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We all want to feed our cats nutritious food, but reading cat food labels is a tricky task. Looking at all the information on packages of commercial cat food can feel overwhelming, but once you know what to look for, a pet food label can provide all the information you need. Let’s learn how to read cat food labels, so you can choose a healthy diet for your cat or kitten.
How Is Pet Food Regulated?
In the United States, pet food is regulated by two agencies: the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), which sets guidelines and regulations for pet food production, labeling, and sales.
One of the most important things to look for on a pet food label is the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement. This states whether the food provides complete and balanced nutrition, as well as what life stage the food is intended for: maintenance (adult cats more than 1 year old), growth (kittens younger than 1 year old), or reproduction (also called gestation/lactation, which refers to pregnant and nursing queens).
Sometimes, the AAFCO statement says the food is formulated for “all life stages,” which means it provides adequate nutrition for cats and kittens of any age.
If the AAFCO statement says, “for supplemental feeding only,” it means the food is not a complete and balanced diet, and should only be fed for short periods of time, or in small amounts (for instance, added as a topper to a complete and balanced food).
How to Read a Cat Food Label
Many terms used on cat food labels are simply marketing terms. WaitForLight / Shutterstock.com
Once you find the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement and confirm that the food is appropriate for your cat’s life stage, it’s time to dig a little deeper.
1. Ingredients List
The ingredients list states the food’s ingredients in descending order by weight. The first few ingredients make up the bulk of the food; ingredients that fall further down the list are included in smaller amounts. When interpreting the ingredients list, consider the food’s source of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, as well as any preservatives and other ingredients.
Protein: Cats are obligate carnivores, which means the bulk of their nutrition should come from animal protein (meat and fish). For this reason, a high-quality animal protein should be the first ingredient in cat food, and it’s even better if animal protein appears in two out of three of the first ingredients. Look for named ingredients (i.e. chicken or salmon) rather than vague ingredients like “poultry” or “fish meal.”
Fat: Look for animal sources of fat, such as chicken fat or fish oil. These offer superior nutrition for cats compared to plant-based fat sources, such as corn oil and soybean oil. It’s ideal if the first source of added fat is animal-based.
Carbohydrates: Cats have little nutritional requirement for carbohydrates, but they are often found in commercial cat foods. Carbohydrates are necessary to bind dry food together, and might be included in wet foods to add fiber and bulk to the food. The fewer carbs for cats, the better. It’s best if any grains included are whole grains. Avoid corn, wheat, and soy, as well as high concentrations of beans, peas, and legumes.
Preservatives: Commercial cat foods contain preservatives to keep them fresh for long periods of time. Look for natural preservatives, such as mixed tocopherols (vitamin E).
Other ingredients: All cat foods contain taurine, an essential amino acid cats must get from their diet. Most cat foods contain a specific balance of added vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, and iodine. You might see “bone meal” on the ingredients list, which provides calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals.
Avoid foods with artificial colors and flavors, as well as unnecessary ingredients like sweeteners. Some thickeners can be problematic for cats. Carrageenan can be inflammatory, and some cats have trouble digesting various gums, including xanthan gum, guar gum, and locust bean gum.
2. Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis breaks down the amounts of nutrients of a pet food. It specifies the minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. The term “crude” means the percentages are estimates based on chemical analysis of the food.
Cats need a lot of protein and fat; a good cat food ideally contains at least at least 40% dry matter protein, at least 20% dry matter fat, and no more than 10% dry matter carbohydrate.
It can be tricky to compare dry cat foods and wet cat foods based on the guaranteed analysis. Wet foods will have seemingly lower concentrations of proteins and fat because of their high moisture content. You can do a calculation to figure out the amounts on a dry matter basis, which means what the percentages would be if the moisture was removed from the food.
