Cat food

For the song by King Crimson, see Cat Food (song).

Cat with a bowl of dry cat food

Hungry Calico Cat

Cat food is food intended for consumption by cats. As with all species, cats have requirements for specific dietary nutrients, rather than ingredients . Certain nutrients, including many vitamins and amino acids, are degraded by the temperatures, pressures and chemical treatments used during manufacture, and hence must be added after manufacture to avoid nutritional deficiency . The amino acid taurine, for example, which is found within meat, is degraded during processing, so synthetic taurine is normally added afterwards. Long-term taurine deficiency resulting, for example, from feeding taurine-deficient dog food, may result in retinal degeneration, loss of vision, and cardiac damage.

History

The idea of preparing specialized food for cats came later than for dogs (see dog biscuits and dog food). This was very probably due to the idea that cats could readily fend for themselves. In 1837, a French writer critiqued this idea:

It is... thought wrongly that the cat, ill-fed, hunts better and takes more mice; this too is a grave error. The cat who is not given food is feeble and malingering; as soon as he has bitten into a mouse, he lies down to rest and sleep; while well fed, he is wide awake and satisfies his natural taste in chasing all that belongs to the rat family.

In 1844, another French writer expanded on this idea:

Normally in the country no care is taken of a cat's food, and he is left to live, it is said, from his hunting, but when he is hungry, he hunts the pantry's provisions far more than the mouse; because he does not pursue them and never watches them by need, but by instinct and attraction. And so, to neglect feeding a cat, is to render him at the same time useless and harmful, while with a few scraps regularly and properly given, the cat will never do any damage, and will render much service.

He goes on to say that it is all the more unreasonable to expect a cat to live from hunting in that cats take mice more for amusement than to eat: "A good cat takes many and eats few".

By 1876, Gordon Stables emphasized the need to give cats particular food:

If then, only for the sake of making pussy more valuable as a vermin-killer, she ought to have regular and sufficient food. A cat ought to be fed at least twice a day. Let her have a dish to herself, put down to her, and removed when the meal is finished. Experience is the best teacher as regards the quantity of a cat's food, and in quality let it be varied. Oatmeal porridge and milk, or white bread steeped in warm milk, to which a little sugar has been added, are both excellent breakfasts for puss; and for dinner she must have an allowance of flesh. Boiled lights are better for her than horse-meat, and occasionally let her have fish. Teach your cat to wait patiently till she is served—a spoiled cat is nearly as disagreeable as a spoiled child. If you want to have your cat nice and clean, treat her now and then to a square inch of fresh butter. It not only acts as a gentle laxative, but, the grease, combining in her mouth, with the alkalinity of her saliva, forms a kind of natural cat-soap, and you will see she will immediately commence washing herself, and become beautifully clean. (N.B.—If you wish to have a cat nicely done up for showing, touch her all over with a sponge dipped in fresh cream, when she licks herself the effect is wonderful.) Remember that too much flesh-meat, especially liver,—which ought only to be given occasionally,—is very apt to induce a troublesome diarrhoea (looseness). Do not give your pet too many tit-bits at table; but whatever else you give her, never neglect to let her have her two regular meals.

In the same year, an ad for Spratt (better known for making dog food) said that their cat food entirely superseded "the unwholesome practice of feeding on boiled horse flesh; keeps the cat in perfect health." And in another book on cats Stables recommended the company's food:

Attend to the feeding, and, at a more than one-day show, cats ought to have water as well as milk. I think boiled lights, cut into small pieces, with a very small portion of bullock's liver and bread soaked, is the best food; but I have tried Spratt's Patent Cat Food with a great number of cats, both of my own and those of friends, and have nearly always found it agree; and at a cat show it would, I believe, be both handy and cleanly.

Spratt, which began by making dog biscuits, appears to also have been the first commercial producer of cat food.

Commercial cat food

Cat food for sale at an Istanbul animal market

Most store-bought cat food comes in either dry form, also known in the US as kibble, or wet canned form. Some manufacturers sell frozen raw diets and premix products to cater to owners who feed raw.

