Ingredients

Cat Food Ingredients

Not every questionable ingredient rises to the level of a scored risk factor. These pages cover common ingredients that cat owners ask about — what they are, why they appear in food, and why they are or are not included in our risk scoring.

Cellulose Filler

Plant-derived fibre filler. No nutritional value for cats; reduces food quality at high levels.

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Chicken By-Product Meal Common ingredient

Rendered chicken parts (necks, feet, intestines). Legitimate protein source, but transparency is low.

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Meat and Bone Meal Vague ingredient

Rendered mammal tissues and bone of unspecified origin. Variable quality, vague labelling.

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Corn / Maize Grain filler

Cheap starch and protein extender. Displaces animal protein. Covered by the grain-filler risk factor.

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Pea Protein Protein extender

Common protein extender in grain-free foods. Inflates protein percentage without the amino acid profile of meat.

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Taurine Required nutrient

Essential amino acid cats cannot synthesise in adequate amounts. Supplementation is required.

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