/ Blog Details
1/14/2025
Seeing our furry friends satisfied and healthy is something every "parent" hopes for. To provide ample nutrition for our beloved cats and dogs, most people carefully research pet food reviews and online recommendations. However, upon entering a pet store, they can feel overwhelmed by the multitude of products on the shelves and unsure of what to choose. Here are three key indicators to help you easily select the right food for your cats and dogs, focusing on food safety, nutritional components, and palatability!
How can you assess whether the food your cat or dog eats is safe? According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), the "Nutritional Toolkit" contains detailed "Guidelines for Choosing Pet Food." We have selected several key questions to help pet owners evaluate whether their pet food manufacturers or brands meet safety standards through research or direct queries.
When it comes to food safety, it's essential to understand who formulates the food recipes. Does the pet food company employ qualified nutritionists? The qualifications and background of these nutritionists are important information to investigate. For example, at Royal Canin, our food formulas are developed collaboratively by veterinarians, scientists, nutrition experts, and animal behaviorists.
Pet foods should undergo rigorous clinical testing before hitting the market to ensure their safety. Long-term testing is preferred to confirm whether the product genuinely benefits the health of cats and dogs. Furthermore, during the treatment phase when pets are ill, corresponding tests should be conducted to verify that cat and dog foods can effectively control or prevent diseases. Pet owners should support and choose companies that do not use invasive testing methods.
The quality of pet food can be divided into two main aspects: ingredients and manufacturing processes. First, manufacturers should use local ingredients whenever possible, and these should be carefully inspected by professional technicians before being sent to the factory to ensure high quality. Secondly, manufacturers must comply with and obtain certifications from relevant external organizations to maintain strict segregation and control over production lines, making it difficult for harmful substances and risk elements to transfer between areas.
Many pet owners believe that the more variety of food they provide, the better for achieving nutritional balance. However, the key is not the variety of ingredients but whether different ingredients contain diverse nutritional components. For example, while chicken and tofu are two entirely different foods, their nutritional profiles can be quite similar. Therefore, rather than focusing solely on ingredients, pet owners should review the ingredient list of pet foods (such as protein, fat, minerals, vitamins, etc.) to verify whether they contain the essential nutrients that pets require daily. At Royal Canin, every step of our innovative development process is centered around the needs of cats and dogs to create precisely tailored nutritional formulas.
In addition to nutritional components, digestibility is another important indicator. Digestibility refers to the degree to which food can be digested and absorbed by pets. Any nutrient that cats or dogs cannot easily digest is of no benefit, regardless of how "nutritious" the ingredient combination appears to be. Therefore, even if owners select seemingly nutritious ingredients, if they do not understand their pets' digestive systems, the actual nutrients absorbed may be very limited.
What factors affect digestibility? Different types of ingredients, their ratios, and quality can all influence digestibility. Even the methods of grinding and cooking can lead to differences. For example, corn can be made more digestible and nutritionally absorbable after proper cooking, which removes the outer shell. Similarly, if meats and certain animal by-products are excessively heated during processing, their digestibility declines, reducing the amount of protein that cats and dogs can absorb.
One way to confirm whether your pet can digest their food well is to observe their stools. Normally, cats and dogs should defecate 1-2 times a day, and their stools should be well-formed, not too soft or too hard. If your pet defecates infrequently or has stools of varying consistency, it may indicate low digestibility.
Most recommendations for cat and dog food emphasize food safety and nutritional components. However, these two points alone are not sufficient; pet owners should also consider the "palatability" of pet food.
Palatability refers to how pets perceive and experience food. Just as food critics value "color, fragrance, and taste," cats and dogs are also sensitive to the aroma and texture of their food. As noted in the article "For Dogs and Cats, Palatability is as Important as Nutrition," while cats and dogs have fewer taste buds than humans, they have between 125 million to 220 million olfactory cells, compared to just 5 million in humans. Thus, for pets, the smell of food is crucial, not just the taste.
Understanding the physiological structure of cats and dogs reveals that different breeds may have varying preferences for eating styles due to differences in mouth size and jaw shape, affecting their requirements for texture, size, and shape of food. Additionally, age can influence their eating habits; for instance, senior cats over 12 years old may prefer softer foods due to reduced biting strength. In such cases, choosing kibble that is "crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside" can provide a satisfying texture while encouraging eating.
Many owners misunderstand palatability, thinking it is merely a marketing gimmick. However, just as children often reject broccoli, even the most nutritious foods are only beneficial if cats and dogs are willing to eat and enjoy them. Therefore, regardless of age, size, or breed, selecting appropriate dog and cat food based on these three key points is essential for ensuring the health of your furry friends.
