The 5 biggest misconceptions about cat nutrition
You’ve probably been there too, wondering: Which feeding tips for my cat should I actually take seriously— and which ones are complete nonsense?
Whether it’s supposed nutritional wisdom, amateur advice, or the old “cats should drink milk”—we’re here to debunk the myths about feeding your feline and explain which recommendations you’re better off ignoring.
1. “Milk is good for cats”
Young cats are fed milk by their mothers until about 4 weeks of age. Kittens tolerate it so well because during this time their bodies produce the enzyme lactase, allowing them to digest the milk sugar lactose.
During this period, being able to digest their mother’s milk without problems is especially important for kittens, as it contains all the nutrients they need for healthy growth. Gradually, the mother cat transitions her young to solid food—and in doing so, she weans them step by step off milk. However, lactase production is tied to the amount of mother’s milk the kittens consume. Less milk means less lactase.
As a result, cats gradually develop a kind of lactose intolerance: after just a few months, their bodies are no longer equipped to process milk sugar. If your cat drinks milk, it will likely suffer from stomach aches. Diarrhea and bloating are also common reactions to the lactose in milk.
While lactose-free milk and cat milk are alternatives, they often contain more fat than mother’s milk and a lot of calories, which can lead to obesity over time. So your cat should only have cat milk in moderation and as an occasional treat at best.
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2. “Cats know how much they need to eat themselves”
If you watch your cat occasionally pick a piece of dry food from the bowl and not eat the whole thing at once, it’s easy to assume it’s reasonable to think that cats can regulate their own food intake.
But if you look at obesity in cats, you’ll notice that about every second house cat is affected. The reason is simply too much food and too little exercise—which is common for indoor cats. On top of that, many owners have their cats neutered, which increases appetite while lowering energy needs. The result: cats gain weight even faster if there is no adjustment to the feeding amount.
Even if it seems like it, cats cannot distinguish between hunger and appetite. If a bowl is always full, your cat will eat from it even when she’s not hungry. Keep an eye on your cat’s food portions and feed her several small meals throughout the day—this also benefits digestion.
3. “Even cheap cat food is regulated, so it must be good”
If you produce cheaply and only spend little money on raw materials, you can also sell cat food cheaply. Cheap food contains cheap ingredients, which means: meat from poorly raised animals or even meat from →slaughterhouse waste (K-3 material) and a high grain content, because it saves money.
And that’s the problem: studies show that all types of grains together have the highest allergy potential of any food ingredient. The meat content is usually made up of several types of meat, so there’s no sign of single protein here. Intolerances to these kinds of food components are relatively common and don’t always show up right away.
Dull coat, itching, diarrhea, or bloating can be early reactions to the high grain content. To make such food appealing to cats, you need lots of colorings and flavorings, which are anything but healthy.
But what about quality? And why does even cheap food pass almost every inspection? Testing institutes only check whether pet food covers the required vitamins and nutrients a pet theoretically needs. These days, almost all nutrients can be added artificially.
Beyond that, these tests don’t check the quality of the raw materials, such as the value of the meat used. Additionally, by legal definition, pet food is not considered food, and cats are legally regarded as objects under the law. This means low-quality slaughterhouse waste can end up in pet food to save costs, and no one can take legal action against it.
If you feed your cat a cheap cat food, she won’t complain, she’ll eat it anyway and feel full. Your cat isn’t going to say: “Hey, something’s not right here—wait, is what I eat every day even healthy?!” and that’s why it’s up to you what food quality you want to offer your furry friend.
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4. “Cats can do just fine without meat”
Let’s be clear: No. Cats are what’s known as carnivores, or meat eaters, and their meals should always contain as much meat as possible. Proteins are most easily obtained by cats from the meat of mammals, fish, and poultry.
Cats also rely on the intake of the essential amino acid taurine which they can only get from animal tissue. They cannot produce it themselves. Animal fats (e.g., poultry fat and pork lard) are mainly found in mammal and poultry meat, organs, and fish. They are high in saturated fatty acids and provide your cat with the energy she needs. With our →premium cat food you can ensure your cat gets all the essential nutrients.
If you flip this misconception, it’s just as wrong: “Cats only need meat.” Cats get their daily energy best from animal protein, while plant sources have only low bioavailability for them. That’s why they also need a small amount of plant ingredients for proper digestive function. Cats always need small additions of fiber, oils, and minerals to maintain healthy digestion and overall health.
5. “Home-cooked food is always best for cats”
A little chicken with rice here, a veggie stir-fry there, and you’ve given your cat the best food? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Cat food is always specially formulated to meet a cat’s nutritional needs, so your pet’s daily requirements are optimally covered.
If you just throw together a menu for your cat based on instinct, without the necessary background knowledge, it can quickly backfire. On the one hand, it’s important that the food covers your cat’s nutritional needs; on the other hand, →not every food that’s good for you is also suitable for your cat.
Balance also matters: meat, vegetables, oils, herbs, and minerals should all be present in the right proportions in the food. Similar to →BARFing, especially at the beginning, precise weighing is necessary. If you don’t want to feed organs, you’ll need to add a mineral mix to make sure your pet doesn’t suffer from a nutrient deficiency. If you ignore these factors and just cook by feel, your cat’s meal will be anything but healthy.
