Grain free cat food has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many pet owners switching to these diets. However, some veterinarians have expressed concerns about grain free diets, especially for cats. Here is an in-depth look at why vets may not recommend grain free cat food.
Potential Link to Heart Disease
One of the main reasons vets are cautious about grain free cat food is a potential link to a heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood effectively.
Between 2014-2019, the FDA received reports of more than 500 dogs and cats diagnosed with DCM that were eating grain free diets. 90% of these were dogs, but there were some cases in cats as well. The FDA also found that the dogs and cats had low levels of taurine in their blood. Taurine is an amino acid that is essential for heart health. Many, but not all, of the grain free diets had legumes like peas or lentils high up on the ingredient list.
This potential association led the FDA to issue a public warning about grain free diets and DCM in 2018. They are still investigating the possible connection.
Concerns About Nutrient Balance
Another concern about grain free cat food is that it may not provide the right balance of nutrients cats need. Veterinary nutritionists caution that simply removing grains without replacing them with appropriate alternatives can lead to nutrient gaps.
For example, removing grains gets rid of an important source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. While legumes like peas and lentils are often used as the replacement, they do not mimic the nutrient profile of grains. As obligate carnivores, cats also require a high amount of protein from animal sources.
If the overall recipe is not properly formulated, removing grains could affect the level of nutrients like taurine, arginine, vitamins B & E, and antioxidants. Over time, these deficiencies could contribute to issues like heart disease.
Lack of Long-Term Safety Studies
Veterinarians also point out the lack of long-term studies on the safety and health impacts of grain free diets. Grain free formulas have only become widely available in the last decade. Most cat food formulas undergo feeding trials to ensure they are nutritionally balanced over an animal’s lifetime.
Since grain free formulas are relatively new, there have not been opportunities for long-term studies and clinical trials. This leaves uncertainty about how they affect cats’ health over months or years of feeding. Due to cats’ sensitivity to dietary changes, vets recommend a more cautious approach until more evidence is available.
Cats May Not Benefit from Grain Free
Some pet owners switch to grain free under the assumption it is healthier for cats and could prevent conditions like obesity or diabetes. However, there is limited evidence that grain free offers health advantages for most cats.
Unlike dogs, cats are obligate carnivores meaning they must eat meat in their diet. Cats do not utilize plant ingredients like grains as efficiently as animal ingredients. As a result, the impacts of grain vs. grain free can be less significant for cats unless food allergies are present.
According to board-certified veterinary nutritionists, grain free has not been proven to help control weight or blood sugar in healthy cats. Specially formulated weight control or diabetic cat foods remain a better option for managing these conditions.
Risk of Nutritional Imbalances
Removing grains without care can affect the overall balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats. Cat foods require a specific macronutrient profile to meet feline nutritional requirements.
For example, reduced carbohydrate content alters the percentage of calories from protein and fat. Excess dietary fat can increase the risk of obesity and pancreatic inflammation in cats. Insufficient protein from animal sources can also compromise muscle mass over time.
These risks highlight the importance of extensive testing and research when formulating grain free cat foods to achieve a nutritionally balanced finished product.
Higher Cost vs. Limited Benefit
Grain free cat foods frequently come with a higher price tag too. Specialty formulas and boutique brands using premium or exotic ingredients are more expensive compared to traditional cat foods containing grains like rice, corn or wheat.
For owners willing to pay a premium price for a specialized diet, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist can help determine if it is the right choice. However, for healthy cats without food sensitivities, vets and nutritionists say grain free is unlikely to provide benefits that justify the higher cost.
Risk of Carbohydrate Intolerance
Another concern with some grain free formulas is they replace grains with higher amounts of starchy vegetables like potatoes or legumes. While these ingredients are high in protein, they can be hard for some cats to digest.
Signs like increased flatulence, soft stools or vomiting after eating can indicate carbohydrate intolerance. These symptoms may resolve by transitioning to a cat food with more digestible, low-starch carbohydrates.
Oversimplifies Food Sensitivities
Many pet owners switch to grain free hoping it will resolve an undiagnosed food sensitivity or allergy. However, vets caution that focusing just on excluding grains is an oversimplified approach.
Cats can develop adverse reactions to any component in their diet like proteins, fats, carbohydrates, additives or preservatives. Multi-protein, multi-carbohydrate elimination trial diets remain the gold standard for properly identifying food intolerances.
