Investigation of Trace and Macro Element Contents in Commercial Cat Foods

BackgroundNutritional profiles and guidelines are determined by various associations to ensure optimum health of cats and provide pet food manufacturers nutritional recommendations to ensure the well-balanced and nutritionally adequate pet food.ObjectivesIt was aimed to determine some trace elements and macro minerals in prescription and non-prescription dry cat foods and compare the contents with the suggested guidelines to evaluate the potential in-compliance.MethodsA total of 96 dry cat foods were evaluated. Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, Mg, Ca and P concentrations were analysed in prescription dry cat foods developed for gastrointestinal diseases-GI (n = 18), renal diseases-R (n = 15), urinary diseases-U (n = 8), obesity-O (n = 10) and non-prescription-N-P (n = 45) foods from different flavours and brands by ICP-OES.ResultsTen precent of the O group exceeded the upper limit, and 15.5% of the N-P group failed to provide a nutritional minimum level. 4.44% of prescription foods were below the minimum recommended Mn level according to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), and 66% of N-P foods were below the minimum adult maintenance value recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). One hundred percent non-compliance with the guidelines in the GI and U groups was recorded. 22.2% of the GI group was lower, and 5.55% of the GI group was higher than the recommended levels by FEDIAF, which reflects the 27.7% in compliance. While all the prescription foods have 100% compliance with the determined minimum level of guidelines, 11.1% of N-P foods were below the minimum recommended level. In compliance with the guidelines for Ca was noted in the O and U groups (10% and 12.5%, respectively). The P ratio in all prescription food groups except for GI was below the minimum level determined by AAFCO.ConclusionsIn all food groups, mean Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca and P concentrations were between the minimum and maximum limits recommended by FEDIAF. However, the mean Se level was above the upper legal limit in all food groups, and the Zn level was below the minimum recommended level in the N-P food group. Besides the mean values, a high number of foods in each group show a broad in-compliance with the guidelines.