Cat Food Ingredients to Avoid

When choosing a cat food for your feline friend, select one that is healthy, complete and designed specifically for cats. Cats' nutritional needs differ from those of other animals, including dogs, because they are obligate carnivores, meaning they need high quality, high protein food. Real meat, poultry, fish and eggs are easily digestible sources of protein for cats. Cat foods high in grain and that contain artificial ingredients may not satisfy your cat's nutritional needs and should be avoided.

  1. Preservatives

    • Many non-brand name cat foods as well as branded foods sold at grocery stores contain preservatives and artificial additives such as coloring agents that may not provide the best nutrition for your cat. Read the ingredient list on each cat food you consider purchasing and look for preservatives such as ethoxyquin, BHA and BHT. These are chemical antioxidants designed to extend the shelf life of cat food. These chemical additives may cause dry skin, allergic reactions, dental disease and compromised health in your cat. BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are added to oils to slow deterioration. Ethoxyquin is a chemical preservative regulated by the FDA as a pesticide that may promote kidney problems. Sometimes cat foods list ethoxyquin simply as "E" in the ingredients. All three, but particularly ethoxyquin, are ingredients to avoid.

    High Grain Content

    • Cats don't adjust well to low-protein, high-grain diets. They depend on specific nutrients found in animal products to function properly. These include arginine, taurine, arachidonic acid and preformed Vitamin A, which sometimes cat food ingredient lists call retinyl palmitate or acetate. Many cat foods available at grocery stores, including brand name varieties, contain less of the protein and vitamins cats need and more "filler" ingredients that they don't. By law, pet food labels must list their ingredients in order by weight. If wheat, soy or corn is first or second ingredients, they comprise the main ingredients in your cat food, instead of protein such as fish, chicken or beef, which cats need. Avoid cat foods that list corn, wheat or soy near the top.

    Byproducts

    • By definition, byproducts are derivatives made from another product. They are common in cat food, but you should avoid them. Byproducts included in cat food can include hair, feathers, connective tissue, feet, claws, beaks, tongues and eyeballs. Some commercial cat foods even add peanut shells and newspapers to boost the food's fiber levels.