Preventing Cancer With Your Cat’s Diet
Cancer is so scary, and so prevalent. There are times when I think we’re powerless to fight against it – it will get us all in some way eventually. But I guess that’s a pretty nihilistic, cynical approach. So I decided to look into what – if anything – we can do to prevent it from happening to our cats in the first place.
There is a surprising amount of information available out there, and a lot of the articles I read seemed to come to a common consensus on what a cancer prevention diet for a cat looks like. Here are some of the most commonly agreed-to concepts and menu items.
Disclaimer*: You should always consult your vet before changing your cat’s diet. If you suspect or know your cat to have cancer, you absolutely need to talk with your cat’s health care provider before proceeding.*
Low Carbs, High Protein, and Good Fats for Cancer Prevention in Cats
Although research on every kind of cancer hasn’t been done yet, many types of cancer cells feed on the sugars in carbohydrates, high fructose fruits, and starchy veggies; however, most cancer cells cannot feed on good fats. The idea with a preventative diet, then, is to keep your cat’s carb content low, while keeping protein and good fats high. This generally means staying away from traditional carb-based grain kibbles and moving towards something more whole-foods based.
A general, suggested breakdown is:
- Cats: 80% protein, 20% veggies
- Sources of Omega-3, 6, and 9
Ways to Achieve a Feline Cancer Prevention Diet
Ideally, the most healthy, cancer-preventative way to feed your cat is home-prepared meals using raw, whole, organic foods. However, since many people can’t do that, you may want to try diets that are frozen raw, dehydrated or freeze dried. There are even some high-quality canned foods for cats that will do the trick.
Warning: If your cat is on chemotherapy or is immunosuppressed, you should not feed a raw diet.
Sources Of Good Fats And Other Add-Ins:
- Flax oil (1 teaspoon per 20 pounds daily)
- Olive oil (1 teaspoon per 20 pounds daily)
- Coconut oil (1 teaspoon per 10 pounds daily–might have to start with smaller dose and work up)
- Fish oil (1000 mg per 10-20 pounds daily)
- Turmeric (less than 1 tablespoon daily)
- Milk Thistle (200 mg per 10 pounds, daily)
- Spirulina
- Chlorella
A Note About Water and Cancer Prevention
Depending on where you live, the water might carry more toxins than you realize. Although it might taste fine, and everyone in the house seems fine, over time, the buildup of chemicals can lead to serious health problems, including cancer.
To combat this, offer your pet filtered water that you change frequently. Also, be sure to use glass or ceramic bowls so toxins from plastic don’t leach into the water. Yes, that means using store-bought water from plastic bottles is a no-no as well.
Other Tidbits About Cancer Prevention Diets in Cats
- Avoid preservatives
- Obesity is bad news – it can create inflammation, which can lead to the formation of tumors – so keeping your cat’s weight in check is a key to keeping cancer away
- There are a lot of different types of supplements in the form of pills, powders, and drops. There are way too many to mention here, but I personally use Nupro with my cats, and it’s a great source of general health support. I encourage you to do your own research to find something that works well for your cat.
We can’t possibly prepare for and prevent everything, but I do know prevention is so much easier than treatment. After doing this research, I have a different outlook. I can see how simple it is to change a few things that could make a big impact, and potentially even save my pets’ lives!
What about you? Do you have any secret cancer-fighting recipes or tips? Share them in the comment section below.
References
- Hofve, DVM, Jean “Holistic Cancer Prevention & Care in Your Pet”. Only Natural Pet Store
- Hofve, DVM, Jean “Milk Thistle–A Wonder Herb?”
- Poutinen, CJ “Is Cancer Prevention in Dogs Possible?” The Whole Dog Journal
- Smith, Melissa “Coconut Oil For Pets: Numerous Benefits Dogs, Cats”
- “The Best Diet for Dogs With Cancer” K9Medicinals
- “Cancer and Diet”