Ideally, all the minerals and vitamins that are useful and necessary for maintaining health should be contained in the food that we treat our four-legged pet. They are contained, but often not in the quantities required by the cat’s body. With a lack of much-needed elements, immunity decreases, fur begins to grow, teeth and bones deteriorate - vitamins for cats This is not a whim, but a necessity.
But even here it is better to stick to the golden mean, since neither vitamin deficiency nor hypervitaminosis is good for the cat. Having decided to treat their cat with vitamin complexes, some owners are at a loss - it turns out that there are a lot of different useful supplements. It's time to figure out what will help your cat stay healthy, and in what cases you need to give your animal vitamins.
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What vitamins do cats need?
It’s worth answering a possible question right away: human vitamins cannot be given to cats. Despite the fact that the same substances are useful for us, the concentration of the elements will be fundamentally different.
Each vitamin has a different function for a cat's health, from benefits for bones to weight gain.
Vitamin K is responsible for good blood clotting, vitamin A supervises vision and helps cells in the renewal process, group B is responsible for the condition of the skin, coat and maintaining the proper level of energy. If there is an acute shortage of these vitamins, the cat will become lethargic and lethargic. Also, these elements are involved in normalizing the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and are useful for appetite. A whole series of vitamins has its own important functions for cats.
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All this sounds nice, but the next question may sound like this: “If all the vitamins are so useful, wouldn’t it be easier to give them in bulk?” No, it’s not simpler - thanks to the level of development of medicine and veterinary medicine, we know that not all substances can act equally well on the body, since they become useless next to each other.
How to understand what vitamins an animal lacks
To find out what vitamins your cat needs, you can just take a closer look at it. Unscheduled molting indicates a lack of nutrients in the diet or the presence of helminthic infestation. Having eliminated the latter, all that remains is to provide the pet with vitamin supplements in its diet.
The poor condition of the cat's claws and fur is due to a lack of riboflavin (B2), biotin (H), nicotinic acid (PP), and pantothenic acid (B5).
A lack of any vitamin will definitely affect the behavior, condition and appearance of the cat.
How to understand what vitamin a cat lacks
As a rule, with natural feeding, it is recommended to give the cat vitamin and mineral complexes twice a year to prevent vitamin deficiency. If you do not do this in a timely manner, external manifestations will not take long to appear.
Lack of vitamins affects the appearance and behavior of the cat:
- continuous shedding, dull coat, unkempt appearance;
- decreased appetite;
- depressed state, lack of interest in life, activity, slow reaction.
It is possible to determine which vitamins are missing using laboratory blood tests, although experienced veterinarians often make do with a simple survey of the owner. Diet data gives an accurate picture of what vitamins your cat urgently needs.
Vitamins for kittens are prescribed regardless of the presence or absence of external manifestations of their deficiency.
The best vitamins for cats and kittens
Veterinarians have long studied all kinds of vitamin complexes and offer cat lovers several well-established companies to choose from.
You can buy general strengthening vitamins in tablets for your cat, liquid vitamins that will help restore shine to the coat, complexes for nursing cats - so that you don’t need to purchase it, it’s better to opt for products that have proven quality.
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Beaphar
The Dutch company is famous for its vitamin supplements for animals due to its excellent quality control of products represented by various products for cats: multivitamins in both dry and liquid form, food supplements with biotin, taurine, various kinds of healthy pastes and edible pads, injections.
Canina
Unique German products help pets' health in various cases. The world's felinological communities and veterinarians have long recognized the unconditional quality of the product and its obvious benefits for cats. Here you can find tableted multivitamin complexes, and food supplements in the form of globules and gels for hair growth, joint health, and restoration of strength.
Polidex
The British pharmaceutical company offers the Polidex brand. Today, fortified preparations are also produced in the Russian Federation.
All Polydex supplements, in addition to other useful substances, contain taurine, which is much needed by the body - an amino acid that is responsible for the normal development of muscle tissue of the heart, retina and reproductive organs.
Anivital
"Anivital" is a German brand whose products are focused on strengthening the immunity of cats, improving the appearance and health of the fur. Studies have shown that the composition of vitamin complexes helps slow down the development of allergic reactions in cats to various foods and plants.
Gimpet
A brand from Germany called Gimpet belongs to the Gimborn concern. All products are intended for cats. The range includes fish, mineral and yeast supplements with algae and biotin. All substances are suitable for maintaining the health of cats of any breed and any age. There are drugs even in the form of heart-shaped tablets, the taste of which cats really like.
