CAT FOOD 101

Cats’ basic nutritional needs

  • Protein
  • Taurine
  • Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and fatty acids
  • Water

Cats are obligate carnivores. They do not need carbohydrates to function. Corn, wheat and rice are often added to cat foods as “fillers” to hold the other ingredients together.

What to look for on the food labels?

  • Labelled with “Complete and Balanced”: certifies that its nutrient level meets the standard of AAFCO’s requirements.
  • Named protein source: with an actual meat name like “chicken”, “lamb” or “beef”, not a vague term “meat”.
  • The named protein source is the first ingredient listed on the label: meaning it contains the most of.
  • For more information about food lebal of pet food under AAFCO regulation, you may refer to https://talkspetfood.aafco.org/readinglabels#adequacy 

What to avoid?

  • Food description such as “animal by-products”, “meat and bone meal” and “animal digest”.
  • Contains chemical preservatives such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate.
  • More than 50% of carbohydrate fillers; it is hard for cats to digest.

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