The cat food industry is a large industry (3.5 billion dollars annually) with many manufacturers competing for the cat owner's attention. Consequently, there are many top-quality cat food products available. In such a competitive market, manufacturers go to great lengths to get the attention of pet owners. So how do concerned owners sift and sort through the volume of information and product claims that appears on cat food labels, in promotional brochures, and in advertising -- and settle on a product suitable for their cat?

As we discussed in a previous issue of Catnip ("Shopping for Cat Food," Volume 2, Number 8, November 1994, pp. 4-6), understanding the intricacies of feline nutrition and deciphering food labels are key to determining whether a product is "right" for your cat. (Cats are obligate carnivores. In other words, they must eat animal protein).

Cat food labels can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, a label offers a wealth of extremely helpful information; on the other hand, a label may present this information in a way that is confusing or even misleading. Moreover, many pet food labels now make claims we are accustomed to seeing on human food labels. But can owners believe the claims they read on pet food labels?

"Light" Weight Claims

Most of the nutrition information on the product label -- once deciphered and interpreted -- is useful to the pet owner. But first, you have to figure out how to.

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