Apple Cider Vinegar

Claims that apple cider vinegar supports urinary health or digestion have not been proven in cats.

Apple cider vinegar is vinegar made by fermenting apple juice, and a few cat foods add a small amount. FDA's labeling rules leave vinegars out of the definition of a chemical preservative. Pettings has found no known risk for cats from the small amounts in cat food. Giving extra vinegar at home is a different matter, so check with your veterinarian first, especially for a cat with a medical condition.

Source: ecfr.gov

Apple cider vinegar is added as a natural acidifier and flavor. Its acetic acid lowers pH slightly, which slows some spoilage microbes, so it can help other preservatives. Some makers also point to urinary or digestive effects, but those claims are unproven. The amount used is small, and it usually sits near the end of the ingredient list.

Not under FDA's labeling definition. FDA defines a chemical preservative as a chemical that, when added to food, tends to prevent or slow deterioration, and that definition leaves out vinegars. So on a pet food label, apple cider vinegar is treated as a food ingredient rather than a chemical preservative, even when it helps the food keep.

Source: ecfr.gov

Ask your veterinarian first. The amount in a commercial cat food is small and measured, while home use is not. The urinary and digestive claims made for apple cider vinegar are also unproven. A cat with a urinary problem needs a diagnosis, because some urinary conditions call for very different diets, and a home remedy can delay the right care.

Pettings gives apple cider vinegar 3 out of 5 and lists it as a natural preservative or acidifier. It appears on 2 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Labels may call it organic apple cider vinegar, and both names share this page. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.