When looking at the composition of a pâté or a packet of kibble, we can often see the mention “animal by-products”. But what are these by-products? Are they good for my cat? We explain everything in this article.
What exactly are animal by-products?
Concerned about your little cat's health, you pay attention to the composition of the kibble and/or pâtés that you offer him. And if you look carefully, you have surely seen the words " by-products " written on many cat foods. What is it?
Contrary to popular belief, by-products are not always, or at least not necessarily, slaughterhouse waste.
In petfood, any material used, noble or not, is downgraded to “category 3 by-products” as soon as it is used to make food - kibble and pâté - for cats. For example, a chicken fillet is considered a by-product. It is therefore only the destination of the food that makes it a by-product.
Are by-products good for my cat?
As we have just seen, everything intended for pets, and therefore for your little cat, is classified as a by-product.
European regulations are very strict: in pet products, all raw materials used come from healthy animals that have been slaughtered under veterinary supervision and declared fit for human consumption. What you give to your beloved cat, you can theoretically eat. After that, each to their own tastes 😺
By-products pose no risk to your little cat.
BUT !
It is good to know that if you choose a food that displays the words “meat and animal by-products”, you will not know exactly what your cat is consuming.
“Meat and animal by-products”, some confusion in kitty’s bowl
Let's take the example of a pâté sold in a supermarket, and look at its composition.
The first ingredient is “meat and animal by-products (including rabbit 4%).
Legally, the term “meat and animal by-products” counts as only one ingredient. This generic term “meat and animal by-products” allows the manufacturer to include any cut of any species. The manufacturer can vary the composition of the food according to market prices or available supplies.
This practice, although legal, is unfortunately not very transparent for the consumer. Here, we understand that our cat will not eat a lot of rabbit. Our mustachioed one will consume mostly by-products other than rabbit, which can be turkey, beef, chicken or even fish. You will also not know which part of the animal is used in your little cat's food.
At Ziggy, when you choose our cat food , you will know exactly what you will be giving your cat: chicken for our chicken kibble and pâté, beef for our pâté for whole cats and kittens, salmon for our salmon kibble and pâté, etc.
Please note that we use as main ingredients in our recipes noble offal, such as heart, liver or lung lobe, which are rarely or no longer consumed by humans, and which are very nutritionally rich for our cats. We also now source 95% of our meat in France, less than 300 kilometers from our Normandy factory, and refuse to use meat such as lamb that comes from New Zealand.
Cat food and pâté: know the claims
To feed your little cat well, it is important to be aware of certain claims. On some packets of kibble and cans of pâté, you may see the words “rich in chicken”. Here, do not expect to find a majority of chicken in the recipe. As explained in our article “ Reading the labels on kibble packets ”, only 14% is enough to obtain authorization to use this wording on the packaging.
According to FEDIAF (The European Pet Food Industry), the following quantities must be present in raw materials that are the subject of a claim:
Everything you need to know about feeding your cat
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In this guide, we explain everything so you can give your cat the best possible diet. We teach you how to decipher packaging and avoid pitfalls to make a truly informed choice.
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