Originally posted on June 8, 2023 @ 3:10 pm
If you are a cat owner, you probably want to provide your feline friend with the best food possible. But how do you know what is in your cat’s food and how it affects their health and well-being?
Reading and understanding cat food labels can be confusing and overwhelming, especially with all those mysterious ingredients.
In this article, we will help you decipher the ingredient list and explain the benefits and drawbacks of each component.
We will cover the following topics: protein sources, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, additives, and preservatives.
Protein Sources
The first ingredient on a cat food label should be a protein source. This should be followed by secondary protein sources. The ingredients are listed in order by weight (meat is measured at precooked weight). There are different types of animal and plant proteins that can be found in cat food. Each type has its benefits and drawbacks, such as digestibility, amino acid profile, allergenicity, etc.
Animal proteins are more complete and digestible than plant proteins. They provide all the essential amino acids that cats need, especially arginine and taurine. Arginine is necessary for the production of urea, which helps eliminate ammonia from the body. Taurine is vital for the health of the heart, eyes, brain, and reproductive system. Animal proteins also contain arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that cats cannot synthesize.
Plant proteins are less complete and digestible than animal proteins. They do not provide all the essential amino acids that cats need, especially taurine. Plant proteins also lack arachidonic acid. However, plant proteins can be used as supplementary sources of protein or as fillers to reduce the cost of cat food.
Some common protein sources in cat food are:
- Chicken: This is a high-quality animal protein that is lean and rich in amino acids. It also contains some fat and minerals. Chicken is one of the most popular protein sources in cat food because it is widely available, affordable, and palatable.
- Beef: This is another high-quality animal protein that is lean and rich in amino acids. It also contains some fat and minerals. Beef is less common than chicken in cat food because it is more expensive and may cause allergies in some cats.
- Fish: This is a high-quality animal protein that is lean and rich in amino acids. It also contains some fat (especially omega-3 fatty acids), minerals (especially iodine), and vitamins (especially vitamin D). Fish is a good source of taurine for cats. However, fish may also contain mercury or other contaminants that can be harmful in large amounts or over time.
- Soy: This is a plant protein that is low in fat and high in fiber. It also contains some minerals (especially iron) and vitamins (especially vitamin K). Soy is one of the most complete plant proteins for cats because it contains all the essential amino acids except taurine. However, soy may also cause allergies or digestive issues in some cats.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are not essential for cats, but they can provide some energy and fiber. Carbohydrates are composed of sugars (simple carbohydrates) or starches (complex carbohydrates).
Sugars are absorbed quickly into the bloodstream and cause spikes in blood sugar levels. Starches are broken down more slowly into sugars by enzymes in the mouth and small intestine.
Cats have a limited ability to digest carbohydrates because they lack some of the enzymes needed to break them down efficiently. Excess carbohydrates can lead to obesity, diabetes, dental problems, or other health issues in cats.
Some common carbohydrate sources in cat food are:
- Corn: This is a grain that is high in starch and low in fiber. It also contains some protein (especially zein), fat, minerals (especially phosphorus), and vitamins (especially vitamin B3). Corn is often used as a filler or binder in cat food because it is cheap and abundant. However, corn may also cause allergies or digestive issues in some cats.
- Wheat: This is another grain that is high in starch and low in fiber. It also contains some protein (especially gluten), fat, minerals (especially manganese), and vitamins (especially vitamin B1). Wheat is often used as a filler or binder in cat food because it is cheap and abundant. However, wheat may also cause allergies or digestive issues in some cats.
- Rice: This is a grain that is high in starch and low in fiber. It also contains some protein, fat, minerals (especially selenium), and vitamins (especially vitamin B6). Rice is often used as a filler or binder in cat food because it is cheap and abundant. However, rice may also cause allergies or digestive issues in some cats.
