Sage
Our ingredient score: 2 / 5 · Herb or plant extract · How We Score
Sage is a cooking herb used in very small amounts in some cat foods, mainly for flavor and a natural look. Its leaves contain plant compounds with antioxidant effects. Cats are meat eaters and do not need herbs in their diet. At the small amounts used, no harm is known, and no clear benefit for cats has been shown.
Common Questions
Why is sage in cat food?
Mainly for flavor and a natural look. It is used in very small amounts.
Is sage safe for cats?
Sage is a cooking herb from the mint family, used in very small amounts in a few cat foods. FDA lists sage in 21 CFR 582.10 among spices and natural seasonings with GRAS status for use in animal feed. That listing covers animal feed broadly and is not a cat study. If your cat has a medical condition, ask your veterinarian about herbs in its food.
Source: govinfo.gov
What is sage in cat food?
Sage in cat food is the dried, ground leaf of the garden sage plant, Salvia officinalis. It is used mainly for flavor and gives the recipe a natural look on the label. The amount is very small, so it adds little nutrition.
Is sage the same as clary sage or Greek sage?
No, they are related plants with separate entries. FDA's list of spices and seasonings for animal feed in 21 CFR 582.10 names Greek sage and clary sage as entries separate from sage. Sage on a cat food label usually means common garden sage. Desert sagebrush is a different plant altogether and is not a culinary sage.
Source: govinfo.gov
Can cats eat fresh sage leaves?
No source we checked studied cats eating fresh sage, so we cannot say how a nibble affects a cat. The herb has little nutritional value for a carnivore. FDA includes sage on its GRAS list of spices and natural seasonings for animal feed (21 CFR 582.10). Sage essential oil is a different, concentrated product, and the Merck Veterinary Manual notes cats are very sensitive to phenolic compounds found in some essential oils.
Source: merckvetmanual.com
How does Pettings score sage?
Pettings gives sage 2 out of 5 and lists it as an herb or plant extract. It appears on 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. The page notes it is used mainly for flavor and a natural look. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Sage Compare
Sage is on the label of 1 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.