4 Important Health Benefits of Omega 3 For Cats
Posted by Mary Ida Young on
What is Omega-3?
Omega-3 is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that possesses double carbon bonds within the carbon chain. It's opposing fatty acid is omega-6, and it's important for your cat to have a balance of both omega-3 and omega-6 for optimal health. There is also an omega-9 fatty acid, but this article will focus on the omega 3 & 6 ratio.Why Does Your Cat Need Omega-3?
Just like dogs, a cat's health only benefits from getting the right balance of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered the building blocks of good nutrition, and you need plenty of omega-3 to balance out the surplus of omega-6 that can accumulate in your cat’s system. Omega-6 often accumulates because there are too many omega-6 fatty acids in your cat’s food, whether it’s commercial cat food or fresh meat. A cat can easily become out of balance without supplementing omega-3. Each of these fatty acids performs different functions and jobs, but neither one can work optimally without the other. When one is out of order, it knocks the whole system out of order, compromising your cat’s immune system and endangering his health.Where Do Cats Get Omega-3?
Cats can get omega-3 from a variety of marine as well as plant sources. Flaxseed oil, canola oil, soybean oil, and walnut oil all provide omega-3 in its various forms. It’s also prudent to talk to your vet about the best option for your feline.Omega-3 Fatty Acid Benefits for Cats
Some of the supplementation benefits of omega-3's in cats include:- Itch and Inflammation Relief
- A Healthy, Shiny Coat
- A Boost to the Immune System
- Help To Manage Joint Pain
Just like people, cats can suffer from joint problems and cat joint pain too, especially when it's related to age degeneration. Omega-3 fatty acids can help improve your cat’s range of motion as well as boost his energy. This is all due to the powerful anti-inflammatory effects that omega-3 fatty acids provide. Remember that cats are quite a bit different than people, and as felines, they will need different dosages and different forms of omega-3. Make sure that any supplement you give your cat is especially formulated for use in felines. With a regular omega-3 fatty acid supplementation schedule, you can help to keep your cat healthy, spry, agile, and looking downright beautiful, throughout all his (nine) long lives! Shop our fresh-ground flax seed supplements for cats! *This article is for informational purposes only. Please see a vet if your pet shows any symptoms.
References:
https://www.petcurean.com/blog/flaxseed-omega-3-benefits-for-dogs-and-cats/ https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/06/10/dog-diet-healthy-oils.aspx
- Tags: Cat Health Tips
4 comments
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Jane on
This article falls short in so many ways. Most importantly in not giving a formula for how much to give your cat. Consuming too much Omega 3 is equally bad for the cat.Also other articles I have read say Omega 6 and 9 are not important. Hard to find the real truth these days.
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Sean on
We recommend any of our feline formulas for all cats 12 weeks of age and older. Thanks!
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Deler on
What age can i use for my cat
Hi Jane,
We know it’s difficult to sift through all of the information out there, so let us try to address your specific questions. Firstly how much to give your cat. You’ve found an article on The Missing Link’s website, which is a flax-seed based supplement with a beneficial Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio. After over 25 years of success with our supplement helping kitties, we can at least say that if you follow the label instructions on our supplement package and feed the recommended amount everyday by weight, you will be helping your cat balance their Omega Fatty Acids ratios. Your cat will get all three types of Omegas from many sources. It would be difficult and possibly harmful to try to eliminate any one of them from their diet. The problem arises when the food has an imbalance of Omega 6 over Omega 3 because a body’s cells can only hold or use so much of either. When there is constantly too much Omega 6 in the diet, there is less room for Omega 3 in your cat’s cells which distorts the inflammation response. Omega 3 suppresses inflammation, while Omega 6 increases it. All three Omega Fatty Acids are essential for your cat’s cellular function. Even inflammation is a critical function in the body. It’s when things are out of balance from such diets as livestock raised on soybeans and grain instead of forage (which is higher in Omega 3), or when there is too much omega 6-rich grain in their diets, that the balance can become acute in your animal’s body. We wish you and your kitty well and applaud your vigorous research. -The Missing Link