While the use of vegetal proteins for plant-based or hybrid diets is becoming increasingly accepted by dog food producers and buyers, their use in cat food is not currently as popular. Here Dr Maygane Ronsmans, Product Manager Animal Nutrition at BENEO, explores why including vegetal proteins and rice protein in particular offers attractive opportunities for cat food producers.

 

Protein requirements for cats

Cats have higher protein and amino acids requirements in their diet, in comparison to dogs for example[i], and are obligate carnivores. This means that they traditionally rely solely on nutrients found in animal tissue to meet their nutritional needs and have bodies adapted to efficiently process them. Nonetheless, regardless of their carnivorous status, several studies suggest that vegetal proteins are quite digestible for cats and can therefore have a role to play in cat food production.

 

Consumer purchasing drivers for cat food

Research shows that for 7 in 10 cat owners protein quality and content in their cat’s food are (very) important.[ii] Also, there is a growing tension for some cat owners concerning the environmental credentials of the pet food they’re purchasing. Like the human plant-based market, pet owners like to see more plant-based choices in pet food. Notably, more than half of pet owners consider plant-based proteins to be better for the environment.[iii] Including high-quality vegetal proteins with nutritional benefits into cat food formulations hence offers manufacturers great potential to meet the consumer demand.

 

Digestibility of plant protein

While there is concern in the cat food space that plant proteins are not as well tolerated or digestible as animal proteins, recent scientific research suggests interesting potential.[iv] A case in point is a study by Golder et al 2020[v] with 296 healthy short hair domestic cats, that showed that the more plant protein that was included in dry cat food, the higher the protein digestibility amongst the cats in that sampleac group. The research also demonstrated that plant proteins are a satisfactory source for meeting the amino acid needs of pets, without compromising protein digestibility.

 

The potential of rice protein

Among plant-based ingredients, rice is perceived as the most appealing source by cat owners, with 92% of them considering it as natural and 89% as healthy.[vi] Including rice protein in a cat’s food offers interesting opportunities for manufacturers. It allows for an increase of protein content in the final product, while using a natural, clean label and hypoallergenic ingredient, that also offers good digestibility and has an excellent essential amino acid profile.

In a recent study (Morris et al 2023[vii]), 24 healthy adult cats were given test diets with increasing amounts of rice protein concentrate (0%, 7% 14% and 28%) in exchange for hydrolysed chicken liver and heart. All the diets had a similar level of total protein. The results showed that when the rice protein concentrate was increased, then protein digestibility was enhanced too. In addition, there was excellent taste acceptance of the food and an improvement of faeces characteristics, such as firmness and form. The study demonstrates that rice protein represents an excellent complementary protein source that is even suitable for cats with food sensitivities.

 

Amino acid profile of rice protein

Next to its digestibility, a protein’s essential amino acid profile is a key factor for pet food manufacturers to consider when creating new formulations. These organic compounds contribute to numerous metabolic functions including maintenance and immune responses and as such, it is valuable that the protein source used in the pet food has a well-balanced amino acid profile. Among plant proteins, rice protein has the highest essential amino acids (EAA) content. Pet food producers can achieve a complete essential amino acids profile by combining cereal proteins like rice protein (which are low in the EAA lysine) with a legume protein, such as BENEO’s faba bean protein concentrate[viii].

 

BENEO’s rice protein specialty ingredient

For pet food producers thinking of adding a plant-based protein option in their ingredient portfolio, rice protein is a clean label quality ingredient, included in the EU Catalogue of Feed Materials.[ix] BENEO’s rice protein offers a guaranteed protein content of a minimum 79% on product basis and almost 90% on dry matter basis, making it a highly concentrated source of protein. When BENEO’s rice protein EAA profile is compared against the requirements of adult cats[x], it delivers a well-balanced profile and what is required to promote long-term health. According to a recent internal digestibility trial in cecectomized roosters - a recommended animal model for pets - BENEO’s rice protein reaches (ileal) digestibility scores close to 90%, confirming its good digestibility and overall high quality. Especially in adult cats, it has shown DIAAS-like[1] scores >100% compared to FEDIAF reference and no limiting amino acid. In addition, this hypoallergenic, clean label ingredient is free from the most frequent food allergens[xi], making it suitable for the most sensitive cats, like seniors or kittens, as well as cats with allergies. Thanks to exceptional nutritional assets and its overall excellent acceptance by pet owners, BENEO’s rice protein can fulfil the most demanding and specific requirements of (super) premium or veterinary dry and wet cat food products.

BENEO’s rice protein is produced in a state-of-the-art and food-certified rice ingredient plant in Wijgmaal, Belgium, from non-GMO raw material sources. It is processed in alkaline conditions, and this is important because alkaline production is associated with a high digestibility of proteins[xii]. BENEO also continuously strives to identify equipment and technologies that allow to reduce CO₂ emissions for more sustainable production processes at its Wijgmaal site. In addition, thanks to having approved suppliers in multiple countries and a strategic raw material inventory, BENEO’s rice protein supply security can be ensured.

With more pet food producers and buyers interested in vegetal protein sources for plant-based or hybrid diets, BENEO’s rice protein is an attractive option also for cat food development. Its provision of essential amino acids, digestibility, hypoallergenicity and clean label credentials make it an interesting addition to any producer’s recipe formulation toolbox.