Cats and Carbohydrates: Is Dry Cat Food Bad for Cats?
- Rachel
- Mar 28, 2025
- 15 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
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In this article:
Are carbs good or bad for cats? Do carbs cause obesity and diabetes? Can cats eat grains and veggies or are they just cheap fillers?
The old carbs debate is getting kind of.... old.... but pet food manufacturers and veterinary nutritionists are no closer to reaching an agreement. Why?
Feline nutritional needs aren't as extensively researched as the domestic dog, which has been around for an estimated 30,000 years longer than cats and represent a larger share of the market. Cats are obligate carnivores with unique dietary requirements - this doesn't mean they can only eat meat, but they do need meat to survive.
Many studies are carried out or financed by pet food companies, plus they own a large portion of the veterinary industry. Based on these factors, I wonder how transparent they are in relation to the answers they provide to the public?
Nevertheless, there seems to be a lot of focus on carbohydrate digestibility and metabolism rather than the actual benefits. Not to mention the long-term health effects, which is what we'll be covering in this article.
Take a deeper dive into commercial pet foods and the companies behind them in this eye-opening post: The Truth About Commercial Cat Food: What Really Goes into Your Pet's Food?
Types of Carbohydrates
While the carbohydrate debate is ongoing, one thing everyone can agree on is that there are "good" carbs and "bad" carbs.
Sugars (sucrose, fructose, glucose) are known as simple carbohydrates, such as those found in fruit. Cats struggle to digest sugars, therefore they're considered to hold no biological value.
Fibre, an indigestible complex carbohydrate, can aid digestive transit and the excretion of hairballs. Wild cats would get fibre from the bones, fur and partially digested plant matter from the stomachs of their prey.
Starch is another complex carbohydrate that the body converts into glucose to provide energy to the cells. It's easier to digest than sugar, and starch is necessary in dry foods as it acts as the "glue" that holds the ingredients together.
It gets a little more complicated because starch can be broken down further into types that are beneficial for cats and those that are less so. Regardless of ingredients, the key word is "moderation".
Carbohydrates and Energy
“Carbohydrates are one of the three categories of macronutrients, alongside fats and protein, included in diets for animals and act as the main energy source for pets.”
We already know that isn't strictly true, given that cats would be getting as little as 1-2% carbohydrates from prey in the wild. In fact, fat provides twice as much energy per gram as carbohydrates and protein, hence why it makes up a fair chunk of their natural diet.
Premium dry cat food with 80% fresh meat and offal. Kibble is gently air-dried to preserve nutrients. The grain-free recipe contains a small amount of fruit and vegetables, with no preservatives, colourings or flavourings.
The main purpose of starch is to provide energy in the form of glucose. Yet cats are very special in the sense that they can synthesise their own glucose in the liver - given enough protein, of course.
Some would argue that the addition of carbohydrates allows cats to conserve protein for other vital functions, but it still seems unnecessary when they're efficient at utilising fat as one of their primary energy sources. The domestic cat has adapted in many ways, but their physiology remains the same. No amount of studies have proven otherwise, as we explore in the next example.
Grains and Veggies
“Grains, commonly referred to as ‘cereal grains’ are the edible seeds of specific grasses and include wheat, corn, rice, barley, oats and rye. To expose the most nutritious, digestible elements of grains or cereals, the raw ingredient is ground and heated in the manufacturing process. This removes the less digestible outer shell and leaves the nutrients that cats and dogs need.”
This is a perfect example of refined grains that have been processed to remove most of the fibre, vitamins and minerals. Pet food companies use them because they're more easily digested by cats, which further emphasises that they have a limited ability to digest carbohydrates.
Unrefined grains (whole grains) are those that haven't been processed or stripped of the nutritious parts, which you've likely seen advertised as a healthier option. Some whole grains that veterinary nutritionists approve of include:
Brown rice.
Whole grain oats.
Whole pearled barley.
Whole grains may provide more nutrients and fibre but are generally less digestible. The main reason for this is due to a low activity of the enzymes, amylase and glucokinase, that cats use to break down carbohydrates. Cats have a short digestive tract that's designed to process animal protein quickly and efficiently.
