Crave UK

Enter a keyword below to search for articles and products.

UNDERSTANDING CAT FOOD LABELS

decoding cat food labels

Just as you read the nutrition labels on food packaging for your own food at the grocery store, you should be reading the nutrition information on cat food labels. While cat food labels may look more complex that your food in comparison, this guide will help you determine what the best healthy cat food option is for your pet.

COMPOSITION LIST ON CAT FOOD LABELS

For human food, ingredients on the labels are arranged in descending order according to the percentage of weight they account for in the product; for example, if the first ingredient listed is chicken, you know that a significant portion of the food consists of chicken. The same is true for the nutrition information on cat food labels. On cat food labels ingredients can be listed either by category names, or by single ingredient names. For minerals, in order to avoid a long list of names, pet food manufacturers have agreed on using the category name, minerals, rather than listing the single ingredient names.

When you're shopping for cat food, look for foods with animal proteins; like salmon and chicken. This way, you know your cat is getting wholesome, high quality cat food that will include the proteins and amino acids they needs to stay healthy.

ANALYTICAL CONSTITUENTS ON CAT FOOD LABELS

This is similar to the nutritional information that is found on human food packaging and includes for cat food:

  • protein
  • fat content
  • crude fibre
  • for products containing more than 14% moisture, the moisture level