What kind of meat is used in the production of cat food?

The manufacturing processes vary depending on the type of cat food but can generally be divided into similar steps. In the industry, production typically involves using various meat and by-products, often from less premium sources. Instead of using exclusively whole meat pieces, manufacturers often incorporate meat by-products such as carcasses and Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM). However, this doesn’t necessarily mean inferior quality. Firstly, meat for many types of feed is pureed, making the original form of the meat less relevant. Additionally, cats have barbs on their tongues allowing them to effectively scrape meat from bones. They also consume prey with skin and bones in the wild. The issue arises when manufacturers solely rely on these cheaper forms of meat.

Higher-quality parts of an animal contain different or more nutrients, essential for a balanced diet. Unfortunately, relying solely on the manufacturer’s declaration, which often lacks detailed ingredient lists, is common. Only with ragout varieties can one be certain of the parts used, as they are often merely sliced and maintain their original form. The individual ingredients are also visible in the finished product. Dynasty’s ragout cat food is an excellent example where all components, from meat to chicken hearts or vegetable parts, are recognizable.

The temptation to use cheap ingredients is high.

In the production of pâté or mousse, cat food manufacturers often utilize production leftovers such as meat and fish scraps from human food production. These are inexpensive as they cannot be processed elsewhere and would otherwise require costly disposal. However, these unwanted by-products may encompass a variety of different animal sources, not necessarily meeting human consumption standards.

On the other hand, better ingredients include genuine fillet or muscle meat, as well as high-quality organs like heart and liver. These are considered high-quality organs due to their high concentration of essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. While using them allows for more of the animal to be processed, which is generally positive, it also tempts manufacturers to save on disposal costs by incorporating parts that don’t belong in the production.

The processing of wet cat food

The process of manufacturing cat food begins with mechanically grinding and mixing the meat and by-products. This mixture can also be blended with other ingredients such as grains, vegetables, and binders to achieve the desired consistency and composition.

In extreme cases, this mass is further liquefied and later thickened back into a form. This often results in meat cubes in sauce, which, however, have nothing in common with meat properties anymore.

To sell a complete food, manufacturers must comply with various EU regulations regarding nutrient composition for cat food. These regulations are issued by FEDIAF, the European Pet Food Industry Federation, as guidelines within the EU. Almost all major manufacturers belong to this federation and adhere to the guidelines. During production, the nutrient levels of the individual ingredients, including vitamins and minerals, are calculated through laboratory analysis and extrapolation. The calculated difference to the FEDIAF guideline is then added to the food in the form of a pre-mixed nutrient mix powder (also called premix) during production.

Ragout – newer and more elaborate production of cat food

While ragout is the best form of cat food after Barf, it’s also significantly more expensive than conventional forms, provided the manufacturer does it right. Here, whole pieces of meat and vegetables are processed, sometimes even whole chicken hearts. You can easily recognize the individual parts in a ragout feed. To make a ragout a complete feed, it requires the same additives specified by FEDIAF, such as taurine, vitamins, and minerals. Often, only a portion of the meat is minced and pressed into a sausage (similar to a butcher), incorporating the nutrients. It’s like a coarse sausage without casing. This is then sliced and added to the can.

The different shapes and sizes of meat, sausage, and vegetables make production extremely difficult. Manufacturers require multiple production lines and machines for this type of food. In filling, heavy parts sink to the bottom, while light parts float to the top. Proper mixing in the feed is therefore very demanding and can lead to fluctuations. Many well-known industrially filled ragout brands have this problem. Some are extremely watery, others contain too many vegetables or too many hearts, some cans hardly have any. These challenges often lead smaller providers to manual filling, further increasing production costs.

Production of minced cat food – Pâté and Mousse

With meat pâté-based feed, the process is comparatively simple. Unlike ragout, everything is mixed together, pureed, and filled. This results in a meat paste that is easy to handle and fill. However, to bind this meat paste during cooking into a homogeneous mass, auxiliary substances such as thickeners or binders must be used in production. These ensure that the liquid contained in the paste remains there and a chewable consistency is guaranteed. Lucky Kitty is a manufacturer that avoids these substances, which, though commendable, leads to a very firm lump of meat forming in the middle of the can, separating from the water.

The different designations of cat food such as minced or pâté correspond in production to the fineness of the feed. A pâté is very fine, almost smooth, and no longer resembles the consistency of meat. Minced feed is somewhat coarser and rather reminiscent of ground meat. Wet food in mousse form has a light, airy consistency and in some ways resembles human foods like mousse or pudding. It has a particularly soft texture but is also processed accordingly heavily.

A special form of production is the aforementioned chunks in sauce, which are not real meat chunks but pressed meat paste in cube form, resembling a meat cube. As you can imagine, these cubes are also processed with additives to maintain their shape. By the way, these substances are often not subject to declaration requirements. You won’t find this information on the label of the can.

The cooking process of wet food

A meat paste feed is cooked in large batches after mixing. The cooking process for ragout is similar, except that the ingredients are sometimes precooked individually. To kill microorganisms and extend the shelf life of the feed, the ingredients are heated to high temperatures. Usually, in large-scale productions, this happens in metal tubes. Here, the feed is pressed through the tube with water and then filled into cans. During this transport, some of this liquid gets into the can of wet food.

This water – also part of the cooking process – is indicated on the labels as broth. This is particularly noticeable when dealing with additives. In the northern regions of Germany, manganese is not present in groundwater, so it is added to the production of cat food. A manufacturer with manganese in their groundwater doesn’t need to add it additionally and therefore doesn’t have to label it on the can. The hot cat food is then placed in previously sterilized cans, sealed, and labeled.

How does the smell of cat food develop?

More natural cat food varieties, which are less heavily processed industrially, also tend to have a less intense smell. They retain more of their natural aroma – that of fresh meat. The more heavily processed a cat food is during production, the stronger it often smells like cat food.

