Vitamin C For Cats
|
The truth is, though, that while cats are mammals and similar to humans in many ways, they do have their differences. One of those differences is in the way certain vitamins and nutrients are metabolized. For humans, supplementation works, but vitamin C for cats is a different story.
Cats synthesize their own vitamin c from glucose, so they don't normally need supplementation of this vitamin. This makes sense, since the natural diet of a cat would not include vitamin C intake, or at least not in large quantities.
According to the Cornell Book of Cats, unless there is a "high metabolic need or inadequate synthesis," then supplements of vitamin C are not necessary. In fact, a number of studies show that it may actually be harmful.
First, it can contribute to the formation of stones in the urinary tract. Second, it may enhance the absorption of iron, resulting in an overdose of iron.
In addition, there has been more than one study that has failed to show that vitamin C supplementation has any effect on healing viruses or bacterial infections, in cats.
As a nutritional supplement for cats, vitamin C is probably a bad idea. There are, however, other nutritional supplements that your cat might benefit from.
Jump from Vitamin C for Cats back to Cat Health
Jump from Vitamin C for Cats back to the home page of Cat Lovers Only
Top
Cat Lovers Only Home | Cat Health | Cat Illness Symptoms
Copyright © 2004 - 2008 cat-lovers-only.com. All rights reserved.
"The website for cat lovers!"
