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'Cat food' is food manufactured for consumption by cats. Although cats are obligate carnivores, most commercial cat food contains both animal and plant material, supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of cats, in particular containing the amino acid taurine, as cats cannot thrive on taurine-deficient food and go blind when fed with dog food, for example.^[1]

Contents

Commercial cat food

Dry food

Wet food

Homemade food

Vegetarian or vegan food

Nutrient profiles and functions

Diet and disease

Food allergy

Malnutrition

Recalls

References

External links

Commercial cat food

Most store-bought cat food comes in either dry form, also known as kibble, or wet canned form. Some manufacturers sell frozen raw diets and premix products to cater to owners who feed raw.
Major brand-name dry cat food manufacturers often use primarily grain-based ingredients like corn and rice with meat by-products or animal digest making up the meat ingredients. Some manufacturers offer 'premium', 'natural' or 'holistic' formulas that are by-product free and contains less or no grains. Grain-free dry diets still contain carbohydrates, from sources such as potato or tapioca as the starch in those ingredients is needed to allow the kibble to hold its shape. Cats have no metabolic need for carbohydrates as the feline system prefers to create glucose from protein.

Dry food

Dry food is generally made by extrusion cooking under high heat and pressure. It may then be sprayed with fat to increase palatability and other ingredients to complete its composition.
Pet owners often prefer dry cat food due to the convenience and price. Besides usually being significantly cheaper, dry cat food can also be left out for the cat to eat at will over the course of several days; whereas, canned or raw cat food spoils or becomes unappetizing after several hours.
Dry food is recommended by some based on the idea that cats break apart dry foods with their teeth, which causes the food to scrape off dental calculus. The degree of benefit this provides has been disputed in recent years.
Many dry foods use meals as protein source, such as meat meal, chicken meal, fish meal, or corn gluten meal. This allows manufacturers to produce cheaper foods. Since the occurrence of BSE infection through contaminated meat and bone meal, the use of meat meal in pet foods has been prohibited in parts of the world (e.g. Japan and France) but is still common practice in other parts (e.g. USA). Comparative studies conducted by Japanese researchers have shown that meat meal is superior to the other protein meal sources in terms of dry-matter digestibility and nutritional value for cats, while corn gluten meal is the least nutritional.^[2][3][4]
The same studies showed that cats fed with these dry food diets excreted alkaline urine. Urine pH has been implicated in the formation of struvite crystals in feline urolithiasis, and many dry food manufacturers address this by adding urine-acidifying ingredients to their food. However, this practice may lead to the formation of calcium oxalate stones, therefore water intake rather than urine pH appears to be the most crucial factor for the prevention and treatment of feline stones.^[5]

Wet food

Canned or wet food generally comes in common can sizes of 3 oz (85 gm), 5.5 oz, and 13 oz. It is also sold in foil pouch form by some manufacturers.
Owners and veterinarians who recommend a diet consisting largely or entirely of canned, homemade or raw cat food point to higher water content of such food and the increased total water consumption in comparison to a dry food diet as an important health benefit. Wet food also generally contains significantly less grain and other carbohydrate material, although many are made with fish ingredients.
Canned cat foods in pop-top containers may play a role in the development of hyperthyroidism in cats^[6]. This may be due to bisphenol A used in the pop-top can coating leaching into the food.^[7] Some cat foods also contain goitrogens, such as soybean products.
In general, canned, homemade, or raw foods are thought to either help treat or noticeably reduce the likelihood of numerous health issues including urinary tract disorders^[8][9], diabetes, chronic renal failure^[10], constipation (sometimes leading to megacolon), and obesity.

Homemade food

Many pet owners feed cats homemade diets. These diets generally consist of some form of cooked meat or raw meat, ground bone, pureed vegetables, taurine supplements, and other multivitamin supplements. Although cats are naturally resistant to many of the bacteria that raw meats contain, meat can sometimes also contain parasites and other harmful organisms and for this reason raw meat is sometimes frozen for periods of time before being used. Some pet owners use human vitamin supplements, and others use vitamin supplements specifically engineered for cats. Veterinarians sometimes recommend including digestive enzyme supplements in a homemade diet. Some pet food manufacturers offer packaged versions of a raw food diet that closely resembles such homemade diets. These packaged versions are generally kept frozen, with individual portions being thawed in advance.