You’ll notice the difference immediately when you open a cat food in ragout consistency. Although often the same ingredients are used as in conventional cat food, it smells distinctly different. Moreover, with this type of food, there’s no way to hide anything, as the individual ingredients are easy to identify. Therefore, the raw material quality is often slightly better.

Protein denaturation

When cooking meat, the proteins in the meat are denatured. This means that the protein structure changes, resulting in a change in texture and taste. Denaturation causes the protein to lose its specific shape, which often leads to a loss of its biological activity or function. For example, cooking eggs leads to the denaturation of the protein albumin, changing it from a clear, liquid substance to a white solid. While denatured proteins don’t necessarily change their chemical composition, they do change their structure. However, in meat paste, which consists of minced, ground, or pureed meat, this denaturation occurs faster and more uniformly than with meat chunks.

Change in fat structure

The fat molecules also change when cooking meat. Some unsaturated fatty acids can oxidize, leading to a loss of omega-3 fatty acids. Meat paste, which is often cooked with additives such as oil or broth, may have a higher fat content than meat chunks cooked dry. More fat, in turn, reacts more with the other ingredients and oxidizes more strongly, which is also a reason for the typical cat food smell. Pureed products therefore smell much more unpleasant than, for example, ragout cat food.

Formation of aroma compounds

When cooking meat, new aroma compounds are formed through various chemical reactions. These aroma compounds contribute to the characteristic taste of cooked meat. Meat paste, which is more intensively processed through grinding and mixing, can have a more intense aroma formation than meat chunks that are less processed.

Formation of compounds

During cooking, new compounds can also form between the proteins and other components of the meat. These new compounds contribute to the taste and texture of the cooked meat. With meat paste, this happens much more and faster than with whole meat chunks.

(Technological) additives in the production of cat food

Commercial cat food varieties contain additives such as vitamins, minerals, and flavors. Often also preservatives, antioxidants, thickeners or binders, and colorants. Whether this is the case and how good the quality of the substances used is, cannot always be judged, as many of them do not need to be declared. These substances also change the smell and consistency of the food, so at least it’s possible to infer their use from the type of food. Many additives are suspected of promoting allergies or intolerances.

Changes in nutrient composition are inevitable during cooking

Overall, cooking meat changes the composition of nutrients and the sensory properties, both in meat paste and meat chunks. The exact degree of change depends on factors such as temperature, cooking time, liquid addition, and the type and consistency of the meat. Some nutrients are lost during cooking, while others are released, flushed out, or intensified by the cooking process.

Therefore, you should always make sure to also feed the sauce. With a pureed feed, the broth produced during cooking – and thus the nutrients leached into it – are retained. Due to the thickeners used, meat paste and water recombine into a mass. This is not the case with ragout. Although the nutrients are still in the sauce here, not every cat loves it, while others even “bathe” in it.

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Why calories matter in cat food

First and foremost: Health

Both underfeeding and overfeeding can lead to health problems. Underfeeding can lead to malnutrition while overfeeding can result in obesity and its complications. By comparing the calories in cat food, you can find an excellent starting point for your darling’s perfect diet.

Quality Assurance

High-quality food usually provides more calories than food with less quality. Even though we have to say you need to compare foods within the same type. Comparing wet foods with other wet foods and dry foods with other dry foods can give hints as to which one has higher quality ingredients.

Cost-Effectiveness

Understanding the calorie content can also help you evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different cat foods. Some foods may seem more expensive upfront but are actually more calorie-dense, requiring smaller portions to meet your cat’s needs, potentially saving money in the long run.

How to prepare for comparing cat food calories

In the US, cat food labels may not always present calorie information in the most user-friendly way. You’re accustomed to seeing calories per cup or can, but for meaningful comparisons between different cat foods, grams are the way to go. This preference stems from the fact that researchers base most of their formulas on this measurement, making it the standard for calculating energy content in cat food. This guide will prepare you to use grams as your standard unit, ensuring accurate and useful comparisons between different cat foods.

Not only do you need to gain a basic understanding of what your fluffball needs, but you’ll also want to monitor her habits and body weight. This is the only way you will be able to tell if the amount of calories you are feeding is enough or too much/too little. Be aware that if you want to track this, you need to include all kinds of treats your cat gets. Here we will give you every piece of information you need in an easily understandable way.

The amount of calories needed depends on your cat’s energy level, age, breed, size, weight and activity level. Healthy cats that grew up as kittens with wet food and not with a lack of food usually have developed a good feeling of satiety. They can often decide for themselves how much they want to eat. If they were active for a day, this can also lead to more food. Sick cats, or cats that can’t, need your help. If your cat still gains too much weight, use our formula or get help from a cat nutritionist. These are preferable to a veterinarian because of their specialized training.

How to compare calories in different cat foods

1. Gather nutritional Information

For each cat food you’re considering, gather the nutritional information, including moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, and crude fiber contents. This information is typically found on the product’s label or its website.

2. Calculate the Metabolizable Energy (ME) for each food

• Calculate the carbohydrate content (NFE) of each food.
• Determine the Gross Energy (GE) for each.
• Calculate the Energy Digestibility (ED).
• Find the Digestible Energy (DE) for each.
• Calculate the Metabolizable Energy (ME) for each cat food option (in kcal per 100g).

For a detailed example and explanations of terms, you can head to our article about the best formula to calculate energy in cat foods.

3. Compare ME Values

With the ME calculated for each cat food, you can start to compare the energy content. This comparison will reveal which food offers more or less energy per 100 grams, helping you to make informed decisions about which food meets your and your cat’s requirements best.

Example of comparing two cat foods

Let’s say you’ve calculated the ME for two different cat foods, and you got:

• Cat Food A: ME = 113.7 kcal/100g
• Cat Food B: ME = 88.9 kcal/100g

For our 4 kilogram (8.8 pounds) cat, her requirement is 216 calories a day. If you want to find the energy requirement for your cat, you can do so with the table we mentioned before. Let’s use the following formula:

Your cat’s energy requirement (kcal/100g) / ME (kcal/100g) x 100

Cat Food A:
ME Cat Food A = 216 kcal/100g / 113.7 kcal/100g x 100

For Cat Food A (with an ME of 113.7 calories per 100 grams), you would need approximately 190 grams (6.7 ounces) of food per day.

