How would you best describe a cat's classification in dietary needs?

A cat is best classified as an obligatory carnivore, reflecting its dietary needs and physiological adaptations. This classification means that cats require specific nutrients that are readily available in animal tissues and are not naturally present in plant-based foods. Key nutrients such as taurine, arachidonic acid, and certain forms of vitamin A are found in meat and are essential for a cat's health.

While options like omnivore and facultative carnivore imply a broader dietary flexibility, this does not accurately capture the strict nutritional requirements of cats. Though some flexibility exists in their diet, as they may consume small amounts of plant material, their biological makeup is optimized for processing animal proteins, which is fundamental to their health and well-being. Thus, calling cats obligatory carnivores underscores the necessity of a meat-based diet for meeting their specific nutritional needs.