Duck Meal

Duck meal is duck that has been cooked, dried and ground into a concentrated protein. AAFCO explains that rendering uses heat and pressure to remove most of the water and fat, leaving mainly protein and minerals. Duck is used as an alternative to chicken. For a cat with a medical condition or a suspected food allergy, ask your veterinarian.

Source: aafco.org

Duck meal adds a lot of protein in a small weight, which is useful in kibble. Because most of the water is gone, it supplies more protein per pound than fresh duck. It lets a recipe use duck as a main protein without relying only on wet meat. Duck also adds iron and B vitamins.

Duck is fresh meat, which is mostly water, while duck meal is duck that has been rendered into a dry powder. AAFCO says rendering removes most of the water and fat. Since ingredients are listed by weight, fresh duck can sit higher on a label than duck meal while adding less protein to the finished kibble. Pettings scores both 5 out of 5.

Source: aafco.org

Duck gives a cat a protein it may not have eaten before. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists chicken among the common sources of food allergens in cats, which is one reason some owners look for other proteins. Duck also has a different taste and slightly more fat. A food that uses duck may still contain chicken elsewhere, so read the full ingredient list.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Pettings gives duck meal 5 out of 5 and lists it as a named animal protein. It appears on 3 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. The ingredient score does not change with the rest of the recipe. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.