Cat Food B:
ME Cat Food B = 216 kcal/100g / 88.9 kcal/100g x 100

For Cat Food B (with an ME of 88.9 calories per 100 grams), you would need approximately 243 grams (8.6 ounces) of food per day.

4. Compare price efficiency

Find the costs/kg, or costs/lb on the product’s price label or website. We’ll need to convert those to cost/g or cost/oz to see how much each food for our kitty costs each day. We’ll include how to get from ounces to grams as well.

1. Convert prices. Divide the price per kg, lb, or oz by the corresponding factor:

• There are 1,000 grams in a kilogram.
• There are 16 ounces in one pound.
• There are approx. 435.592 grams in one pound.
• There are approx. 28.35 grams in an ounce.

For Food A priced at $6.39 per pound or $14.1 per kilogram:

From price per pound to price per ounce
$6.39/oz / 16 = $0.40/oz
From price per kilogram to price per gram
$14.1/kg / 1,000 = $0.0141/g
From price per ounce price per gram
$0.40/oz / 28.35 grams = $0.0141/g

For Food B priced at $5.90 per pound or $13.10 per kilogram:

From price per pound to price per ounce
$5.90/oz / 16 = $0,37/oz
From price per kilogram to price per gram
$13.10/kg / 1,000 = $0.0131/g
From price per ounce price per gram
$0.37/oz / 28.35 grams = $0.0131/g

Food B is slightly cheaper per gram (and ounce) than Food A! BUT that’s not the whole story – you still need to multiply this value by how much of the food your cat needs daily (remember her daily food requirement).

2. Calculate the daily cost for each food. Multiply the cost per gram by the daily required grams:

Food A:
For using grams: $0.0141 x 190 g = $2.68/day
For using ounces: $0.40 x 6.7 oz = $2.68/day

Food B:
For using grams: $0.0131 x 243 g = $3.18
For using ounces: $0.37 x 8.6 oz = $3.18

The price of Cat Food A is $2.68 per day while Cat Food B costs $3.18 per day.

Cat Food B, while slightly cheaper per gram or ounce requires bigger amounts to meet the daily calorie requirement, so it ends up with a higher daily cost. Cat Food A provides more value for the price due to its higher energy density.

The priority is to ensure dietary variety for your cat, emphasizing the importance of providing a balanced nutrition that caters to all of her nutritional needs. Calculating the calories of cat foods helps prevent dietary deficiencies and promotes overall health. Alongside this, it’s crucial to feed your cat the right amount of food, aiming to maintain her optimal body weight and health status. The specific amount required can vary greatly, depending on factors such as her age, weight, neuter status, activity level, and any specific health concerns she may have.

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Wet cat food – High-quality hydration option

Now, think about diluting that energy by adding water. That’s what happens with wet cat food –it’s about 80 percent water, which not only keeps your cat well-hydrated but also allows her to consume a larger volume of food with fewer calories (about 100 kcal per 100g or 3.5oz). This can help prevent urinary issues and keep her kidneys healthy.

Dry cat food – Low-quality content and high-calorie considerations

Dry food, on the other hand, has very little water in it (only about 10%), so it has more calories (about 400 kcal per 100g or 3.5oz). Even though at first glance it looks like you can save money by relying on dry food as your cat’s main energy source: It’s best to feed your cat wet food as her main diet to keep her hydrated and healthy. Save dry food for an occasional treat. For more information on that check out our detailed article about why wet food is better than dry food.

Why direct comparisons are misleading

Comparing wet and dry cat food based on calorie content without adjusting for moisture content is like comparing apples to oranges. For instance, a cup of dry food might contain 300 kcal, while a cup of wet food might only have 80 kcal due to its higher water content. This does not mean the wet food is “less nutritious”; it simply contains more water which in fact is one of the most important ingredients for keeping your cat healthy.

Your takeaway should be that it only makes sense to compare foods of the same kind. Compare wet foods only to other wet foods. If you’re ready to dig a bit deeper and crunch some numbers now you can head to our article about comparing cat food calories.

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Most pet owners like to use the so-called “Atwater” formula because it’s more compact. The formula we use is more accurate and used by the National Research Council (NRC, USA).¹ The Metabolizable Energy (ME) formula is an equation derived from a series of experimental data. The formula predicts the available energy from levels of fat, crude fiber, protein, and moisture in the diet. Let’s go over the terms you’ll see in the formula.

Gross Energy (GE): This is the total amount of energy in the food. But just because it’s there doesn’t mean your cat can use it all – some of that energy just isn’t digestible.

Digestible Energy (DE): After your cat eats, the body takes what it can use and the rest is dumped as poo. DE is what’s left after the body has had its first pick and tossed the rest.

Metabolizable Energy (ME): ME is the actual energy your pet can use. You calculate it after subtracting the energy lost through urine and gases from the digestible energy (DE). It’s the energy that your cat’s body uses to power basic bodily functions, keep stable body temperature, and support activities like growth, reproduction, and play.

Calculating cat food’s Metabolizable Energy step by step

Now we’ll show you how to calculate calories of Metabolizable Energy. The formula is based on the label values of nutrients: Crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and crude ash in percentage (%), so assuming 100% of our food equals 100 g, we can simply compare 100g of food to another food.

Step 1: Calculation of the carbohydrate content (NFE)

First, calculate the carbohydrates (in grams per 100 grams of food) by subtracting the sum of moisture (%), crude protein (%), crude fat (%), crude ash (%), and crude fiber (%) from 100. This gives you the Nitrogen-Free Extract (NFE) in percentage (%) which is a scientific way of calling the carbohydrate content in the food.

