Supplements and Vitamins for cats: Types and uses for your pet
Supplements and vitamins for cats are ideal food supplements to provide the king or queen of the house with everything he or she needs to maintain iron health.
A good diet is essential for our four-legged companions to live a healthy, long and happy life, but sometimes an extra supply is necessary. Whether on veterinary advice, because they have a special homemade diet or due to special circumstances, our felines sometimes need to take vitamin supplements to look after their coat, their intestinal health, their renal system or their joints.
At Kunkay we offer you everything you need to take care of your pet's health. In our shop you can find supplements and vitamins specially designed for them to solve specific problems or needs, take a look!
In this article we invite you to discover which essential vitamins your furry companion needs and which is the most suitable supplement for each situation. We also explain what food supplements for felines are for. And to help you, and because we know that it can be a little difficult at first, we also tell you how to give your cat vitamins. Stay with us and take note of all the keys!
1. Essential vitamins for your cat
As we mentioned in the introduction, your kitty needs a good supply of vitamins on a daily basis; either through a good diet, taking supplements and vitamins for cats or, ideally, a combination of both.
Specifically, there are five vitamins that are extremely important for the health of our kitties: vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K, vitamin B12 and vitamin E. Here's what each of these vitamins does!
1. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is important for the antioxidant effect it has on the feline body. Interestingly, unlike humans, cats are capable of generating their own vitamin C, although they may have problems producing it when they are very old.
It is also common for vets to recommend extra vitamin C if your kitten is recovering from an ailment or illness, for example, it is often recommended for cats that have recently had a urinary tract infection.
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D is extremely important, especially in the early years of your cat's life. It plays a vital role in the metabolism of phosphorus and calcium and is essential for kittens to grow and develop healthily.
3. Vitamin K
This vitamin is essential to ensure proper liver function and is therefore highly recommended for cats with renal insufficiency.
Felines are predisposed to kidney problems compared to other animals, so a good daily intake of vitamin K is essential for long-term health.
4. Vitamin B12
Also known as cobalamin, vitamin B12 is essential for the health of your pet's immune system, nervous system and digestive tract. It also plays an important role in your cat's cognitive development. Finally, vitamin B12 also supports your cat's metabolic processes.
For all its functions, B12 is one of the most important cat vitamins. Many older kittens have to take a daily supplement of this vitamin because over time they often have problems absorbing it naturally.
5. Vitamin E
Vitamin E has a strong antioxidant function and is considered one of the essential nutrients for cats. For this reason, most cat foods on the market incorporate it in their composition.
If your kitten eats a homemade diet, it is very likely that you will need to take supplements containing this essential vitamin.
2. What type of vitamin or supplement should I give in each case?
If your cat has a good diet, it is not usually necessary to give it an extra supply of all the vitamins essential for its health. However, it is possible that due to special circumstances and as they get older , they may need specific support. That's why Kun-Kay offers you different solutions specially designed to give your pet just what it needs at all times.
Here are some of the applications of supplements and vitamins for cats- as you can see, there are solutions for all kinds of problems, ailments and specific needs!
1. Help your cat eat and improve intestinal health
Sometimes kittens lose their appetite due to illness, stressful situations or when they are depressed and don't want to eat no matter what we offer them.
In these cases, it is advisable to give them vitamins for cats specially designed to look after their intestinal health and whet their appetite, such as Enterokun Mild. This supplement has been designed to stimulate their metabolism and help them feel like eating again.
We've put together a guide to what foods cats can eat.
2. Treating skin and coat conditions in Cats
Supplements and vitamins to care for your cat's skin and coat such as Dermakun are recommended at times of moulting to help coat renewal and at any time to prevent and treat any type of skin condition.
Dermakun is a great support to relieve itching, redness or skin inflammations and for kittens with a poor coat. It has healing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant active ingredients , so it also helps the healing of wounds, favouring the recovery of the skin and the quality of the coat. It is also important to take into account alopecia in cats and how to combat it.
3. Fattening cats with malnutrition problems
Vitamins and fattening supplements are recommended for kittens with anaemia, malnutrition and/or underweight. They are an essential support for rescued kittens or those recovering from an illness that has caused them to lose a lot of weight. For them to work, they must be complemented with a healthy, complete and balanced diet.
4. Helps with kidney failure in cats
With age, felines tend to suffer from renal insufficiency problems and need a daily and complete supply of vitamin K to stimulate the correct functioning of their liver and kidneys.
To prevent possible ailments in the future , it is advisable to provide our cats from an early age with a diet rich in this vitamin, which is so essential for their health.
5. Growth: supports healthy growth in your cat
Puppy supplements and vitamins are a complete support to ensure healthy growth and proper development, both for their bones and muscles as well as cognitively.
In the early stages of life, you can provide your kitten with a specially formulated puppy vitamin complex that includes all the essential cat vitamins mentioned in the previous point.
6. Older cats: Improve activity and relieve pain
As our furry companions grow older, changes occur in their bodies and they need to take nutritional supplements specially designed for them, such as Elderkun.
Elderkun is a vitamin supplement recommended for kittens over seven years of age. It has been formulated to help them maintain their neuronal health and prevent brain degeneration. If you have an elderly person at home, with Elderkun they can stay their old self no matter how old they are!
