Spinach

Cats that have had calcium oxalate urinary stones should avoid foods containing spinach, because spinach is very rich in oxalate.

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that some dry cat foods add in dried form. It contains iron and fiber, and it is also known for its oxalate content. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists calcium oxalate among the most common bladder stone types in cats. If your cat has a history of urinary stones, ask your veterinarian about foods that contain spinach.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Spinach is added as a leafy green that brings vitamins and fiber, and its name is familiar to shoppers. The amount in dry cat food is small. Cats get their required vitamins and minerals from the full recipe, including added premixes, rather than from spinach.

Spinach contains iron, but plant iron is absorbed less readily than iron from meat, and the amount of spinach in cat food is small. Cat foods meet iron needs mainly through animal ingredients and added minerals. Spinach is not a meaningful iron source in a complete and balanced diet.

Some cats will nibble plain cooked spinach, but it offers little to an obligate carnivore, as Cornell's Feline Health Center describes cats. Skip butter and seasonings such as garlic. Cats with a history of oxalate stones may need to avoid high-oxalate foods, so ask your veterinarian first if that applies.

Source: vet.cornell.edu

Pettings gives spinach 3 out of 5 and lists it as a fruit or vegetable ingredient. It appears on 11 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. The page describes spinach as a green leafy vegetable that contains vitamins and iron. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.