NFE (%/100g) = 100 − (moisture + crude protein + crude fat + crude ash + crude fiber)

Step 2: Calculation of the gross energy (GE)

Calculate Gross Energy (GE) with the help of NFE:
GE (kcal/100g) = (5.7 × crude protein + 9.4) × (crude fat + 4.1) × (NFE + crude fiber)

Step 3: Calculation of the percentage energy digestibility (ED)

Calculate this coefficient first with the help of crude fiber in dry matter.
Dry matter is what is left when you dry out food completely. Imagine only the water evaporating while all the nutrients stay intact in a small, dry pile.

Dry matter (%)= 100 – moisture
Crude fiber in dry matter (%)= crude fiber / dry matter x 100
Energy digestibility coefficient (ED %) = 87.9 − (0.88 × crude fiber in dry matter)

Step 4: Calculation of the Digestible Energy (DE)

Calculate Digestible Energy (DE) by applying the energy digestibility coefficient from Step 3 to your GE from Step 2.
DE (kcal/100g) = GE × ED / 100

Step 5: Calculation of the Metabolizable Energy (ME)

Finally, get the Metabolizable Energy (ME) using the DE you calculated in Step 4:
ME (kcal/100g) = DE − (0.77× crude protein)

Why values can differ (different formulas)

Don’t fret if the calculated calories are not the same as on the label – there are different formulas for getting the calorie value of pet foods. Why, you might ask: Formulas are the results of scientific studies. Imagine scientists watching a cat eating, drinking, peeing, and pooping, measuring everything that gets in and comes out. They then create formulas to approximate the results. Scientists tailor the formula to a specific quality of content. When you highly process your meat, it has a lower quality. Imagine the following process: The factory receives the meat content in your cat food frozen. They chop it into small chunks, blend it, steam/cook it, press it into form, dry it, cut it into pieces, steam it in sauce once more. Compared to meat that has been just frozen and chopped up, this meat is likely to have fewer nutrients.

Also meat can provide a cat with more energy than for example carrots. How useful a nutrient is for your cat’s metabolism to gain energy is already included in these formulas. The more research gets done, the more formulas there will be. We are sticking to the latest research that yielded the most accurate results with a formula that is based on calculating GE instead of measuring it (because consumers are not able to measure GE and we want to provide transparency to you).² If you rather stick to a convenient calculator, like apollofluffy’s, that’s fine too, it already includes a safety margin for your cat’s calories, so you don’t accidentally underfeed her.

The post The best formula to calculate energy in cat food appeared first on The Cat Edition.

The following table, is based on FEDIAF recommendations¹. Those are based on the National Research Council (NRC)² and independent research. Generally speaking, thousands of studies have been conducted to get to these numbers. Most if not all European pet food producers take them into account. Since TCE is seated in Germany, we use European guidelines instead of American’s, which would be based on AAFCO recommendations.

The FEDIAF recommends that cats weighing 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds should intake the following amounts of calories based on their maintenance energy requirement (MER):

For 75 kcal/kg as the constant:
MER = 75×(4)^0.67 = 190 kcal/day

For 100 kcal/kg as the constant:
MER = 100×(4)^0.67 = 253 kcal/day

These are the basic amounts of minimum recommended calories per day for indoor and/or neutered cats (75 kcal/kg^0.67) and active cats (100 kcal/kg^0.67). The power of 0.67 is only there because the energy animals require decreases as the size of the animal increases. The calculator automatically adds a safety margin of about 12 % to this amount. So we ended up with a rounded 216 calories per day for the indoor/neutered cat and 284 calories per day for an active cat weighing 4 kilograms (8.8 pounds). Now it’s time for you to pick your cat’s ideal calories per day on the table based on her body weight.

Minimum daily calories needed for cats based on body weight

The amount of calories needed depends on your cat’s energy level, age, breed, size, weight and activity level. Healthy cats that grew up as kittens with wet food and not with a lack of food usually have developed a good feeling of satiety. They can often decide for themselves how much they want to eat. If they were active for a day, this can also lead to more food. Sick cats, or cats that can’t, need your help. If your cat still gains too much weight, use our formula or get help from a cat nutritionist. These are preferable to a veterinarian because of their specialized training.

If your cat is not overweight and healthy, rather feed her as much as she wants to eat! With a high-quality feed, lots of play-time, and daily usage of a scale there’s usually not much you can do wrong. Good monitoring is of importance here. You want to stay up to date with your cat’s body weight to adapt quickly.

Now that you know how many calories a day your fluffy friend needs you can learn more on how to compare calories of cat food.

The post How many calories does your cat need per day? appeared first on The Cat Edition.

1. What food your little cat needs
2. How often your kitten should eat

Please note that you should always consult your vet regularly to assess your cat’s growth. For nutrition-specific questions, you should then consult a cat nutritionist. The nutritional needs of cats can vary depending on age, size, body weight, breed, and health status. Numerical information regarding nutrition is very theoretical and should be considered as a basis for individual adaptation to your little furball. Also, monitor the weight and activity to ensure that you can answer your vet’s questions appropriately.

Kittens need more calories than adult cats

Since kittens grow quickly, it’s important that their food covers their high-calorie needs for healthy development. Did you know that kittens need up to three times as many calories per kilogram of body weight as adult cats? This means they can even consume the same amount of calories per day as an adult cat. Because of this much higher energy requirement, the rules for the amount of food that normally apply to adult cats are irrelevant to them. They should basically get as much food as they can eat. Experienced kitten parents often confirm that a plump belly is an indicator of health.

Important aspects of cat nutrition

The fact that a healthy kitten can be a little fat may not necessarily help you. To determine the right amount of food for your little cat, we first need to deal with the basics of cat food. Simply put, low-quality food does not provide the optimal amounts of nutrients for cats. It should always be high in animal protein as that is closest to the cat’s natural prey. If you ask a reputable cat food manufacturer about the difference between kitten and adult food, they will probably mention higher protein and fat content in kitten food. But you can be skeptical here.