Dry food

Dry (Extruded) cat food example

Dry food (8-10% moisture) is generally made by extrusion cooking under high heat and pressure. Fat may then be sprayed on the food to increase palatability, and other minor ingredients, such as heat-sensitive vitamins, which would be destroyed in the extrusion process, may be added.

Major brand-name dry cat food formulations consist of grain and animal material. The food labels 'premium', 'natural' or 'holistic' currently have no legal meaning. Products labeled "grain-free" may use potato or tapioca in lieu of grain. Starch allows the kibble to hold its shape.

Wet food

Wet (Canned) cat food example (Fish flakes in jelly)

Canned or wet food (75-78% moisture) generally comes in common can sizes of 3 oz (85 g), 5.5 oz (156 g), and 13 oz (369 g). It is also sold in foil pouch form by some manufacturers.

Dry vs Wet Food

Studies have not shown any difference between a dry or wet food diet for dental health. Cats generally do not 'chew' their food and usually only crunch once or twice before it is swallowed. Cats also lack the enzymes that humans possess inside their mouths to help breakdown the food they eat.

Vegetarian or vegan food

There are vegetarian and vegan cat foods available. Vegetarian cat food usually is fortified with nutrients such as taurine and arachidonic acid. Some vegetarian cat food brands are labeled by their manufacturers as meeting AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profile while other manufacturers recommend their products be supplemented and not used as a complete diet.

Labeling

Further information: Pet food § Labeling and regulation

In the United States, cat foods labeled as "complete and balanced" must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. Cat Food Nutrient Profiles were established in 1992 and updated in 1995 by the AAFCO's Feline Nutrition Expert Subcommittee. The updated profiles replaced the previous recommendations set by the National Research Council(NRC). Certain manufacturers label their products with terms such as premium, ultra premium, natural and holistic. Such terms currently have no legal definitions.

Energy requirement

The energy requirement for adult cats range from 60-70 kcal metabolizable energy/kg body weight per day for inactive cats to 80-90 kcal/kg BW for active cats. Kittens at five weeks of age require 250 kcal/kg BW. The requirement drops with age, to 100 kcal/kg BW at 30 weeks and to the adult requirement at about 50 weeks. Gestating cats require about 90-100 kcal/kg BW and lactating cats 90-270 kcal/kg BW depending on litter size.

Nutrients and functions

Vitamin deficiencies can lead to wide ranging clinical abnormalities that reflect the diversity of their metabolic roles. Twelve minerals are known to be essential nutrients for cats. Calcium and phosphorus are crucial to strong bones and teeth. Cats need other minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium, for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cell signaling. Many minerals only present in minute amounts in the body, including selenium, copper, and molybdenum, act as helpers in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions.

The table below lists the AAFCO nutritional profiles for cat foods along with the roles of vitamins and minerals in cat nutrition according to the National Research Council.

Diet and disease

Vegan and vegetarian diets

The feeding of vegan or vegetarian diets to cats remains controversial, even among vegan, vegetarian, animal, and scientific advocacy groups. According to the National Research Council, "Cats require specific nutrients, not specific feedstuffs.". The International Vegetarian Union, the Vegan Society and PETA are some of the organizations that support a vegan or vegetarian diet for cats. The Animal Protection Institute does not recommend a vegetarian diet for cats, and neither does the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (ASPCA) to Animals.

Not all animal advocacy groups take a firm position either way. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (now Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association) accepts that it is possible for a plant based diet to be nutritionally adequate but stated that they "cannot at this time be reliably assured". This position was based on a study demonstrating that two commercially available vegetarian cat diets contained nutritional deficiencies . However, broad conclusions cannot be drawn from this study, because (i) it examined only two of many available diets, (ii) for one of these diets, the formulation error responsible was promptly identified and corrected , and (iii) this 2006 study is increasingly dated. Nevertheless, it remains likely that formulation errors will result in nutritional deficiencies in a wide range of commercially available diets from time to time, whether meat-based, vegetarian or vegan. Hence, regular (at least, annual) veterinary checkups of all companion animals is recommended, and brands may be occasionally varied .

