Cats and jaguars
Have you ever wondered why such an independent animal as a feline chooses to live with you?
The wild ancestor of the cat is believed to have been a small, solitary, and highly territorial feline, adapted to a semi-arid climate and hunting across large areas of land. The domestication of cats may have developed around 9,500 years ago in the Nile Delta and Mesopotamia. This period coincides with the shift of humans from hunters to gatherers, meaning they became herders and farmers, beginning to store grain, which led to the emergence of rodents.
The more tolerant wild felines found a new hunting ground near humans, who provided them with protection and prey. Over time, these cats reproduced and gave rise to domestic cats worldwide. Even so, let me emphasize: if you share your life with a cat, you know perfectly well that it is you who live with them, not the other way around.
Do not be mistaken, you have adapted to living with them, and if you have a cat, you understand exactly what I mean.
Allow me to guide you on a brief journey through their gastrointestinal system, which will undoubtedly prove that cats are obligate carnivores, just like their feline relative, the jaguar. The differences from humans become evident repeatedly.
Your feline friend has 30 very sharp teeth, perfectly adapted for piercing, cutting, and tearing, rather than chewing or grinding. Interestingly, their jaw does not move laterally, confirming that their mouth is not designed for grinding. Furthermore, they lack salivary amylase, an enzymatic protein responsible for pre-digesting carbohydrates present in food, such as the starch found in grains.
Another characteristic typical of a strict carnivore is the length and structure of their intestines. These are adapted to digest proteins and fats but not carbohydrates like the starch found in grains. Their intestines are short and show few modifications; they can be described as a relatively simple tubular continuation of the alimentary canal, running from the pylorus to the anus.
Long intestines are typical of animals that consume diets including vegetables and fruits, as these foods take longer to digest. It is important to note that cats are unable to downregulate the production of enzymatic proteins responsible for digesting proteins, which means they absolutely require a diet rich in protein.
Are you willing to make a change to your four-legged friend's diet but do not know how?
At this point, if you are wondering what your cat should eat, the answer is clear: they need to eat meat to survive. Cats cannot perceive sweet flavors because evolution, in its wisdom, has made it unnecessary for obligate carnivores to detect sweetness for survival. You cannot feed them in the same way you would feed a dog, let alone a human. You must accept that you are living with a predator, even if they purr.
Do you truly believe that an ultra-processed food rich in grains, legumes, and vegetables is suitable for your cat? Do you think jaguars wander through grain fields to eat? Can you imagine a jaguar eating lentils?
Contact me; I am here to help you. Alkimeal makes it easy for you, even though changes are never easy. It is essential to be patient because, as we know, cats are special, and some may be resistant to dietary changes. But do not lose hope. Remember, I have been in the same position you are in now. In fact, my cats, Salem and Hera, taught me a valuable lesson in patience.
