Fact check: the truth about potatoes in cat food

For some people, the use of potatoes in cat food raises questions – we occasionally receive messages about this topic via social media, our website and at events.
In this article, we’d like to share the truth behind some persistent myths about potatoes in cat food.

Are potatoes actually good for cats?

It’s important to know that cats are carnivores. Because they can’t produce all the essential amino acids and vitamins themselves, they get these nutrients from fish or meat. However, feeding a diet that consists of meat alone can lead to an unbalanced diet and even to serious health issues, such as bone demineralisation caused by the so-called all-meat syndrome. It’s therefore essential to provide your cat with a complete and balanced meal – and potatoes can be a nutritious and easily digestible complement to the fish or meat in cat food.

Potatoes or grains in cat food?

Another common question is whether potatoes are better than grains in cat food. Grains themselves don’t pose a health risk for most cats, but they can be harder to digest and may upset your cat’s digestive system.
Potatoes, on the other hand, contain easily digestible starch, beneficial fibre and important vitamins such as C, B6 and B9. This makes potatoes a nutritious and easily digestible addition to a cat’s diet.

Do potatoes contain harmful substances for my cat?

Another question we sometimes receive is whether potatoes are toxic to cats. It’s true that raw potatoes contain certain compounds that are difficult to digest or even toxic, such as solanine. That’s why it’s important to use only cooked potatoes in cat food and to ensure that no leaves or other parts of the plant are included.

What type of potatoes do we use in our cat food?

The potatoes we use in our kibble arrive at the Versele-Laga site already processed: they’re washed, peeled, cooked and dehydrated before being added to the kibble. This means the starch is cooked under ideal conditions for optimal digestibility. In this form, the potatoes are also gluten-free – ideal for cats with a short digestive tract.

Liggende kat

Fact check: common misconceptions

There are a few common misconceptions about the use of potatoes in pet food:

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It’s a misconception that the water from boiled potatoes – said to contain harmful substances – is used in kibble.
This isn’t true, as the potatoes are already processed and delivered in dehydrated form, so the water has been removed elsewhere.

 

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Another false claim is that the potatoes used in kibble are leftover by-products not suitable for human consumption.
This is incorrect, because the processed potatoes we use for our cat kibble are the same type used by the food industry in mashed potato for human consumption.

 

Conclusion

We can conclude that potatoes are a nutritious and easily digestible addition to a cat’s diet. They provide easily digestible starch, valuable fibre and important vitamins. Potatoes in cat food are perfectly safe, as long as they’re cooked and free from leaves or other plant parts. The potatoes used in cat food are processed potatoes that are suitable for human consumption – so there’s absolutely nothing to worry about!

Any more questions?

If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Our experts will be happy to help!

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