Another factor to consider is the processing methods. While refined carbs are better digested, it involves heating ingredients at high temperatures. This can be problematic for a number of reasons:
Degradation of those "high-quality" nutrients, hence the mass supplementation used in commercial foods. This is in addition to the processing that kibble has to go through during manufacturing, which also helps to prolong shelf life.
Heating fats and proteins together with sugar produces compounds known as AGE's (advanced glycation end products) that can cause oxidative stress. This damages the cells and tissues, leading to chronic inflammation and lifelong diseases. The heating of seed oils, which are high in polyunsaturated fats, has a similar effect.
All things considered, it would seem as though unrefined grains are both a healthier and safer option - provided your cat tolerates them. However, they tend to be high in magnesium and phosphorous which can contribute to bladder stones.
Carbohydrate Digestibility
Not all studies on carbohydrate digestibility disclose which processing methods are being used or whether they are, in fact, feeding test cats the same food that they're putting on the shelves.
In Royal Canin's digestibility chart below, we can see that they're using dehydrated meat and meat meal as a comparison against wheat gluten and soy, neither of which replicate a cat's natural diet. As both are heavily processed, it's simply the worst of two evils.
These results don't mean that plant proteins are more digestible than animal protein. It shows that processed plant protein is between 3-11% more digestible than processed animal protein in this particular study.
Claims like this mislead owners into thinking the food is better for their cats than a natural diet. More to the point, we have zero information about how many cats were tested or the age, breed and health status of each cat involved.
Carbohydrate studies have been criticised for deficiencies in the methods used, with small sample sizes and reliance on pet owners' observations on health and body condition. The duration of studies is important as it can take a long time to see the effects of nutritional deficiencies and accompanying health conditions.
Dry Cat Food
Carbohydrates and Protein
Dry food has a much higher carbohydrate content than wet food at around 30-40% - not that you'll find this information on the packaging. Since cats don't need carbohydrates in their diet, there's no legal requirement for them to appear on the label.
Find out everything you need to know about calculating carbohydrates in this step-by-step guide: How to Calculate Carbohydrates in Cat Food and Understanding Dry Matter Basis
Protein can be as low as 26% according to pet food regulations set by the FEDIAF, which is just enough to maintain basic bodily functions. This is less than half of what cats would be getting in the wild, so while it may seem as though your kitty is surviving on commercial food, that doesn't mean it's thriving as much as it could be - or that it won't have a shortened lifespan due to years of unseen damage.
Even worse, it's not always specified how much protein comes from animals as opposed to plants. These numbers speak to the excessive use of carbohydrates in pet food.
Pack'n Pride Freeze Dried Cat Treats are made with 100% chicken breast. Feed as a reward, soak in water to get a fresh chicken cube or use as a food topper. No preservatives, grains or by-products and great for sensitive stomachs.
Contaminants
Dry food is often contaminated with bacteria; mycotoxins from fungi/mould that grow on grains; and storage mites. These little critters and their faeces can cause allergic reactions in cats. There are many more pet food recalls involving dry food than wet food - just look at the 2021 mycotoxin case that was linked to the deaths of over 500 cats in the UK.
To make things worse, regulating bodies allow a certain level of mycotoxins to be present in food (both animal and human) with so-called "safe limits". Since pets are fed the same food on a daily basis, they're more susceptible to illness than humans.
Processing
Dry food is processed using heat pressure, whereby fat and moisture are extracted from the dough that makes up kibble. Remember, fat is a source of energy so it has to be replaced with carbohydrates. Additionally, a layer of fat may be sprayed over the kibble pieces, along with preservatives and flavour enhancers to improve palpability.
If you have a kibble addicted kitty, this is probably a huge reason as to why! More about how dry pet food is made can be found on the FEDIAF website.
The fat sources used in commercial pet foods are vaguely mentioned, if at all. As with protein, we often have no way of knowing whether they're animal or plant based. Vegetable oil is commonly used for its omega-3 fatty acids, but cats are unable to convert the omega-3 found in plant sources to the usable form found in animal sources (DHA).