- Potatoes: This is a vegetable that is high in starch and low in fiber. It also contains some protein, fat, minerals (especially potassium), and vitamins (especially vitamin C). Potatoes are often used as a filler or binder in cat food because they are cheap and abundant. However, potatoes may also cause allergies or digestive issues in some cats.
Fats
Fats are essential for cats because they provide energy, and essential fatty acids, support skin and coat health, and enhance palatability. Fats are composed of fatty acids that can be saturated or unsaturated.
Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and tend to raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and tend to lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Cats need both saturated and unsaturated fats in their diet, but they have a higher requirement for unsaturated fats, especially omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and support brain, eye, and joint health.
Omega-6 fatty acids have pro-inflammatory properties and support skin, coat, and reproductive health. Cats cannot synthesize these fatty acids and must obtain them from their food.
Some common fat sources in cat food are:
- Chicken fat: This is an animal fat that is high in saturated fat and low in unsaturated fat. It also contains some cholesterol, minerals (especially zinc), and vitamins (especially vitamin E). Chicken fat is often used as a flavor enhancer or preservative in cat food because it is cheap and abundant. However, chicken fat may also cause allergies or digestive issues in some cats.
- Fish oil: This is an animal fat that is high in unsaturated fat and low in saturated fat. It also contains some cholesterol, minerals (especially iodine), and vitamins (especially vitamin D). Fish oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids for cats. However, fish oil may also contain mercury or other contaminants that can be harmful in large amounts or over time.
- Vegetable oil: This is a plant fat that is high in unsaturated fat and low in saturated fat. It also contains some minerals (especially magnesium) and vitamins (especially vitamin E). Vegetable oil can be derived from various sources, such as soybean, corn, sunflower, etc. Vegetable oil is often used as a flavor enhancer or preservative in cat food because it is cheap and abundant. However, vegetable oil may also cause allergies or digestive issues in some cats.
Vitamins and Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are important for cats because they support various bodily functions and prevent deficiencies. Vitamins are organic compounds that can be water-soluble or fat-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins are dissolved in water and excreted by the kidneys.
They need to be replenished regularly by the diet. Fat-soluble vitamins are dissolved in fat and stored in the liver and fatty tissues. They can accumulate to toxic levels if consumed excessively.
Minerals are inorganic elements that can be macro-minerals or micro-minerals. Macro-minerals are required in larger amounts by the body.
They include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride, etc. Micro-minerals are required in smaller amounts by the body. They include iron, zinc, copper, manganese, iodine, selenium, etc.
Some common vitamins and minerals in cat food are:
- Vitamin A: This is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for vision, skin health, immune system function, reproduction, growth, etc. Vitamin A can be obtained from animal sources (such as liver) or plant sources (such as carrots). However, cats cannot convert plant sources of vitamin A into active forms and must rely on animal sources.
- Vitamin D: This is another fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for calcium absorption, bone health, muscle function, nerve function, etc. Vitamin D can be obtained from animal sources (such as fish) or synthesized by the skin when exposed to sunlight. However, cats cannot synthesize enough vitamin D by themselves and must rely on dietary sources.
- Vitamin E: This is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant and protects the cells from oxidative damage. Vitamin E also supports immune system function, skin health, wound healing, etc. Vitamin E can be obtained from animal sources (such as chicken fat) or plant sources (such as vegetable oil).
- Vitamin K: This is a fat-soluble vitamin that is involved in blood clotting and bone metabolism. Vitamin K can be obtained from animal sources (such as the liver) or plant sources (such as green leafy vegetables). However, cats cannot utilize plant sources of vitamin K and must rely on animal sources or synthetic forms.
- Vitamin B complex: This is a group of water-soluble vitamins that are involved in various metabolic processes, such as energy production, nerve function, red blood cell formation, etc. The vitamin B complex includes thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), pyridoxine (B6), biotin (B7), folic acid (B9), and cobalamin (B12). These vitamins can be obtained from animal sources (such as meat, eggs, and dairy) or plant sources (such as grains, legumes, and vegetables). However, some of these vitamins are more bioavailable from animal sources than plant sources.
