Whole Grain Oatmeal

Whole grain oatmeal is oats that have been rolled, cut or ground with the bran and germ kept. In cat food it is a starch and fiber source. Tufts veterinary nutritionists say cats can digest properly cooked carbohydrates, though adult cats have no specific requirement for them. For a cat with a medical condition, your veterinarian can advise on its diet.

Source: sites.tufts.edu

It adds starch for energy and soluble fiber, mainly beta-glucan. Tufts veterinary nutritionists say fiber contained in carbohydrate sources can nourish gut bacteria and improve stool quality. Because the bran and germ are kept, whole grain oatmeal carries more fiber than refined starches such as rice flour or tapioca.

Source: sites.tufts.edu

Whole grain means the ingredient contains the entire grain kernel: the bran, the germ and the starchy endosperm. Refined grains like white rice or brewers rice have the bran and germ removed. For a cat, the difference is mainly more fiber and some extra minerals and B vitamins. The starch content stays high either way.

They come from the same grain. Oats is the general name, while whole grain oatmeal tells you the oats were rolled, cut or ground and that the bran and germ were kept. In cat food they do the same job as a starch and fiber source. Pettings scores both 2 out of 5 and keeps separate pages because labels use both names.

Pettings scores whole grain oatmeal 2 out of 5 and lists it as a grain, potato or other carb source. We found it on 2 of the 149 dry cat foods in our list. The ingredient score is separate from a food's overall score, which you can see on each food's page.