Vegetarian or vegan food

Vegetarian or vegan cat food has been available for many years, and is targeted primarily at vegan and vegetarian pet owners. Most veterinarians recommend against vegetarian diets for cats, as cats are obligate carnivores and require nutrients (including taurine, arachidonic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B12 and niacin) found in meat sources that cannot be obtained in sufficient amount in plant sources, although many can be synthesized.
One study evaluated cats fed commercial and homemade vegetarian diets. The study found that all cats had serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) levels within the reference range and 3 of 17 cats had serum taurine values below the reference range.^[11]
Another study evaluated two vegan diets for nutritional adequacy. The study concluded that the two vegan diets analyzed did not meet the AAFCO minimal nutrient profile for cat diets. The authors recommended that these vegan diets should not be used as a sole source of nutrition for cats.^[12]
Even when adequately supplemented, some claim vegetarian diets present other risks, such as urine acidity problems, which are less common in meat-based foods. A few vegetarian cat food brands are labelled 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. Many pet owners have caused their cats to become malnourished when they do not follow the recommendation and mistakenly assume that the latter food is nutritionally complete.

Nutrient profiles and functions

In 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.
Products that are formulated with ingredients to meet the established nutrient profile would include the following statement. "(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles."
Products that are substantiated to be "complete and balanced" by feeding trials will have the statement "animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition." The protocol requires that 6 out of 8 cats complete a 26 week feeding trial without showing clinical or pathological signs of nutritional deficiency or excess. The cats' general health is evaluated by a veterinarian before and after the test. Four blood values, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum albumin are measured after the trial and the average values of the test subjects must meet minimum levels. No animal is allowed to lose more than 15% of its starting weight.
There are two separate nutrient profiles - one for "growth and reproduction" and one for "adult maintenance". The nutritional adequacy statement would include info on which life stages the product is suitable. A product labeled as "for all life stages" must meet the more stringent nutrient profile for "growth and reproduction". Products labeled as "intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding" do not meet either profiles. Maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established because of concerns with overnutrition.
Vitamins are organic compounds that take part in a wide range of metabolic activities. Vitamin deficiencies can lead to widely 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.^[13]
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.

'Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Cat Food Nutrient Profiles ^a [14]
with Role of Vitamins & Minerals ¹³'

