Download Check the label (Cat) - WVU 4-H

Project Series: Animal Science – Cat
Use:
Project Workshops, Club Meetings, Skillathons, Day Camp, Camp Classes, Assemblies,
After-school Sessions, Field Day, 4-H Project Awareness Event, 4-H Enrollment Night
Goal: Build awareness of and interest in the animal science cat curriculum.
Provide youths and adults opportunities to experience hands-on animal science cat curriculum
activities.
Create an environment where youths and adults interact through hands-on animal science cat
activities.
Time:
30 to 45 minutes
Materials: Different brands and types of cat food (six dry, six semi-moist, six canned), Cat Food
Comparison Chart, pencils
Activity:
Check the Label
Which brand or kind of cat food is best for your cat? Not all cat foods are created equal. Just like we
need to pay attention to the ingredients in our food, cat owners need to do the same for their pets.
Cats have very special dietary needs. Their need for protein is especially great and only animal
products such as meat, poultry, fish, or eggs can provide this protein. These products contain
essential amino acids such as taurine, which is important for a cat’s eyesight. Lack of taurine can
result in blindness. Cats also require high levels of fat in their diet.
To make sure your cat is getting the best possible nutrition, read levels carefully. There should be a
section labeled “guaranteed analysis.” This section lists the minimum amounts of protein and fat and
the maximum amounts of fiber and water. It may also list the ash content. Generally, the greater the
amount of ash in dry or semi-moist foods, the greater the magnesium content. Although some
magnesium is needed in the diet, too much magnesium has been associated with lower urinary tract
disease.
The best way to make sure your cat is eating a nutritionally-balanced diet is to feed a high quality
commercial cat food. The three major types of commercial cat food are: dry, semi-moist, and canned.

Dry cat foods contain an average of 31% protein, 11% fat, and 10% moisture and have 1500
to 1700 digestible kilocalories per pound. These foods provide complete and balanced
nutrition by combining quality sources of animal protein, cereal grains, fat sources and other
ingredients, including vitamin and mineral supplements. An advantage of dry cat food is that it
can be left in a bowl all day so a cat can nibble as it pleases. Dry food also helps keep teeth
clean and gums healthy by reducing tartar build-up, due to the abrasive nature of the food.

Semi-moist cat foods usually come in sealed pouches. They contain approximately 23%
protein, 10% fat, and 35% moisture. High quality, semi-moist diets contain approximately 1300
digestible kilocalories per pound of product. Semi-moist cat food provides flavor-appeal in a
product that is very convenient to use. It provides complete nutrition, although it may not be
nutritionally complete for growing kittens.
   

Canned or specialty canned cat foods are very tasty and offer a wide range of flavors. These
products have a high percentage of meat making them an excellent source of protein.
Specialty cat foods add variety and taste-appeal to the cat’s diet. A drawback of canned foods
is that some people do not like to store the leftovers in the refrigerator. Canned foods are also
more expensive and the food does not stay fresh.
Procedure:
This activity challenges youths to investigate and compare different types and brands of cat foods and
decide which would be best for their cat. From the various cat foods exhibited, have youths select six
cat foods of different brands – two dry, two semi-moist, and two canned. In each pair, have youths
choose two that are the most different in price. Using the information on the package labels, have
youths:
 Complete the Cat Food Comparison Chart
 Select two similar cat foods and list their ingredients
 Decide which cat food would meet their cat’s nutritional needs, keep their cat in good
condition, and stay within their budget.
Activity Discussion Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Which brand or kind of cat food is best for your cat?
What attracted you to the brand or kind of cat food?
What did you look for on the labels?
What were the differences between the brands and kinds of cat food?
What information do you need before making a food purchase?
Why is it important to “get the facts” before making a decision?
How will what you learned help you make wise decisions about what to feed your cat in the future?
Additional Background Information:

Fresh, cool water needs to be available in a clean dish at all times, as it is an essential element in
the diet. Water helps regulate body temperature, digest food, eliminate waste, lubricate tissue, and
allow salt and other electrolytes to pass through the body.

While some cats enjoy milk, milk is not a substitute for water, and adult cats’ calcium needs are
met if they are fed a nutritionally complete food.

Do not feed dog food to cats. It does not contain enough protein for cats and it usually lacks
taurine, which cats need for good eye and heart function. Cats need two to four times as much
protein as dogs.

Another term to look for on a label is “complete” or “balanced.” This indicates that the food has
been animal-tested and found to meet the National Research Council recommendation for
minimum amounts of essential nutrients.

Pet food manufacturers are required to supply certain nutritional information on the package.
Labeling regulations are established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials
(AAFCO) and the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Call your veterinarian if you cat refuses to eat or drink.
Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability,
religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, and marital or family status.
Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Director, Cooperative Extension Service, West Virginia University.
2009