Vegan activist Joanne Stepaniak wrote "... If we [believe] that it is wrong for natural vegetarians to be force-fed meat, the inverse should be equally morally objectionable". Dr Andrew Knight, a veterinary expert on vegan companion animal diets, stated: “Well-meaning but mistaken animal guardians often resist vegan diets, believing that commercial meat-based diets allow greater expression of natural feeding behaviour. This claim warrants closer scrutiny. When wild cats or dogs kill prey, they gorge as much as possible to prevent consumption by competitors. This is followed by uncertain periods of hunger. Yet, commercial meat-based diets comprise assorted body parts from animals [commonly, sheep, cows, fish and poultry] that cats and dogs never naturally eat, heavily laced with unnatural additives of questionable safety. These are dispensed from tins or packets at predictable times daily, with kibble sometimes available around the clock. The result bears very little resemblance to natural feeding behaviour. Guardians frequently microchip, vaccinate, de-worm, de-flea and de-sex their furry companions, and confine them indoors at night, because they correctly believe such steps are necessary to safeguard health. Why, then, do so many resist feeding healthy vegan diets to cats and dogs on the basis that it is ‘unnatural’? The real reasons for this curious double-standard probably arise from the deep-seated needs of these otherwise caring animal guardians to justify the suffering and death involved in past and present meat-based dietary choices, through maintenance of a belief that meat is natural or necessary.”

In 2006 the first study of the health of a population of long-term vegetarian cats (most, in fact, were vegan), was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association . Most were clinically healthy, barring minor blood value changes in three cats, who were fed partly on table scraps.

Homemade food

Further information: Raw feeding

Many pet owners feed cats homemade diets. These diets generally consist of some form of cooked or raw meat, bone, vegetables, and supplements, such as taurine and multivitamins.

bisphenol A

Recently it has been reported that food packaged in cans coated with bisphenol A has been correlated with the development of hyperthyroidism in cats.

Food allergy

Food allergy is a non-seasonal disease with skin and/or gastrointestinal disorders. The main complaint is excessive scratching (Pruritus) which is usually resistant to treatment by steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The exact prevalence of food allergy in cats remains unknown. In 20 to 30% of the cases, cats have concurrent allergic diseases (atopy / flea-allergic dermatitis). A reliable diagnosis can only be made with dietary elimination-challenge trials. Allergy testing is necessary for the identification of the causative food component(s). Therapy consists of avoiding the offending food component(s).

Malnutrition

Malnutrition can be a problem for cats fed non-conventional diets. Cats fed exclusively on raw, freshwater fish can develop a thiamine deficiency. Those fed exclusively on liver may develop vitamin A toxicity. Also, exclusively meat-based diets may contain excessive protein and phosphorus whilst being deficient in calcium, vitamin E, and microminerals such as copper, zinc, and potassium. Energy density must also be maintained relative to the other nutrients. When vegetable oil is used to maintain the energy balance cats may not find the food as palatable.

Recalls

Main article: 2007 pet food recalls

The broad pet food recalls starting in March 2007 came in response to reports of renal failure in pets consuming mostly wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company beginning in February 2007. Overall, several major companies recalled more than 100 brands of pet foods with most of the recalled product coming from Menu Foods. The most likely cause according to the FDA is the presence of melamine in the wheat gluten of the affected foods. Melamine is known to falsely inflate the protein content rating of substances in laboratory tests. The economic impact on the pet food market has been extensive, with Menu Foods losing roughly $30 Million alone from the recall.

Nutrient chart

Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Cat Food Nutrient Profiles ^a 
with Role of Vitamins & Minerals 