The problem with “kitten” food

The thing is, every cat food should contain the same amount of these nutrients (if you’re wondering what’s optimal, you should take a look at this high-quality ragout we tested). How come? Remember: In the wild, cat mothers start bringing prey to their little ones from 8 to 10 weeks old! Whether young or old, every wild cat ultimately feeds on small animals and insects. Why should there be differences in nutrients? In fact, there aren’t, except for the enormous calorie and nutrient needs of newborn kittens that only mother’s milk can cover. After weaning, the amount of food depends on the hunting success and kittens eat the same as their mother. Therefore, young cats should only be given away from the nursery from 12 weeks onwards.

What is the right amount of food for a kitten per day?

How many calories a kitten needs depends on its age and thus its current weight. A good guideline is this rule: The age of your cat in months equals the body weight in pounds. For example, a 2-month-old kitten weighs an average of 2 pounds, which is about 0.9 kilograms when converted (1 lbs equals 0.45 kg). Now we just need to find the recommended amount of calories.

Here’s how you could determine the right amount of calories per day for your kitten:

• Your baby cat is less than 4 months or 16 weeks old: 250 kcal per kg of body weight
• Your young cat is between 4 and 6 months or 16 weeks and 24 weeks old: 115 kcal (100 – 130 kcal per kg) of body weight
• Older than 6 months: 75 kcal (70kcal – 80kcal) per kg of body weight

These figures are only averages – the right calorie amount depends on other factors such as activity, health, and actual weight of your cat.

Did you notice something? Yes, cats need fewer calories the older they get. But don’t confuse this with the nutrient content of the food. There is an open discussion about whether less or more protein is beneficial for the different stages of a cat’s life. That’s why it’s important to seek advice from a cat nutrition expert. Don’t worry, many have successfully raised kittens – and you will too!¹

How often should a kitten eat?

This depends on your own schedule, but an easy-to-handle guideline is 4 to 6 times a day. The more often, the closer to nature. Why so many times? Wild cat moms feed their offspring many times a day with prey. Not just with mice, but we’ll take them as an example:

A typical mouse provides about 30 calories. An eight-week-old kitten needs an average of 225kcal per day – that’s 7.5 mice! If you start pondering now, you’re on the right track. Think back to our section on the amount of food – doesn’t it make total sense to feed such small cats more often? Imagine packing all these calories into just two meals – that would be a real challenge for any mammal. If you orient yourself to nature, you can feed up to 10 times a day!² If you’re working and don’t have all day to feed kittens, just try at least four times a day and add as many additional portions as possible.

The easy alternative to calorie counting

Make sure your kitten always has enough food – hunger can lead to behavioral problems like aggression.³ If you let a kitten eat as much as it wants from birth, it quickly learns to stop once it’s full. It also recognizes that there’s always enough food available, which prevents gulping and food envy. You should feed your kitten whenever it’s hungry. This way, you also avoid the “It’s 8:00 AM, I want something to eat” behavior. (This works for working people too! A cat sleeps 16 hours a day and adjusts to the rhythm of her owners.) Over her lifetime, the cat then always eats only as much as she needs. Counting calories is not necessary, provided the food is of high quality.

Should your cat have free access to food?

At first glance, it may seem like your cat baby can feast to its heart’s content from a constantly filled food bowl. But beware, there is a risk factor – and it’s not the amount of food! The risk would be to give food that is not optimal for cats. Most people use “free” feeding dry food because it is practical and lasts longer than wet food.

The problem with dry food

One of the biggest disadvantages of dry food is its low moisture content compared to the natural prey of cats. Dry food has a moisture content of only about 10%, while wet food usually has a moisture content of over 70%, which is close to what cats actually eat in nature.⁴ Wet food can spoil faster, which can lead to potential waste if you put large amounts available for free in the bowl.

The best way to feed cats

To promote the health of your cat’s bladder and kidneys, it is important to avoid dry food as main meal. Instead, we suggest a modified approach to free feeding with wet food. Simply place small portions of wet food in the bowl, rinsing and refilling it every few hours to prevent spoilage. Typically, cats have a sleep cycle that includes a long rest period during the day, often when their owners are at work. During this time, they are less likely to visit the food bowl. This makes this method of feeding practical even for households where people are away during the day, such as those not working from home. Our recommendation is, therefore, to give wet food as often as possible – as explained under “How often should a kitten eat”.

But I don’t know how many calories are in cat food!

On every can of cat food there is a label that lists the content of crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fiber, and moisture. Based on these nutrients, you can calculate the carbohydrates and calories (in some countries, like the USA, the calories are already on the label). Fortunately, there are calculators on several websites that we can use. Try https://apollofluffycat.com/en/cat-food-calculator/. We take Dynasty Emperor Chicken (13.4 ounces in a can), here the calorie content per ounce is 26.4kcal. For our 2 months or 8 weeks old baby cat, we need 8.5 ounces of food on average per day. For the right amount of food, you need to divide the portions into as many meals as you can distribute daily. Varying the types of food is key, so take our example only as a suggestion – because kittens need variety for a balanced diet.

Fun Fact: Not even the calorie count is a perfect guideline because you can’t know how your pet will metabolize the food. For this, researchers usually use a measure called Metabolizable Energy (ME). But as we said: When it comes to kittens, it can’t hurt to serve them many small meals a day and just let them munch away. A healthy cat will naturally adjust her eating habits over time. If you notice that more and more food is being left in the bowl, you can start reducing the amount and put less in next time. The perfect amount is when your cat has finished eating and declines a second helping, choosing to go to bed instead. This gradual approach allows your kitten to grow into its adult feeding routine at its own pace, without the need for strict guidelines or timelines.