8 in 1
The old company from America has enjoyed the trust of customers for almost a hundred years. The products are developed based on scientific research with the participation of practicing veterinarians and consumer surveys. All vitamins for cats have stood the test of time and are considered an excellent preventive measure for many diseases.
Sanal
Sanal's main focus on beneficial supplements is B vitamins and various minerals and acids. Numerous components help maintain energy in kittens and cats, make their coats shine, and also participate in strengthening bones and teeth. There are no age restrictions for Sanal products: both children and adult cats need vitamins.
Rating of vitamins for cats – manufacturers and brands
The range of fortified products on the pet products market is huge. It is not easy for cat owners to navigate this diversity on their own. Not all vitamins are equally effective, and some may cause harm instead of the expected benefits.
Our rating is based on the recommendations of veterinary specialists and consumer preferences.
- Canina (Canina) – Germany;
- Beaphar (Beafar) - the Netherlands;
- VetExpert (VetExpert) – Poland;
- Brewers - USA;
- Nutri Vet (Nutri Vet) – USA;
- Gimpet (Gimpet) – Germany;
- Anivital (Anivital) – Germany;
- Polidex (Polideks) – Russia;
- Agrovetzaschita (AVZ) – Russia
- VEDA (Veda) – Russia;
- Astrapharm - Russia;
- Titbit (Titbit) – Russia;
- Bayer (Bayer) – Germany;
- Dreamies (Dreamies) – USA;
- Doctor ZOO – Russia.
Data is current as of May 2021.
The best vitamins for cats against hair loss
Fur worries furry owners the most. Lost hairs are driving you crazy; it seems that your cat will soon become completely bald. To be proud of the condition of your soul warmer’s coat, you should feed it with vitamins for cats.
The best complexes include B vitamins, various minerals, fatty acids, vitamins H, E. If you rely on reviews from cat lovers, you can make a list of the most effective vitamin supplements. The purpose of such care is to improve the characteristics of the coat, prevent the loss of excess hair and reduce the shedding period.
- 8 in 1 Excel Brewer's Yeast
: tablets for cats based on brewer's yeast and fatty oils. The composition is rich in useful substances, micro- and macroelements, which help well if the cat sheds a lot. For noticeable improvement, a course of 15-30 days is usually sufficient;
- Gimpet Beauty-Kiss
: kissing granules contain taurine, brewer's yeast, zinc and a good vitamin composition. The drug significantly affects the quality of the coat: it stops shedding too much, its pigmentation and shine improve, and the skin looks healthy. The additive can be purchased at a price of about 170-180 rubles per package;
- Doctor Zoo “Skin and Coat Health” with biotin and taurine: a domestic vitamin complex in the form of tasty tablets can be given against hair loss , but they are not suitable for neutered cats;
- One of the well-proven vitamins for wool is FeliDerm (from AniVital). The course of the drug is designed for 4-6 weeks. The result of the action of the nutritional supplement is expressed not only in the good quality of the coat: irritation and itching from the skin are relieved, the consequences of allergic reactions disappear;
- Farmavit Active for cats “Beauty and Health of Coat” promotes not only the active growth of shiny and healthy fur, but also eliminates brittleness and dryness of hair, restoring its bright color. A low price for a product with a balanced content of nutrients and fruit enzymes makes the product accessible to everyone.
The best vitamins for improving the fur coat and skin condition, according to reviews from veterinarians, are based on the content of calcium, sulfur, biotin, zinc and vitamins B, H, A. If the cat is already of advanced age, it is better to opt for products containing brewer’s yeast.
Types of vitamins by dosage form - tablets, injections, pastes, drops
Manufacturers of vitamin and mineral products for cats try to satisfy all the needs of consumers and develop preparations of various structures and methods of application. The market for veterinary products widely includes both conventional vitamins in the form of tablets and enteric capsules, as well as all kinds of injectable preparations, pastes, crackers and powders.
Vitamins in tablets (crackers)
Complex tablets are often released in the form of crackers, reminiscent of commercial food pellets, to attract the attention of cats. And to reduce problems with taking vitamins, manufacturers make tablets with meat, fish, cheese or milk taste and aroma. Vitamin tablets are convenient to give to adult animals that can chew them. These fortified feed additives are given to kittens in crumbled form, mixed with food. The shape of the tablets can be either round or in the shape of hearts, fish, mice. The color range of the drugs is also extensive. Many manufacturers produce vitamins in tablets (crackers) of different colors, so that you can distinguish them by composition and taste, as well as for convenient division into morning and evening doses.
The best vitamins for cats in tablets:
- 8 in 1 Excel Brewer's Yeast (brewer's yeast);
- Beaphar Kitty's Mix;
- AniVital FeliDerm;
- Polidex Immunity up;
- Agrovetzaschita Radostin.
