What Role Should Carb Percentage Have in Choosing Food?

[J S]

In examining dry foods, it seems that all of them are 20% and above. So let me rephraze this question. I understand that I won’t find a dry cat food that has 15% carbs. In shopping, I find cat foods between 20-30% How much of a deciding factor should the carb amount play in my decision (assuming I’m only looking at otherwise-quality cat foods – i.e. those recommended by cats.com)

Thank you,

Jon

[Deleted User]

Carbohydrate percentage is definitely an important factor to consider, especially since cats are obligate carnivores and don’t have a biological need for high-carb diets. Ideally, you’d want cat food with moderate protein and fat, and lower carbs — around 10–15% is indeed a good benchmark. However, a slightly higher carb level (up to 25%) isn’t automatically harmful if the food uses quality ingredients, has proper moisture, and your cat maintains a healthy weight.

That said, monitoring your cat’s activity level, weight, and blood sugar is more important than focusing on one number alone.

So, you don’t necessarily need to rule out foods above 15%, but aim for balanced nutrition, high meat content, and minimal fillers.

• This reply was modified 5 months, 1 week ago by  Mariam.

[J S]

Thank you!