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Cat Food Ingredient

Zinc Oxide

Our ingredient score: 3 / 5 · Mineral · How We Score

Zinc oxide provides the zinc needed for skin, coat and immunity. However, the body absorbs this form less easily than organic and chelated zinc sources. In foods with grains, absorption drops even further because a substance in grains called phytate binds zinc. It is absorbed less well than other zinc sources; in studies with dogs, chelated zinc gave better results.

Common Questions

Is chelated zinc better than zinc oxide?

The body absorbs chelated zinc more easily, and in studies with dogs, chelated zinc gave better results than zinc oxide.

Is zinc oxide safe for cats?

Zinc oxide in cat food is a feed-grade zinc source that FDA lists in 21 CFR 582.80, its GRAS list of trace minerals added to animal feeds. Cats need zinc for skin and immune function. Zinc oxide creams for human skin are a different product and should be kept away from cats. For a cat with a medical condition, ask your veterinarian.

Source: ecfr.gov

Why is zinc oxide in cat food?

Zinc oxide is added to supply zinc. It contains a high share of zinc by weight, so a small amount goes a long way in the mineral premix. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that zinc deficiency can cause vomiting and delayed growth in dogs and cats.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

Is zinc oxide in cat food the same as diaper cream?

The compound is the same, but the product is not. Diaper and sunscreen creams contain zinc oxide in a concentrated form along with other ingredients, and they are not meant to be eaten. Cat food uses a purified feed-grade zinc oxide in milligram amounts.

Does other food content affect zinc absorption?

Yes. The Merck Veterinary Manual says zinc availability can sometimes be reduced by other components in commercial diets. That is one reason formulators add zinc above the bare minimum and sometimes combine zinc sources. Pettings scores zinc oxide, zinc sulfate and chelated zinc on separate pages.

Source: merckvetmanual.com

How does Pettings score zinc oxide?

Pettings gives zinc oxide 3 out of 5 and lists it as a mineral. It appears on 47 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.

How Foods With Zinc Oxide Compare

Zinc Oxide is on the label of 47 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Their average Ingredients score is 48 out of 100. The 102 foods without it average 61.

An average describes the foods, not this ingredient alone: one ingredient is only a small part of a food's score.

Top-Ranked Foods Without Zinc Oxide

  1. Orijen Guardian 8 (91)
  2. Orijen Kitten (91)
  3. Orijen Original Cat (91)
  4. Acana Highest Protein Wild Atlantic (90)
  5. Instinct Raw Boost Kibble Real Chicken Recipe (88)

Ranked the same way as our best lists: nothing on the Avoid List and a Nutrition score of at least 6/10 first, then by Ingredients score.

Foods With Zinc Oxide (47)