Nutrient	Units (Dry Matter Basis)	Growth and reproduction minimum	Adult maintenance minimum	Maximum	Functions	Signs of deficiency/Excess
Protein	%	30.0	26.0
Arginine	%	1.25	1.04
Histidine	%	0.31	0.31
Isoleucine	%	0.52	0.52
Leucine	%	1.25	1.25
Lysine	%	1.20	0.83
Methionine + cystine	%	1.10	1.10
Methionine	%	0.62	0.62	1.50
Phenylalanine + tyrosine	%	0.88	0.88
Phenylalanine	%	0.42	0.42
Threonine	%	0.73	0.73
Tryptophan	%	0.25	0.16
Valine	%	0.62	0.62
Fatb	%	9.0	9.0
Linoleic acid	%	0.5	0.5
Arachidonic acid	%	0.02	0.02
Minerals
Calcium	%	1.0	0.6		Formation of bones and teeth Blood coagulation Nerve impulse transmission Muscle contraction Cell signaling	Deficiency Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism loss of bone mineral content, which can lead to collapse and curvature of lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones bone pain, which can progress to pathological fractures Excess Depressed food intake Decreased growth Increased bone mineral density Increased need for magnesium
Phosphorus	%	0.8	0.5		Skeletal structure DNA and RNA structure Energy metabolism Locomotion Acid-base balance	Deficiency Hemolytic anemia Locomotor disturbances Metabolic acidosis
Potassium	%	0.6	0.6		Acid-base balance Nerve-impulse transmission Enzymatic reactions Transport functions	Deficiency Anorexia Retarded growth Neurological disorders, including ataxia and severe muscle weakness
Sodium	%	0.2	0.2		Acid-base balance Regulation of osmotic pressure Nerve impulse generation and transmission	Deficiency Anorexia Impaired growth Excessive thirst and drinking Excessive urination
Chlorine / Chloride	%	0.3	0.3		Acid-base balance Osmolarity of extracellular fluids	Deficiency Increased sodium concentration in renal fluid Excess potassium excretion
Magnesium c	%	0.08	0.04		Enzyme functions Muscle and nerve-cell membrane stability Hormone secretion and function Mineral structure of bones and teeth	Deficiency Poor growth Overextension of the carpal joints Muscle twitching Convulsions Excess Urinary tract stone formation in the presence of high pH
Iron d	mg/kg	80.0	80.0		Hemoglobin and myoglobin synthesis Energy metabolism	Deficiency Poor growth Pale mucous membranes Lethargy Weakness Diarrhea Excess Vomiting and diarrhea
Copper (extruded food) e	mg/kg	15.0	5.0		Connective tissue formation Iron metabolism Blood cell formation Melanin pigment formation Myelin formation Defense against oxidative damage	Deficiency Reduced weight gain Longer time to conceive
Copper (canned food) e	mg/kg	5.0	5.0
Manganese	mg/kg	7.5	7.5		Enzyme functions Bone development Neurological function	No studies of deficiency in cats
Zinc	mg/kg	75.0	75.0	2000.0	Enzyme reactions Cell replication Protein and carbohydrate metabolism Skin function Wound healing	Deficiency Skin lesions Growth retardation Testicular damage
Iodine	mg/kg	0.35	0.35		Thyroid hormone synthesis Cell differentiation Growth and development of puppies Regulation of metabolic rate	Deficiency Enlargement of thyroid glands Excess Excessive tearing, salivation, and nasal discharge Dandruff
Selenium	mg/kg	0.1	0.1		Defense against oxidative damage Immune response	No studies of deficiency in cats
Vitamins
Vitamin A	IU/kg	9000.0	5000.0	750000.0	Vision Growth Immune function Fetal development Cellular differentiation Transmembrane protein transfer	Deficiency Conjunctivitis Cataracts, retinal degeneration, and other eye problems Weight loss Muscle weakness Reproductive and developmental disorders Excess Skeletal lesions in kittens, particularly outgrowths of the cervical vertebrae Osteoporosis
Vitamin D	IU/kg	750.0	500.0	10000.0	Maintenance of mineral status Skeletal structure Muscle contraction Blood clotting Nerve conduction Cell signaling Phosphorus balance	Deficiency Rickets Abnormalities in skeletal development Progressive paralysis Ataxia Lack of grooming Reduction in body weight and food intake Excess Anorexia Vomiting Lethargy Calcification of soft tissues
Vitamin E f	IU/kg	30.0	30.0		Defense against oxidative damage via free radical scavenging	Deficiency Anorexia Depression Pain sensitivity in abdomen Fat tissue pathology
Vitamin K g	mg/kg	0.1	0.1		Activation of clotting factors, bone proteins, and other proteins	Deficiency Prolonged blood clotting times Hemorrhaging
