Fenugreek Seed

It is used in small amounts, mainly for fiber and flavor.

Fenugreek seed comes from an herb in the pea family that is used as a spice in cooking. FDA lists fenugreek among spices and natural seasonings with GRAS status for animal feed in 21 CFR 582.10. That listing covers feed use in general, and we found no study of fenugreek in cats. If your cat has diabetes or another medical condition, ask your veterinarian about herbal ingredients.

Source: govinfo.gov

Fenugreek seed is a small, hard seed from the Trigonella foenum-graecum plant, ground and added in small amounts. It has a maple-like smell and a slightly bitter taste. In pet food it acts mainly as a flavoring and botanical ingredient. The Pettings page notes that no clear benefit for cats has been shown.

There is no clear evidence that fenugreek changes blood sugar in cats. Studies in humans and rats have looked at fenugreek and blood glucose, but we found no controlled study in cats, and the amount in dry cat food is small. A diabetic cat's diet and treatment should be set by its veterinarian.

A maple syrup smell in cat food can come from fenugreek seed, which contains sotolon, the aroma compound that gives fenugreek its maple-like scent. The smell is a normal property of the spice. If a food smells off, sour or rancid instead, contact the maker or stop feeding it.

Pettings gives fenugreek seed 2 out of 5 and lists it as an herb or plant extract. It appears on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. The page notes that no clear benefit for cats has been shown. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.