When it comes to the health of your beloved feline companion, ensuring they receive the necessary B vitamins is essential for their overall well-being. B vitamins play a vital role in supporting various bodily functions in cats, including energy production, metabolism, immune function, and skin and coat health. By understanding the importance of B vitamins for cats, you can make informed decisions about their diet and care to help them thrive and stay healthy.
B vitamins play a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of cats. These essential nutrients support various bodily functions, including energy production, metabolism, immune function, and skin and coat health.
Here are some of the specific benefits of B vitamins for cats:
As you can see, B vitamins play a vital role in maintaining the overall health and well-being of cats. By providing your feline friend with a balanced diet that includes all the necessary B vitamins, you can help to support their energy levels, metabolism, immune function, and skin and coat health, as well as promote overall vitality and well-being.
Cats who are not eating much will also probably not be taking in enough B vitamins. In addition, CKD cats are prone to many of the problems caused by vitamin B deficiencies anyway, such as appetite loss or anaemia.
Your cat’s nutritional needs (2006) National Research Council says “these patients are at risk for B-vitamin deficiency because of decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and polyuria.” Managing anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (2011) Chalhoub S, Langston CE Veterinary Medicine May 2011 says
B vitamins, such as vitamin B12, folic acid, niacin, and vitamin B6, are important for erythrogenesis. Supplementation is recommended in polyuric patients; however, the contribution of vitamin supplementation to the overall correction of anemia is minimal.
I am not sure I agree that vitamin B supplementation has a minimal effect on anaemia. In my experience, for some CKD cats with mild to moderate anaemia (PCV or HCT of 20-30%), this may be the only treatment they need.
Folate (Vitamin B9) Folate (vitamin B9) is important for red blood cell production (see above), but it may be of additional use to CKD patients.
Efficacy of folic acid therapy on the progression of chronic kidney disease. The renal substudy of the China Stroke Primary Prevention Trial (2016) Xu X, Qin X, Li Y, Sun D, Wang J, Liang M, Wang B, Huo Y, Hou F Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine 176(10) pp14-43-14-50 found that giving folic acid together with an ACE inhibitor (enalapril) to human CKD patients with hypertension in China “can significantly delay the progression of CKD among patients with mild-to-moderate CKD.”
Niacin (Vitamin B3) Niacin ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, proteinuria, and hypertension in rats with chronic renal failure (2009) Cho K, Kim H, Rodriguez-Iturbe B & Vaziri ND American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology 297 ppF106–F113 looked at the use of niacin in rats with artificially induced kidney disease (5/6ths of their kidneys were surgically removed). The study found that rats given 50mg/kg of niacin in their drinking water for twelve weeks appeared to do better than rats not given niacin. The study concludes “niacin supplementation helps to attenuate histological injury and mitigate upregulation of oxidative and inflammatory systems in the remnant kidney.”
A slightly later study by the same authors, Niacin improves renal lipid metabolism and slows progression in chronic kidney disease (2010) Cho KH, Kim HJ, Kamanna VS & Vaziri ND Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1800(1) pp6-15 concludes “Niacin administration improves renal tissue lipid metabolism and renal function and structure in experimental CRF.”
One human study, A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of niacinamide for reduction of phosphorus in hemodialysis patients (2008) Cheng SC, Young DO, Huang Y, Delmez JA & Coyne DW Clinical Journal of the American Society for Nephrology 3(4) pp11-31–11-38, found that vitamin B3 (niacin) helped reduce phosphorus levels. The patients in the study did continue to receive standard phosphorus binders during the trial as well, but later trials used vitamin B3 alone to control phosphorus levels.
| Deficiency | Sufficiency |
|---|---|
| Lethargy, poor appetite, dull coat, anemia, fatigue | Vibrant coat, healthy appetite, energy and vitality |
Which B Vitamins to Give
Your vet will often routinely offer vitamin B supplementation for your cat. If not, I would raise the subject yourself.
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B vitamins are essential nutrients that play a crucial role in maintaining your cat’s overall health. While cats can synthesize some B vitamins on their own, they still require adequate amounts from their diet. Here are the top sources of B vitamins for cats:
When incorporating these foods into your cat’s diet, remember to do so in moderation. A balanced commercial cat food should be the main staple of their diet. Adding small amounts of these foods as treats or supplements can provide extra nutrition without upsetting their digestive system.
Remember to consult with your veterinarian before making any significant changes to your cat’s diet. They can help you determine the best course of action for your feline friend.
Cats who are not eating much will also probably not be taking in enough B vitamins. In addition, CKD cats are prone to many of the problems caused by vitamin B deficiencies anyway, such as appetite loss or anaemia.
Managing anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease, Chalhoub S, Langston CE Veterinary Medicine (2011) says “B vitamins, such as vitamin B12, folic acid, niacin, and vitamin B6, are important for erythrogenesis. Supplementation is recommended in polyuric patients; however, the contribution of vitamin supplementation to the overall correction of anemia is minimal.”
I am not sure I agree that vitamin B supplementation has a minimal effect on anaemia. In my experience, for some CKD cats with mild to moderate anaemia (PCV or HCT of 20-30%), this may be the only treatment they need.
Folate (vitamin B9) is important for red blood cell production, but it may be of additional use to CKD patients. Efficacy of folic acid therapy on the progression of chronic kidney disease, Xu X, Qin X, Li Y, Sun D, Wang J, Liang M, Wang B, Huo Y, Hou F Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine (2016) found that giving folic acid together with an ACE inhibitor to human CKD patients with hypertension in China “can significantly delay the progression of CKD among patients with mild-to-moderate CKD.”
Niacin ameliorates oxidative stress, inflammation, proteinuria, and hypertension in rats with chronic renal failure, Cho K, Kim H, Rodriguez-Iturbe B & Vaziri ND American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology (2009) looked at the use of niacin in rats with artificially induced kidney disease. The study found that rats given 50mg/kg of niacin in their drinking water for twelve weeks appeared to do better than rats not given niacin.
Which B Vitamins to Give
Your vet will often routinely offer vitamin B supplementation for your cat. If not, I would raise the subject yourself.
In conclusion, the significance of B vitamins for cats cannot be understated. These essential nutrients are crucial for maintaining energy levels, supporting the immune system, promoting healthy skin and coat, and overall vitality. By incorporating B vitamin-rich foods into your cat’s diet and consulting with your veterinarian for guidance, you can ensure that your feline friend receives the necessary nutrients to lead a happy and healthy life.
Remember, a well-balanced diet that includes all the essential B vitamins is key to promoting the optimal health and well-being of your cat.