Omega 6 for Cats: 6 Essential, Healthy Facts

Omega 6 for cats sounds like a single nutrient, but it is really a family of fats. Two of them, linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, are essential. That means your cat must get them from food.

This guide explains why cats need both, where they come from, what a shortage looks like and how omega 6 fits with omega 3. It also covers when extra oil makes sense and when it does not.

For the full fat picture, see our guide to omega fatty acids for cats.

What Is Omega 6 for Cats?

Omega 6 fats are a group of polyunsaturated fats. For cats, two matter most:

• Linoleic acid (LA): the main omega 6 fat in plant oils and many animal fats.
• Arachidonic acid (AA): a longer omega 6 fat found in animal fat.

Today's Veterinary Practice puts it simply: LA is essential for both dogs and cats, while AA is essential only for cats. So omega 6 for cats covers one more must-have fat than it does for dogs.

Why Omega 6 for Cats Is Different From Dogs

Most mammals can turn LA into AA. Cats, however, do this very poorly. Today's Veterinary Practice explains that cats require AA because they lack the enzyme delta-6 desaturase.

WikiVet agrees. It says cats have limited delta-6 desaturase activity in the liver, so they need a dietary source of AA. In fact, a 1983 study found negligible conversion of LA to AA in cats.

As a result, omega 6 for cats must include both fats in ready-made form. This is one more reason cats are true meat-eaters at the level of their enzymes.

What Omega 6 for Cats Does in the Body

Each omega 6 fat has its own jobs. A 1984 study set out the split clearly.

• LA supports structure: growth, fat transport, healthy skin and coat, and the skin's water barrier.
• AA supports signals: it helps make eicosanoids, which take part in reproduction and blood clotting.

So omega 6 for cats is not only about a shiny coat. It also supports breeding health and normal clotting.

Best Food Sources of Omega 6 for Cats

Here is where each fat comes from.

Today's Veterinary Practice notes that AA is found typically in animal fat, with little to no AA in plant oils and seeds. Meanwhile, LA comes from corn, soybean, canola and flaxseed oils. Also, IVIS reports that LA makes up more than half of sunflower, corn and soy oils.

In short, omega 6 for cats comes from a mix of animal fat and plant oil. A complete cat food is built to supply both. Our guide to omega 3 foods for cats covers the other family.

How Much Omega 6 for Cats Is Enough?

AAFCO sets minimums for cat food. According to Today's Veterinary Practice, the AAFCO minimums are:

• Linoleic acid: 1.4 g per 1,000 kcal, for both growth and adult maintenance.
• Arachidonic acid: 0.05 g per 1,000 kcal, for both growth and adult maintenance.

Interestingly, WikiVet notes that cats need less LA than dogs, because they do not use it to make AA.

So how do you check omega 6 for cats at home? Look for a "complete and balanced" statement on the label. The AAFCO label guide explains what that statement means. If it is there for your cat's life stage, the food is formulated to meet these minimums.

Signs of Low Omega 6 for Cats

True deficiency is rare in cats eating a complete food. However, research shows what happens when the diet falls short.

• Dry, scaly skin: IVIS lists dry skin, dull hair and scaling as skin signs.
• Water loss through the skin: the 1983 study found high water loss through the skin and poor coat condition without LA.
• Poor growth: WikiVet says kittens fed LA-poor diets fail to grow normally and develop coarse, dull coats.
• Fatty liver: the same 1983 study saw fatty liver in deficient cats.
• Breeding trouble: a 1984 study found queens on diets without AA could not bear live kittens.

On the other hand, WikiVet notes no clinical signs of AA shortage in adult cats that are not breeding. So omega 6 for cats matters most for kittens, queens and cats on homemade diets.

Dry Skin: Is Diet Really the Cause?

Many owners search for omega 6 for cats because of flakes or a dull coat. That makes sense, since LA supports the skin barrier. Still, dry skin has many causes.

• Low humidity in winter
• Parasites such as fleas or mites
• Allergies
• Weight or joint problems that make grooming hard
• Other illness

Therefore, see your vet before you change the diet. Our guide to dry skin on cats walks through the common causes.

Omega 6 and Omega 3 for Cats: The Balance Question

Omega 6 and omega 3 fats share the same enzymes. WikiVet says the two families compete for these enzymes. So adding a lot of one can affect how the body uses the other.

You may read that omega 6 promotes inflammation. However, WikiVet notes that research evidence for this is lacking in dogs and cats. Likewise, Today's Veterinary Practice says there is no consensus on the best way to dose EPA and DHA. A University of Guelph review discusses the ratio without setting one fixed number.

In short, no ideal ratio of omega 6 for cats to omega 3 has been set. Instead, ask your vet whether your cat's diet needs any change. Our guide to EPA and DHA for cats explains the omega 3 side.

Homemade Diets Need a Fat Plan

Home-cooked diets are where gaps most often appear. For example, a recipe with lean meat and no added fat may run low on both LA and AA. On the other hand, a recipe with only plant oil may supply LA but little AA.

