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Cat Food Ingredient

Manganese Oxide

Our ingredient score: 3 / 5 · Mineral · How We Score

Manganese oxide provides the manganese needed for bone and cartilage health. Studies, mostly in poultry and livestock rather than cats, find that this form is absorbed less than manganese sulfate. That is why it is considered a weak source of manganese. It is used in foods together with other forms to meet manganese needs.

Manganese Oxide also appears on labels as Manganous Oxide.

Common Questions

Is manganese oxide worse than manganese sulfate?

Studies, mostly in poultry and livestock, find it is absorbed less than manganese sulfate, so it is considered a weaker source.

Is manganese oxide safe for cats?

Manganese oxide, also called manganous oxide, is a manganese compound that FDA lists in 21 CFR 582.80, its GRAS list of trace minerals added to animal feeds. Cats need small amounts of manganese, and complete foods add a measured amount. For a cat with a medical condition, ask your veterinarian before adding any mineral supplement.

Source: ecfr.gov

Why is manganous oxide in cat food?

Manganous oxide is added to supply manganese, a trace mineral cats need for several enzyme systems. It contains a high share of manganese by weight, so only a small amount is needed in the mineral premix. It appears on about a quarter of the dry foods we track.

Is manganese oxide the same as manganous oxide?

On a cat food label, yes. Manganous oxide is the specific name for manganese(II) oxide, the form used in feed. Some labels shorten it to manganese oxide. FDA's 21 CFR 582.80 uses the name manganous oxide. Pettings tracks both label spellings on this page.

Source: ecfr.gov

Why do cat foods use different manganese sources?

Cat food makers choose among inorganic manganese salts and chelated manganese based on cost and how the mineral behaves in the premix. FDA lists several manganese compounds in 21 CFR 582.80 for animal feeds. A label shows which one a food uses.

Source: ecfr.gov

How does Pettings score manganese oxide?

Pettings gives manganese oxide 3 out of 5 and lists it as a mineral. It appears on 38 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Our How We Score page explains how ingredient scores are set. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.

How Foods With Manganese Oxide Compare

Manganese Oxide is on the label of 38 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Their average Ingredients score is 49 out of 100. The 111 foods without it average 60.

An average describes the foods, not this ingredient alone: one ingredient is only a small part of a food's score.

Top-Ranked Foods Without Manganese Oxide

  1. Orijen Guardian 8 (91)
  2. Orijen Kitten (91)
  3. Orijen Original Cat (91)
  4. Acana Highest Protein Wild Atlantic (90)
  5. Instinct Raw Boost Kibble Real Chicken Recipe (88)

Ranked the same way as our best lists: nothing on the Avoid List and a Nutrition score of at least 6/10 first, then by Ingredients score.

Foods With Manganese Oxide (38)