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Cat Food Nutrients

Cat foods labeled as "complete and balanced" based on the Cat Food Nutrient Profile must meet all the nutrient minimum and maximum levels.

These levels were set after considering the most current information on good nutrition for cats.

The profiles are designed to provide practical information for manufacturers of cat foods.

There are now two separate nutrient profiles -- one for growth and reproduction and one for adult maintenance, instead of just one for all lifestages.

This allows cat foods made for adult cats only to contain lower amounts of some nutrients, eliminating unnecessary excesses.

Also, maximum levels of intake of some nutrients have been established for the first time, because of concern that overnutrition, rather than undernutrition, is a bigger problem with many pet foods today.

The table below lists the Association of American Feed Control Officials nutritional profiles for cat foods.

It must be noted that the levels of nutrients are expressed on a dry matter basis, while the levels listed in the guaranteed analysis on the label are expressed on an as fed basis. To allow for meaningful comparisons, the as fed guarantees must be converted to dry matter. For a canned product that is 75 percent moisture (25 percent dry matter), multiply the guaranteed level times 4. For a 10 percent moisture dry product, multiply by 1.1.

Cat Food Nutrient Profiles

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.

Nutrient Growth and Reproduction Minimum Adult Maintenance Minimum Maximum
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 %

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.

Nutrient	Growth and Reproduction Minimum	Adult Maintenance Minimum
Fat	9.0 %	9.0 %
The minimum level of fat is 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.
Linoleic acid	0.5 %	0.5 %
Arachidonic acid	0.02 %	0.02 %

Minerals

Nutrient	Units (Dry Matter Basis)	Growth and Reproduction Minimum	Adult Maintenance Minimum	Maximum
Calcium	%	1.0	0.6
Phosphorus	%	0.8	0.5
Potassium	%	0.6	0.6
Sodium	%	0.2	0.2
Chloride	%	0.3	0.3
Magnesiumc	%	0.08	0.04
Iron*	mg/kg	80.0	80.0
Copper (extruded food)**	mg/kg	15.0	5.0
Copper (canned food)**	mg/kg	5.0	5.0
Manganese	mg/kg	7.5	7.5
Zinc	mg/kg	75.0	75.0	2000.0
Iodine	mg/kg	0.35	0.35
Selenium	mg/kg	0.1	0.1

* - 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.

Vitamins

Nutrient	Units (Dry Matter Basis)	Growth and Reproduction Minimum	Adult Maintenance Minimum	Maximum
Vitamin A	IU/kg	9000.0	5000.0	750000.0
Vitamin D	IU/kg	750.0	500.0	10000.0
Vitamin E*	IU/kg	30.0	30.0
Vitamin K**	mg/kg	0.1	0.1
Thiamine***	mg/kg	5.0	5.0
Riboflavin	mg/kg	4.0	4.0
Pantothenic acid	mg/kg	5.0	5.0
Niacin	mg/kg	60.0	60.0
Pyridoxine	mg/kg	4.0	4.0
Folic Acid	mg/kg	0.8	0.8
Biotini****	mg/kg	0.07	0.07
Vitamin B12	mg/kg	0.02	0.02
Choline*****	mg/kg	2400.0	2400.0
Taurine (extruded food)	%	0.10	0.10
Taurine (canned food)	%	0.20	0.20

* - 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.