CatWell
Low Concern Transparency issue

Crude ash not declared

Score impact: −5 pts per affected product


Ash content missing from the label. A high ash level (>2.5% as fed) indicates bone or connective tissue content.

Score Rationale

Ash content is a proxy for the mineral and skeletal material in the product — elevated values (>2.5% in wet food, >8% dry matter) suggest significant bone or connective tissue inclusion. While EU law recommends but does not mandate ash declaration, its absence removes a useful quality signal, particularly for cats with urinary tract concerns.

Scientific Evidence

Established science

Affected Products (12 of 60)

9Lives Daily Essentials 9Lives · Adult Dry Food
Dry 21
Friskies Surfin' & Turfin' Favorites Friskies · Adult Dry Food
Dry 51
Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Hill's · Adult Dry Food
Dry 87
Iams Proactive Health Healthy Adult with Chicken Iams · Adult Dry Food
Dry 77
Instinct Original Grain-Free Real Chicken Recipe Instinct · Adult Dry Food
Dry 95
Meow Mix Original Choice Meow Mix · Adult Dry Food
Dry 41
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Real Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Merrick · Adult Dry Food
Dry 87
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Grain-Free Duck & Green Pea Recipe Natural Balance · Adult Dry Food
Dry 73
Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend with Real Chicken Purina · Adult Dry Food
Dry 73
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Chicken & Rice Purina · Adult Dry Food
Dry 77
Royal Canin Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food Royal Canin · Adult Dry Food
Dry 77
Stella & Chewy's Chick Chick Chicken Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Stella & Chewy's · Adult Freeze-Dried Raw Food
Freeze-dried 95