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Cats are obligate carnivores

Short answer"Obligate carnivore" means a cat's body is built to run on animal tissue: cats rely on nutrients found only in animal products, and the prey they evolved on is high in protein, moderate in fat and minimal in carbohydrate. A cat food label is worth reading through that lens: an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement for your cat's life stage matters far more than any picture or slogan on the front of the bag, because the statement, not the artwork, is what tells you the food is formulated to be complete.

Sources: WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines and the Cornell Feline Health Center, linked at the end.

What "obligate" really means

Cats evolved as hunters eating prey that is high in protein, moderate in fat and minimal in carbohydrate, and their diet still requires those general proportions today. They also rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Three practical consequences when you shop:

Animal-source ingredientsCats rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Cornell's feeding guidance suggests choosing foods where meat, meat by-products or seafood appear among the first ingredients, as a sign the food contains enough animal-source ingredients.

Complete, not supplementedA complete and balanced food already covers the vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids cats need. Cornell cautions that supplements are usually unnecessary on such a diet - and can be harmful without a vet's approval.

Individual needs varyCats vary greatly in how much food they need. Cornell advises asking your vet to help determine your cat's ideal weight and how to adjust the diet to reach and maintain it.

Why cats are not small dogs

Cat food and dog food are regulated and labeled the same way, which tempts people to treat them as interchangeable. They aren't: AAFCO maintains separate nutrient profiles for cats and for dogs, so a food formulated for one species is not built for the other. If pets in your home share bowls, that's worth a mention to your vet.

What this means when you read a label

Being an obligate carnivore doesn't mean "grain-free," "raw," or "only meat" - it means the finished food must supply the nutrients meat would supply. A well-formulated commercial food does that with a mix of animal ingredients plus added vitamins, minerals and amino acids, and the AAFCO statement on the label is what states the food meets that standard - AAFCO writes the rules, but it does not certify individual products. The WSAVA nutrition guidelines steer owners toward exactly this: pick foods that are complete and balanced for your cat's life stage, from manufacturers who can document their nutritional expertise and quality control. The label sections that tell you this - the AAFCO statement, the guaranteed analysis and the ingredient list - are covered in the next guides.

NextReading a guaranteed analysis ToolLabel decoder

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