| Creatine levels in cats are always a very fine line, but | | | | as well as cellular activity, which in turn promotes |
| high creatine levels in your pet can be absolutely | | | | proper metabolism. |
| catastrophic. If your cat does test positive for high | | | | How Creatine Works: |
| levels of creatine, it is a warning sign of several | | | | Creatine levels in cats must be at the optimal levels |
| problems and all of them are bad. High levels indicate | | | | for it to work properly as it increases the energy |
| that your cat may have kidney failure, dehydration, | | | | available for your cats muscles to work properly. The |
| some type of a toxicity, or poor overall circulation. It | | | | cells in your cats body store their energy in the form |
| may also be the first warning that you have that | | | | of a molecule known as ATP, and the amount of |
| your cat may have a urinary obstruction or is about | | | | work their muscles can adequately perform depends |
| to go into shock. | | | | on the proper storage. |
| But there is one major problem; you may not have | | | | Creatine enhances the physical performance of your |
| the luxury of having your cat tested for creatine | | | | cats muscles by increasing the number of times that |
| levels, and as a result, you may never know it is high | | | | this molecule is recycled during routine or extreme |
| until it is too late. | | | | exercise; however, it does not increase the amount |
| Creatine levels in cats ideal range is 0.8 mg/dl, and | | | | that is stored in your cats muscle structure. |
| the safety range is considered by most veterinarians | | | | Creatine enters your cats muscles from their blood |
| to be between 0.4 and 1.2 mg/dl. Mg/dl is the | | | | and their body harnesses the energy of sodium |
| traditional unit form of measuring blood glucose in | | | | entering into their cells to move it forward. Creatine |
| your cat. The major source of creatine for any living | | | | transporter activity is than enhanced by high levels of |
| entity, including your cat, is raw fish and raw meat. | | | | glyemic foods, or foods that produce sugar in your |
| There are several arguments on both sides about | | | | cats blood. However, not all muscle types in your cat |
| feeding your cat either of these sources, but most | | | | respond equally to create creatine. The muscles in |
| owners do not fully understand the real dangers that | | | | your cat can be either fast or slow reacting, and the |
| high creatine levels in cats can produce. | | | | fast muscles mediate your cats ability to move |
| What is Creatine? | | | | abruptly. |
| Creatine is the end product of what is referred to as | | | | Slow muscles do not rely as heavily as fast muscles, |
| phosphocreatine metabolism, which is a critical | | | | but they still play a major factor in endurance and |
| component of your cats muscle contraction capability. | | | | normal functions. |
| In 1927, labile phosphorus was actually discovered in | | | | Dangers: |
| the resting muscles of cats and it was named | | | | Creatine levels in cats can not exceed the danger |
| phosphocreatine. However, creatine is and has always | | | | levels, and although there are several arguments |
| been a very natural component of skeletal muscle. | | | | about the benefits of raw fish and meat for cats, |
| It is very well estimated that wild animals can and do | | | | there is one certainty; high levels are catastrophic. |
| survive very safely with much higher natural creatine | | | | Raw fish or meat contains the equivalent of five |
| levels, especially wild cat such as lions or tigers. | | | | grams of pure creatine. Cooking drastically reduces |
| But your cat is not a wild animal, and high levels can | | | | these levels and helps to degrade creatine. |
| very easily take there life or put them in catastrophic | | | | The side of the argument that will suggest that wild |
| health situations. Creatine is obtained by your cat | | | | cats have eaten raw meat and fish since the |
| directly from skeletal food muscle, such as meat or | | | | beginning of time without doing harm is absolutely |
| fish. During the digestive process in your cat, the | | | | true, but again your cat is not a wild animal. If this |
| creatine that is contained in these food sources | | | | were true, ask yourself why high levels cause kidney |
| travels directly to your pets blood stream, where it is | | | | failure, dehydration, poor circulation, and even shock |
| than transported into their skeletal muscle and | | | | in some cases. And why do low levels cause liver |
| absorbed. | | | | disease or induce starvation in your cat? |
| If your cat does not get enough creatine from their | | | | Summary: |
| diet because they are being fed a veterinarian diet, it | | | | Creatine levels in cats are a very fine line and the |
| can be just as devastating as levels that are too high. | | | | only way you will absolutely know the actual level is |
| In fact, too low of levels can technically starve your | | | | to have your cat tested for it. It is a very simple |
| cat to death. If your cat system does not have | | | | blood test, but it is one that just may save your cats |
| enough creatine, it will attempt to pull it form amino | | | | life. Feeding your cat raw fish and meat may be the |
| acids that they can naturally synthesize. Once this | | | | trend in some places, but it is very easy to cook it |
| occurs, it will nutritionally start the starvation process. | | | | and eliminate most all of the dangers. Simply cook it |
| For this reason, the creatine levels in cats must be a | | | | for a few minutes and your cat will receive all to the |
| very fine balance. It promotes muscle anabolism in | | | | benefits without the risks. |
| two different ways; it increases the energy reserves | | | | Is it really it worth to jeopardize your cats health? |