How To Choose The Best High Protein Cat Food?
Choosing the right food for your cat can be daunting, with countless brands, textures, and flavours available. Complicated ingredient labels often make it even more challenging.
Does my cat need protein in their diet? How much protein do they need? What does protein do for them?
Read on to discover why cats need protein, the benefits of a high-protein diet, how much protein they require, and how to select the best high-protein food for your cat.
-- 7 minutes read --
1. Why Do Cats Need Protein?
a) Cats: Obligate Carnivores
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require a meat-based diet for essential animal protein.
Unlike dogs, cats have evolved little from their wild ancestors, primarily consuming small rodents, birds, and insects.
Their metabolism is specialised for digesting meat, and they have a limited ability to synthesise certain amino acids, making it vital to obtain these nutrients from their diet.
b) Essential Nutrients and Important Energy Source
Cats depend on specific amino acids, particularly taurine and arginine, for health.
Taurine supports eye and heart function, while arginine prevents toxic ammonia buildup in the blood.
Additionally, cats need certain vitamins from animal tissues, as they cannot produce enough on their own. Protein is their primary energy source; without sufficient dietary protein, cats may break down muscle tissue to meet their amino acid needs, leading to serious health issues.
2. What Are The Benefits Of A High-Protein Diet?
a) Nutritional Benefits
High-protein diets are packed with essential amino acids that cats can’t produce themselves.
These amino acids support muscle health, immune function, and overall wellness. Meats like chicken, beef, lamb, and fish are great choices for optimal nutrition.
b) Energy and Activity
Indoor cats need a high-protein diet in controlled portions to avoid weight gain, while outdoor cats benefit from the extra energy.
Don't worry—high-protein diets typically don’t lead to weight gain unless cats are overfed calorie-dense, carb-heavy kibble.
c) Weight Management
Protein helps keep your cat feeling full longer, which can prevent overeating. This is especially helpful for indoor cats who might be less active.
d) Muscle Maintenance
A high-protein diet supports lean muscle mass, essential for your cat’s health and mobility. This is particularly important for senior cats who may lose muscle as they age.
3. How Much Protein Does Your Cat Need?
Feeding your cat a complete diet is essential for their health and happiness, providing the nutrients they need to stay active and thrive.
What’s suitable for a kitten may not work for an older or pregnant cat, and standard adult diets may not be right for cats with health issues. Protein needs vary throughout a cat's life due to growth and changing challenges.
a) Protein Makeup Calculations
To work out how much protein is in your cat food, you'll need to do some maths to calculate the "as fed" protein levels on cat food labels to dry matter levels:
- Find the moisture percentage in the guaranteed analysis and subtract it from 100 to get the dry matter percentage.
- Divide the crude protein percentage by the dry matter percentage and multiply by 100.
This will give you the crude protein percentage based on dry matter.
Example Cat Food Label
- Crude Protein: 12%
- Moisture: 78%
Calculation Steps
1. Find Dry Matter Percentage:
- Subtract the moisture from 100:
- 100 - 78 = 22% (this is the dry matter)
2. Calculate Dry Matter Protein Percentage:
- Divide the crude protein by the dry matter percentage and multiply by 100:
- (12 ÷ 22) × 100 ≈ 54.55%.
The protein percentage based on dry matter is about 54.55%.
b) Protein Requirements
According to the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials):
- Adult cats need a minimum of 26% crude protein on a dry matter basis.
- Kittens and pregnant cats should have diets with at least 30% crude protein on a dry matter basis (need more protein for their rapid growth and development).
- Cats with liver and kidney diseases will need specific low-protein diet.
- Cats with digestive problems will need high-quality, digestible protein, and high protein diets to help weight loss while preserving muscle.
4. How To Choose The Best High Protein Cat Food?
a) Identifying High-Quality Protein Sources
When selecting a high-protein cat food, look for named meat sources as the first ingredient. Avoid foods that list generic terms like "meat meal" or "animal by-products".
These can be of lower quality and less digestible. High-quality protein sources include chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, and fish.
b) Balancing Protein with Other Nutrients
While protein is crucial, ensure that your cat's diet balances other essential nutrients. This includes fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Look for cat foods that provide a complete and balanced nutritional profile. They should meet the standards set by organisations like AAFCO.
c) Understanding Ingredient Labels
When selecting high-protein cat food, understand how to read ingredient labels and analyse nutritional content. Look for cat food with animal-based protein sources listed first, and ensure the crude protein content is high.
d) Wet Vs Dry Cat Food
Wet cat food generally has a higher moisture content compared to dry kibble. This benefits your cat’s hydration and urinary health.
When evaluating high-protein cat foods, consider adding wet cat food into your cat’s diet. This ensures they receive adequate hydration along with their protein intake.
5. High-Protein Diet Mythbusters
a) Myth: High-Protein Diets Cause Kidney Problems
Some believe high-protein diets cause kidney problems in cats. However, little evidence supports this as the main causative factor. Protein is essential for kidney and overall health function.
Taking away excessive amount of protein from the diet can lead to muscle loss and health issues. High-quality proteins support overall health.
b) Myth: Cats Don't Need a High-Protein Diet
Another myth suggests cats don't need a high-protein diet. As obligate carnivores, cats require more protein than many animals.
Protein maintains muscle, supports immunity, and provides energy. A low-protein diet leads to health problems like muscle wasting and a weak immune system.
c) Myth: Cats Can Thrive On A Vegan Diet
As obligate carnivores, cats thrive on meat-based diets, as their bodies struggle to digest large amounts of plant matter. Diets high in vegetables, grains, or carbohydrates can cause nutritional deficiencies and constipation.
A vegan or plant-based diet can lead to severe malnutrition since it lacks essential nutrients like taurine, crucial for heart and eye health. While some may advocate for grain-free cat foods, these often substitute grains with other harmful carbs, potentially leading to heart disease in cats.
6. Takeaway (TLDR)
Choosing the right food for your cat can be overwhelming due to the many options available. Since cats are obligate carnivores, they need a meat-based diet rich in protein to support their health, with varying protein requirements for adults, kittens, and pregnant cats.
To ensure your cat gets enough protein, check food labels and look for named meat sources as the primary ingredient. It's also beneficial to include wet food for hydration. Remember, high-protein diets are essential for your cat's well-being, and myths about protein harming kidney health are largely unfounded.
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