Scientists chose to use potato, cassava or sweet potato as the primary carbohydrate source in cat food. Two of the carbohydrate sources showed benefits, which could be used to formulate weight-control pet food.
In order to lose weight, pet owners may reduce their energy intake by cutting carbohydrates out of their diets. Pet owners are now aware of the importance of carbs in pet food, as they have been focusing on the carbohydrates found in human food.
Carbohydrates in pet food can also help fight obesity. Cats are obligate carnivores but carbohydrates were introduced to their diets by the prey they ate. In many cat foods, grains and tubers are used to replace the mouse’s last half-digested meal. Cats can digest many carbohydrate sources. However, the choice of ingredients may affect cat obesity.
Five carbohydrate sources for cat food: An experiment
Researchers at Zhejiang university conducted a study to determine the impact of five different carbohydrate types on cats’ digestion and microbiome. Scientists used potato, cassava sweet potato, wheat, or rice as the primary carbohydrate source in cat food. Two of the carbohydrate sources showed benefits, which could be used to formulate weight-control pet food.
The scientists reported in the Journal of Animal Science that “Different carbohydrates diets will impact the diversity, wealth, and population structure of the intestinal microflora.” “Amongst them, sweet potato and cassava diets may improve gut flora and control blood sugar and lipid levels.”
The digestive tracts of cats who ate sweet potatoes had significantly more Fusobacterium species, Veillonella, and Actinobacillus. For cats on diets that contained cassava, Delftia was more prevalent than other diets. Shinella Rothia, and Hydrogenophage also were.
Researchers said that their findings could be used as a guide for research and development in cat food. The ideal amount of sweet potato and cassava to be included in cat food, as well as the exact biological mechanisms by which these ingredients affect cat health, need further research.