B vitamins play a crucial role in the conversion of food, energy production, and interconversion within a cat's body. They are also essential for the efficient catalysis of biochemical reactions by enzymes in the cat's body. A deficiency in B vitamins can cause illness in cats; for example, oral diseases are common and can be exacerbated by a deficiency in B vitamins. The B vitamin family is also a large one, including various trace elements, each with its own distinct functions.
Thiamine (vitamin B1) plays a close role in the metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids in animals, catalyzing the activity of dehydrogenases and transketolases. The activity of these enzymes is closely related to the nervous and immune systems of animals, and skin diseases in animals are likely related to insufficient thiamine supply.
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a precursor to 5'-riboflavin phosphate (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), both of which are coenzymes for many enzymes in the body's metabolism and participate in hundreds of biological reactions. It is also essential for protein, carbohydrate, and fatty acid metabolism and energy utilization and composition, promoting growth and development and protecting the health of the eyes and skin. 
Cats with vitamin B deficiency
Vitamin B6 is a group of nitrogen-containing compounds, mainly pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine. It participates in more than 100 enzyme reactions and is related to the hormone regulation level, immune level, and nerve regulation ability of animals.
Niacin is a collective term for nicotinic acid and its derivatives with nicotinamide bioactivity. It is an essential component of coenzymes NAD and NADP and is involved in the regulation of blood glucose and blood lipids. It can resist stress, cold, and infection, prevent the toxicity of certain antibiotics, and eliminate postoperative abdominal distension.
Vitamin B12 is a collective term for various cobaltamides that are active in animals. It can combat fatty liver, promote the storage of vitamin A in the liver, promote cell development and maturation and body metabolism, treat anemia, and is also related to the development of the animal nervous system.
When B vitamins are deficient, adjusting the diet to provide feed rich in B vitamins or supplementing with artificially synthesized B vitamin preparations are solutions. In fact, beneficial gut bacteria can produce various B vitamins during their growth and reproduction, and these B vitamins are healthy and safe. However, some intestinal diseases and the use of most antibiotics can cause gut microbiota imbalance. Therefore, timely supplementation with beneficial gut bacteria is also a way to prevent B vitamin deficiency. Furthermore, it has been reported that the bioavailability of artificially synthesized or manufactured vitamins is much lower than that of natural vitamins; therefore, the health benefits of vitamins produced by beneficial gut bacteria cannot be replaced by other methods in the long term.
Symptoms of B vitamin deficiency:
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency manifests as ulcerative stomatitis, conjunctivitis, and pellagra in cats; pantothenic acid (vitamin B1) deficiency manifests as stunted or arrested growth, fatty liver, and gastrointestinal disorders including ulcers; niacin (vitamin B1) deficiency manifests as oral inflammation with ulcers, thick, bloody saliva, and foul-smelling breath; pyridoxine (vitamin B6) deficiency manifests as weight loss, anemia, and may lead to urinary tract stones; folic acid (vitamin B1) deficiency manifests as anemia or leukopenia in cats.
Prevention and control methods:
Providing cats with fresh meat and high-quality complete feed, and avoiding a monotonous diet for extended periods, can effectively prevent vitamin B deficiency. Timely oral or injectable vitamin B supplements for sick cats also have good effects. For vitamin B1 deficiency, administer B1 tablets orally, 10 mg three times daily; for vitamin B2 deficiency, administer riboflavin orally, 2 mg three times daily; for vitamin B5 deficiency, administer niacin orally, 0.25 g daily; for vitamin B6 deficiency, administer B6 tablets orally; and for vitamin B12 deficiency, administer B12 powder orally. All these methods can achieve good results.
