Lies & Truths About Cat Nutrition (What Pet Food Brands Don’t Want You to Know)
In this article
<h1>🧠 Lies & Truths About Cat Nutrition (What Pet Food Brands Don’t Want You to Know)</h1>
<p>From “breed-specific” kibble to grain-free claims and glossy kitten food bags, the pet food industry is loaded with <strong>marketing buzzwords — not real biology</strong>.</p>
<p>This article debunks the biggest myths about feline nutrition and highlights the <strong>truths that matter most</strong> for raising a healthy cat, straight from a veterinarian’s perspective. 🐾</p>
<hr>
<h2>🚫 LIE #1: “Cats need grain-free food.”</h2>
<p><strong>The truth:</strong> Cats don’t need grains — but many “grain-free” foods just <em>swap grains for peas, lentils, or potatoes</em>… which are still carbs and still unnecessary.</p>
<p>➡️ High-starch “grain-free” diets are <strong>linked to obesity, gut issues, and even urinary tract disorders</strong><sup>[1]</sup>.</p>
<hr>
<h2>🚫 LIE #2: “Kitten food is specially formulated.”</h2>
<p><strong>The truth:</strong> Most “kitten food” is just higher calorie kibble — often still full of fillers.
You don’t need a kitten label — you need a food labeled for “all life stages” with <strong>high protein, high fat, and real meat</strong>.</p>
<p>➡️ Brands like Ziwi and Feline Natural are all-life-stage approved with no fluff.</p>
<hr>
<h2>🚫 LIE #3: “Dry food cleans your cat’s teeth.”</h2>
<p><strong>The truth:</strong> It doesn’t. In fact, <strong>many dental issues are caused or worsened by dry food diets</strong>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Most cats barely chew kibble — they swallow it whole</li>
<li>Starch residue sticks to teeth and feeds mouth bacteria</li>
<li>Freeze-dried meat treats or raw bones are better dental tools</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h2>🚫 LIE #4: “Vet-recommended = healthiest”</h2>
<p><strong>The truth:</strong> Many vet-endorsed brands are backed by corporate partnerships and use marketing terms like “science-based” to cover up <strong>low meat content, high filler, and artificial additives</strong>.</p>
<p>➡️ A vet-written label isn’t a guarantee of quality — look at the ingredients.</p>
<hr>
<h2>✅ Truths You Can Trust</h2>
<h3>✔️ Cats are obligate carnivores</h3>
<ul>
<li>They need protein and fat from animal sources</li>
<li>They do not need carbs — at all</li>
</ul>
<h3>✔️ Moisture matters</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dry food is 10% water — raw prey is 70–75%</li>
<li>Hydration supports kidneys, digestion, and urinary tract health</li>
</ul>
<h3>✔️ Simple, whole-ingredient diets are best</h3>
<ul>
<li>Look for <strong>named proteins, organs, bone, and fat</strong></li>
<li>Short ingredient lists win — no mystery “meals” or “flavors”</li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h2>🛒 Want to Feed What Actually Works?</h2>
<ul>
<li>🥇 Ziwi Air-Dried Raw (NZ meat, organs, no fillers)</li>
<li>🥇 Feline Natural Freeze-Dried or Canned (high moisture, clean meat)</li>
<li>🥇 Raw (homemade or brands like Big Dog or Balanced Life — balanced with calcium & taurine)</li>
</ul>
<p>💡 Transition slowly using bone broth, raw goat milk, or freeze-dried toppers.</p>
<hr>
<h2>💬 From Dr. Duncan Houston</h2>
<blockquote>
“Pet food marketing exists to sell bags — not to educate. If your cat’s food contains more starch than meat, it’s not species-appropriate. Meat, moisture, and simplicity are what matter.”
</blockquote>
<hr>
<h2>📚 References</h2>
<ol>
<li>Zoran, D. L. (2002). The Carnivore Connection. *Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association*, 221(11), 1559–1567.</li>
<li>Buffington, C. A. T. (2011). Nutrition and chronic disease in cats. *Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice*, 41(5), 1009–1020.</li>
<li>International Cat Care. (2023). Nutrition myths & feline dietary needs. https://icatcare.org</li>
</ol>
<p>👉 Up next: <strong><a href="/zh-hans/blog/how-to-know-if-your-kittens-diet-is-working">How to Know If Your Kitten’s Diet Is Actually Working</a></strong></p>
