A guide to high protein cat food

Protein. A vital part of a balanced diet. Especially for your cat.

People are obsessed with protein. From noodles to cereal and everything in between, high-protein foods can be found everywhere on human shelves, so why are we not more concerned about the protein our cats eat? Humans aren’t obligate carnivores – our cats are.

In order for our cats to live healthy, happy lives, they need to eat meat. And some brands have cottoned on. This has led to lots of “high-protein” cat foods appearing on shelves of pet shops and supermarkets alike. Great… or is it?

What exactly IS high-protein cat food, and why isn’t it always the best choice for your cat? What should you feed instead? Find out below (spoiler alert: it’s KatKin).

“High-protein cat food” is a bit of a loose term. Many brands have coined this term to include their food recipes that have a higher-than-average level of protein. Unfortunately, there aren’t any regulations or guidance on how much protein is needed in cat food to be considered high in protein. This means that commercial cat food brands can label their food as “high in protein” with as little as 40% meat content. And even then, the quality of that meat is questionable.

Because of the questionable quantity and quality of protein in commercial cat food, you should instead switch to a food that you can guarantee has a high-quality, high meat content. KatKin uses 100% human-quality meat to keep your cat feeling their best.

All of KatKin’s high protein low carb cat food fresh recipes are made with human-quality meat. Cluck is made with 100% chicken. Oink is made with 100% pork. And Quack is made with 100% duck. Mooo is made with 100% beef. While recipes like Splash, Gobble and Baaa are made with a combination of different meats, they’re still 100% human-quality meat. 100% fresh. 100% delicious.

A step up from the over-processed, dried out kibble, wet food is often sold as a high-protein alternative. It’s slightly better to feed your cat than kibble but it is far from the best option. Wet cat food still has the same problem that kibble does in that the meat quality is questionable and it has been cooked at extremely high temperatures. This process makes it shelf stable, removing all the good stuff out of the meat that IS in there. Wet cat food is often pumped with fillers and artificial flavourings to make it more appealing to your cat.

But it’s no comparison to fresh cat food. When feeding KatKin, you not only know exactly what you’re feeding your cat, you also know it’s of the highest quality and has been gently cooked, locking in all the natural nutrients and flavour of the meat. It’s the obvious choice.

Yes and no. Opting for a high-protein cat food is better than one that has a grain listed as its first ingredient. But despite the high-protein labels on the front of the bag or tin, commercial cat food brands fill their products with other ingredients that aren’t meat. Grains, soya, lentils, and other non-meat ingredients can’t be digested by cats easily. So although opting for higher protein foods is a step in the right direction, it’s still not as good as 100% fresh, gently cooked meat.

Yes. A good-quality high protein diet like KatKin can help older and elderly cats maintain their lean body mass. Because your older cat can have a less-efficient digestive system, you should feed them high-quality, high-quantity meat protein which is more easily digested by their short, acidic digestive system.

Yes. Cats are obligate carnivores. This means they have to eat meat to thrive. There are many nutrients your cat gets from meat that they can’t get from other sources – taurine, amino acids, and protein, to name a few. So eating a diet of high-quality 100% meat is essential to their well-being.

Good news – a high-protein cat food won’t cause or contribute to kidney problems in your cat.

There is always a risk of an upset stomach when switching to a new food, but this shouldn’t last longer than a couple of days. If you’re concerned, check in with your vet.

No. In fact, switching to a high-meat diet like KatKin should help your cat shift some excess weight. You’ll probably find that they have more energy for faster zoomies too.

There’s nothing like giving your cat the best quality food available. You should always try to feed your cat food with as high a protein content as possible. Of course, 100% meat is best.

KatKin high protein cat food is made from 100% fresh, human-quality meat and gently cooked to keep all the nutrients intact. It tastes delicious and is a healthy food for them. So they can eat better, feel better, and zoomie faster.