Ingredients
Let's look at the ingredients from the Royal Canin digestibility chart.
Soy
Like all legumes, seeds and grains, soy contains phytic acid (or phytate) which may reduce the absorption of nutrients and block the enzymes needed to digest protein, leading to potential liver damage.
Another disease that's thought to be related to soybean is hyperthyroidism, which causes an increase in a cat's metabolic rate. Symptoms include increased appetite, weight loss and restlessness. Hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disease of cats in the USA, and while the exact cause is unknown, evidence from studies suggests that diet plays an important role.
Wheat Gluten and Corn Gluten
Gluten is a protein found in certain grains that bumps up the overall protein content of food, further disguising the lack of animal protein.
Corn has been linked to inflammation in the bladder and urinary tract, also known as cystitis. While there are many non-dietary causes of feline lower urinary tract disease, studies show that the high cereal content in pet food is a contributing factor for cats and dogs developing bladder stones.
Grain-Free Diets
Based on the information above, it's no surprise that many opt for a grain-free diet under the assumption it's healthier. However, "grain free" doesn't necessarily mean "carbohydrate free". The grains used to bulk out cat food are usually replaced with vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and peas; lentils and berries. This means they can contain as much, if not more carbs than grains.
Potato protein and pea protein are commonly used to supplement animal-based protein, which is an important factor to consider when reading a cat food label. Make sure these aren't a main ingredient, as this shows a high content of plant-based ingredients.
Most veterinary nutritionists argue that grain-free diets are little more than a marketing tactic, but perhaps the most significant benefit is avoiding those dietary allergens. Wheat, corn, gluten and soy are common culprits; although some would argue that the biggest factors influencing digestibility are ingredient quality and processing methods.
Other Health Conditions
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Certain conditions require a low-protein diet to limit the amount of work the kidneys have to do, in which case carbohydrates are necessary. Vets may prescribe a renal diet for cats with CKD, although these are questionable, and some experts suggest feeding a higher quality animal protein to compensate for the reduced amount.
If cats don't consume enough from their diet to fulfil their daily protein calorie needs, they start to break down their own muscle mass, resulting in muscle wastage and weight loss. If you have a kitty suffering from CKD then this article by Dr Lisa Pierson is essential reading: Feeding Your Cat: Kidney Disease
It's also important to feed cats wet food, as hydration is essential for proper kidney function. Kibble isn't a direct cause of kidney disease, but it can contribute to conditions that increase the risk.
Dehydration
Cats are not driven to seek out water because they should get most of it from prey. If your cat is on a dry food-only diet then you might notice that it's persistently thirsty. Even if they consume a lot of water, they still won't be getting as much as if they were eating wet food as well.
Inadequate water intake can weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to dietary allergens and digestive problems. As mentioned, UTI's and bladder stones are common in male cats, but there's another reason why kibble may not be the best choice.
Carbohydrates are alkaline which creates a perfect environment for struvite stones to form, whereas meat is acidic. If, like me, you have a kitty on a urinary diet, you may know that food is designed to be more acidic in order to dissolve struvites!
Periodontal Disease
Pet food companies claim that the abrasive surface of kibble helps with dental hygiene, but since when have crumbly biscuits been good for anyone's teeth? They're more likely to get stuck around the gums and cause a build-up of plaque and tartar. Compare this to chewing on flesh and bone, it's not hard to see which is the better toothbrush.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS and IBD (irritable bowel disorder) can be related to food that's hard to digest, and there are many reports of cats showing improvement with the removal of dry food. Stinky poops are not normal, but this doesn't necessarily mean your cat is in need of a special diet.
There are other, more serious causes of gut problems - it's important to keep a record of symptoms so your vet can perform the necessary tests to make an accurate diagnosis. Sometimes the cause is unknown, so changing a cat's diet (under the guidance of a vet or veterinary nutritionist) may be a good option.