Vitamin injections (shots)
Vitamins in the form of injection solutions (injections) are indicated for those cats that, for some reason, cannot take medications orally. It should be borne in mind that the prescription of such vitamin-mineral complexes must be made by a veterinarian. Only he can determine what vitamins an animal needs and in what dosage. It is prohibited to inject cats with vitamins and other medications on your own.
TOP vitamins in injections:
- Vittri-1 (Agrovetzaschita);
- Vittri-3 (Agrovetzaschita);
- Gamavit (GamaVetFarm);
- Multivitamin (Norbrook);
- Cyanocobalamin B12 (Mosagrogen).
Vitamins for wool removal
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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> The cat carefully licks its skin several times a day. All the hairs stuck to her tongue end up in her stomach. There they roll into clumps. When there are a lot of hairs, and the cat cannot get rid of them on its own using the gag reflex, such a lump can clog the lower esophageal sphincter.
For trouble-free hair removal, there are good vitamins for cats:
- Beaphar Malt Paste;
- Hairball Soft Chews for Cats;
- Gimpet Malt-Soft Paste Extra.
Vitamins for immunity
General strengthening complexes are great for boosting immunity, but additional components of specially developed vitamin products will help increase the cat’s body’s resistance to many diseases.
Good preparations are made on the basis of antioxidants, essential amino acids, adaptogens and a variety of micro- and macroelements.
Before offering such remedies to your cat on the advice of a veterinarian, it is important to make sure that the animal does not have parasites:
- Gimpet Topinis;
- VetoMune VetExpert;
- Anivital Feli Immun;
- Canina Petvital Energy-Gel or Petvital Bio-Activator.
Price of vitamins for old cats
You can buy medications at a veterinary pharmacy or online. Approximate prices for products in Moscow:
Name of additives | Average price, rubles |
Gimpet Schnurries 60 pcs. | 900 |
AniVital Feli Immun 140 pcs. | 1700 |
Polidex Gelabon 60 pcs. | 1300 |
Beaphar Irish Cal 250 g | 600 |
Sanal Senior Lecithin 50 g | 145 |
Beaphar Top 10 Cat 180 pcs. | 600 |
For bones and teeth
A good drug that will help strengthen the cat’s skeletal system must contain calcium and other minerals. In the absence of the necessary set of elements, the pet suffers from tartar, loose teeth, and rickets.
The drugs that help bones and teeth are on the list have not only passed veterinary tests, but also received many good reviews from cat owners:
- BEAPHAR Irish Cal Blend;
- Vitomax For teeth and bones of cats with calcium and phosphorus;
- Polidex Gelabon Plus.
Your cat needs vitamins!
What vitamins should I give to a neutered cat? This question is often asked by caring owners. It is imperative to remember that if you feed your pet with specialized premium or super premium food, there is no need to purchase a separate vitamin complex. The fact is that this kind of food initially contains the vitamins and minerals necessary for a castrated pet. But in the case of feeding a pet with “home-made” food, purchasing a multivitamin complex is a must.
It should be noted that neutered pets need special nutrition. Thus, it is vital for them to consume complexes of vitamins, antioxidants, as well as taurine and glucosamine. In order to strengthen the epidermis and fur of a pet, you need to use vitamins for a castrated cat containing 3, 6, 9 omega acids. They are vital for the body. By the way, if the pet is long-haired, then the need for the use of these vitamins increases significantly.
Vitamins for older cats
In old cats, metabolic processes slow down, the immune system no longer works as actively as at a young age, the coat is often faded and brittle, and the energy supply is very limited. Manufacturers did not ignore the problem and respected the venerable age of cats by releasing products for pets aged 8 years and older.
And the list of the best included three domestic drugs and one foreign:
- Polidex Gelabon Plus;
- Astrapharm;
- Radostin (from Agrovetzaschita);
- Farmavit Neo (8+).
For joints and ligaments
Cats are living beings just like people, and they suffer from musculoskeletal diseases in the same way. For healthy joints and ligaments, chondroitin complexes with glucosamine are needed: such substances will help restore damaged intra-articular cartilage and joint capsules. By taking such medications, the cat will recover faster from injury, and in older cats the demineralization of bone tissue will slow down:
- Polidex Gelabon plus Glucosamine;
- Canina Petvital Arthro-tabletten
- Canvit Chondro.
Vitamins for pregnant and lactating cats
During pregnancy and lactation, the cat is vulnerable to diseases and other negative factors. In addition, vitamins for a nursing cat are necessary not only for herself, but also for growing kittens. The younger generation will develop as expected if mother's milk contains all the important substances for their growth.
