Pet Food Processing - May 2024 - 41

FORMULATION
cracking
THE CAT CODE
Formulating cat foods means finding a balance
between complete nutrition and palatability.
By Nicole Kerwin | nkerwin@sosland.com
C
Cat parents are demanding the same nutritional products
that have long littered the canine aisle, driving pet
food companies to become more feline inclusive, only
to be met with the realization that creating cat food is
a significant challenge. Cats are unique with distinctive
nutritional requirements that set them apart from their
canine counterparts. Processors not only need to ensure
complete-and-balanced nutrition - they must also ensure
palatability, something extremely complicated in
the cat nutrition space.
" It's super important that processors consider the fact
that cats are not small dogs; I think a lot of companies
completely lose sight of that, " said Sandra Grossmann,
BS, AVA, CFTBS, certified companion animal nutritionist,
feline training and behavior specialist, and owner of
Des Moines, Iowa-based The Feline Consultant. " Cats
have a different way of eating, different taste preferences
and a different eating style. "
Nutrition unraveled
Unlike dogs, cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they
require nutrients that can only be provided from animal-derived
ingredients.
" Cats' need for higher protein and essential amino acids,
compared to dogs, is a critical consideration while
formulating diets, regardless of life stage, " said Shiva
Raghavan, principal scientist of animal nutrition at
Symrise Pet Food North America, St. Louis, Mo. " For
example, cats need taurine due to their limited ability to
generate it themselves. "
Symrise offers a litany of ingredients for pet food manufacturers.
Its Nuvin™ brand mainly focuses on egg-based
ingredients, including binders, proteins with all essential
amino acids, and others that can provide additional
nutritional content. The brand also offers chicken-based
ingredients, ranging from spray-dried full-fat chicken to
high-protein, low-ash chicken to hydrolysates. According
to Raghavan, these ingredients can help meet needs for
clean-label, hypoallergenic or highly digestible products.
Felines are also unique in that they cannot synthesize
some vitamins, meaning they must be already provided
through the diet. For example, they cannot convert
beta-carotene into vitamin A, and require a minimum
amount of arachidonic acid, a fatty acid that aids in
platelet health, Raghavan explained. Additionally, felines
cannot synthesize vitamin D or niacin (a B vitamin),
making vitamin fortification imperative, according to
Yolandi Vyver, technical application specialist, wet, at St.
Charles, Mo.-based AFB International.
" Be aware of the amount of phosphates and propylene
glycol within the diet, as high levels can have a negative
impact on cat health, " Vyver added.
www.petfoodprocessing.net | May 2024 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 41
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