Green Peas
Our ingredient score: 2 / 5 · Legume · How We Score
Peas are a legume used in place of grains in grain-free foods. They supply carbohydrate along with some protein and fiber. The plant protein in peas raises a food's protein percentage with protein that does not come from meat. In the US, the FDA has looked into a possible link between legume-heavy grain-free diets and a heart condition in dogs; no such link has been shown in cats.
Common Questions
Are green peas safe for cats?
Green peas are the seeds of the pea plant, and in dry cat food they add starch and some plant protein. FDA's investigation of dilated cardiomyopathy looked at foods high in peas, lentils, other pulses or potatoes. Nearly all reports involved dogs, with 9 feline reports among 524. FDA has not identified a cause. For a cat with a heart or other medical condition, talk with your veterinarian.
Source: fda.gov
What are green peas in cat food?
Green peas are whole peas used as a carbohydrate source in place of grain, mostly in grain-free recipes. Besides starch, they supply some protein and fiber. Their plant protein adds to the label's protein percentage without coming from meat. The Cornell Feline Health Center calls cats obligate carnivores that rely on nutrients from animal products, so peas serve as a starch source and not a meat replacement.
Source: vet.cornell.edu
What is the difference between green peas and peas on a cat food label?
Mostly the wording. Peas, green peas, dried peas and whole peas all come from the same plant, and Pettings scores green peas and peas the same, 2 out of 5. Green peas usually means the unripe seed, while dried peas are mature seeds dried before milling. In kibble, both end up cooked and ground into the dough, so the difference on the bag is small.
Do peas make cats gassy?
Some cats get gas or bloating from peas. Peas contain fiber and certain sugars that gut bacteria ferment in the large intestine, and that fermentation produces gas. The amount in a dry food is usually moderate. Tufts veterinary nutritionists note that soluble fibers pull water into the gut and that too much highly fermentable fiber can interfere with digestion.
Source: sites.tufts.edu
How does Pettings score green peas?
Pettings gives green peas 2 out of 5 and lists them as a legume. They appear on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list, since most labels just say peas. Their plant protein raises a food's protein percentage without meat, which is why the score stays in the middle range. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Green Peas Compare
Green Peas is on the label of 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.