It is useful for the expectant mother to give vitamins with calcium:
- Nutrimin Cat;
- Canivita;
- Radostin (for pregnant and lactating cats).
How to give vitamins to a cat correctly
The complexes differ not only in the form of release, but also in the concentration of useful substances in the composition. Therefore, they need to be given in different ways. The prescription, of course, must be made by a veterinarian, who will determine the required concentration, composition and course of administration.
Conditions that require emergency intervention require the presence of a therapeutic dose of beneficial substances. This means that they can be used in courses for a strict purpose. For example, during rehabilitation after infectious diseases, injuries and fractures, dermatitis.
It is possible that vitamins will be prescribed during hospital treatment. Or for preventive purposes - with planned annual courses. Usually - in spring and autumn, during the period of seasonal decrease in immunity caused by molting.
Treats recommended for daily use contain a minimum concentration of vitamins, which is determined by the daily requirement. This is the best remedy for the prevention of vitamin deficiencies, however, their dosage does not have a therapeutic effect and if the situation is advanced, then you need to buy more concentrated complexes.
Each manufacturer must provide detailed instructions for taking vitamins. Usually calculated based on weight. It is strictly forbidden to exceed the dosage: an excess of vitamins has no less serious consequences than their deficiency.
It doesn’t matter whether you use a daily treat or a dietary supplement that includes a course of treatment, you need to carefully monitor your cat’s reaction. No one is immune from allergies or specific reactions.
Vitamins for kittens
The body of a growing kitten constantly needs a large number of building elements. Complex vitamins will fully provide the baby with important resources for growth, during the change of teeth, molting, during the transition to natural nutrition after breast milk, and during stress associated with moving to a new place of residence.
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Before treating your young cat with vitamins, you need to find out how to give them correctly from a veterinarian:
- Beafar KITTY'S Protein and Junior;
- Doctor ZOO for kittens;
- Hartz Everyday Chewable Vitamins with Taurine;
- Gimpet Babytabs.
The baby is constantly growing and developing, so it is important to maintain a balance of all the necessary elements: vitamin-containing preparations must contain calcium and magnesium, which are often lacking in a young mustache up to a year old.
Should I give vitamins to my kitten?
In the first 2-3 months, the kitten receives all its valuable nutrition from its mother. If she eats high-quality premium food, then veterinarians believe that there is no need for additional beneficial supplements - diligence here will backfire and the babies will develop hypervitaminosis .
Fluffies whose mother did not receive enough vitamins have a hard time: they may begin to lag behind in development, and the lack of important elements will immediately affect their energy and appearance, even of a month-old cat.
At what age can you give vitamins to a kitten?
A weak baby can be given vitamins in the form of drops from the first days of life - strictly on the recommendation of a specialist. For healthy “bundles of happiness,” vitamin complementary foods are introduced starting from the moment of weaning and the transition to a new diet at approximately 1-1.5 months. If at 2 months kittens are fed the milk of a cat that is fed fully, then you can hold off on adding useful supplements.
At 3 months, the baby has already switched to a separate diet and needs supplements according to the dose of the drug, calculated in accordance with the instructions on the package.
For the vision of small kittens, it is important to receive vitamin complexes with taurine. B vitamins are very useful - this is a gift for a kitten's fluffy fur, and B12 is needed for the formation of a stable nervous system.
Vitamins in ready-made cat food
Vitamins for cats in ready-made food
When choosing ready-made food for cats, the annotation for which, as a rule, indicates certain vitamins it contains, owners often focus on the taste preferences of their pets and price. However, it is in inexpensive food that there are artificial flavoring additives, aromas that are so attractive to cats, as well as dyes. The presence of vitamins in food will not offset the harm from such fillers.
Preference should be given to ready-made premium food, having carefully studied the information on the packaging, which indicates the age of the animal for which the product is developed, the cat breed, and contraindications. These types of food are also differentiated depending on whether the animal is sterilized or not.
Vitamins for spayed and neutered cats
Uroliths often form in the urine of sterilized cats and neutered cats, which over time can provoke the appearance of urolithiasis. To optimize the functioning of the urinary tract, good vitamins for spayed cats and neutered cats contain glucose, lecithin, L-carnitine, vitamins B3 and B12.
Vitamin complexes do not allow the animal’s weight to increase, so veterinarians advise adding them to cats’ food. Based on expert reviews, a list of the best vitamins with mandatory markings for sterilized (neutered) cats has been compiled:
- VEDA Phytomines;
- Radostin
- Farmavit NEO;
- Cemax.
