A recently published paper tells us that cats, left to decide which food is best for them, will choose a diet that is closely related to what Mother Nature would feed them. High protein, moderate fat, and low carbohydrates cat foods are what they chose to eat.
Mother Nature is quite wonderful. Even though cats have been domesticated for many years, their instincts tell them to search out a diet that closely resembles that of natural prey.
Briefly, cats were allowed to self select which foods to eat in both dry/kibble experiments and canned food experiments. Some of the cats were “naive” or new to having a choice or variety of cat food selections, and some of the cats were “experienced” at having a variety of cat food selections. The experiments showed, that regardless of how experienced the cat was at choosing which food to eat, all selected a diet that was high in protein, moderate fat, and low in carbohydrates. Some of the experiments even provided high fat or high carbohydrate diets on alternative days. Regardless how the foods were presented, the cats balanced out their own diet back to high protein, moderate fat, and low carbohydrate.
Let to their own choices, science tells us that cats choose a diet that is high protein, moderate fat and low carbohydrate. Now…if we can just get AAFCO and FDA to read this paper.
To read the full report, Click Here
The Guaranteed Analysis provides us with protein and fat minimum percentage (not maximum), yet we are not provided with the carbohydrate percentage. Sadly, obtaining the carbohydrate percentage of a pet food from the manufacturer is difficult (at best). In attempts to gain this information in the past, I’ve been told that this is proprietary information with many manufacturers.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com
Have you read Buyer Beware? Click Here
Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible
Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter? Click Here to subscribe
Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter
Become a Fan of Truth about Pet Food, Dinner PAWsible, Buyer Beware on Facebook
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
