Switching your cat to a healthier diet often means transitioning from dry kibble to Wet Canned Cat Food. You’ve likely heard about the importance of reducing grains in your cat’s diet, and many canned foods are marketed as “grain-free.” However, even grain-free wet cat food can contain hidden carbohydrates that aren’t always obvious on the label. If you’re concerned about the carbohydrate content of your cat’s food, especially wet canned options, this guide will help you understand how to calculate them.
Hidden Carbs in Grain-Free Wet Cat Food
While grains are indeed not ideal for cats, many manufacturers replace them with other carbohydrate sources like sweet potatoes, peas, or other vegetables. These ingredients, while seemingly wholesome, still contribute to the overall carbohydrate load of the food. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their primary energy source is protein, not carbohydrates. Therefore, it’s beneficial to choose wet canned cat foods that are lower in carbohydrates and higher in protein to better match their nutritional needs.
It’s important to look beyond just the ingredient list. While some ingredients like cranberries or seeds might appear carbohydrate-rich, they may be present in very small amounts and contribute minimally to the overall carb content. Conversely, a food packed with filler vegetables can be surprisingly high in carbohydrates. The only way to know for sure is to calculate the carbohydrate content yourself.
Calculating Carbohydrates in Wet Cat Food
Carbohydrate percentages are usually not directly listed on pet food labels. However, you can easily calculate them using the guaranteed analysis provided on the can. This method works for any type of pet food – wet, raw, or dry – as long as you have the percentages for protein, fat, fiber, moisture, and ash.
The percentages on the label are given on a “wet matter” basis, meaning as they are in the can. We’ll first calculate the carbohydrates on this wet matter basis and then convert it to a “dry matter” basis for better comparison between different types of food (wet vs. dry). You’ll need a calculator for this!
Wet Matter Basis Calculation
- Add the percentages of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, moisture, and ash listed on the guaranteed analysis.
- Ignore other listed amounts, such as specific minerals, as they are either included in the ash percentage or are present in negligible amounts for this calculation.
- Subtract the sum from 100. The result is the percentage of carbohydrates on a wet matter basis.
Example 1: Generic Wet Cat Food
Let’s take a look at a hypothetical generic wet cat food label:
- Crude protein – min 9.5%
- Crude fat – min 5.0%
- Crude fiber – min 0.8%
- Moisture – max 75%
- Ash – max 2.0%
Adding these percentages: 9.5 + 5.0 + 0.8 + 75 + 2.0 = 92.3%
Subtracting from 100: 100 – 92.3 = 7.7% carbohydrates on a wet matter basis.
This might seem like a low carbohydrate percentage. However, to get a more accurate picture and compare it to dry foods, we need to convert it to a dry matter basis.
Dry Matter Basis Conversion
To convert to a dry matter basis, we need to determine what percentage of the food is actually “dry matter” after removing the moisture. In Example 1, the food is 75% moisture, meaning 100% – 75% = 25% is dry matter.
Divide the wet matter carbohydrate percentage by the dry matter percentage (expressed as a decimal).
For Example 1: 7.7% / 0.25 = 30.8% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis.
Now, 30.8% carbohydrate on a dry matter basis is quite high for a cat food and not ideal.
Example 2: Wellness® Turkey and Salmon Canned Wet Cat Food
Let’s calculate the carbohydrates in Wellness® Turkey and Salmon canned, grain-free wet cat food:
- Crude protein – min 10%
- Crude fat – min 6%
- Crude fiber – min 1%
- Moisture – max 78%
- Ash – max 1.8%
Adding these percentages: 10 + 6 + 1 + 78 + 1.8 = 96.8%
Subtracting from 100: 100 – 96.8 = 3.2% carbohydrates on a wet matter basis.
Dry matter percentage: 100% – 78% moisture = 22% dry matter (or 0.22 as a decimal).
Dry matter carbohydrate percentage: 3.2% / 0.22 = 14.5% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis.
14.5% is a much better carbohydrate level than 30.8% and is considered moderate for wet cat food.
Example 3: Evo® 95% Chicken & Turkey Canned Wet Cat Food
Now let’s look at Evo® 95% Chicken & Turkey canned, grain-free wet cat food:
- Crude protein – min 9%
- Crude fat – min 10%
- Crude fiber – min 1%
- Moisture – max 78%
- Ash – max 1.91%
Adding these percentages: 9 + 10 + 1 + 78 + 1.91 = 99.91%
Subtracting from 100: 100 – 99.91 = 0.09% carbohydrates on a wet matter basis.
Dry matter percentage: 100% – 78% moisture = 22% dry matter (or 0.22 as a decimal).
Dry matter carbohydrate percentage: 0.09% / 0.22 = 0.4% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis.
0.4% carbohydrate is exceptionally low and makes this a very protein-rich and low-carb wet canned cat food option.
Choosing Low-Carb Wet Cat Food
As you can see from these examples, there’s a significant variation in carbohydrate content among wet canned cat foods. By using this calculation method, you can make informed choices about the best wet food for your cat, especially if you are aiming for a lower carbohydrate diet.
Remember that the percentages listed on pet food labels are minimums and maximums, so these calculations provide an estimate. However, they are a valuable tool for comparing different wet canned cat food options and understanding the approximate carbohydrate content.
You can also use this dry matter conversion to compare the protein content of different foods. For instance, the dry matter protein percentages for the examples above are:
- Example 1 (Generic): 9.5% / 0.25 = 38% protein
- Example 2 (Wellness®): 10% / 0.22 = 45.5% protein
- Example 3 (Evo®): 9% / 0.22 = 41% protein
These protein percentages on a dry matter basis are helpful when you are looking for a wet canned cat food that is not only low in carbohydrates but also high in protein, aligning with a cat’s natural dietary needs.
By taking the time to calculate the carbohydrate content of wet canned cat food, you can proactively manage your cat’s diet and ensure they are getting the nutrition that best supports their health and well-being.