Subtract the percentage of moisture from 100 to get the dry matter percentage
Divide the nutrient level percentage by the dry matter percentage
For example, if a food’s guaranteed analysis states 10.5% protein and 78% moisture:
100 – 78 = 22
10.5 / 22 = 47.7% protein
3. Calories
Calories refer to the energy a food provides when eaten. Calories are listed as the number of kilocalories per kilogram (kcal/kg) of food. For dry food, calories are usually listed per cup. For wet food, they are sometimes listed per can or per ounce. You can use a calorie calculator to estimate how many calories your cat needs for their daily life and activity.
4. Feeding Guidelines
Weighing your cat’s food is the best way to ensure they are getting a consistent amount. Ekaterina_Minaeva / Shutterstock
The feeding guidelines offer suggested feeding amounts. These are usually listed according to the cat’s weight and can offer amounts for active cats that need more calories versus cats that need to lose weight. The amounts listed in the feeding instructions are estimates, so keep an eye on your cat’s hunger level and waistline if you’re trying a new food.
All cats are individuals, so it’s important to talk to your veterinarian about how much to feed your cat. Rapid weight loss can be very dangerous for cats, so never start your cat on a diet without consulting your vet.
5. Expiration Date
Always check the pet food’s expiration date before buying or feeding food to your cat. The date might be listed as an expiration date, ‘best by’ date or ‘use by’ date. Do not feed your cat food that is past an expiration date as it could be spoiled or rancid. Even if it’s not spoiled, the nutrients will degrade over time, so it won’t offer the same nutrition.
If food is past the ‘best by’ date, inspect it carefully looking for signs of spoilage, including an unpleasant smell, mold, discoloration, dampness (in the case of dry food), or bulging or leaking cans.
6. Manufacturer Information
All cat food labels must state the manufacturer of the food, including contact details (address, phone number, and/or website). If you have any questions about the food you have purchased or are considering, reach out to the manufacturer.
Non-Regulated Pet Food Terms
As with human foods, pet food marketing is highly sophisticated. Manufacturers use pictures of whole foods and specific words and phrases intended to appeal to pet owners and sway you toward their product. Many terms found on cat food labels have little to do with the food’s quality, nutrition, or appropriateness for your cat.
The following terms are not legally defined or regulated in any way. Consider them marketing tools, not necessarily proof that the food is high quality or superior to other foods:
Natural
Holistic
Premium
Super premium
Human grade
Grain free
Gluten free
Ancestral diet
Wild diet
By-product free
No fillers
Veterinarian-approved
Veterinarian-recommended
Frequently Asked Questions
How to read ingredients on cat food?
The ingredients on cat food labels are listed in descending order by weight. Ingredients that appear at the beginning of the list weigh the most and make up the majority of the food. Ingredients that appear toward the end of the list make up a smaller portion of the food. It’s important to note that whole foods contain a lot of moisture, which makes them heavier.
For instance, “chicken” weighs more than “chicken meal,” (which is chicken with the water removed). Chicken might appear first on the ingredients list, but if it was considered on a dry matter basis (with the moisture removed), it would likely appear further down on the ingredient list.
What is the 25% rule for cat food?
Pet food manufacturers must follow certain rules regarding wording that appears on the label, whether it is the product name or descriptive wording. For a pet food to be labeled “Chicken cat food,” it must contain at least 95% chicken (not counting added water).
Foods labeled with other descriptions, like “Chicken dinner” or “Chicken entrée,” must contain at least 25% chicken (not including water). A product labeled “Cat food with chicken,” must contain at least 3% chicken.
Does phosphorus in cat food is also labeled as ash?
No, phosphorus in cat food is not labeled as ash. “Ash” refers to the total mineral content in the food, including calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, but it doesn’t specify individual minerals like phosphorus.
How determine carb content on cat food label?
To determine the carbohydrate content in cat food, subtract the percentages of protein, fat, moisture, fiber, and ash listed on the label from 100%. The remaining percentage will give an estimate of the carbohydrate content.
How is ash represented on cat food labels?
Ash on cat food labels is typically represented as “crude ash” or simply “ash,” which refers to the total mineral content left after the food is burned. It includes minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium, but the specific amounts of each are not detailed and not all brands provide the amount of ash on their recipes.