Unless allergy testing indicates a specific sensitivity to grains, simply switching to grain free may not provide relief for itchy, irritated cats. This can lead owners to unnecessarily exclude healthy, nutrient-rich ingredients like oats or brown rice that most cats can tolerate without issues.
Not Recommended for All Life Stages
Kittens, pregnant/nursing cats, and senior cats have different nutritional requirements. As a result, vets and feline nutritionists do not universally recommend grain free diets for all feline life stages.
Growth, reproduction and aging increase cats’ calorie needs and their needs for key nutrients. Grain free foods formulated with excessive peas, lentils or potatoes may not offer balanced nutrition to support these sensitive life stages.
Veterinarians typically advise feeding a high-quality diet tailored for each specific stage rather than necessarily grain free. Pregnant cats may benefit from added taurine, kittens require more calories and seniors need reduced fat and increased antioxidants.
Risk of Nutrient Deficiencies Over Time
While short-term feeding studies are required to prove a cat food is complete and balanced, long-term studies looking at health impacts over many years are less common.
This means there is still uncertainty about how exclusive grain free feeding affects cats’ health across their lifespan. Nutrient deficiencies or imbalances may only emerge after feeding the same diet exclusively for years.
Veterinary nutrition specialists emphasize the importance of regular, long-term nutrition studies to identify any risks specific to grain free diets that only become apparent over time with continuous feeding.
Not All Grains are Equal
Not all grains have the same nutritional value or digestibility for cats. Some vets distinguish between high quality whole grain ingredients like oatmeal or brown rice compared to less nutritious refined grains.
The overall quality of the diet matters more than whether it is simply “grain free”. Some grain inclusive diets may still be preferable to lower quality grain free foods. Vets assess each diet’s formulation, research and manufacturer reputation when making recommendations.
Risk of Cardiac and Neurologic Effects
As obligate carnivores, cats require sufficient protein and taurine in their diet to support heart and neurological health. Eliminating grains without ensuring high quality replacements can increase the risk of malnutrition and associated disorders.
Dilated cardiomyopathy is one emerging heart condition in cats potentially linked to some grain free diets. Even marginal nutrient deficiencies may also contribute to subtle cognitive or neuromuscular issues over time.
Unproven Benefits for Urinary Tract Health
Another frequent claim is grain free diets promote better urinary and kidney health by reducing urine acidity and mineral deposits. However, studies have not proven grain free foods significantly impact urine pH or lower struvite and calcium oxalate crystal formation.
Veterinary nutrition experts note other factors like water intake, exercise, stress levels and environmental enrichment play a bigger role in preventing urologic disorders compared to going grain free alone.
Risk of Obesity When Overfed
Some cat owners overfeed grain free diets due to the perception they are low calorie or support weight loss. In fact, many grain free brands have increased calorie density and fat content to compensate for the missing carbs.
Overfeeding grain free foods carries increased risk of obesity, which predisposes cats to diabetes, arthritis and other problems. Clear feeding guidelines and portion control are critical, regardless of grain content.
Not a Cure-All Diet Change
While grain free diets may benefit some cats, they are frequently viewed as a cure-all dietary solution online and on social media. Simply changing to grain free is unlikely to resolve most medical conditions affecting cats.
As with any major diet change, vets recommend transitioning gradually over 7-10 days. They also advise monitoring cats closely for signs of intolerance like digestive upset, poor appetite or skin irritation.
Owners should consult their vet before switching to confirm the new food is nutritionally adequate and appropriate for their cat’s needs and health status.
Requires Balancing Carb, Protein and Fat Levels
Creating nutritionally complete grain free cat foods requires carefully balancing levels of protein, fat, carbohydrates and micronutrients. Formulating appropriate recipes that deliver total nutritional adequacy is complex.
While established pet food companies have these specialized resources, some smaller brands offering boutique grain free diets do not. Owners should look for foods formulated by PhD nutritionists and veterinarians to help mitigate potential risks.
Conclusion
In summary, most veterinarians remain cautious about universally recommending grain free cat foods due to lingering questions about their long-term nutritional adequacy and health impacts. However, they may be an appropriate option in certain cases, such as confirmed food allergies involving grains.
Owners interested in trying grain free should have a discussion with their vet to determine if it is suitable based on their cat’s age, medical status, and needs. Monitoring cats closely for signs of intolerance is also advised when transitioning diets.
Like any major diet change, grain free foods may offer benefits for some cats but also carry potential downsides to discuss with a trusted veterinary advisor first. More large-scale, long-term studies are still needed to fully evaluate the risks versus advantages of grain free diets for cats.