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Impaired Protein Absorption
High amounts of carbohydrates causes food to move through the digestive tract faster than normal, decreasing protein digestibility. Furthermore, refined carbohydrates feed the "bad" intestinal bacteria, which creates an overgrowth in the colon. This bacteria breaks down dietary protein, leading to the production of ammonia which puts pressure on the liver to eliminate.
In relation to intestinal bacteria, remember those smelly poops we talked about? This can be due to the overpopulation of bad bugs diminishing the good bugs' ability to survive. The result being flatulence, cramping, vomiting and diarrhoea - which over time can lead to inflammatory bowel disease and other conditions.
Obesity and Diabetes
Obesity is often associated with carbohydrates, yet pet food companies state that these conditions are more likely a result of inactivity or overfeeding. There's an element of truth here, but it could be argued that low energy levels are a result of low-quality food - at least in part.
The consumption of glucose from carbohydrates leads to a spike in blood sugar, which in turn causes high insulin levels - more than the pancreas (the insulin-producing organ) can handle. This extra pressure on the pancreas can lead to degenerative conditions like diabetes over time, which is precisely the issue I raised at the beginning of this article.
Furthermore, the overconsumption of carbohydrates causes fat cells to convert glucose into fat and store it for later use, eventually leading to weight gain. Conversely, low insulin levels signal fat to be taken out of storage and used as energy, the result being that reducing carbohydrates has shown to lose weight in both animals and humans.
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Special weight loss foods and those tailored to indoor cats are usually lower in fat and higher in protein to maintain lean muscle mass. However, the increased protein is either marginal or plant-based, which bumps up the carbs and so the cycle continues. Alternatively, cats may end up losing weight as well as muscle mass, which makes owners think the food is "working".
I found this out the hard way with my own chunky monkey, and the only thing that lost weight was my wallet. To avoid making the same mistake, here's some advice from a professional: Feline Obesity: An Epidemic of Fat Cats
Some studies suggest that carbohydrates aren't a risk factor for cats developing diabetes, but in what quantities are test cats being fed and for how long a duration? Surely it'd be more viable to study the effects that a natural diet has on diabetic cats to see if the condition is reversed - which it often is, according to this revealing article by Dr Lisa Pierson: Feline Diabetes
When considering the different types of carbohydrates, it can be helpful to know their effects on blood glucose as not all will be the same. Starches with a high glycaemic index raise blood sugars quickly and are considered to be even worse than sugar!
Potatoes and refined grains are examples of starches with a high GI. Sweet potatoes are slightly better, or you can look for low-GI ingredients such as broccoli, carrots, spinach, legumes and whole grains. These are digested slower and result in a smaller increase in sugar, yet we know that whole grains come with their own set of problems.
Summary
So, the ultimate question is: do grains and fillers deserve their bad rep?
It's fair to say that carbohydrates can provide a source of energy and fibre in moderation; however, this is nothing that can't be offered by a prey-model diet that doesn't need to be processed or contain a bunch of harmful ingredients that potentially lead to disease states.
The benefits of a high-moisture, high-protein diet for cats are unquestionable. We don't need studies to tell us what biology shows us. By comparison, all of the information we have on carbohydrates is mixed, uncertain and extremely limited. Perhaps the real question you should ask yourself is, why risk it?
Prey-model diets refer to fresh food consisting of 100% animal products including meat, muscle tissue, organs and bone. There are currently a limited amount of fresh pet food companies that cater to felines, which is just as well because we can't all be board-certified nutritionists!
The biggest issue for most is budget, as meat is far more costly than plants. If fresh food isn't an option then you can try supplementing commercial food with a homemade recipe once or twice a week, as long as it's formulated by a veterinary nutritionist.
For a lot of pet parents, commercial food is more affordable and convenient. While it's not perfect, wet food is much closer to what cats should be eating, with high moisture and protein levels; and usually a small amount of carbohydrates. Once cats start eating kibble, it can be hard to transition them to anything else.
Related post: How to Change a Cat's Food with 10 Tasty Tips
Other Feeding Tips
A high-quality recipe should be made with a named source of animal protein (poultry, beef, fish) as the primary ingredient, including a portion of fresh meat for premium foods.
