Minerals

The word "minerals" on a cat food label is a heading for a group of added minerals, usually named in brackets after it. Cornell Feline Health Center says cats need more than a dozen nutrients including minerals, and that supplements are usually unnecessary on a balanced and complete diet. Cornell adds that supplements should not be given without a veterinarian's approval, especially for a cat with a medical condition.

Source: vet.cornell.edu

On a label, "Minerals" usually introduces a bracketed list of the individual minerals added to the food, such as zinc sulfate and potassium iodide. AAFCO says each ingredient must be listed by its appropriate name, and there is no allowance to group small ingredients, so each mineral inside the brackets still has its own name.

Source: aafco.org

Brackets group the individual minerals that are added together as a premix. The heading "Minerals" tells you a mix follows, and the names inside the brackets show what it contains. AAFCO requires each ingredient to be named, so the bracket is a way of grouping names without hiding them.

Source: aafco.org

Usually not. Cornell Feline Health Center says supplements are usually unnecessary when a cat eats a balanced and complete diet and that they should never be given without a veterinarian's approval. Too much of some minerals can cause problems. Ask your veterinarian before giving any.

Source: vet.cornell.edu

Pettings scores the "Minerals" heading from 3 to 4 out of 5 and lists it under chelated mineral. The exact score depends on the forms named in the brackets. It appears on 103 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.