Allergy Cat Food In
Allergy Cat Food In
Cat food is food intended for consumption by cats. As cats are obligate carnivores most commercial cat foods are fortified with supplemental nutrients. One of the most important is the amino acid derivative taurine, as cats cannot synthesize the compound. Cats fed taurine-deficient dog food may develop retinal degeneration and go blind, for example.
Commercial cat food
Most store-bought cat food comes in either dry form, also known in the US as kibble , or wet canned form. Some manufacturers sell frozen raw diets and premix products to cater to owners who feed raw.
Dry food
Dry food (8-10% moisture) is generally made by extrusion cooking under high heat and pressure. Fat may then be sprayed on the food to increase palatability, and other minor ingredients, such as heat-sensitive vitamins, which would be destroyed in the extrusion process, may be added.
Major brand-name dry cat food formulations consist of grain and animal material. The food labels 'premium', 'natural' or 'holistic' currently have no legal meaning. Products labeled "grain-free" may use potato or tapioca in lieu of grain. Starch allows the kibble to hold its shape.
Dry cat food has an advantage over wet in convenience and price and can be left out for the cat to eat at will over the course of several days. Dry cat food will still eventually become rancid and stale as it oxidizes over time. Dry food can also scrape off excess tooth residue while chewing avoiding the buildup of dental calculus.
Wet food
Canned or wet food (75-78% moisture) generally comes in common can sizes of 3 oz (85 g), 5.5 oz (156 g), and 13 oz (369 g). It is also sold in foil pouch form by some manufacturers. Its higher water content relative to dry food may contribute to increased total water consumption in comparison to a dry food diet.
Vegetarian or vegan food
Vegetarian or vegan cat food has been available for many years. Vegetarian cat food usually is fortified with nutrients such as taurine and arachidonic acid. A few vegetarian cat food brands are labeled by their manufacturers as meeting AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profile while other manufacturers recommend their products to be supplemented and not used as a standalone.
Labeling
Further information: Pet food#Labeling and regulationIn the United States, cat foods labeled as "complete and balanced" must meet standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) either by meeting a nutrient profile or by passing a feeding trial. Cat Food Nutrient Profiles were established in 1992 and updated in 1995 by the AAFCO's Feline Nutrition Expert Subcommittee. The updated profiles replaced the previous recommendations set by the National Research Council(NRC). Certain manufacturers label their products with terms such as premium, ultra premium, natural and holistic. Such terms currently have no legal definitions.
Energy requirement
The energy requirement for adult cats range from 60-70 kcal metabolizable energy/kg body weight per day for inactive cats to 80-90 kcal/kg BW for active cats. Kittens at five weeks of age require 250 kcal/kg BW. The requirement drops with age, to 100 kcal/kg BW at 30 weeks and to the adult requirement at about 50 weeks. Gestating cats require about 90-100 kcal/kg BW and lactating cats 90-270 kcal/kg BW depending on litter size.
Nutrients and functions
Vitamin deficiencies can lead to wide ranging clinical abnormalities that reflect the diversity of their metabolic roles. Twelve minerals are known to be essential nutrients for cats. Calcium and phosphorus are crucial to strong bones and teeth. Cats need other minerals, such as magnesium, potassium, and sodium, for nerve impulse transmission, muscle contraction, and cell signaling. Many minerals only present in minute amounts in the body, including selenium, copper, and molybdenum, act as helpers in a wide variety of enzymatic reactions.
The table below lists the AAFCO nutritional profiles for cat foods along with the roles of vitamins and minerals in cat nutrition according to the National Research Council.
Diet and Disease
Vegan and Vegetarian Diets
The feeding of vegan or vegetarian diets to cats remains controversial, even among vegan, vegetarian, animal, and scientific advocacy groups. According to the National Research Council, "Cats require specific nutrients, not specific feedstuffs.". The International Vegetarian Union, the Vegan Society and Peta are some of the organizations that support a vegan or vegetarian diet for cats. The Animal Protection Institute does not recommend a vegetarian diet for cats, and neither does the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty (ASPCA) to Animals. Vegan activist Joanne Stepaniak wrote "... If we that it is wrong for natural vegetarians to be force-fed meat, the inverse should be equally morally objectionable".. Not all animal advocacy groups take a firm position either way. The Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (now Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association) accepts that it is possible for a plant based diet to be nutritionally adequate but stated that they "cannot at this time be reliably assured".
Homemade food
Further information: Raw feedingMany pet owners feed cats homemade diets. These diets generally consist of some form of cooked or raw meat, bone, vegetables, taurine supplements, and other multivitamin supplements.
bisphenol A
Recently it has been reported that food packaged in cans coated with bisphenol A has been correlated with the development of hyperthyroidism in cats.
Food allergy
Food allergy is a non-seasonal disease with skin and/or gastrointestinal disorders. The main complaint is excessive scratching (Pruritus) which is usually resistant to treatment by steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The exact prevalence of food allergy in cats remains unknown. In 20 to 30% of the cases, cats have concurrent allergic diseases (atopy / flea-allergic dermatitis). A reliable diagnosis can only be made with dietary elimination-challenge trials. Allergy testing is necessary for the identification of the causative food component(s). Therapy consists of avoiding the offending food component(s).
Malnutrition
Malnutrition can be a problem for cats fed non-conventional diets. Cats fed exclusively on raw, freshwater fish can develop a thiamine deficiency. Those fed exclusively on liver may develop vitamin A toxicity. Also, diets excessive in protein and phosphorus yet deficient in calcium, vitamin E, and microminerals such as copper, zinc, and potassium are of particular concern. Energy density must also be maintained relative to the other nutrients. When vegetable oil is used to maintain the energy balance cats may not find the food as palatable risking a calorie deficiency.
Recalls
Main article: 2007 pet food recallsThe broad pet food recalls starting in March 2007 came in response to reports of renal failure in pets consuming mostly wet pet foods made with wheat gluten from a single Chinese company beginning in February 2007. Overall, several major companies recalled more than 100 brands of pet foods with most of the recalled product coming from Menu Foods. The most likely cause according to the FDA is the presence of melamine in the wheat gluten of the affected foods. Melamine is known to falsely inflate the protein content rating of substances in laboratory tests. The economic impact on the pet food market has been extensive, with Menu Foods losing roughly $30 Million alone from the recall.
Environmental impact
Further information: OverfishingSee also: Environmental effects of meat productionIn a study on the impacts of the pet food industry on world fish and seafood supplies, researchers estimate that 2.48 million metric tonnes of fish are used by the cat food industry each year. Reduction of oceanic forage fish like those typically used in cat food (sardines, herring, anchovy etc.) negatively affects predator fish like cod, tuna and swordfish, and other dependent predators such as birds and mammals.
Nutrient Chart
See also
- Cat food brands
References
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Aquirre, GD (1978). "Retinal degeneration associated with the feeding of dog foods to cats".
J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc.
172
(7): 791–6.
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