Turmeric

Curcumin is known for anti-inflammatory properties, but the body absorbs very little of it, and the amount in cat food is too small to have a meaningful effect.

Turmeric is a yellow spice made from the dried root of Curcuma longa, and many dry cat foods include a small amount. FDA lists turmeric in 21 CFR 582.10 among spices and natural seasonings with GRAS status for animal feed. That listing is general and is not a cat study. If your cat takes medication or has a medical condition, ask your veterinarian about turmeric in its food.

Source: govinfo.gov

Turmeric is added mainly for its reputation and its golden color, and the Pettings page says it mostly gives the label a natural look. Its active compound, curcumin, is studied for antioxidant activity. The page also notes the body absorbs very little curcumin and that cat food contains too little for a meaningful effect.

Yes, turmeric can give kibble a yellow or golden tint, since its curcumin pigment is a strong natural colorant. In human foods it is often used for color. In cat food, the shade matters to owners more than to cats, which choose food mostly by smell and texture.

Curcumin is the yellow compound in turmeric that has drawn the most research interest. Studies in humans and lab animals show it is poorly absorbed from the gut on its own. We found no controlled study showing that the small amount of turmeric in dry cat food raises curcumin levels in cats.

Pettings gives turmeric 2 out of 5 and lists it as an herb or plant extract. It appears on 23 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. The page notes the amount in cat food is too small to have a meaningful effect. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.