Key nutrients for kittens

Different nutrients play different roles in your kitten’s first weeks and months of life. Over the last 50 years, our nutrition and research teams have spent countless hours researching the nutritional needs of kittens and the role they play in healthy growth and development.

The term “carbohydrates” mostly includes sugars, fibres and starch. They play an essential role in enhancing body function. Carbohydrates that are used in ROYAL CANIN® diets, are useful and easily digestible form of energy for growing kittens.

Dietary fibres can be found in carbohydrate-like substances, such as pectin, cellulose and lignin. They are sourced from plant materials, such as wholemeal cereals, root vegetables, fruit and gelling agents. Limited amounts of dietary fibre in a kitten’s diet can be useful in the prevention of gastro-intestinal issues, such as diarrhea and constipation.

Dietary fats serve as the most concentrated source of energy in a balanced diet, and lend palatability and texture to kitten foods. As well as providing energy, fats (also known as lipids) deliver essential fatty acids that are vital to body functions, while also positively affecting coat quality and a healthy nervous system.

Protein plays a vital role in healthy kitten development by forming and renewing tissue, muscle and the skeleton. Protein is a precious raw material for both the human and animals food chains, and one that should be used as efficiently as possible. Proteins are composed of chains of hundreds (or even thousands) of amino acids. There are 20 amino acids present in proteins and they are classified into two different types: essential and non-essential. Essential amino acids can not be made by the kitten's body in sufficient amounts for healthy functioning and development, and therefore must be present in food. Non-essential amino acids can be derived from an excess of essential dietary amino acids, but they are still vital to healthy function and should form part of a balanced diet.

While taurine is an amino acid, it’s worth a special mention due to its importance to the healthy development of kittens and the lifelong health of cats. Unlike most other animals, cats cannot synthesize enough taurine to meet their needs, and this is exacerbated by the fact that taurine plays a central role in digestion and excretion of toxins. All cats therefore need a dietary source of taurine to maintain healthy function of their digestive, cardiovascular, reproductive and neurological systems.

There are two types of minerals required for healthy development. Macro-elements such as calcium, phosphorous and potassium enable a number of key functions in the kitten’s body, including healthy bone growth, transmission of nerve impulses and muscle metabolism. Trace elements, such as iron, copper and manganese contribute, amongst other things, to healthy skin, bones, blood and coat.

Vitamins are needed for a wide range of biological and developmental functions including:

There are two types of vitamins: water soluble and fat soluble. A kitten is less able to store water soluble vitamins, such as vitamin B, thiamine and riboflavin, in its body and therefore it is critical that these vitamins are part of their regular daily diet.

The animal’s water requirements are mainly, but not entirely, met through drinking.

The diet also contributes, first through its water content and second through the water produced as nutrients are assimilated. For example, when a kitten uses in one gram of lipids it produces a little over one gram of water in the body.