Nutrient	Units (Dry Matter Basis)	Growth and Reproduction Minimum	Adult Maintenance Minimum	Maximum	Functions	Signs of Deficiency/Excess
Protein	%	30.0	26.0
Arginine	%	1.25	1.04
Histidine	%	0.31	0.31
Isoleucine	%	0.52	0.52
Leucine	%	1.25	1.25
Lysine	%	1.20	0.83
Methionine + cystine	%	1.10	1.10
Methionine	%	0.62	0.62	1.50
Phenylalanine + tyrosine	%	0.88	0.88
Phenylalanine	%	0.42	0.42
Threonine	%	0.73	0.73
Tryptophan	%	0.25	0.16
Valine	%	0.62	0.62
Fatb	%	9.0	9.0
Linoleic acid	%	0.5	0.5
Arachidonic acid	%	0.02	0.02
Minerals
Calcium	%	1.0	0.6		★ Formation of bones and teeth ★ Blood coagulation ★ Nerve impulse transmission ★ Muscle contraction ★ Cell signaling	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism ★ ★ loss of bone mineral content, which can lead to collapse and curvature of lumbar vertebrae and pelvic bones ★ ★ bone pain, which can progress to pathological fractures ★ Excess ★ ★ Depressed food intake ★ ★ Decreased growth ★ ★ Increased bone mineral density ★ ★ Increased need for magnesium
Phosphorus	%	0.8	0.5		★ Skeletal structure ★ DNA and RNA structure ★ Energy metabolism ★ Locomotion ★ Acid-base balance	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Hemolytic anemia ★ ★ Locomotor disturbances ★ ★ Metabolic acidosis
Potassium	%	0.6	0.6		★ Acid-base balance ★ Nerve-impulse transmission ★ Enzymatic reactions ★ Transport functions	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Anorexia ★ ★ Retarded growth ★ ★ Neurological disorders, including ataxia and severe muscle weakness
Sodium	%	0.2	0.2		★ Acid-base balance ★ Regulation of osmotic pressure ★ Nerve impulse generation and transmission	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Anorexia ★ ★ Impaired growth ★ ★ Excessive thirst and drinking ★ ★ Excessive urination
Chlorine / Chloride	%	0.3	0.3		★ Acid-base balance ★ Osmolarity of extracellular fluids	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Increased sodium concentration in renal fluid ★ ★ Excess potassium excretion
Magnesium c	%	0.08	0.04		★ Enzyme functions ★ Muscle and nerve-cell membrane stability ★ Hormone secretion and function ★ Mineral structure of bones and teeth	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Poor growth ★ ★ Overextension of the carpal joints ★ ★ Muscle twitching ★ ★ Convulsions ★ Excess ★ ★ Urinary tract stone formation in the presence of high pH
Iron d	mg/kg	80.0	80.0		★ Hemoglobin and myoglobin synthesis ★ Energy metabolism	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Poor growth ★ ★ Pale mucous membranes ★ ★ Lethargy ★ ★ Weakness ★ ★ Diarrhea ★ Excess ★ ★ Vomiting and diarrhea
Copper (extruded food) e	mg/kg	15.0	5.0		★ Connective tissue formation ★ Iron metabolism ★ Blood cell formation ★ Melanin pigment formation ★ Myelin formation ★ Defense against oxidative damage	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Reduced weight gain ★ ★ Longer time to conceive
Copper (canned food) e	mg/kg	5.0	5.0
Manganese	mg/kg	7.5	7.5		★ Enzyme functions ★ Bone development ★ Neurological function	No studies of deficiency in cats
Zinc	mg/kg	75.0	75.0	2000.0	★ Enzyme reactions ★ Cell replication ★ Protein and carbohydrate metabolism ★ Skin function ★ Wound healing	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Skin lesions ★ ★ Growth retardation ★ ★ Testicular damage
Iodine	mg/kg	0.35	0.35		★ Thyroid hormone synthesis ★ Cell differentiation ★ Growth and development of puppies ★ Regulation of metabolic rate	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Enlargement of thyroid glands ★ Excess ★ ★ Excessive tearing, salivation, and nasal discharge ★ ★ Dandruff
Selenium	mg/kg	0.1	0.1		★ Defense against oxidative damage ★ Immune response	No studies of deficiency in cats
Vitamins
Vitamin A	IU/kg	9000.0	5000.0	750000.0	★ Vision ★ Growth ★ Immune function ★ Fetal development ★ Cellular differentiation ★ Transmembrane protein transfer	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Conjunctivitis ★ ★ Cataracts, retinal degeneration, and other eye problems ★ ★ Weight loss ★ ★ Muscle weakness ★ ★ Reproductive and developmental disorders ★ Excess ★ ★ Skeletal lesions in kittens, particularly outgrowths of the cervical vertebrae ★ ★ Osteoporosis
Vitamin D	IU/kg	750.0	500.0	10000.0	★ Maintenance of mineral status ★ Skeletal structure ★ Muscle contraction ★ Blood clotting ★ Nerve conduction ★ Cell signaling ★ Phosphorous balance	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Rickets ★ ★ Abnormalities in skeletal development ★ ★ Progressive paralysis ★ ★ Ataxia ★ ★ Lack of grooming ★ ★ Reduction in body weight and food intake ★ Excess ★ ★ Anorexia ★ ★ Vomiting ★ ★ Lethargy ★ ★ Calcification of soft tissues
Vitamin E f	IU/kg	30.0	30.0		★ Defense against oxidative damage via free radical scavenging	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Anorexia ★ ★ Depression ★ ★ Pain sensitivity in abdomen ★ ★ Fat tissue pathology
Vitamin K g	mg/kg	0.1	0.1		★ Activation of clotting factors, bone proteins, and other proteins	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Prolonged blood clotting times ★ ★ Hemorrhaging
Vitamin B1 / Thiamine h	mg/kg	5.0	5.0		★ Energy and carbohydrate metabolism ★ Activation of ion channels in neural tissue	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Neurological impairments including altered reflexes and convulsive seizures ★ ★ Heart-rate disorders ★ ★ Pathological changes in the central nervous system ★ ★ Severe learning deficits
Riboflavin	mg/kg	4.0	4.0		★ Enzyme functions	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Cataracts ★ ★ Fatty livers ★ ★ Testicular atrophy
Pantothenic acid	mg/kg	5.0	5.0		★ Energy metabolism	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Stunted growth ★ ★ Fatty changes in liver ★ ★ Small bowel lesions
Niacin	mg/kg	60.0	60.0		★ Enzyme functions	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Anorexia ★ ★ Weight loss ★ ★ Elevated body temperature ★ ★ Fiery red tongue, with ulceration and congestion
Vitamin B6 / Pyridoxine	mg/kg	4.0	4.0		★ Glucose generation ★ Red blood cell function ★ Niacin synthesis ★ Nervous system function ★ Immune response ★ Hormone regulation ★ Gene activation	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Stunted growth ★ ★ Convulsive seizures ★ ★ Kidney lesions
Folic Acid	mg/kg	0.8	0.8		★ Amino acid and nucleotide metabolism ★ Mitochondrial protein synthesis	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Decreased growth rate ★ ★ increased iron levels in blood
Biotin i	mg/kg	0.07	0.07
Vitamin B12	mg/kg	0.02	0.02		★ Enzyme functions	★ Deficiency ★ ★ Weight loss ★ ★ Vomiting ★ ★ Diarrhea ★ ★ Intestinal disorders
Cholinej	mg/kg	2400.0	2400.0
Taurine (extruded food)	%	0.10	0.10
Taurine (canned food)	%	0.20	0.20
Nutrient	Units (Dry Matter Basis)	Growth and Reproduction Minimum	Adult Maintenance Minimum	Maximum	Functions	Signs of Deficiency/Excess
'NOTES' Presumes an energy density of 4.0 kcal/g ME, based on the ''modified'' ''Atwater'' values of 3.5, 8.5, and 3.5 kcal/g for protein, fat, and carbohydrate (nitrogen-free extract, NFE), respectively. Rations greater than 4.5 kcal/g should be corrected for energy density; rations less than 4.0 kcal/g should ''not'' be corrected for energy. Although a true requirement for fat per se has not been established, the minimum level was based on recognition of fat as a source of essential fatty acids, as a carrier of fat-soluble vitamins, to enhance palatability, and to supply an adequate caloric density. If the mean urine pH of cats fed ad libitum is not below 6.4, the risk of struvite urolithiasis increases as the magnesium content of the diet increases. Because of very poor bioavailability, iron from carbonate or oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level. Because of very poor bioavailability, copper from oxide sources that are added to the diet should not be considered as components in meeting the minimum nutrient level. Add 10 IU vitamin E above minimum level per gram of fish oil per kilogram of diet. Vitamin K does not need to be added unless diet contains greater than 25 percent fish on a dry matter basis. Because processing may destroy up to 90 percent of the thiamine in the diet, allowance in formulation should be made to ensure the minimum nutrient level is met after processing. Biotin does not need to be added unless diet contains antimicrobial or antivitamin compounds. Methionine may substitute choline as methyl donor at a rate of 3.75 parts for 1 part choline by weight when methionine exceeds 0.62 percent.

