High Risk Quality issue
Low animal protein content
Score impact: −30 pts per affected product
Animal protein does not hold a dominant position in the ingredient list. Cats are obligate carnivores and require animal protein as their primary energy source.
Score Rationale
The deduction reflects both the nutritional inadequacy and the magnitude of the gap from optimal. Cats have an obligate requirement for taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A — all found in animal tissue, not plant ingredients. Insufficient animal protein over time causes dilated cardiomyopathy, retinal degeneration, and reproductive failure.
Scientific Evidence
Established science
- · National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. Washington DC: National Academies Press.
- · Zoran DL (2002). The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 221(11):1559–1567.
- · Morris JG (2002). Idiosyncratic nutrient requirements of cats appear to be diet-induced evolutionary adaptations. Nutrition Research Reviews 15(1):153–168.
Related Ingredients
Affected Products (13 of 60)