Expert Opinion: Dr. Patton on Why Cats Should Be Fed a Grain-Free Diet
4.27.2020
Dr. Richard Patton, an animal nutrition expert, has answers to your questions about grain-free pet diets.
What Does Grain Free Mean in Cat Food?
For many pet food brands, grain-free food is free from traditional grains like wheat and corn. Sometimes these “grain-free” foods contain other carbohydrates like peas and sweet potatoes. While these foods are often called “grain-free,” the veggies found in these foods are considered soluble carbohydrates, which can be just as harmful as regular grains.
What is Grain Free Cat Food?
True grain-free cat food contains zero carbs other than what’s naturally present in meat and won’t contain any sugar or junk ingredients. Raw, natural diets are made up of ingredients that mirror what cats eat in the wild, including raw meat, organs, and bones.
“What’s good about Vital Essentials is what’s not there.” – Dr. Patton
When shopping for cat food, look for products from pure protein sources (meat, organs, bones) with no artificial ingredients or rendered by-products. Look for food that’s 100% USA sourced, made, and packaged.
Why is Grain Free Food Good for Cats?
As Dr. Patton reminds us, cats are “obligate carnivores,” meaning they thrive on a meat-based diet free of carbohydrates like grains and vegetables. This carnivorous diet provides cats with an essential amino acid called taurine. While carbs like rice bran can “tie up” taurine and prevent cats from absorbing it, raw meat delivers pure taurine that cats can easily absorb.
If you’re wondering, dogs need taurine, too!
Besides boosting taurine intake, low-starch, low-carbohydrate foods also help prevent obesity in cats. Plus, a low-starch diet encourages natural bacteria in the cat’s digestive system to create B vitamins essential to a cat’s nervous system, immune system, and digestion.
What Kind of Grain-Free Cat Food Should My Pet Eat?
Our mission is to deliver balanced, complete nutrition for your feline friend. Check out some of our grain-free raw cat food, treats, and supplements:
Raw Food: Discover Freeze-Dried and Frozen Raw Cat Food with all the essential nutrients and protein your cat needs. Our food comes in different forms to satisfy even the pickiest eaters, including Mini Patties and Mini Nibs.
Raw Treats: Our treats are 100% raw and are free from harmful ingredients. Check out our Chicken Hearts — they’re sure to keep hungry cats full, healthy, and entertained.
Raw Supplements: Our freeze-dried, grain-free meal boost toppers come in beef, chicken, and turkey flavors and give cats that extra protein boost they need. Toppers are made from ingredients sourced in the USA and use a perfect blend of meat, organs, and bones.
For more information on Vital Essentials and our full product line, follow us on TikTok and Instagram. And if you have any questions, be sure to check out our FAQ page for answers. Together, we can ensure your pet gets the proper nutrition they deserve.
