Cat food

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.

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 (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.

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. Although having a higher water content concern that a cat is drinking too much is at best a cat to cat basis, mainly because cats are not 'naturally voracious drinkers'.

Many ask the question or think, "Doesn't dry food help a cat's teeth stay clean?". The idea is that as a cat eats their food, the abrasive action of the food scrapes away left over food, that could lead to inflammation and erosion of the teeth and gums, therefore creating healthier teeth. According to Dr. Brown, on cathealth.com, the exception to this rule is with special dental diets. Studies have not shown any difference between a dry or wet food diet for dental health. Another thing is that cats generally do not 'chew' their food, and usually only crunching its teeth once or twice before its down the hatch. As well cats lack the enzimes that humans poses inside their mouth to help breakdown the food they eat.

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.

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.

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.