Beet Greens

Beet greens are the leafy tops of the beet plant, and a few dry cat foods add them in small amounts. Like other dark leafy greens, they contain vitamin K and fiber. We found no FDA or Merck guidance specific to beet greens in cat food, and cat studies are lacking. If your cat has a history of urinary stones or another condition, ask your veterinarian about leafy green ingredients.

Beet greens are added as a leafy vegetable that brings vitamin K and fiber in a small dose. They often appear in recipes that use a mix of greens and vegetables. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that a cat's gut bacteria usually make enough vitamin K, so the greens are not needed for that vitamin in a complete food.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Beet greens are the leaves of the beet plant, while beets are the round red root. Pettings lists them as separate ingredients because they differ. The leaves are a leafy green, much like chard. The root is a starchy vegetable colored by a red pigment called betanin. A label that lists one does not necessarily contain the other.

Yes, beet greens are among the leafy greens that contain oxalate, a compound that can bind calcium. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists calcium oxalate as one of the most common bladder stone types in cats. The amount of beet greens in dry cat food is small, and a cat with a stone history is usually managed with a diet chosen by its veterinarian.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Pettings gives beet greens 3 out of 5 and lists it as a fruit or vegetable ingredient. It appears on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. The page groups them with other leafy greens such as kale that are added in small amounts. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.