Think filling your cat's bowl is as simple as grabbing any bag off the shelf? Think again. In this episode, Steven Whitlow draws on two decades of animal care experience to explain why cats have nutritional needs that are fundamentally different from dogs and humans. If you've ever wondered what "obligate carnivore" really means for your cat's diet—or why the wrong food can lead to serious health problems—this breakdown of essential nutrients will change how you think about feeding your feline.

• Cats lost the ability to produce certain critical nutrients over millions of years of evolution because they always obtained them from prey—meaning their survival depends entirely on getting these compounds from food.

• Unlike dogs and humans who run on carbohydrates, cats use protein as their primary energy source, requirin ...