Cat Supplements

The idea of giving your cat a supplement can be quite foreign to some people. However, your pet will benefit from supplements to their diet to enable them to be the fittest they can be.
Best Supplements For Maine Coon Cats
Some of the best supplements for Maine Coons are also great supplements for people! Turmeric is great for supporting a cat’s circulatory system and the heart as well as helping older Maine Coons with hip dysplasia.
Additionally, Yucca, Vitamin B & D, and so many other supplements are excellent for this large cat breed.
Like all cats, the Maine Coon is an obligate carnivore which means their main source of nutrients comes from meat. Their diet is heavily protein-based since animal flesh is the only source of the nutrients they need to remain fit and healthy.
Supplements are often needed to ensure they are meeting their nutritional needs.
What your big cat’s diet should look like:
Maine Coon kittens need 1/10th of the human dose maximum | Daily Needs |
---|---|
Protein | 70% |
Carbohydrates | 20% |
Fats and Fatty Acids | 10% |
Fiber | 0.55% |
Vitamin A | Important for pregnant Maine Coon cats and kittens, night vision, general eye health, healthy skin, and muscle tissue, and healthy, manageable, growth in a young cat. |
Vitamin B | Maine Coon kittens need 1/10th of the human dose maximum |
Vitamin K | 2.5mg per KG of weight. Important for a healthy liver. |
Vitamin D | Great for muscle and nerve health. |
4 Best Supplements For Maine Coons
Below are four of the best supplements for Maine Coons (source 1,2).
1. Salmon Oil
Fats, fatty acids, and omega-3 are really important to your Maine Coons health.
This is one of the most important supplements for Maine Coon cats to help prevent joint pain and aching muscles.
Salmon is a great natural source of all of these fats, etc, so this pure wild Alaskan salmon oil is a potential must-have for Maine Coon owners.
Salmon oil is also a great way to ensure your Maine Coon has a lovely silky coat!
2. Life Extension Formula
This life extension mixed formula is a combined vitamin and supplement powder that contains many of the most important vitamins for Maine Coon cats.
It has adequate amounts of vitamins:
- A
- B
- B12
- Niacin
- Probiotics
If you are looking for a simple supplement program to follow, this life extension mixed formula is a great starting place.
3. Nutrical High-Calorie Supplement
This is another multivitamin supplement containing pretty much everything your Maine Coon might need.
It is especially good for older Maine Coon cats that are struggling to meet all of their nutritional needs due to lack of appetite, etc.
This cat supplement is considered to be a high-calorie supplement that can negate the effects of a diminishing appetite and limited food consumption.
For Maine Coons who are eating food, 1 1/2 tsp per 10 lbs of body weight per day is enough.
For Maine Coons that are off food, you can give 3 tsp.
4. Purina Veterinary Cat Probiotic Powder Supplement
Good gut health is such a huge difference maker for not just Maine Coons but people too.
If your Maine Coon has a bit of a sensitive tummy then this gut health cat probiotic could be just what your adult, or kitten, Maine Coon might need.
Having a good gut is important for proper digestion and maximizing the nutritional benefit your Maine Coon will be getting from their everyday food.
Cat Vitamin Deficiency Symptoms
Vitamin deficiency is a huge problem for all cats, domesticated or not.
It can be pretty hard to spot cat vitamin deficiency systems for the untrained eye, so make sure you are aware of these signs and symptoms.
To give you a helping hand, here are some of the most common deficiencies in cats and what to look for (source 1,2):
1. Taurine Deficiency
Taurine deficiency is a very common issue in all breeds of cats and can have catastrophic effects on their internal organs, including:
- Heart Failure
- Blindness
- Lack Of Spatial Awareness
Taurine deficiency usually comes from a lack of fatty acids in the diet.
2. Thiamine Deficiency
Lack of Vitamin B can cause thiamine deficiency which is easily identified by anorexia and extreme weight loss in Maine Coon cats.
It is often accompanied by a very lazy cat that is simply too tired to do much else but sleep.
3. Vitamin K Deficiency
Vitamin K-deficient Maine Coons may have alarming external bleeding that cannot be stemmed.
Bleeding is often a light, steady, stream that comes from bruises on the skin.
4. Vitamin D Deficiency
Lack of vitamin D can often be identified by a lazy, melancholy, cat (normally a kitten) that has bowed legs and refuses to move.
This is most common between 5-14 weeks old but can happen at any time with a severe enough deficiency.
5. Calcium Deficiency
Calcium deficiency can cause rubbery bones in your cat’s body.
This is especially true of the jaw, which can cause all sorts of problems down the line that are severe and sometimes irreversible.
Early warning signs are:
- Restlessness
- Stiffness
- Weakness
- Muscle Tremors
Sources Of Protein
Protein is the biggest and most important factor of the Maine Coon diet.
We have already established that 70% is about the right protein levels that they need daily, but how are you supposed to ensure those needs are being met?
Where does the best protein come from and what are the signs of a cat that is not having its protein needs met?
Let’s take a closer look.
Protein Sources
The table below shows how much protein exists in each type of meat:
Meat Type | Protein |
---|---|
Chicken | 27% |
Duck | 19% |
Salmon | 20% |
Rabbit | 33% |
Venison | 30% |
Turkey | 29% |
Beef | 26% |
Lamb | 25% |
Signs Of Lack Of Protein
Owners should watch out for these signs of lack of protein in a cat (source 1):
- Hair Loss
- Hair color becomes dull
- Glossy Eyes
- Lethargy
- Irritable
- Weakness and loss of balance
- Diarrhea
Sources Of Healthy Fats
Getting enough healthy fats is just as important to a Maine Coons dietary needs as getting enough protein.
Healthy fats help regulate everything from organ health to bone strength and situational alertness.
Lack of healthy fats is very problematic for a healthy Maine Coon and is not something you want to overlook.
Below you will find a list of great healthy fat sources for your Maine Coon cat, and some of the signs of a cat not getting enough healthy fats.
Sources Of Healthy Fats
The table below shows where to find healthy fats:
Meat | Healthy Fats |
---|---|
Salmon | 2.5% |
Cod | 1.2% |
Beef | 2-3% 7% (Unhealthy Fats) |
Chicken | 2.4% |
Turkey | 0.5% |
Lamb | 7% |
Signs Of Lack Of Healthy Fats
Below are the key signs of a lack of healthy fats in your Maine Coon cats diet (source 1):
- Dull Coat
- Dry Skin
- Stunted Growth
- Melancholy/Depressed
- Keratin deposits on their nose