• Use a vet nutritionist's recipe: it balances fats with every other nutrient.
• Do not swap fats freely: plant oil cannot replace animal fat for AA.
• Measure oils: a little goes a long way in calories.

So omega 6 for cats on a homemade diet needs a plan, not guesswork.

Should You Add Omega 6 for Cats as a Supplement?

Most cats do not need extra omega 6. A complete food already meets the AAFCO minimums. Also, many foods contain far more LA than the minimum, because plant oils and animal fats are common ingredients.

However, your vet may suggest fatty acid support in some cases. For example, Merck reports that about half of cats with allergic itching show some improvement on fatty acids. Those plans often focus on omega 3 rather than more omega 6.

Our guide to fish oil for cats covers the most common omega 3 supplement.

Risks of Too Much Fat

Extra fat is not risk-free. Merck says large doses of fatty acids may cause weight gain or diarrhea, and pancreatitis has been rarely reported. Also, Today's Veterinary Practice advises caution in overweight cats because fat and fatty acid supplements are high in calories.

• Weight gain: oils are calorie-dense.
• Soft stool or diarrhea: often a sign the amount is too high.
• Stomach upset: start slowly with any new supplement.

Therefore, keep omega 6 for cats coming mainly from a complete food. Then add anything extra only with your vet's guidance.

Reading the Label

Most labels do not list LA or AA by name. Still, a few checks help.

1. First, find the "complete and balanced" statement for your cat's life stage.
2. Next, look for named animal fats, such as chicken fat, in the ingredient list.
3. Then check for plant oils, such as sunflower or soybean oil.
4. Finally, if you need exact numbers, contact the maker for a full nutrient profile.

The WSAVA nutrition guidelines also suggest asking makers clear questions about their foods.

Kittens, Queens and Seniors

Life stage changes how much these fats matter.

• Kittens: they need LA for normal growth and a healthy coat. Feed a complete growth or all-life-stages food.
• Breeding queens: the 1984 research showed AA is vital for bearing live kittens. So queens need a diet with animal fat, chosen with your vet.
• Seniors: older cats may eat less or digest fat differently. Ask your vet whether the food still meets their needs.
• Cats on weight plans: they still need essential fats, even while calories drop.

In each case, omega 6 for cats should come from a complete diet that fits the life stage. Our guide to omega 3 for kittens covers young cats in more detail.

Keeping Fats Fresh

Fats can spoil once exposed to air, heat and light. Rancid fat smells off, and many cats refuse it. So a few habits help.

1. First, close food bags and supplement tubs tightly after each use.
2. Next, store them in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
3. Then buy sizes your cat will finish before the best-before date.
4. Finally, throw out any food or oil that smells sour or stale.

These steps protect the essential fats your cat needs, including omega 6 for cats and omega 3. They also keep meals tasty, which matters for picky eaters.

Common Myths About Feline Fats

• "Omega 6 is bad, omega 3 is good." Not true. Omega 6 for cats is essential, and cats cannot thrive without it.
• "Plant oil covers everything." No. Plant oils supply LA but little to no AA, which cats must get from animal fat.
• "More oil means a shinier coat." Not always. Extra fat adds calories and may upset the stomach.
• "Every cat needs a fat supplement." No. Most complete foods already meet the minimums for omega 6 for cats.
• "The ratio is a fixed number." No ideal ratio of omega 6 for cats to omega 3 has been set.

In short, balance and a complete diet matter far more than any single oil or supplement. So check the label first, then talk to your vet before you change anything.

Questions to Ask Your Vet About Omega 6 for Cats

• Does my cat's food meet the omega 6 needs for its life stage?
• Could my cat's dry skin come from something other than diet?
• Would omega 3 support make more sense than extra omega 6?
• Is my homemade recipe balanced for both LA and AA?
• How many calories can extra fats add to my cat's day?

Bring your food label to the visit. That way, your vet can check omega 6 for cats and every other nutrient together.

Omega 6 for Cats: The Bottom Line

Omega 6 for cats comes down to two essential fats. LA supports skin, coat and growth, while AA supports breeding and clotting. Unlike dogs, cats must get AA ready-made from animal fat.

Most complete cat foods supply both, so extra oil is rarely needed. If your cat has dry skin or a dull coat, see your vet first. Then decide together whether any change, often omega 3 support, fits the plan. For a primer on omega 3 itself, read the OVC Pet Nutrition overview.

Related guides: Omega fatty acids for cats · EPA and DHA for cats · Dry skin on cats

Key Terms Explained

• Essential fatty acid: a fat the body needs but cannot make in enough amounts, so it must come from food.
• Linoleic acid (LA): the main omega 6 fat in plant oils and many animal fats.
• Arachidonic acid (AA): an omega 6 fat found in animal fat that cats must get from food.
• Delta-6 desaturase: an enzyme that helps turn LA into AA; cats have very little of it.
• Eicosanoids: signal molecules made from fats that help control processes such as blood clotting.

This article is for general education and is not veterinary advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kittysum products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.