Animal fat further reduces the need for plant-based products. Look for chicken fat and salmon oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Gentle processing methods such as air-dried kibble is more nutrient dense since it isn't blasted under extreme temperatures. This prevents a lot of the issues around the heating of seed oils, too.
When it comes to commercial cat food, there are pros and cons to everything, hence why a varied diet is best - as well as monitoring what individual cats best tolerate. Since low-carb diets tend to be higher in fat and therefore higher in calories, portion control is extremely important. That's why I've come up with this helpful guide: How Many Calories Does My Cat Need?
Below are some examples of what to look for on an ingredients label. If you decide to stick to a dry food diet, check out this post for some premium recommendations: 5 Best Dry Cat Foods 2026
Example Cat Foods
*Carbohydrate contents are estimated based on calculations from the crude amount of protein, fat, fibre, ash and moisture.
Ingredients: Fresh chicken (65%), chicken liver (5%), potato (21%), egg, chicken gravy, flaxseed, cellulose, minerals, prebiotic (fructoligosaccharides 0.7g/kg), Italian cheese, seaweed, carrots (0.02%), cranberries, bilberries, parsley (0.02%), fenugreek seeds. |
Analytical Constituents: Protein: 27% Fat: 17% Fibre: 3% |
Lily's Kitchen is a great example of what we want to see on a pet food label, with fresh chicken and chicken liver as the first ingredients, and at a whopping 70%.
The carb-loaded potato comes in at number three (21%) with a small amount of herbs, fruit and vegetables. The recipe does contain cheese, which isn't great for our lactose-intolerant cats.
Lily's Kitchen comes with a high price tag due to the fresh meat content, which is rare to see in dry foods. Yet there's a catch: if we look at the guaranteed analysis, the overall protein content is only 27%. This is an important factor to consider when reading a cat food label.
Carbohydrates are around 36-38% but the high meat content makes it a good trade off - if you can afford it!
Ingredients: Cereals, meat and animal by-products (including 4% chicken in the light brown kibbles*), oils and fats, vegetable by-products, minerals, vegetable protein extracts, various sugars, vegetables (including 0.5% dried carrots, equivalent to 4% carrots, in the orange kibbles and 1% dried peas, equivalent to 4% peas, in the green kibbles*). |
Analytical Constituents: Protein: 30% Fat: 12.4% Fibre 1.8% |
Whiskas is pretty bog-standard and makes a great comparison to Lily's Kitchen in terms of transparency. The first ingredient is cereal - not meat - so I'd avoid it straight away. None of the animal-based ingredients are named, apart from a measly 4% chicken (which only applies to the light brown kibbles). This is followed by more unspecified oils, fats and vegetable by-products.
While the overall protein level in the guaranteed analysis is higher than Lily's Kitchen (30%) there's no way of knowing how much is animal based vs grains and vegetables, let alone what those mysterious "by-products" are.
Carbohydrates are an estimated 37-40% but, again, we're left guessing what that actually consists of.
Ingredients: Chicken (17%) (including bone, meat, skin), dried poultry protein, wheat (16%), corn, soya meal, wheat gluten, animal fat, corn protein meal, dried chicory root (2%), corn grits, minerals, digest (with added heat-treated Lactobacillus Delbrueckii and Fermentum powder 0.025%), yeasts. |
Analytical Constituents: Protein: 34% Fat: 14% Fibre: 2.5% |
Purina has a wide range of products that cater for all budgets and dietary needs. It places emphasis on its high-quality ingredients and is considered a mid to premium brand, which makes this product all the more disappointing.
We get off to a good start with 17% chicken (bone, meat and skin) and dried poultry protein; however, this is succeeded by a string of wheat, corn, soy and gluten - everything we don't want to see! Considering the price tag, there are much better ingredients that could have been used.
The 34% protein content and animal fat is a plus, although some of the protein comes from grains, and it has an equal amount of carbohydrates at 34%.
Have you got a kibble-addicted kitty that you want to transition to wet or fresh food? Have you witnessed any carb-related health issues? Share your opinions and experiences in the comments.
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