Why Isn’t There Pork Cat Food?

For cat owners browsing the pet food aisle, you may have noticed an interesting omission – there doesn’t seem to be any cat food containing pork. Chicken, beef, fish, even venison and other more exotic meats make frequent appearances on pet food labels. But pork is curiously absent. What gives? As a cat owner and blogger, I decided to dig into this mystery and get to the bottom of why there isn’t pork cat food.

The Natural Feline Diet

To understand commercial cat food we first need to look at what cats eat in nature. Cats are obligate carnivores meaning they need meat in their diet to survive. In the wild, feral and big cats prey on small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Their digestive systems are adapted to process this meat-heavy diet.

Cats have a higher protein requirement than many mammals. Protein from animal tissues provides essential amino acids that cats cannot synthesize on their own Taurine, for example, is an amino acid only found in animal proteins that cats need for heart and eye health

When we look at the natural feline diet, mammalian prey, like rodents and rabbits, comprises the bulk of their nutrition. Pork simply isn’t a significant part of wild cats’ ancestral menus. Evolutionarily, felines are adapted to digest proteins from sources like poultry, fish and red meat over pork. This gives us our first clue into why pork isn’t prevalent in commercial cat foods.

Feline Food Sensitivities

Another reason pork doesn’t appear in cat food is that many cats are intolerant or allergic to it. Ingredients that commonly cause negative reactions in cats include corn, wheat, milk products, chicken, beef and fish. Pork can also be a problem.

Cats have hypersensitive digestive systems, much more so than their canine counterparts. When given protein sources their bodies aren’t adapted to handle, inflammation, malnutrition and diarrhea can result. Over time, chronic exposure can lead to full-blown food allergies.

Symptoms of food intolerance in cats include:

• Vomiting or regurgitation
• Loose stool or diarrhea
• Excessive gas
• Loss of appetite
• Skin irritation, scratching or bald patches
• Ear inflammation
• Lethargy

For cats with food sensitivities, specialized diets are usually prescribed. Novel protein sources like kangaroo, duck or venison may be introduced. Many prescription cat foods rely on hydrolyzed soy or cornstarch as the protein instead of actual meat.

Since pork meals aren’t typical for cats, some may experience adverse reactions when fed pork-based foods. Cat food companies likely minimize pork to avoid these potential problems.

Pork’s Nutritional Profile Differs from Other Feline Staples

Meats like poultry, beef and fish have protein and fat profiles that align well with feline nutritional requirements. The nutrient balance in pork differs in a few key ways:

• Higher Fat Content – Pork typically contains more fat per serving compared to lean meats like chicken, which can lead to obesity.
• Less Taurine – Taurine occurs naturally in muscle meat but not in pork as much as other proteins. Supplemental taurine in cat foods is usually chemically synthesized.
• More Sodium – Sodium helps stimulate appetite but too much can be unhealthy for cats, especially males and seniors.
• Different Fatty Acids – The balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in pork may not be ideal for cats compared to fish-based foods.

For these reasons, pork doesn’t provide the optimal nutritional profile that cat food manufacturers are seeking. While not necessarily dangerous in moderation, pork isn’t the perfect protein for our feline companions.

Religious Considerations

An interesting factor that may contribute to the lack of pork cat food is religious dietary restrictions. For instance, Jewish and Muslim traditions prohibit the consumption of pork.

As pet humanization increases and owners become more conscientious about what they feed their animals, religious beliefs could be a factor. Some pet food companies may avoid pork altogether to appeal to wider demographics.

Regions with large Muslim populations, like the Middle East, represent emerging pet food markets. Excluding pork enables companies to diversity into new geographical areas. Religious considerations provide another explanation for pork’s absence from commercial cat foods.

Difficulty Sourcing Quality Pork By-Products

By-products make up a significant portion of ingredients in dry kibble and canned cat foods. These are organs, bone meal, blood, fats and other tissues that humans don’t consume.

By-products provide essential nutrients and flavors, mimicking the whole-prey diet cats are adapted to. But quality control of by-products can be an issue in the rendering industry. Things like contamination, improper processing and nutrient loss can occur.

With pork by-products, quality control and consistency may be more difficult compared to chicken, beef or fish. This could lead pet food manufacturers to avoid pork meals in favor of more reliable protein sources.

Are There Any Commercial Pork Cat Foods?

While not common, there are a handful of niche cat food brands that offer pork recipes:

• Ziwi Peak – Air-dried and canned cat foods featuring pork as the primary protein. Made in New Zealand from locally sourced ingredients.

• Orijen – Some of their freeze-dried cat treats contain pork liver. Orijen emphasizes locally sourced, sustainable meats.

• Smallbatch – A boutique brand offering unique proteins like pork, goat, horse and jackfruit in their cat foods.

So pork cat food does exist, but you have to look beyond the major commercial brands. Smaller companies are more willing to take risks with unconventional formulas.

For the major players, pork’s exclusion comes down to economics. Why change what seems to be working and risk potential issues? The ingredients already used provide the right nutritional balance and avoid undesirable reactions in most cats.

Is It Safe to Feed Pork to Cats?

While not a normal part of the feline diet, pork, in moderation, is unlikely to harm healthy cats. Some tips for safely feeding pork:

• Cook it thoroughly to kill any parasites or bacteria.
• Avoid seasoned pork or ham containing onions/garlic.
• Introduce it slowly mixed with their regular food.
• Never feed raw pork.

The meat should never make up more than 10% of their diet. Monitor for signs of digestive upset or allergic reaction.

Ask your vet first about trying small amounts of cooked, unseasoned pork. They may recommend avoiding it altogether if your cat has food sensitivities.

The Takeaway on Pork and Cat Food

Manufacturers gravitate towards ingredients that are nutritionally appropriate, widely available, cost-effective and least likely to cause adverse reactions. Chicken, beef and seafood tick these boxes, while pork comes up short in a few key areas.

While not acutely dangerous, pork’s exclusion from commercial cat foods makes sense given cats’ evolutionary diet and predisposition towards food intolerances. That said, niche brands prove that with proper processing, pork can be an occasional part of a cat’s diet.

So next time you’re scanning the pet food aisle looking for new flavors to tempt your feline, don’t expect to find pork any time soon. But for cats without sensitivities who need a little protein variety, cooked plain pork makes an OK supplemental treat.