Natural Cat Food Trends to Watch in 2022 | Current Issue

Cat entrepreneurs are ever more fascinated in much better-quality foods, and makers are providing purely natural diet programs with the intention of supplying cats with the nutrition they need—without needless substances and processing.

Amelia Perches, social media and PR supervisor at Nulo Pet Food items, a producer in Austin, Texas, reported that quite a few of the present-day cat food items tendencies have been in line with human nourishment developments. People are averting really processed, synthetic and GMO elements, she additional.

“To Nulo, ‘natural’ indicates our cat food items aligns with the nourishment demanded for carnivores and that the ingredients are large-excellent sources from highly regarded suppliers,” Perches stated. “This means most of the protein in a cat’s diet program really should be coming from meat, poultry and fish relatively than plants that carbs should really be stored at small concentrations and that unnecessary components ought to never be used—like synthetic or controversial additives.”

Rob Cadenhead, standard supervisor at St. Francis, Wis.-based mostly Gott Pet Items, parent enterprise of pet meals brand Hound & Gatos, stated that to qualify as “natural,” a food items should be sourced from complete food items substances, well prepared with no additives or synthetic preservatives and be as minimally processed as possible.

Consumers are hunting for a brand name they can rely on and food stuff with recognizable components, said Dan Markenson, head of retail at Dr. Marty Animals, a Los Angeles-based manufacturer.

“They are hunting for an component deck that is simple to recognize and a food their cats will enjoy, obviously,” Markenson additional. “They’re also wanting for a superior-protein food plan. Cats are obligate carnivores, so they have to have a diet plan rich in serious meat to prosper.”

As extra choices become obtainable, lots of cat house owners are undertaking their exploration.

“Today’s cat moms and dads are extra enlightened than they utilized to be,” Cadenhead stated. “Besides wanting for a diet regime that features serious animal protein, they’re in search of diets with components that provide a practical goal, this kind of as sweet potato, broccoli, berries and total eggs. They’re steering obvious of soaked recipes with controversial components this sort of as rendered animal fat, carrageenan or guar gum, and keeping away from dry recipes well prepared with very processed, rendered poultry meals. Each individual Hound & Gatos recipe is precisely created with these prerequisites in mind.”

Purchasers are using a nearer appear at what is in their pets’ foodstuff, agreed Sherry Redwine, operator of Odyssey Animals, a retailer in Dallas.

“When prospects come in and say they want a ‘natural food,’ what they actually want is a foods which is balanced with high-excellent components,” Redwine stated. “But it is not more than enough for them to just see the term ‘natural’ on the bag. They still want to glance at the ingredients—as they should.”

Aspects these types of as superior-high quality protein, lifetime-stage and breed-specific formulation, and superfood elements are critical to cat proprietors, Perches stated.

“But even a lot more influential are the wellness added benefits tied to them this kind of as special formulation for growing kittens, indoor grownups and senior cats—as perfectly as particular-will need solutions like excess weight and hairball administration,” Perches additional. “Premium cat foodstuff individuals anticipate the exact options as traditional merchandise with the included self-confidence that what they are putting into their pet’s bowl actually is the very best preference for long-phrase health and fitness.”

Cat homeowners who want the greatest for their pets are prepared to pay a bit far more, according to Cadenhead.

“Freeze-dried weight loss plans are attaining in acceptance, despite their comparatively superior selling price,” he explained. “I’d attribute this to the perceived high quality and purity of the substances. Soaked eating plans also continue being a top rated decision for pet mom and dad.”

Serving Up Hydration

The normal cat foodstuff category carries on to broaden with new varieties, and numerous brands are turning their consideration to providing cats additional hydration.

“Current traits in the marketplace show an elevated target on the hydration requirements of cats,” Perches stated. “Cats have advanced from ancestors which experienced extremely very little entry to no cost water, so our cats have a very low thirst generate and are metabolically oriented to acquiring drinking water from their food stuff resources. Offering moisture all through mealtime by way of a canned foods, topper or broth will maximize a cat’s drinking water ingestion in a way that is in sync with its normal actions.”

Perches mentioned that Nulo is innovating in the cat hydration area with a selection of moist foods and toppers which includes Hydrate h2o enhancers as nicely as three just lately released product traces for cats: Nulo FreeStyle Signature Stews, Nulo FreeStyle Pâté Cans and Nulo FreeStyle Chunky Broths.

“Nulo’s new recipes for cats consist of irresistible possibilities like silky sleek pâtés, wealthy and hearty stews, and tender morsels in a savory broth,” Perches said. “In addition to providing significant-high quality, animal-dependent protein for cats, these new recipes also attribute substantial dampness concentrations to support cats get their each day hydration.”

Cat homeowners are trying to get fresher formats, like raw foodstuff or gently cooked, human-quality foods, Markenson pointed out.

“They’re commencing to fully grasp the probable complications with kibble that is cooked at high temperatures, and then coated with palatants,” Markenson included.

Dr. Marty Pets released Dr. Marty Nature’s Feast Vital Wellness last calendar year, which is selling well, he reported. The freeze-dried raw cat foods line features 3 formulation with distinctive protein blends: Poultry Fish & Poultry and Beef, Salmon & Poultry.

“Each components is built with top quality meats for protein and omega-3s to support nutritious tooth and pores and skin, effortless digestion, balanced electricity and vital organs—and anti-oxidants and prebiotics from serious seeds, veggies and fruit to guidance long lasting health,” Markenson mentioned.

Upgrading Cats’ Meals

Cats are notorious for becoming picky eaters, so even these pet house owners who want to make a change to a better-good quality, all-natural food stuff could encounter an uphill struggle. But independent pet specialty merchants are properly suited to assist.

Kaitlin McGrath, owner of Belmont Pet Shop in Belmont, Mass., claimed that lots of of her clients do require some direction. This includes schooling on why producing a switch to a much more healthful food items is well worth the exertion.

“Temperature, style and texture are a few of the most significant variables to a cat,” she mentioned. “If the cat is by now eating a pâté, adhere with a pâté, but obtain a healthier selection. If they definitely like shredded meat, seem at the shreds. We can enable to changeover a cat by retaining it very similar to what they are employed to taking in.”

Mark Tincher, supervisor at The Pet Bowl, a retailer in Delaware, Ohio, agreed and reported that cat homeowners frequently need some steering.

“We only carry better-excellent makes here, but about 50 percent of cat food stuff gross sales are concern driven,” Tincher reported. “The cat is dealing with a issue, so they make a swap. The other 50 percent are customers who comprehend there are greater alternatives out there but need to have some assistance. We are extremely selective about what we have, so any alternative in this article is a high-quality choice.”

Amelia Perches, social media and PR manager for Nulo Pet Foodstuff, a maker in Austin, Texas, reported that with cats getting so picky, demo sizes, free of charge samples and/or a money-back again guarantee can be excellent equipment to inspire cat homeowners to try out anything new.

“Additionally, incorporating clip strips and endcaps with trial-sized packets inside of the major kibble aisles can enable to advise a combined feeding strategy, even though clip strips in sections like dietary dietary supplements can counsel a personalized alternative for these browsing to solve a typical challenge like dry skin,” Perches continued. “For these house owners who aren’t all set to dedicate to a food plan overhaul, possessing modest offers placed all-around the keep can be an intriguing invitation to check out it.”