Because there are no regulations specific to food grade ingredients or whole food nutrition for cats and dogs undoubtedly some of these pet foods could be lacking in some nutrients needed by our pets.
Aafco approved wet cat food.
The key words to recognize in order.
A major function of feed regulations is to safeguard the health of man and animals.
Under these model regulations dog and cat foods substantiated for nutritional adequacy by reference to the aafco dog and cat food nutrient profiles for a designated life stage s must be formulated to contain at least the minimum concentrations of nutrients.
The aafco dog and cat food nutrient profiles express nutrient levels on a dry matter or moisture free basis.
If you are in doubt about aafco s guidelines for cat food you can check these tables tables 4 7 and 8 for cats and kittens.
Although gayer suggests feeding your cats stage specific foods meaning you shouldn t give adult cat food to kittens and vice versa this one by life s abundance is aafco approved to be safe.
Aafco does not regulate test approve or certify pet foods in any way.
Finally most cat lovers today feel that the healthiest diets for cats are those that come close to imitating a cat s natural diet.
Permit direct comparisons between products with similar water content such as one dry food versus another dry food or one wet canned food versus another wet canned food.
You probably don t want to catch mice for your cat though some people do or buy frozen mice but cat food that is less.
It is the state feed control official s responsibility in regulating pet food to ensure that the laws and rules.
Aafco establishes the nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods and it is the pet food company s responsibility to formulate their products according to the appropriate aafco standard.
While aafco doesn t help consumers directly aafco has clearly stated in its philosophy regarding feed regulations in the official publication that the most important aspect of feed regulation is to provide protection for the consumer as well as the regulated industry.
Aafco association of american feed control officials is a non government association made up of government employees state and a few federal.
The key for pet food consumers to know the difference is to talk with the manufacturer.
Aafco approved cat food aafco approved cat food brands aafco approved pet foods aafco approved wet cat food.
The second requires at least one product from the family of foods offered to be tested for at least six.
If your pet s food does not meet aafco nutrient profiles ask the manufacturer why.
The first of the two procedures requires that the food be tested in aafco s laboratory to ensure that it meets the minimum required levels of protein fat vitamins and minerals.
But the guaranteed analysis on a pet food label expresses nutrient levels on an.
Specify the actual amount of protein fat water and fiber in the food.
Aafco cat food nutrient profiles as the terms are applied in aafco model pet food regulations referring to nutritional adequacy.
Another important function of feed.
This was a question sent to me by a reader.