Worried owner thought the kitten with the bloated belly was sick, but it was just fat

worldofbuzz.com

Conclusion

The likelihood of overfeeding a kitten is close to zero. Kittens need a lot of food to grow, so they can look a bit chubby. As long as the belly feels soft and pliable, this is completely healthy and exactly what you should aim for. Apart from that, kittens are like little children, no two are alike! If in doubt, don’t waste time – just ask your vet, who will be happy to help. If you’ve heard something about kitten nutrition from your vet that doesn’t match what you’ve just read, you can just ask us. We at The Cat Edition do our best to keep our knowledge up to date and draw from various organizations, independent cat lovers, and universities to provide you with the best possible information.

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Preface

All the information we use for the evaluation comes from the packaging and product pages of the manufacturers. However, please note that this information can only serve as minimum values. It is intended to give you an overview of the quality of different types of food. It is always advisable to remain skeptical and to critically question both the manufacturer’s information and our evaluation.

We can only evaluate what is indicated by the manufacturers on the packaging. The amount and type of information can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some, for example, indicate the calcium, phosphorus, and ratio value, while others do not. However, comprehensive and transparent labeling can be rated positively with regard to the criterion of consumer transparency and can lead to a better result.

In addition, we have introduced the criterion “brand”. We believe that companies that pursue a strong mission and support, for example, animal protection should be positively rated, even if this does not directly influence the quality of the cat food.

All criteria are evaluated considering a healthy, 4 kg (8.8 lb neutered indoor) cat. Please note that this serves as a general guideline and the individual needs of your cat should be taken into account.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

1. Composition

High-quality cat food is characterized by a carefully balanced composition. Here we evaluate the ingredients and their quality. It is important that the food is made from high-quality ingredients that meet the nutritional needs of the cat. This includes a high proportion of meat, the absence of inferior animal components, and the omission of (for cats) unnecessary additives such as sugar, fillers, and vegetable fats. Also, the smell, texture, and visual appeal of the food provide good indicators of quality. A high score in this criterion means the food supports the cat’s well-being and contributes to long-term health with optimal ingredients.

1.1 Protein. The cat food contains a balanced protein content, which corresponds to the recommended minimum value of 33 g / 100 g dry matter (We still consider the neutered (indoor) cat and adhere to the recommended values of the FEDIAF Guideline.

1.2 Meat content. The food convinces with a high meat content of at least 67% (rounded to zero decimal places), which meets the needs of carnivores.

1.3 Protein sources. These should either all come from the same animal or at least from similar animal species or the second source should have a low proportion. Wildly mixed up animals suggest that there are leftovers added to the food.

1.4 Moisture content. With a content of at least 70% water, the product ensures sufficient fluid intake.

1.5 Avoidance of inferior animal ingredients. The cat food relies on high-quality protein sources and does not contain inferior ingredients such as udders, hooves, or feathers.

1.6 Avoidance of unnecessary ingredients. The food does not use unnecessary ingredients such as Yucca Schidigera or catnip. Ingredients are considered unnecessary if there is no evidence that they have benefits for healthy cats. We believe that cat food should be limited to ingredients that have been proven to be beneficial for cats (otherwise, they are considered “unnecessary”).

1.7 Fats/oils. No vegetable fats or oils are used, only fats and oils of animal origin. Various literature suggests that cats can only convert linoleic acid to arachidonic acid to a limited extent, which is why the use of fish oil is often recommended to provide valuable polyunsaturated fatty acids to the cat. For example, coconut oil has been suspected in the past of causing health problems.¹

1.8 No added sugar. The product completely avoids added sugars, including complex sugars (while it is legal to advertise as “without added sugars” even if complex sugars are present, we generally consider sugar unnecessary for cat food).

1.9 No thickening agents. The diet does not contain any thickening agents such as cassia gum, locust bean gum, or similar substances.

1.10 Avoidance of fillers. The product avoids fillers such as cellulose powder.

1.11 Smell. The cat food impresses with a pleasant smell, indicating good quality.

1.12 Texture. The texture of the product appears appetizing and enables optimal dental abrasion due to the included filet pieces.

2. Declaration

It is important that the information on the packaging of cat food is clear and complete. This includes the precise listing of ingredients and their percentages so that you know what is contained in the food. No confusing or ambiguous terms should be used. Clear feeding instructions should also be provided so that you know how much food your cat should receive. The declaration should be transparent and help you, the consumer, assess the quality of the food.

2.1 Declaration. It should not contain vague descriptions of by-products such as “animal by-products” or similar terms.

2.2 Ingredients. All ingredients must be listed, and the percentages should add up to 100%.

2.3 Complete transparency. Provide accurate percentage values for all ingredients. No ambiguous statements force you to guess, such as “rabbit meat 67% (liver, heart, muscle meat 10%)”.

2.4 Use of terms. The term “meat” in the ingredient list does not include other components such as “broth” or “offal.” Meat is also not equivalent to mechanically separated meat.

2.5 Statements. No ambiguous statements such as “pork” without specifying the specific parts (muscle meat, heart, liver, etc.).

2.6 Feeding instructions have five sub-points:
2.6.1 They must not be unclear or incomplete.
2.6.2 The daily feeding recommendation (weight of food per day) must be provided.
2.6.3 A note that water must be available is required.
2.6.4 The distinction between complete and complementary food must be indicated.
2.6.5 The feeding recommendation for a 4 kg (8.8 lb neutered indoor) cat should not deviate more than 10% from the calculated food mass per day to avoid potential undernourishment of the cat.

3. Nutrient content and balance

It is crucial that cats receive a balanced diet that contains all the necessary nutrients in the right amounts. Cats have specific dietary needs such as animal protein, taurine, trace elements, and vitamins. Reviewing the nutrient content and balance in cat food ensures that your cat’s needs are met and that they can lead a healthy and active life. Analyzing this category can identify potential deficiencies or imbalances to evaluate whether the product meets high standards for optimal nourishment.

3.1 NFE content. Nitrogen-free extract substances in high-quality cat food comprise the carbohydrate sources of the food, including animal glycogen sources such as muscle meat and liver. A low NFE content of up to approximately 20% in the dry matter of cat food ensures that cats should not experience digestive or metabolic issues.

