Kitten Food, Flaxseed Meal and Omega-3 Fatty Acids

With all of the different kitten food options and ingredients available, it’s important to learn what your kitten needs and what is less essential. You may have heard of flaxseed meal, an ingredient included in some wet cat foods. Is flaxseed meal, a source of omega-3 fatty acids, a necessity for your kitten?

Learn more about this ingredient and how it can affect your kitten’s health for the better.

Cat on stone path

What Is Flaxseed Meal?

Flaxseed meal is the ground seed of the flax plant. The oil in flax is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids like alpha-linoleic acid, which is the parent compound of other omega-3 fatty acids.

In kitten and cat food, flaxseed meal is used to provide omega-3 fatty acids to give a balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. IAMS research shows that balancing the amount of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids helps maintain a healthy skin and coat.

 

Why Are Omega-3 Fatty Acids Important?

Including omega-3 fatty acids like alpha-linoleic acid in a kitten’s diet can help:

  • Maintain skin and coat health
  • Support healthy brain cells and learning ability
  • Maintain healthy cell growth
 

Why Choose a Kitten Food with Flaxseed Meal?

Alpha-linolenic acid may be an essential omega-3 fatty acid; however, it may take several generations for the signs of deficiency to become evident in a cat. When choosing a wet food, consider one that contains flaxseed meal to help maintain your kitten’s health during this time of rapid growth and development. IAMS™ Perfect Portions™ Healthy Kitten Pate with Chicken is formulated with omega-3 sources, including flaxseed meal, to provide guaranteed levels of omega-3 fatty acids.