Diet and disease

Food allergy

Food allergy is a non-seasonal disease with skin and/or gastrointestinal disorders. The main complaint is Pruritus, which is usually resistant to treatment by steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The exact prevalence of food allergy in cats remains unknown. There is no breed, sex or age predilection, although some breeds are commonly affected. Before the onset of clinical signs, the animals have been fed the offending food components for at least two years, although some animals are less than a year old. 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. Provocation testing is necessary for the identification of the causative food component(s). Therapy consists of avoiding the offending food component(s).^[15]

Malnutrition

Cats fed exclusively on raw, freshwater fish can develop a thiamine deficiency.Those fed exclusively on liver may develop vitamin A toxicity. Malnutrition has been seen in cats fed "natural", "organic", or "vegetarian" diets produced by owners with good intentions, and most published recipes have been only crudely balanced (by computer) using nutrient averages. Because the palatability, digestibility, and safety of these recipes have not been adequately or scientifically tested, it is difficult to characterize all of these homemade diets. Generally, most formulations contain excessive protein and phosphorus and are deficient in calcium, vitamin E, and microminerals such as copper, zinc, and potassium. Also, the energy density of these diets may be unbalanced relative to the other nutrients. Commonly used meat and carbohydrate ingredients contain more phosphorus than calcium. Homemade feline diets that are not actually deficient in fat or energy usually contain a vegetable oil that cats do not find palatable; therefore, less food is eaten causing a calorie deficiency. Rarely are homemade diets balanced for microminerals or vitamins. Owner neglect is also a frequent contributing factor in malnutrition.^[16]