Customer reviews about vitamins for cats
Arina: “After castration, the veterinarian advised us to give the cat special vitamins for such animals. We bought Famavit NEO for castrated people. The cat refused to eat the whole tablet, so we had to mix it into his food. She feels good, we don’t see any problems with urination or obesity, her tests are all normal. I don’t know how the vitamins affected the cat’s well-being, but we continue to take them.”
Leonid: “I treat the manufacturer Gimpet with respect, so when our Scottish mother gave birth to kittens and they grew up a little, I chose vitamins for babies without a doubt. I bought “Gimpet BabyTabs” at the pharmacy – a jar of special vitamins for kittens. These are three-color round tablets with different flavors and additives. The manufacturer recommends giving up to 10 pieces per day, but I give from 5 to 7. This is enough. The tablets are large in size and must be crushed before giving to kittens. Both the kids and their mother liked the taste of the vitamins.”
Nadezhda: “I bought the fortified treat “Kitty’s + Taurin-Biotin” with taurine and biotin on the advice of a veterinarian when my beauty’s fur began to fade and shed heavily. The crackers are made in the shape of cream-colored hearts. The cat literally begs me for vitamins when he sees the box. I don’t know why they attract her so much! It’s too early to talk about the effect, we only drank half the package, but the fur began to come out noticeably less, and a gloss appeared on the fur.”
Renat: “I bought 8 in 1 Excel Brewers vitamins for skin and coat after reading reviews from veterinarians on the Internet and did not regret it. The composition is very good and balanced. But the main thing is that I immediately noticed the effect - my Persian went through all three summer months and did not shed! This is an achievement for him. Of course, I attribute this effect to taking vitamins; my veterinarian confirmed my assumptions.”
Irina: “I’m not one of those cat owners who chase expensive food and feed additives. Why overpay? There are many inexpensive domestic drugs that are high quality and have been proven over the years. Radostin is one of these; it is available in every veterinary stall and pharmacy. The price for it is very affordable. I bought Radostin for adult animals, for kittens and for pregnant cats. Both I and my animals were satisfied with all the drugs. The cats are healthy and active, and my wallet has not suffered.”
Phytomines for cats Veda
The consonant name appeared as a hint at the composition of the drugs: the line contains medicinal herbs with optimal concentration for each task. Phytomins Veda are completely natural, but a lasting effect occurs only as a result of taking a long course. The line of drugs includes products that solve urological problems, improve the condition of the coat, for sterilized and neutered cats, and a product that helps with allergies.
Useful tips and tricks
Before choosing vitamins for a cat in a beautiful jar, they analyze the pet’s nutrition, age and physical indicators. If your pet has some kind of disease, or the animal lives with a diseased liver, then before starting a course of supplements, consult a veterinarian; he will probably recommend a highly specialized vitamin product.
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Focusing on the preferences of your own animal, you can choose the taste of the product and its structure in the form of tablets, capsules, liquid vitamins, injections, suspensions, mixtures.
What vitamins do small pets usually need?
In dry food and vitamin complexes, everything is balanced and meets the needs of a small cat. But it is important to know what is included there and what is responsible for in the animal’s body. This knowledge will be useful for determining hypo- or hypervitaminosis.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the features of feeding kittens, as well as the pros and cons of the following brands of dry food: Farmina, Gina, Acana, Royal Canin, 1st Choice.
Vitamin A
Retinol must be supplied regularly to your pet’s body for up to 6 months. This vitamin is important for cell growth and renewal, skin and excellent vision.
Did you know? A high content of vitamin A can lead to death, so it is dangerous to eat the liver of some animals - polar bears, sharks.
B vitamins
This group includes the following substances:
- B1 is important for proper digestion of food and normal metabolism. Participates in the breakdown of carbohydrates and gives the animal energy;
- B2 - necessary for weight gain and soft, healthy coat;
- B5 - for kidney function, healthy skin and coat. Without it, dermatitis will appear, and hair will fall out during shedding;
- B6 - needed for the absorption of food, in particular proteins, to eliminate cramps;
- B12 - with its participation the pet’s liver and nervous system work.
Vitamin D
As in a human child, the vitamin helps the cat absorb calcium and is responsible for the absence of rickets and normal growth of bones, teeth and claws.
Vitamin E
It is an antioxidant that counteracts free radicals entering the kitten's body. Responsible for the pet's reproductive system and puberty.
Vitamin K
Needed for good blood clotting. Vitamin K deficiency very often causes an abundance of fish in a kitten's diet. If for some reason fish predominates in the diet, be sure to give this vitamin additionally.