Does 'Grain-Free Cat Food' Really Exist?
1. The term "grains" encompasses a vast array of varieties. Beyond the wellknown staples like rice, wheat, and corn, there are also lesserknown grains such as millet and black rice, all of which are part of the grain family. Grains are rich in carbohydrates, which are the most efficient nutrients for providing energy to animals. Consequently, grains are an ideal food choice for humans, offering convenience and affordability. Dry cat food relies on starch to form its granular shape, and since starch is also a carbohydrate, grains are often added to many cat foods due to their costeffectiveness.
2. It is a wellestablished fact that cats have a natural preference for meat. Even feral cats rarely consume plants, except in specific circumstances, such as when they need to ingest plant material to help with fur digestion or when they require certain micronutrients that are not easily obtained from meat. In such cases, they may hunt herbivores to consume the contents of their digestive systems, thereby supplementing their micronutrient intake. Cats are inherently deficient in enzymes needed to digest carbohydrates, and excessive grain intake can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar levels, potentially causing obesity in cats due to the high caloric intake. For this reason, it is advisable not to feed cats leftovers or human food.
3. Highquality cat food typically contains a lower proportion of carbohydrates compared to regular cat food. Heating can make these carbohydrates more easily digestible, and cats can quickly replenish their energy by consuming an appropriate amount of carbohydrates, which they readily accept.
Today, there are indeed "fivegrain" cat foods available. These products can be designed in two ways: either by substituting other carbohydrate sources for grains or by using more meatbased ingredients to replace those containing carbohydrates. Therefore, grainfree cat food also contains carbohydrates. To determine the quality of a cat food, it is not enough to rely solely on the product label; one must also examine the ingredient list and consider how well the cat adapts to the food.
