Who could not agree with that statement? It seems pretty clear, that if you eat poorly with things out of balance for your species, or inadequately, or eat stuff not fit to be eaten, illness and disease follows.
So, I’m sure we’d say that this statement is true for all species – including cats.
The really terrible thing is, I heard this line trotted out at a vet clinic…AS THE STAFF WERE PRAISING AND SELLING KIBBLE
So why would I be aghast at 'good nutrition' and 'kibble' being in the same thought as each other?
Well, first of all, we have to understand that cats are obligate carnivores; their bodies have NO choice and need to feed from meat sources. How do we know this? We can look at the natural setting, the physiology (how the body works) and the body structure.
The natural diet of cats in the wild is a meat-based regimen (eg, rodents, birds) that contains little carbohydrates, thus, cats are metabolically adapted to preferentially use protein and fat as energy sources (Zoran, D. 2002. The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats, http://www.catinfo.org/docs/DrZoran.pdf)
In fact, Zoran (2002) points out that cats have lower enzyme levels to digest carbohydrates, and small abilities to store or use glucose in the liver (it does easily get stored as fat), or regulate blood glucose levels in a sudden dietary loading. Not surprisingly then;
dry processed diets, with low protein to carbohydrate ratio have been linked to obesity in cats. (Thomson, L (BVScDipHom) Mair, A (BVSc,GDipTchg), Evidence Based Medicine The True Science Behind Raw Feeding. http://rawessentials.co.nz/media/documents/Evidence-Based%20Medicine.pdf)
And carbohydrates can wreak havoc on cats’ blood sugar/insulin balance (Pierson, L (DVM). http://catinfo.org/#My_Cat_is_Doing_Just_Fine_on_Dry_Food)
On natural observation as well as physiology, I think it is sensible to conclude that cats just aren’t equipped to eat a carby diet! And on a purely logical front – what would their teeth suggest? They don’t look like vege or grain grinding teeth to me.
So let’s go back to those 3 points and ask how kibble would feed a carnivore. And as far as possible, I’ll put it all in the words of vets or researchers:
So, I’m sure we’d say that this statement is true for all species – including cats.
The really terrible thing is, I heard this line trotted out at a vet clinic…AS THE STAFF WERE PRAISING AND SELLING KIBBLE
So why would I be aghast at 'good nutrition' and 'kibble' being in the same thought as each other?
Well, first of all, we have to understand that cats are obligate carnivores; their bodies have NO choice and need to feed from meat sources. How do we know this? We can look at the natural setting, the physiology (how the body works) and the body structure.
The natural diet of cats in the wild is a meat-based regimen (eg, rodents, birds) that contains little carbohydrates, thus, cats are metabolically adapted to preferentially use protein and fat as energy sources (Zoran, D. 2002. The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats, http://www.catinfo.org/docs/DrZoran.pdf)
In fact, Zoran (2002) points out that cats have lower enzyme levels to digest carbohydrates, and small abilities to store or use glucose in the liver (it does easily get stored as fat), or regulate blood glucose levels in a sudden dietary loading. Not surprisingly then;
dry processed diets, with low protein to carbohydrate ratio have been linked to obesity in cats. (Thomson, L (BVScDipHom) Mair, A (BVSc,GDipTchg), Evidence Based Medicine The True Science Behind Raw Feeding. http://rawessentials.co.nz/media/documents/Evidence-Based%20Medicine.pdf)
And carbohydrates can wreak havoc on cats’ blood sugar/insulin balance (Pierson, L (DVM). http://catinfo.org/#My_Cat_is_Doing_Just_Fine_on_Dry_Food)
On natural observation as well as physiology, I think it is sensible to conclude that cats just aren’t equipped to eat a carby diet! And on a purely logical front – what would their teeth suggest? They don’t look like vege or grain grinding teeth to me.
So let’s go back to those 3 points and ask how kibble would feed a carnivore. And as far as possible, I’ll put it all in the words of vets or researchers:
1. Is it balanced for a carnivore of the cat species? (Think meat, not carbs)
Most dry food are energy dense and have greater carbohydrate concentrations (greater than 25% on a dry matter basis) because starch is necessary to make the kibble. (Zoran, D. 2002. The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats, http://www.catinfo.org/docs/DrZoran.pdf)
cats lack specific metabolic (enzymatic) pathways and cannot utilize plant proteins as efficiently as animal proteins.(Pierson, L (DVM). http://catinfo.org/#Cats_Need_Animal-Based_Protein_)
It's very clear that not all proteins are created equal, especially when feeding a obligate carnivore, such as the cat (9,27). The biological value of a protein is a measure of that protein's ability to supply amino acids (especially the 11 essential amino acids) and to supply these amino acids in the proper proportions. It is well-established that animal proteins (e.g., meat, meat by-products) have a higher biological values than vegetable proteins (e.g., corn gluten meal, soybean meal, soy protein isolate). In addition to biological value, protein digestibility is key — what good is a food with a higher protein content if the protein isn't also easy to digest? In the short digestive tract of cats, plant proteins are far less digestible than meat proteins.