3.2 Sufficient Taurine. Taurine is essential for cats, and they can only obtain it through their diet. That means it is better to slightly overdose than to underdose. Excess taurine is simply excreted, and there is no “maximum level” specified by FEDIAF. However, too little taurine is life-threatening. Therefore, if the minimum recommended level by FEDIAF is not reached, there is a deduction of points.

3.3 Trace Elements. All trace elements from the FEDIAF table (if nutritional values are provided on the packaging or product page) are reviewed. This results in 6 sub-points: zinc, iodine, copper, manganese, selenium, and iron. Similar to taurine, there is a deduction of one point for each trace element if the minimum value is not reached.

3.4 Minerals. Here, there are 7 sub-points: calcium, phosphorus, their ratio, potassium, sodium, chloride, and magnesium. One point deduction if the calculated values are too low.

3.5 Vitamins. Similarly, there are 12 points for various vitamins (refer to the FEDIAF table), including A, D3, E, B7 (biotin), other B vitamins, and choline (although strictly speaking, not a vitamin, it is often grouped with the B vitamins due to its similarity).

3.6 Ingredients should be separately cooked. Different ingredients require different cooking times, and often the nutrients of vegetables are depleted due to high temperatures.

4. Consumer Transparency

The aim is to evaluate clear and honest consumer transparency and ensure that companies provide accurate information about their product. This gives consumers the opportunity to make informed decisions and choose high-quality products.

4.1 No use of fake certificates or misleading claims such as “natural” or “made in Sweden” as they do not provide meaningful information.

4.2 No advertising with self-evident claims such as “natural ingredients” as it is misleading.

4.3 Omission of relevant information is penalized, e.g. it is relevant for you and your cat that fillers have been added, but it is omitted.

4.4 Claims not based on facts result in a deduction of points. This applies to both packaging claims and information on the company’s website. An example is claiming that ingredient X provides health benefits to cats when there is no scientific evidence to support it.

4.5 Hidden or disguised ingredients result in a deduction of points. An example would be stating “no added sugars” even though complex sugars are present. Although this is legally acceptable, we consider it morally questionable.

4.6 No false claims about the type of production. If it is claimed that the production is “natural” and “gentle” when it is actually heavily processed food, this is considered a false claim.

5. Brand

The aim is to evaluate the brand in terms of animal welfare, environmental protection, corporate culture, community engagement, animal testing, and the recyclability of the materials used. This rewards companies that take social responsibility and make a positive contribution to society and the environment. For each identified indication, we award a bonus point.

5.1 Mention of donations to rescue stations, animal shelters, or animal and species protection.

5.2 No varieties with animal babies such as calf or lamb.

5.3 Meat comes from animals raised in good conditions.

5.4 Mention of volunteering or sponsorship for rescue stations or animal shelters.

5.5 Mention of regionally sourced meat.

5.6 Mention of environmental conservation measures.

5.7 Passionate vision or corporate culture involving employees.

5.8 Engagement in the community, such as volunteer work, sponsorship, or partnerships with local organizations.

5.9 Clarification that no animal testing has been conducted.

5.10 Information on the recyclability of the materials used.

6. Price-Performance Ratio

This category allows for some flexibility in evaluation. An estimated value is created to determine how expensive the food is compared to the average price per kilogram or per day. Then, based on the results of the other categories, the quality is applied to the price using a factor to evaluate the price-performance ratio. This category does not result in direct point deductions but is derived from the evaluations in other categories.

The post In the lab: How does TCE actually test cat food? appeared first on The Cat Edition.

Wet food with high moisture content, mimicking natural prey

One of the most significant advantages of wet cat food is its high moisture content. Cats are naturally designed to get most of their water from their prey, which means they don’t have a strong thirst drive. When cats don’t consume enough water, they can develop urinary tract issues, which can lead to painful bladder infections or even kidney stones. Wet cat food provides a significant source of hydration, which helps flush the kidneys and bladder to avoid these problems.

Protein and fat: The key nutrients found in wet cat food

Wet cat food is also closer to a cat’s natural prey, and delivers everything a carnivore needs, such as high levels of protein and fat, and only a tiny amount of natural carbohydrates that would be included in natural prey as well, which makes wet cat food an excellent choice for cats.

Moreover, wet cat food is typically more nutritionally balanced than dry cat food. Most high-quality wet cat foods provide all the necessary nutrients that a cat needs, including essential vitamins and minerals. By providing your cat with a balanced and nutritious diet, you’re helping to promote overall health and well-being.

Feeding your cat: A responsibility of pet ownership

One of the few disadvantages of high-quality wet cat food is its cost. It is generally more expensive than dry cat food, which can be a concern for cat owners on a tight budget. Additionally, once opened, wet cat food has a short shelf life and needs to be consumed within a few days. However, as pet owners, we have a responsibility to provide our furry friends with the best possible nutrition. Our pets rely solely on us for their nutrition and well-being, and it’s crucial to step up and feed them as well as we would feed ourselves. While it may be tempting to opt for cheaper or more convenient options, investing in high-quality wet cat food can make a significant difference in your cat’s health and happiness in the long run. By providing your cat with a balanced and nutritious wet diet, you’re helping it live its best life.

Wet cat food prevails as the optimal choice over dry cat food

In conclusion, while both wet and dry cat foods have their pros and cons, wet cat food is generally considered the superior choice. It provides the hydration, nutrition, and palatability that cats need to maintain their health and happiness. If you’re unsure which type of food is best for your cat, do your research and consider consulting with a cat nutritionist to determine the best wet cat food for your cat’s individual needs and preferences.

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Declarations on cat food labels

When assessing the quality of cat food, pay attention to the type of declaration used by the manufacturer: open, semi-open, or closed.

Open declaration

An open declaration, which lists all ingredients and their percentages, is the most transparent and trustworthy. With an open declaration, you can easily determine the specific animal parts that have been utilized in your cat food, as not all parts of an animal hold equal nutritional value.

