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Cat Food Ingredient

Zinc Sulfate

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

Zinc is a trace mineral needed for skin and coat health, wound healing, the immune system and the sense of taste. In cats with zinc deficiency, the coat becomes dull, and redness and crusting may appear on the skin. Zinc sulfate is an ordinary form of zinc and meets daily needs. Some foods also add chelated zinc, but there is little data in cats on which form is absorbed better, and no evidence that combining them improves absorption.

Common Questions

What are signs of zinc deficiency in cats?

In cats with zinc deficiency, the coat becomes dull, and redness and crusting may appear on the skin.

Is zinc sulfate safe for cats?

Zinc sulfate is a zinc salt 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, and complete cat foods add a measured amount. If your cat has skin disease or another medical condition, ask your veterinarian before giving extra zinc.

Source: ecfr.gov

Why is zinc sulfate in cat food?

Zinc sulfate is added to supply zinc. It dissolves well in water and mixes easily into mineral premixes. Meat contains zinc, but levels vary, so a measured amount is added to reach the target for cats. It appears on about half of the dry foods we track.

What is the difference between zinc sulfate and zinc oxide?

Both are inorganic zinc sources listed by FDA in 21 CFR 582.80. Zinc sulfate dissolves in water, while zinc oxide does not. Formulators choose based on cost and how the zinc behaves in the recipe. Many cat foods use more than one zinc source.

Source: ecfr.gov

What is zinc proteinate compared with zinc sulfate?

Zinc sulfate is an inorganic salt. Zinc proteinate is zinc bound to protein fragments, a chelated form. Both supply zinc, and some cat foods list both on the same label. Pettings scores chelated zinc on its own page. The label name tells you which form was added.

How does Pettings score zinc sulfate?

Pettings gives zinc sulfate 3 out of 5 and lists it as a mineral. It appears on 73 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 Sulfate Compare

Zinc Sulfate is on the label of 73 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. Their average Ingredients score is 56 out of 100. The 76 foods without it average 58.

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 Sulfate

  1. Orijen Guardian 8 (91)
  2. Orijen Kitten (91)
  3. Orijen Original Cat (91)
  4. Acana Highest Protein Wild Atlantic (90)
  5. Go! Solutions Carnivore Grain Free Chicken, Turkey + Duck Recipe (90)

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 Sulfate (73)