- Calcium: This is a macro-mineral that is essential for bone and teeth formation, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, blood clotting, etc. Calcium can be obtained from animal sources (such as bone meal) or plant sources (such as seaweed). However, cats need a balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus in their diet to prevent bone disorders.
- Phosphorus: This is another macro-mineral that is essential for bone and teeth formation, energy metabolism, DNA synthesis, acid-base balance, etc. Phosphorus can be obtained from animal sources (such as meat) or plant sources (such as grains). However, cats need a balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus in their diet to prevent bone disorders.
- Magnesium: This is a macro-mineral that is involved in enzyme activity, muscle function, nerve function, blood pressure regulation, etc. Magnesium can be obtained from animal sources (such as fish) or plant sources (such as nuts). However, too much magnesium in the diet can cause urinary problems in cats.
- Iron: This is a micro-mineral that is essential for hemoglobin production, oxygen transport, immune system function, etc. Iron can be obtained from animal sources (such as liver) or plant sources (such as spinach). However, cats have a low tolerance for iron and can suffer from iron toxicity if they consume too much.
- Zinc: This is another micro-mineral that is involved in enzyme activity, wound healing, skin health, immune system function, etc. Zinc can be obtained from animal sources (such as meat) or plant sources (such as pumpkin seeds). However, too much zinc in the diet can interfere with copper absorption and cause anemia in cats.
- Copper: This is a micro-mineral that is involved in enzyme activity, pigment production, iron metabolism, connective tissue formation, etc. Copper can be obtained from animal sources (such as liver) or plant sources (such as lentils). However, too little copper in the diet can cause anemia and bone disorders in cats.
Additives and Preservatives
Additives and preservatives are substances that are added to cat food to enhance flavor, color, texture, shelf life, and other aspects.
They can be synthetic or natural. Synthetic additives and preservatives are chemically produced and may have adverse effects on health and safety.
Natural additives and preservatives are derived from natural sources and may have beneficial effects on health and safety.
Some common additives and preservatives in cat food are:
- Artificial flavors: These are synthetic substances that are added to cat food to make it more appealing to cats. They may mimic the taste of meat or other ingredients. Artificial flavors may contain chemicals that are harmful to cats or cause allergies or digestive issues.
- Artificial colors: These are synthetic substances that are added to cat food to make it more attractive to humans. They may enhance the appearance of meat or other ingredients. Artificial colors may contain chemicals that are carcinogenic or toxic to cats or cause allergies or behavioral problems.
- Antioxidants: These are substances that are added to cat food to prevent oxidation and rancidity of fats. They may extend the shelf life of cat food and protect the nutrients from degradation. Antioxidants can be synthetic (such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin) or natural (such as vitamin E, rosemary extract). Synthetic antioxidants may have negative effects on the liver or kidneys of cats or cause cancer. Natural antioxidants may have positive effects on the health and well-being of cats.
- Preservatives: These are substances that are added to cat food to prevent microbial growth and spoilage. They may inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungi, or molds that can cause food poisoning or infections. Preservatives can be synthetic (such as sodium nitrite, sodium benzoate, and potassium sorbate) or natural (such as salt, vinegar, and citric acid). Synthetic preservatives may have negative effects on the blood or nervous system of cats or cause cancer. Natural preservatives may have positive effects on the health and safety of cats.
Conclusion
Choosing the right food for your cat’s health and well-being is a challenging but rewarding task. You need to consider your cat’s individual needs and preferences, as well as the quality, safety, and price of different cat food products. You also need to learn how to read and understand cat food labels and ingredients.
The best cat food ingredients are the ones that fulfill your cat’s nutritional requirements and taste great too. The most important nutrients for cats are protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as vitamins and minerals. Additives and preservatives are used to enhance various aspects of cat food, but they may also have risks and benefits.