Example: 67 % chicken (consisting of muscle meat min. 21 %, hearts min. 10 %, meaty necks, stomachs, livers), 28 % chicken broth, 4 % carrots, 0.8 % minerals, 0.2 % salmon oil.

Semi-open declaration

A semi-open declaration, which doesn’t specify the amount of each component, may sound better than it actually is.
Example: Chicken (56%, chicken meat, chicken stomachs, chicken liver), meat broth, rabbit (14%), pumpkin (4%), minerals, linseed oil, seaweed meal.

Closed declaration

Lastly, a closed declaration makes it impossible to know the actual content of the cat food and is often chosen by manufacturers who want to disguise their ingredients. The examples are from cat foods available in Germany.

Example: Meat and animal by-products (38%, including 4% lamb), vegetable by-products (0.5% beet pulp), minerals, oils, and fats (0.1% fish oil, 0.05% sunflower oil).

Consider the price per kilo

High-quality cat food typically costs more due to its meat content. To make an informed decision, compare prices on a per kilo basis, considering both the package size and quantity discounts. Premium cat foods may be more cost-effective in the long run, as your cat will require smaller portions to obtain the necessary nutrients.

Check the recommended amount of feed

The amount of feed declared by the manufacturer should also be taken into consideration. A lower recommended amount usually signifies higher quality, as the cat is better able to utilize the nutrients and requires less food. On the other hand, if a manufacturer recommends a larger portion, it may indicate that the components are low-quality, and your cat will need more to meet its nutritional needs.

Investigate the method of production

The way cat food is produced can impact its quality and nutritional value. Common industrial processes involve grinding all ingredients together, cooking them, and portioning them into different packaging sizes. This method can lead to a loss of natural nutrients. Alternatively, small-batch or hand-prepared cat food, where ingredients are cooked separately, often offers higher quality and better nutritional value.

In conclusion, choosing high-quality cat food is crucial for your cat’s health and well-being. Always consider the type of declaration, price per kilo, recommended feed amount, and method of production when selecting the best food for your feline companion. By investing in your cat’s diet, you take an essential step towards ensuring its long-term health and happiness. Armed with this beginner’s overview, you can now make more informed choices when navigating the world of cat food labels.

This article was produced in friendly cooperation with Dynasty of Pets.

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How to feed your cat: set a paws-itive routine!

Cats love routines, and they’ll adore you for setting a consistent feeding schedule. Feed your fluffy companion at the same times each day to keep her metabolism purring. Regular feeding times also help prevent overeating by ensuring your cat receives the right amount of nutrition without feeling the need to gorge. By creating a stable feeding routine, you’ll also reduce her stress and anxiety, making her more comfortable and content.

How often to feed a cat: Age and lifestyle make a difference!

The purr-fect feeding frequency depends on your cat’s age and lifestyle:

• Kittens: Feed those adorable little furballs as often as they want to eat during the day but at the very least four times until they’re about six months old. The younger they are, the more often to feed baby cats.
• Adult cats: Two to three times a day is the sweet spot for adult cats – if you’re busy or out of the house, it comes down to once in the morning and once in the evening. You can feed them more often if your time allows it, though.
• Senior cats: For aging feline royalty, consult your veterinarian to determine the best feeding schedule. It also depends on what they’re used to. If you fed them four times a day as an adult, you can keep doing so. Just keep an eye on them to avoid overfeeding them as they are not as active as younger cats.

What to feed your cat: Good wet food is the cat’s meow!

High-quality wet food is the only correct answer for what to feed your feline. It’s packed with essential nutrients and hydration for a healthy, content kitty. When choosing wet food, opt for options that:

• Boast high-quality protein sources like chicken, turkey, or beef
• Are grain-free, since cats are born carnivores
• Are free from artificial nasties like colors, flavors, and preservatives
• Are transparent about what is actually inside of it

Don’t fall for the kibble myth: contrary to popular belief, there’s no scientific evidence to support the claim that dry food prevents periodontal diseases in cats. This misconception has been perpetuated by clever marketing strategies to sell dry food.

What not to feed your cat: Keep human foods at bay!

Some human foods are downright dangerous for cats, including:

• Raw meat: Sounds like a good treat at first but can give your kitty toxoplasmois or other infectious diseases.
• Anything with Onion and garlic: A big no-no! They can cause anemia and tummy troubles.
• Salty foods like sausage and ham: Dehydration and electrolyte imbalances? No, thank you!
• Canned fish: Unpredictable levels of mercury. If you got to think about it, don’t feed it.
• Foods containing lactose: Most cats are lactose intolerant, so steer clear to avoid digestive woes. Sorry, Tom, no milk for you!

In a nutshell, human scraps are off the menu for your feline companion. Same goes for dog food by the way. Stick to cat-approved foods instead! If you decide to feed your cat raw meat, just putting a chicken leg in your cat’s bowl won’t cut it. It’s crucial to handle, store and supplement it properly, and consult with a cat nutritionist to ensure that your cat’s nutritional needs are being met.

The role of treats in your cat’s diet: Rare and fun!

Treats can be a fantastic addition to your cat’s diet – when used wisely! Keep your kitty in tip-top shape by using treats for:

• Exciting brain stimulation: Treats can be used in puzzle toys or as rewards during interactive play, keeping your cat mentally engaged and sharp.
• Teaching cool tricks or reinforcing good behavior: Use treats as positive reinforcement during training sessions, by rewarding your cat after showing the desirable behavior.

Building on the debunked kibble myth: Treats aren’t the answer to dental care either. Instead, give your cat food with filet pieces that can rub against her teeth for a sparkling smile! So, treats certainly have their place – but remember, moderation is key.

Conclusion

Feeding your cat has never been easier! By focusing on delectable high-quality wet food, setting a consistent feeding schedule, and using treats wisely, you’ll have a healthy, happy feline in no time. If you’re ever unsure about your cat’s diet, your veterinarian is just a phone call away. Happy feeding, cat lovers!

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