Recalls

Main articles: 2007 pet food recalls

The 2007 pet food recalls involved the massive recall of many brands of cat and dog foods beginning in March 2007. The recalls 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. After more than three weeks of complaints from consumers, the recall began voluntarily with the Canadian company Menu Foods on March 16 2007, when a company test showed sickness and death in some of the test animals. Soon after, there were numerous media reports of animal deaths as a result of kidney failure, and several other companies who received the contaminated wheat gluten also voluntarily recalled dozens of pet food brands.
By the end of March, veterinary organizations reported more than 100 pet deaths amongst nearly 500 cases of kidney failure, with one online database self-reporting as many as 3,600 deaths as of April 11. As of April 8, Menu Foods has confirmed only about 16 deaths. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration refuses to estimate the amount of sick or dead because there is no centralized government records database of animal sickness or death in the United States as there are with humans (such as the Centers for Disease Control). As a result, many sources speculate that the actual number of affected pets may never be known and experts are concerned that the actual death toll could potentially reach into the thousands.
Overall, several major companies have recalled more than 100 brands of pet foods, with most of the recalled product coming from Menu Foods. Although there are several theories of the source of the agent causing sickness in affected animals, with extensive government and private testing and forensic research, to date, no definitive cause has been isolated. As of April 10, the most likely cause, according to the FDA, though not yet proven, is indicated by the presence of melamine in wheat gluten in the affected foods. The Chinese company behind the contaminated wheat gluten has initially denied any involvement in the contamination, but is cooperating with Chinese and American investigators.
In the United States, there has been extensive media coverage of the recall. There has been widespread public outrage and calls for government regulation of pet foods, which had previously been self-regulated by pet food manufacturers. The United States Senate held an oversight hearing on the matter by April 12. The economic impact on the pet food market has been extensive, with Menu Foods losing roughly $30 Million alone from the recall. The events have caused distrust of most processed pet foods in some consumers.

References

1. Retinal degeneration associated with the feeding of dog foods to cats, , GD, Aquirre, J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc., 1978
2. Fish Meal vs. Corn Gluten Meal as a Protein Source for Dry Cat Food, , Masayuki, Funaba, J. Vet. Med. Sci., 2001
3. Comparison of corn gluten meal and meat meal as a protein source in dry foods formulated for cats, , M, Funaba, Am. J. Vet. Res., 2002
4. Evaluation of meat meal, chicken meal, and corn gluten meal as dietary sources of protein in dry cat food, , Masayuki, Funaba, Can. J. Vet. Res., 2004
5. Calcium oxalate urolithiasis in cats, , CA, Buffington, J. Endourol., 1999
6.
Epidemiologic study of relationships between consumption of commercial canned food and risk of hyperthyroidism in cats, , Charlotte H., Edinboro, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, JAVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA), 2004
7. Determination of bisphenol A in canned pet foods, , J.H., Kang, Res. Vet. Sci., 2002
8. Non-obstructive Lower Urinary Tract Disease in the Cat Susan Little, DVM
9. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorders Tony Buffington
10.
11.
Evaluation of cats fed vegetarian diets and attitudes of their caregivers, , Lorelei A., Wakefield, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, JAVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA), 2006
12.
Nutritional adequancy of two vegan diets for cats, , CM, Gray, JAVMA,
13. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in the Diet for Cats Subcommittee on Dog and Cat Nutrition (Committee on Animal Nutrition, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Division on Earth and Life Studies)
14. SELECTING NUTRITIOUS PET FOODS David A. Dzanis, D.V.M., Ph.D., DACVN Division of Animal Feeds, Center for Veterinary Medicine
15. Food Allergy in Dogs and Cats: A Review, , A., Verlinden, Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (Taylor & Francis), 2006
16. Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases John E. Bauer, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. A.C.V.N.

External links

★ From the U.S. Food and Drug Administration - Center For Veterinary Medicine

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★ Pet Foods

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★ Information For Consumers - FDA's Regulation Of Pet Food

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★ Information For Consumers - Information On Marketing A Pet Food Product

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★ Information For Consumers - Interpreting Pet Food Labels

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★ Information For Consumers - Interpreting Pet Food Labels - Special Use Foods

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★ Vegetarian Diets For Pets?

★ The Vegetarian Society UK on concerns relating to a vegetarian diet for cats

★ From Max's House Feline Medical And Behavior Database

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★ Feline Nutrition

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★ Cat Food Nutrient Profiles

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★ Dry food v/s canned (wet) food

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★ Dispelling The Myth That Pets Are Used In Pet Foods

★ From Animal Protection Institute

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★ Get The Facts - What's Really In Pet Food