7. Improve your cat's dental health
Good dental health is essential for a happy kitty no matter how old they are. With Dentalkun you can take care of your kitty's teeth and gums to prevent the onset of dental disease; it also reduces bad breath, perfect to enjoy even more of their kisses! Here we extend the content with a post about Gingivitis in cats.
8. Joints: Anti-inflammatory to reduce discomfort and improve mobility.
Jumping and prancing, age or being overweight can affect the health of your pet's joints. To take care of them, we propose Arthrokun; our nutritional supplement of choice to reduce your kitten's joint discomfort and prevent its onset.
This supplement can be taken at any age to increase your kitty's mobility and prevent cartilage degeneration and inflammation.
9. Improve stress, anxiety and mental health in cats.
Cats are very sensitive to any kind of change in their environment or routine. If your cat gets stressed by travelling, moving house or socialising with other animals, Mindkun will be your best ally.
This nutritional supplement helps your best friend to calm down and feel better in stressful situations. At Kun Kay, we have a post that will help you learn more about stress in cats. Help them feel better!
3. Cat food supplements
In addition to vitamins for cats, there are other beneficial supplements that you can include in your cat's diet. Food supplements help your pet's body to be strong and healthy by providing your kitty with all the nutrients and minerals it needs for a long and happy life.
Here are some of the most popular cat food supplements and their benefits for your furry companion.
1. Essential Fatty Acids for cats
Essential Fatty Acids are the secret to kittens boasting a silky, shiny and lush coat. They are mainly found in fish oils and in addition to being very beneficial for strengthening the coat and skin of your kitten, they also have many other benefits.
They promote cardiovascular health, improve the condition of arthritis and prevent its onset, help treat and prevent kidney disease and also give your feline an extra boost of energy so he won't tire of playing and having fun, no matter how old he is.
2. Probiotics for cats
Probiotics are an essential support for your pet's intestinal flora. They support the digestive tract and overall stomach health.
They also have the advantage of strengthening your cat' s immune system, protecting it from possible illnesses(common cat diseases) caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and toxins. It will also help if your cat has a fever.
3. Glucosamine for cats
Together with chondroitin sulphate, Glucosamine is a food supplement that serves to stimulate the growth of muscles and joints. It also serves to support the maintenance of good muscle health and healthy joints in older kittens.
4. Taurine for cats, healthy and strong hearts
Taurine is an essential amino acid that should be present in any cat diet. It is often included in most cat food and cat food formulations because of the great benefits it has for cardiovascular health.
As well as helping your cat to have a strong, healthy heart, taurine is also essential for vision.
5. Biotin for cats
Biotin is another name for vitamin B12. It is often given as a dietary supplement to cats, especially at older ages, because it is essential to their all-round health.
As with humans, a lack of biotin can affect your cat's overall health as it is essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system and digestive tract, as well as supporting the immune system. Biotin is also essential at the neuronal level and essential for healthy metabolism.
6. Malt for cats, the best for hairballs
If your kitten tends to shed hairballs, malt is your best ally. This food supplement stimulates digestion and eliminates hair balls in the stomach to avoid such unpleasant moments.
Malt is one of the basic staples of any cat family, especially when there are long-haired kittens at home. As well as having such a useful function, they love it. Malt is a favourite treat for many kitties, with the added bonus that it also helps them to combat annoying hairballs.
At KunKay we have Hairballkun which also helps to prevent hairballs from forming in your cat, especially for long-haired cats. Like all our products, it is made from natural ingredients. With Hairballkun you will reduce shedding and promote the elimination of ingested hair.
7. Probiotic and prebiotic elements for cats
It incorporates probiotic and prebiotic elements as a food supplement with minerals and live bacteria. Its function is to balance your kitten' s intestinal flora and, in addition, it also strengthens its immune system.
This supplement is also recommended for cats with gas problems and in situations where they have occasional gastric imbalances such as diarrhoea. In this post we mention more about diarrhoea in cats.
4. ¿Cómo le doy las vitaminas a mi gato?
Now that you know the benefits of vitamins and supplements for cats and have chosen the best options to look after your four-legged companion's health, you may be wondering what you need to do to give them correctly. Read on, we'll help you!
The first thing you should do before giving your cat vitamins or supplements is to consult your vet. It is advisable to get a professional's opinion on what your cat needs.
Once you know what kind of vitamins, supplements or supplements are best for your colleague, take a look at Kun-Kay's selection and choose just what he or she needs (Shhh, you can use this article as a guide to see which of our products are best in each case).
Already have your Kun-Kay vitamins and supplements at home? You can find information on the recommended dosages of each of our solutions on each package and, remember, you can contact us if you have any questions - we'll be happy to advise you!
Unlike other cat supplements, vitamins or supplements, Kun-Kay products are not huge pills that your cat will spit out over and over again no matter how much you camouflage them with a tasty tin, nor are they those drops that are easier to take but the taste makes giving them a chore for both of you. Our cat supplements are made with natural ingredients and have an irresistible smell and taste, you can give them to your cat along with their food and, we assure you, they'll gobble them up! What are you waiting for to try them?
