The Clean Label Project (CLP) “report” found heavy metals in cat food. But they don’t share the actual lab results for each cat food that they tested. That’s the most important part!
I agree that we don’t want to feed our cats food that has heavy metals. And I agree that most commercial foods are garbage. But “reports” like this don’t help us. It would be much more helpful to see the lab results for each product.
CLP did list the cat food brands they tested. It’s a fairly good mix of healthier options and overly processed garbage.
They bought 100 products across 62 different brands across three different types of food. They tested 31 dry kibbles, 40 wet foods (canned and pouch), and 29 air-dried or freeze-dried foods.
But they don’t actually provide the lab results for each product! They only share the total amount of heavy metals found across all products.
I like that they talk about avoiding fish meal. And I’d add to avoid all types of meals. Meals are rendered ingredients that can include 4D meats (dead, diseased, dying, disabled). I do a more in-depth review of that in my worst cat food brands post. And in the video below.
Clean Label Project also mentions ingredient splitting. This is when companies split up the same ingredient so that meat can be the number one ingredient. For example, you may see pea starch, pea protein, and peas. If you add those ingredients up, it would probably weigh more than the chicken in the product. But companies know that we want to see meat as the first ingredient.
We need to look beyond just the first ingredient.
So what do we feed our cats?
Here’s what I recommend as a pet nutritionist who has been working with cats professionally for over 10 years.
Homemade cat food is the best and cheapest
The best and cheapest option is homemade cat food. Either raw or cooked.
Homemade cat food is the best because you have more control over the ingredients. Therefore, you have more control over the quality and how it’s made. And it’s the cheapest because you’re always going to spend more to have someone else make food for you. Just like going to a restaurant vs making dinner at home.
However, I don’t recommend homemade for complete beginners. For example, if you’re feeding dry and/or canned food. You will have to get your cat off kibble/canned food and gradually transition to a healthier commercial cat food first. This transition will be easier for you and your cat.
I include what to look for in healthy cat food below if you aren’t ready for homemade.
How to get your cat off kibble
If you’re feeding dry food only, your first step is to feed your cat at scheduled mealtimes. No more leaving dry food out all day. This is unsanitary and encourages overeating and picky eating.
Next, gradually wean off dry food using a complete and balanced freeze-dried food. Freeze-dried food looks like dry food, and it has a strong smell so it’s easier to transition to that.
Once your cat is eating 100% freeze-dried food, slowly start rehydrating it to get your cat used to eating a wet texture. From there you can gradually introduce a lightly cooked or premade raw cat food that’s already complete. Then from there, transition to a homemade diet. Or keep feeding the complete fresh food if you want. Check out best cat food brands for options.
How to transition your cat from dry and canned wet food
If you’re feeding dry and wet food, your first step is to feed your cat at scheduled mealtimes. No more leaving dry food out all day. Next, gradually reduce the amount of dry food and gradually increase the amount of wet food that you’re feeding each day until your cat is eating 100% wet food.
Again, do not leave dry food out for your cat to munch on. Your cat will likely hold out for dry food and refuse more wet food. Just use whatever wet food that you’re already feeding. You can upgrade the quality in the next step. You have to remove all dry food first.
Once your cat is eating 100% wet food, gradually introduce a lightly cooked or premade raw cat food that’s already complete. Then from there, transition to a homemade diet. Or keep feeding the complete fresh food if you want. Check out best cat food brands for options.
Healthy cat food brands
I highly suggest learning how to read cat food labels so you can figure out what’s best for you and your cat. Not all of us can afford to have our cat’s food tested for heavy metals. And clearly we can’t rely on “reports” that break the news.
So the better option is to learn how to actually read labels so you know what’s healthy and what’s not. Use my cat food label guide.
A quick summary of healthy cat food:
- Lightly cooked fresh food (requires refrigeration) or premade raw are the best options because these are less processed.
- Freeze-dried foods have healthier ingredients and are shelf-stable if you don’t have freezer space.
- “Dinner, recipe, entree, etc.” in the product name has the highest amount of meat. For example, “chicken recipe” has between 25-95% chicken. Avoid all products that say “with” or “flavor” in the product name.
- An excellent ingredient list is easy to read and understand. For example, chicken, chicken necks with bone, chicken heart, chicken gizzards, chicken liver, egg yolk, blue mussels, oyster meat, salmon oil, etc. Avoid unnamed mystery meats, corn, wheat, peas, food dyes, etc.
- Cat food needs to be less than 10% carbs on a dry matter basis. You won’t find carbs listed on the guaranteed analysis. You have to calculate this. My cat food label guide includes a carb calculator.
- Complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage. Look for the phrase “formulated to meet the nutritional guidelines of AAFCO” – then it will say for which life stage. “Growth” means complete for kittens only, “maintenance” means complete for adult cats only, and “all life stages” means complete for kittens and adult cats.
Check out my best cat food brands post if you need to see examples.
Final thoughts on heavy metals in cat food
I agree that we shouldn’t feed our cats food with heavy metals. But who can afford to test every cat food? Clean Label Project does not provide the lab results for each product. So how do we know which foods have the most heavy metals?
The better option is to learn how to read cat food labels so you know what to look for and what to avoid. The healthiest options for our cats are fresh, lightly cooked, freeze-dried, or raw diets.
These healthy options are minimally processed, include higher-quality ingredients, and are low-carb.
The best and cheapest option overall is homemade cat food. You have way more control over the ingredients, the quality, and the cost. No more worrying about recalls or stupid “reports” like this.
Need help feeding your cat a healthy diet? I have tons of free guides on my blog and YouTube.
Or check out my products for an affordable shortcut! My food review calculator will help you review foods easily. All based on AAFCO guidelines and ingredients to avoid.
I also have ebooks with printables and complete recipes if you’re ready to make your own food. Check out cooking for your cat if you want to feed a cooked diet. And raw feeding your cat if you want to feed raw.
