Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are constituents of triglycerides and are required not only for energy but also for biological processes. These acids must be supplied by the diet since they cannot be synthesized by cats.

Cats are unable to convert omega-EFAs from plant sources such as flaxseed oil which has become a popular addition in commercial cat foods. Flaxseed is a great source of EFAs for humans, but cats cannot utilize it.

Flaxseed oil, as well as soybean, canola, and other vegetable biased oils, contain the fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid which the cat cannot convert to the biologically active forms of eicosatetraenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) because they lack the sufficient enzyme activity to do so.

If you would like to know more about these essential fats and how to make sure the diet has them for your cat, I would be happy to help.