http://endocrinevet.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/optimal-protein-requirements-for-older.html
2. Does it have adequate nutrition for a carnivore?
It is very important to remember that not all proteins are created equal. The protein in dry food…is often heavily plant-based. Proteins derived from animal tissues have a complete amino acid profile…Plant-based proteins do not contain…(all)…the critical amino acids required by an obligate carnivore. Humans and dogs can take the pieces of the puzzle in the plant protein and, from those, make the missing pieces. Cats cannot do this. .(Pierson, L (DVM). http://catinfo.org/#Cats_Need_Animal-Based_Protein_)
The cooking process can also alter the end nutrients and bioavailability. Kibble is made by rendering and extruding. What is rendering? As defined by Webster’s Dictionary, to render is “to process as for industrial use: to render livestock carcasses and to extract oil from fat, blubber, etc., by melting.” In other words, raw materials are dumped into large vat and boiled for several hours. Rendering separates fat, removes water, and kills bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other organisms. However, the high temperatures used (270°F/130°C) can alter or destroy natural enzymes and proteins found in the raw ingredients. http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359
But it meets AAFCO ‘balanced and complete’ requirements…
(AAFCO) guidelines are very much concerned with the practicalities of making pet food from a vast array of low quality ingredients. They are minimum requirements, not optimal requirements…In the words of Quinton Rogers, DVM, PhD, one of the AAFCO panel experts:
"Although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities. I don't know of any studies showing their adequacies or inadequacies."⁷
(Thomson, L (BVScDipHom), 2013. Answers: Who Are AAFCO and the NRC? http://feline-nutrition.org/answers/answers-who-are-aafco-and-the-nrc)
Although the Nutrient Profile system has done a lot to standardize the business of pet food production, it's not without its critics. There are studies that suggest some nutrient levels may be too high, and others too low. The Nutrient Profile system of formulation does not address the issue of ingredient quality whatsoever. One critic of this method of feed formulation designed a “food” that met all the AAFCO nutrient profile requirements – even though the food was primarily formulated from old shoe leather, sawdust and motor oil with a multi-vitamin-mineral supplement. Obviously, there would be no guarantee that any animal would eat such a food, or could digest it, even though it contained all the vitamins, minerals, protein, fat, etc. that the nutrient profiles required. (bold emphasis added) (Jeane Hofve (DVM) Pet Food Regulation http://www.littlebigcat.com/nutrition/pet-food-regulation/ ). Excerpt found at http://www.thecatsite.com/t/239691/nutritionally-complete-assurances-for-our-pet-food
In 2006 the NRC published an update of recommendations for cats… It would certainly appear that AAFCO have not taken note of the most recent nutritional research. (Thomson,L(BVScDipHom. Mair,A(BVSc,GDipTchg), Evidence Based Medicine The True Science Behind Raw Feeding. http://rawessentials.co.nz/media/documents/Evidence-Based%20Medicine.pdf)
3. Does it contain stuff not fit to be eaten?
…the FDA conducted a study looking for pentobarbital, the most common euthanasia drug, in pet foods. They found it…so-called “4D” animals (dead, dying, diseased, disabled) were only recently banned for human consumption and are still legitimate ingredients for pet food. http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359
Note that these are American regulations: Australia currently has NO federal regulations, and only MOST state and territories prohibit the processing of pet meat from carcasses sourced from unhealthy animals. Obviously we also import a lot of pet food made under American regulations.
Potentially cancer-causing agents such as BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin are permitted at relatively low levels. The use of these chemicals in pet foods has not been thoroughly studied, and long term build-up of these agents may ultimately be harmful. Due to questionable data in the original study on its safety, ethoxyquin’s manufacturer, Monsanto, was required to perform a new, more rigorous study. This was completed in 1996. Even though Monsanto found no significant toxicity associated with its own product, in July 1997 the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine requested that manufacturers voluntarily reduce the maximum level for ethoxyquin by half, to 75 parts per million. While some pet food critics and veterinarians believe that ethoxyquin is a major cause of disease, skin problems, and infertility in dogs, others claim it is the safest, strongest, most stable preservative available for pet food. Ethoxyquin is approved for use in human food for preserving spices, such as cayenne and chili powder, at a level of 100 ppm — but it would be very difficult for even the most hard-core spice lover to consume as much chili powder every day as a dog would eat dry food. Ethoxyquin has never been tested for safety in cats. Despite this, it is commonly used in veterinary diets for both cats and dogs.
Chemical Residue. Pesticides and fertilizers may leave residue on plant products. Grains that are condemned for human consumption by the USDA due to residue may legally be used, without limitation, in pet food.
Bacteria.While the cooking process may kill bacteria, it does not eliminate the endotoxins some bacteria produce during their growth. These toxins can survive processing, and can cause sickness and disease. Pet food manufacturers do not test their products for bacterial endotoxins. Because sick or dead animals can be processed as pet foods, the drugs that were used to treat or euthanize them may still be present in the end product. Penicillin and pentobarbital are just two examples of drugs that can pass through processing unchanged.
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/facts.php?more=1&p=359
Because of the nondescript nature of the mush and nuggets in pet food cans and bags, pet owners must extend a lot of trust to manufacturers. But the balm of blind trust and faith never turns out to be a solution for anything. For example, consider the following approved ingredients from the official AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) regulatory publications:
dehydrated garbage (you read that right)
polyethylene roughage (plastic)
hydrolyzed poultry feathers
hydrolyzed hair
hydrolyzed leather meal
some 36 chemical preservatives
peanut skins and hulls
corn cob fractions
ground corn cob
ground clam shells
poultry, cow and pig feces and litter
hundreds of chemicals
a host of antibiotic and chemotherapeutic pharmaceuticals
a variety of synthetic flavorings
adjuvants
sequestrates
stabilizers
anticaking agents
This is not to say these ingredients are commonly used, just to point out that they can be.(Wysong. The Myth of “100% Complete and Balanced” Processed Pet foods. http://www.wysong.net/pet-health-and-nutrition/?article=36&cat=cat6)