Potassium Chloride

Older cats with kidney disease lose extra potassium in their urine, so getting enough potassium is important for them to prevent muscle weakness.

Potassium chloride is a mineral salt that supplies potassium and chloride. Cats need potassium for muscle and nerve function. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that muscle weakness with the head bent down is often seen in cats with potassium deficiency. If your cat has kidney disease or another medical condition, your veterinarian can advise on potassium.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Potassium chloride is added to bring potassium up to the target level for cats. Meat contains potassium, but the amount varies between ingredients and batches. Potassium chloride is a stable source that mixes easily into dry and wet recipes, so formulators use it widely.

Potassium chloride is the same compound used in many salt substitutes for people. In cat food, though, it is not there to replace salt flavor. It is added as a potassium source to meet nutrient targets. Its name on the label tells you it is a mineral ingredient, not a flavoring.

Low potassium, or hypokalemia, often shows up as muscle weakness. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes ventroflexion of the head, where the cat holds its head bent down toward the chest, as a sign often seen in cats with potassium deficiency. A cat with these signs needs a veterinarian.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Pettings gives potassium chloride 3 out of 5 and lists it as a mineral. It appears on 119 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.