Collard Greens

Collard greens are a leafy vegetable in the cabbage family, used in small amounts in a few dry cat foods. They contain vitamin K and fiber. We found no FDA or Merck guidance on collard greens in cat food specifically, and cat studies are lacking. If your cat has a thyroid or urinary condition, ask your veterinarian about leafy green ingredients.

Collard greens are added as a leafy green that brings vitamin K and fiber. They tend to appear in recipes that list several fruits and vegetables. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that gut bacteria usually supply enough vitamin K for cats, so greens are not needed for that vitamin in a complete diet.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Collard greens and kale are close relatives in the cabbage family, both grown for their leaves. Collards have broad, flat, smooth leaves, while kale leaves are usually curly or crinkled. Their nutrient profiles are similar. In cat food both appear in small amounts, and Pettings scores them the same way.

No, cats have no dietary requirement for leafy greens. Cornell's Feline Health Center says cats are obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients found only in animal products. Greens can add fiber and plant compounds to a recipe, but a complete and balanced cat food meets a cat's needs without them.

Source: vet.cornell.edu

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