Table 3.
Measured nutrient content in eight plant-based feline foods commercially available in Canada and labeled for adult or all life stage compared to the AAFCO and FEDIAF recommended essential nutrient concentrations for feline adult maintenance on a dry matter basis (unit per 100 g dry matter).
| Nutrient (Unit Per 100 g) | Median | Range | AAFCO * | FEDIAF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75 kcal/kg0.67 ** | 100 kcal/kg0.67 *** | ||||
| Crude protein (g) | 31.61 | 29.16–35.31 | 26.0 | 33.30 | 25.00 |
| Arginine (g) | 1.59 | 1.27–2.45 | 1.04 | 1.30 | 1.00 |
| Histidine (g) | 0.63 | 0.40–0.75 | 0.31 | 0.35 | 0.26 |
| Isoleucine (g) | 1.40 | 0.81–1.61 | 0.52 | 0.57 | 0.43 |
| Leucine (g) | 2.39 | 1.40–4.30 | 1.24 | 1.36 | 1.02 |
| Lysine (g) | 1.26 | 0.88–2.07 | 0.83 | 0.45 | 0.34 |
| Methionine (g) | 0.47 | 0.27–0.85 | 0.20–1.5 | 0.23 | 0.17 |
| Methionine + Cystine (g) | 0.68 | 0.42–1.16 | 0.40 | 0.45 | 0.34 |
| Phenylalanine (g) | 1.54 | 0.98–1.87 | 0.42 | 0.53 | 0.40 |
| Phenylalanine + Tyrosine (g) | 2.52 | 1.55–3.19 | 1.53 | 2.04 | 1.53 |
| Taurine (g)–extruded | 0.09 | 0.01–0.21 | 0.10 | 0.13 | 0.10 |
| Taurine (g)–canned | 0.13 | 0.00–0.14 | 0.20 | 0.27 | 0.20 |
| Threonine (g) | 1.30 | 0.73–1.46 | 0.73 | 0.69 | 0.52 |
| Tryptophan (g) | 0.33 | 0.19–0.40 | 0.16–1.7 | 0.17 | 0.13 |
| Valine (g) | 1.59 | 0.94–1.82 | 0.62 | 0.68 | 0.51 |
| Crude fat (g) | 10.3 | 8.5–14.6 | 9.0 | ||
| Linoleic acid (g) | 5.64 | 1.40–15.80 | 0.6 | 0.67 | 0.50 |
| ALA (g) | 0.68 | 0.17–1.83 | NR | ||
| Arachidonic acid (g) | 0.009 | 0.006–0.026 | 0.02 | 0.008 | 0.006 |
| EPA + DHA (g) | 0.00 | 0.00–0.01 | NR | ||
| GLA (g) | 0.01 | 0.00–0.04 | NR | ||
| Calcium (g) | 0.84 | 0.48–1.42 | 0.6 | 0.53 | 0.40 |
| Phosphorus (g) | 0.79 | 0.56–1.07 | 0.5 | 0.35 | 0.26 |
| Calcium to phosphorus ratio | 1.1 | 0.8–1.4 | NR | 1:1–2:1 | |
| Potassium (g) | 1.06 | 0.68–1.72 | 0.6 | 0.80 | 0.60 |
| Sodium (g) | 0.33 | 0.17–0.73 | 0.2 | 0.10 | 0.08 |
| Chloride (g) | 0.95 | 0.38–1.46 | 0.3 | 0.15 | 0.11 |
| Magnesium (g) | 0.17 | 0.09–0.19 | 0.04 | 0.05 | 0.04 |
| Iron (mg) | 26.47 | 10.49–42.24 | 8.0 | 10.70–68.18 (L) | 8.00–68.18 (L) |
| Copper (mg) | 2.49 | 1.43–3.44 | 0.5 | 0.67–2.80 (L) | 0.50–2.80 (L) |
| Manganese (mg) | 4.11 | 1.31–6.72 | 0.76 | 0.67–17.00 (L) | 0.50–17.00 (L) |
| Zinc (mg) | 18.69 | 8.90–35.93 | 7.5 | 10.00–22.70 (L) | 7.50–22.70 (L) |
| Vitamin A (IU) | 907.5 | 251.4–2319.3 | 333.2–33,330.0 | 444.00–40,000 | 333.00–40,000 |
| Vitamin D2 (IU) | 0 | 0–26 | NR | ||
| Vitamin D3 (IU) | 103 | 0–155 | NR | ||
| Vitamin D (IU) | 111.4 | 0–154.5 | 28.0–3008.0 | 33.30–227 (L) | 25.00–227 (L) |
| Vitamin B12 (mg) | 0.00587 | 0.00000–0.71690 | 0.0020 | 0.00235 | 0.00176 |
* AAFCO nutrient profile for adult maintenance of cats (minimum or minimum–maximum) [1]. ** FEDIAF recommendations for adult maintenance of indoor and/or neutered cats, for an expected daily energy intake of 75 kcal/kg0.67 (minimum or minimum–maximum) [2]. *** FEDIAF recommendations for adult maintenance of active cats, for an expected daily energy intake of 100 kcal/kg0.67 (minimum or minimum–maximum) [2]. Bolded values are outside of the AAFCO recommended range. Italicized values are outside of the FEDIAF recommended range for cats eating 75 kcal/kg0.67. Underlined values are outside of the FEDIAF recommended range for cats eating 100 kcal/kg0.67. AAFCO = Association of American Feed Control Officials, FEDIAF = European Pet Food Industry Federation, NR = No recommendation, (L) = Legal limit.