Learning what to feed your cat can seem like a lot of work, but it’s not that difficult. An excellent first step is to educate yourself on what to look for on pet food labels to provide a healthy diet for your cat while avoiding potentially dangerous components.
Good cat food is made with natural food ingredients like real meat (like turkey, not poultry meal), healthy oils, and vitamins. However, most low-priced commercial diets include corn, soy, unidentified meat, fish or grain meals, refined fat, artificial preservatives, flavors, coloring, and other ingredients your cat shouldn’t be eating. We hope to educate you on recognizing these components and return the product to its proper location on the shelf. We’ll take a closer look at some of the ingredients to avoid now.
Cat Food Ingredients to Avoid
When shopping for cat food, it’s important to make it a practice to read the label and know what to look for and what to avoid. Advocates and experts agree that there are three things to look out for when shopping for high-quality cat food. Meat byproducts, artificial preservatives, and fillers made from carbohydrates all fall within this category.
- BHT, BHA, and Ethoxyquin
Dry cat food is best preserved with chemical preservatives like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), both of which have been linked to cancer in humans. The majority of oils and fats have these compounds added to them. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information and the National Library of Medicine, they are toxic to the kidneys and livers of rats.
Ethoxyquin is banned in human foods in the United States unless used as an antioxidant for specific spices; it is hazardous when ingested or comes into contact with the skin. More and more pet food producers are using ‘Natural’ preservatives like Vitamin C and E.
- Meat Byproducts
The American Animal Food Control Organization (AAFCO) describes meat byproducts as “secondary items produced in addition to the core product.” Besides the obvious problem of not knowing what kind of animal the meat came from, byproducts are generally regarded as a lower-quality source of protein that cats require. If it’s not good for us to consume, it’s not good for our dogs either.
Meat meal, an undefined byproduct of meat processing, and concentrate meal are also included. The rendering procedure, commonly used to generate meat and other meals, raises red flags among cat lovers. Meat scraps used for rendering are typically not appropriate for human consumption. Naturally occurring enzymes and proteins are altered or destroyed during the rendering process. The meal is a protein powder with a high concentration; however, it is typically of low quality and inferior.
- Corn Meal and Carbohydrate Fillers
Carbohydrate “fillers” in large quantities are harmful to cats. Grains can make up as much as half of the ingredients in dry food. Grain-free diets with a low carbohydrate content are safe for older cats and diabetic cats. Similarly troublesome is wheat gluten, which is often used as a low-cost substitute for protein-rich meats and healthy whole grains. The World Health Organization warns that both melamine and cyanuric acid in pet food can lead to kidney stones and even renal failure in pets.
- Caramel Coloring
Foods are colored with caramel coloring, but guess what? A cat’s appetite is unaffected by the hue of its meal. Caramel coloring also includes the known carcinogen 4-methylimidazole (4-MIE).
- Glucose and Dextrose
Glucose is sugar, and dextrose is glucose that has been crystallized. Sugar is not beneficial to a cat’s diet. Obesity and diabetes are just two health problems linked to excessive sugar consumption.
- Phosphoric Acid
Common in low-priced foods, glyceryl monostearate is a chemical used as an emulsifier. Some organs have shown toxicity to this substance.
- Propylene Glycol
Phosphoric acid isn’t inherently bad, but it’s usually a sign of using low-quality animal fat. Phosphoric acid has a sour flavor and is found in detergents and fertilizers.
A syrupy liquid called propylene glycol prevents food from drying out. Some worry that it could be hazardous in considerable concentrations.
Cat Foods to Avoid
Some examples of human foods that the ASPCA says cats shouldn’t eat:
- Chocolate. Methylxanthines are found in chocolate and can be fatal to pets. These include theobromine and caffeine. Different varieties of chocolate have varying amounts of methylxanthines. The safest chocolate is white, while cocoa powder is the most dangerous.
- Alcohol. Alcoholic beverages and foods are toxic to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, coma, and even death.
- Coffee. Caffeine, a methylxanthine also found in chocolate, can have the same side effects.
- Coconut flesh and coconut water. Pets can experience digestive issues after consuming fresh coconut milk or flesh, though only in large quantities. While the high potassium content of coconut water makes it unsafe for pets, some have found that using coconut oil on their feline companions helps alleviate skin problems. If you’re thinking about adding this to your cat’s diet or using it as a holistic treatment, it’s best to check with your vet first.
- Dairy. Many cats are lactose intolerant and have digestive issues after eating dairy products like milk, cheese, or yogurt. Avoiding them entirely is the safest option, but if you must, you can inquire whether or not a lactose-free treatment is allowed by your veterinarian.
- Grapes and dried fruit. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats and dogs, though the exact mechanism by which they are toxic to pets is still a mystery.
- Raw eggs. Salmonella bacteria can live in raw eggs. A fever, diarrhea, and vomiting are all classic indicators of an infection. Avidin, an enzyme found in raw eggs, prevents cats from absorbing biotin, a vitamin essential for healthy skin and fur.
- Raw or undercooked meat. Salmonella and E. coli are examples of bacteria that can contaminate raw or undercooked meat in a similar way that they can contaminate raw eggs. Bacteria called E. coli. Animals fed a raw meat diet are more likely to develop gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, according to the Clinical Nutrition Service
- Nuts. Like grapes, macadamia nuts can be fatal to pets, but it’s unclear how they cause poisoning. Almonds, pecans, and walnuts, among others, are high in oils and fats that can irritate a cat’s digestive tract and even lead to pancreatitis.