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The Importance of Protein, Fat, and Fiber in Cat Food
The Importance of Protein, Fat, and Fiber in Cat Food

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The Importance of Protein, Fat, and Fiber in Cat Food

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Unique Protein in Our Cat Foods

Our cat food products contain animal-based proteins that provide all the essential amino acid requirements for cats. In addition, special refining and quality assurance tests ensure that we only use high-quality, highly digestible protein sources for increased digestibility.
 

Cats, best fed as true carnivores, require essential nutrients that aren't found in plant proteins such as soybean meal. For example, cats require taurine, which can only be found in animal-based proteins.

 

Unique Fatty Acids in Our Cat Foods

There are two important types of fatty acids for cats, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-6 fatty acids, found in chicken fat and corn, are essential for maintenance of skin and coat and proper membrane structure. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in ingredients such as canola, fish meal or fish oil, and flax. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important in blood clotting and in managing inflammation, among other things. All of our products contain sources of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
 

IAMS™ research has shown that including omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in a ratio between 5:1 to 10:1 provides for optimal skin and coat condition in dogs. All of our products contain an adjusted omega-6:omega-3 fatty acid ratio between 5:1 to 10:1.

 

Unique Fiber in Our Foods

IAMS research has shown that moderately fermentable fiber, such as beet pulp, enhances intestinal health. The fermentable part of the fiber is broken down by intestinal bacteria to provide short-chain fatty acids, an energy source for intestinal cells. The non-fermentable component provides bulk for normal feces.
 

Using only highly fermentable fibers can cause problems, such as excess gas, while using only non-fermentable fibers, such as peanut hulls, promotes excess stool volume, because they are of no nutritional value.
 

All of our products, including IAMS ProActive Health™ Adult Original with Chicken, contain a patented fiber system of moderately fermentable fiber to help keep dogs’ and cats’ digestive systems healthy.

 

  • How Nutrition Can Help Manage Your Cat’s Hairballs
    How Nutrition Can Help Manage Your Cat’s Hairballs
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    How Nutrition Can Help Manage Your Cat’s Hairballs

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    Why Make a Hairball Management Formula?

    • Most cats are susceptible to hairballs due to continual ingestion of hair during regular self-grooming.
    • Cat owners have told us that hairballs are one of their top concerns.
    • According to IAMS™ consumer research, a number of cat owners and their cats have found hairball treatments to be an unpleasant experience.

     

    How Were the IAMS Hairball Formulas Developed?

    IAMS nutritionists were looking for a way to control hairball formation while maintaining optimal feline health and well-being. They evaluated risk factors for hairball formation in cats fed diets that varied in fiber source and content.

    • 98 cats were studied.
    • Nine groups were fed test diets and three were fed control diets.
    • The test-feeding period was six to seven weeks, following a five-week control-feeding period.
    • Total cat-days of testing = 9,968.

     

    Researchers found that feeding diets that contained a blend of beet pulp and cellulose was more effective at moving hair through the digestive tract, compared with the same diets containing beet pulp as the only fiber source.

    • There was an 80% to 100% increase in fecal hair excretion with beet pulp/cellulose-blend diets, compared with the beet-pulp-only diet.
    • By promoting the passage of hair ingested by the cat during normal self-grooming, an important risk factor for hairball formation is minimized.
    • Hairballs were not evident in cats fed the beet pulp/cellulose-blend diets.

     

    How Do IAMS Hairball Formulas Work?

    • The fiber system (blend of beet pulp/cellulose) gently moves hair through the gastrointestinal tract while maintaining healthy digestion.
      • Beet pulp, a moderately fermentable fiber, promotes optimal intestinal health.
      • Cellulose helps to enhance the passage of ingested hair.
    • An optimal fatty acid ratio enhances skin and coat health, which decreases the likelihood of excessive shedding, a factor related to hairball formation.

     

    How Do IAMS Hairball Formulas Compare with Other IAMS Cat Food Formulas?

    IAMS hairball formulas provide high-quality nutrition and taste, like our other adult formulas, with the added benefit of reducing the risk of hairballs.

    • High-quality nutrition for adult cats
      • Optimal protein and fat levels
      • Higher fiber content due to added cellulose
      • Excellent stool quality, skin and coat condition, and taurine status
    • Great taste
      • Similar acceptability and palatability test results as other IAMS adult formulas

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