A diet rich in animal-based ingredients will provide the cat with essential nutrients, such as taurine, certain fatty acids and vitamins, which will meet its natural and unique nutritional needs. A raw diet should, as far as possible, resemble the diet that the cat naturally chooses as its first preference.
VOM Cat – natural cat food
In the wild, the cat would have eaten the muscle meat, bones and organs from smaller prey animals such as mice, rats and small birds. These are leaner prey animals that are rich in protein, and especially the amino acid taurine. In VOM Cat, we have taken their nutritional needs into account by including leaner, taurine-rich parts of the chicken, such as gizzards.
By nature, the cat is also a desert animal, with a limited sense of thirst because it gets most of the fluid it needs from the prey it eats in the wild. Therefore, a cat's diet should be based on animal-based ingredients with a high water content to meet both its nutritional and fluid requirements. Dry food alone does not provide enough fluid and can, over time, put a strain on the urinary tract. In VOM Cat, there is a natural moisture content (approx. 70%) from the meat ingredients, which helps to maintain a good fluid balance for the cat.
VOM Cat is made from fresh, raw and natural animal ingredients that are minimally processed. The products are not heat-treated, so the composition and nutritional content of the raw ingredients are well preserved. When nutrients are in their completely natural form, they are easier for the cat to recognise, digest and utilise. Therefore, VOM Cat is the natural choice that promotes a stronger immune system, better health and quality of life.
- Naturally high fluid content
- Biologically adapted to the cat's needs
- Made from leaner ingredients with a high protein content
- Contains only animal-based raw materials, no grains or other fillers.
The cat's unique needs
Taurin
Taurine is an amino acid that is essential for cats, as they do not produce sufficient amounts in their bodies themselves. They must therefore get it from the food they eat. Taurine is only found in meat and offal, not in plant material. Therefore, a meat-based diet is the best source of taurine for a cat. Taurine deficiency can lead to blindness, heart problems and reduced fertility.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is found in two main forms; retinol, which is the active form of vitamin A, and carotenoid, which is a provitamin that can be converted into the active form of vitamin A. Cats, however, lack the enzymes to break down plant-produced carotenoids, and must therefore eat animal-based raw materials which are themselves rich in the active form of vitamin A.
Niacin (vitamin B₃)
Niacin is an essential vitamin for the cat, as it cannot use the amino acid tryptophan to synthesise the vitamin itself, unlike the dog. The cat is therefore dependent on obtaining niacin directly from its food. In plant material, niacin is often bound in complex compounds that have low bioavailability for the cat. This means that they cannot utilise this form effectively, and therefore do not get enough of the vitamin from a plant-based diet alone. Animal sources such as meat and offal contain free, readily available niacin, and are therefore crucial for meeting the cat's needs.
Arginine
Cats are highly sensitive to low levels of the amino acid arginine. Arginine is essential for them because it participates in the urea cycle, which removes toxic ammonia from the body after the breakdown of protein. Even small deficiencies can lead to an accumulation of ammonia in the blood, which can cause poisoning and damage to the body. Arginine is abundant in animal protein sources, such as meat and offal, whereas plant proteins often contain less and less readily available arginine. This is an important reason why a cat's diet should be based on meat and offal to ensure an adequate arginine intake.
Arachidonic acid
Arachidonic acid is an essential fatty acid for cats because they lack the enzyme activity required to convert the plant-based fatty acid linoleic acid into sufficient amounts of arachidonic acid. Without enough arachidonic acid, important physiological processes can be affected. Therefore, cats must obtain arachidonic acid directly through their diet. Animal products such as meat and offal are natural, rich sources of arachidonic acid, ensuring the cat receives sufficient amounts to maintain normal health and function.
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