“…formulated to meet the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile for… (a life stage),” says the label on cat foods that follow AAFCO’s nationally agreed-upon nutritional levels. In the pet food industry, life stages are divided into three categories:
- Growth
- Maintenance
- All stages of life
Not only do cats have unique protein, vitamins, and dietary requirements, but these requirements change as they grow. Fast-growing kittens require more nutrition and energy sources, while older, healthy cats require more protein to keep their muscles in good shape as they age.
Dog food, with its reduced protein and other nutrient content, cannot effectively sustain a cat in any of its life phases for an extended period of time.