Vitamin B1 / Thiamine h	mg/kg	5.0	5.0		Energy and carbohydrate metabolism Activation of ion channels in neural tissue	Deficiency Neurological impairments including altered reflexes and convulsive seizures Heart-rate disorders Pathological changes in the central nervous system Severe learning deficits
Riboflavin	mg/kg	4.0	4.0		Enzyme functions	Deficiency Cataracts Fatty livers Testicular atrophy
Pantothenic acid	mg/kg	5.0	5.0		Energy metabolism	Deficiency Stunted growth Fatty changes in liver Small bowel lesions
Niacin	mg/kg	60.0	60.0		Enzyme functions	Deficiency Anorexia Weight loss Elevated body temperature Fiery red tongue, with ulceration and congestion
Vitamin B6 / Pyridoxine	mg/kg	4.0	4.0		Glucose generation Red blood cell function Niacin synthesis Nervous system function Immune response Hormone regulation Gene activation	Deficiency Stunted growth Convulsive seizures Kidney lesions
Folic Acid	mg/kg	0.8	0.8		Amino acid and nucleotide metabolism Mitochondrial protein synthesis	Deficiency Decreased growth rate increased iron levels in blood
Biotin i	mg/kg	0.07	0.07
Vitamin B12	mg/kg	0.02	0.02		Enzyme functions	Deficiency Weight loss Vomiting Diarrhea Intestinal disorders
Cholinej	mg/kg	2400.0	2400.0
Taurine (extruded food)	%	0.10	0.10
Taurine (canned food)	%	0.20	0.20
Nutrient	Units (Dry Matter Basis)	Growth and Reproduction Minimum	Adult Maintenance Minimum	Maximum	Functions	Signs of Deficiency/Excess
NOTES Presumes an energy density of 4.0 kcal/g ME, based on the modified Atwater values of 3.5, 8.5, and 3.5 kcal/g for protein, fat, and carbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract, NFE), respectively. Rations greater than 4.5 kcal/g should be corrected for energy density; rations less than 4.0 kcal/g should not be corrected for energy. Although a true requirement for fat per se has not been established, the minimum level was based on recognition of fat as a source of essential fatty acids, as a carrier of fat-soluble vitamins, to enhance palatability, and to supply an adequate caloric density. If the mean urine pH of cats fed ad libitum is not below 6.4, the risk of struvite urolithiasis increases as the magnesium content of the diet increases. Because of very poor bioavailability, iron from carbonate or oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level. Because of very poor bioavailability, copper from oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level. Add 10 IU vitamin E above minimum level per gram of fish oil per kilogram of diet. Vitamin K does not need to be added unless diet contains greater than 25 percent fish on a dry matter basis. Because processing may destroy up to 90 percent of the thiamine in the diet, allowance in formulation should be made to ensure the minimum nutrient level is met after processing. Biotin does not need to be added unless diet contains antimicrobial or antivitamin compounds. Methionine may substitute choline as methyl donor at a rate of 3.75 parts for 1 part choline by weight when methionine exceeds 0.62 percent.

See also

• Cat food brands

Further Information

• From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Center For Veterinary Medicine
  • Pet Foods
  • Information For Consumers - FDA's Regulation Of Pet Food
  • Information For Consumers - Information On Marketing A Pet Food Product
  • Information For Consumers - Interpreting Pet Food Labels
  • Information For Consumers - Interpreting Pet Food Labels - Special Use Foods
  • Vegetarian Diets For Pets?
  • Report on the risk from pentobarbital in dog food
• The Vegetarian Society UK on concerns relating to a vegetarian diet for cats
• The Cat That Ate Tofu Alternet article on vegan cat food
• Vegan Pet Food: A Discussion Animal Voices audio interview with Evolution pet food CEO
• From Max's House Feline Medical And Behavior Database
  • Feline Nutrition
  • Cat Food Nutrient Profiles
  • Dry food v/s canned (wet) food
• Buffington CA (2008). "Dry foods and risk of disease in cats". Can. Vet. J. 49 (6): 561–3. PMC 2387258. PMID 18624064. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help) – disputes the claim that dry food is harmful
• Get The Facts - What's Really In Pet Food from Animal Protection Institute
• From AAFCO
  • Regulating Pet Foods (pdf)
  • Questions and Answers Regarding Pet Food Regulations (pdf)