While reading the label of some dry cat food, seeing lentils and peas among the ingredients might have prompted you to question their validity. Are those ingredients really healthy and beneficial to your pet or are they just fillers? High-quality animal protein is one of the most important ingredients to maintain, however, we will explore the function of lentils and peas and their impact on digestion.

 

What Are Peas and Lentils?

First and foremost, peas and lentils are plant ingredients used to provide carbohydrates in certain formulas. They help bind the kibble and can provide additional plant fibre to the recipe (which, in some cases, is helpful),  but they're not the main focus of the recipe. Just like in Fuzzball's recipe, our dry food is centred around meat.

 

Can Peas and Lentils Affect My Cat's Digestion?

For most cats, peas and lentils are easily digested and can even help support gut health by providing fibre. When included with other ingredients, they help with digestion in moderation and without any upsets.

 

 

Why Are Peas and Lentils Used in Dry Cat Food?

Peas and lentils are often included as a source of carbohydrates and fibre, which provide structure to the kibble and help with digestion. However, they are not the main source of nutrition; meat protein is the primary and most important ingredient for cats.

 

Why You See Them in Fuzzball Recipes

You may have noticed that Fuzzball dry food is composed of 70% real animal protein such as chicken, tuna and salmon. Real meat is not the only ingredient in the food, Fuzzball dry food is also made of pea and lentil carbohydrates. These ingredients help provide plant fibre to the recipe and help to not overwhelm the recipe with meat.

 

Peas, Lentils and Animal Protein: What Cats Really Need

Although peas and lentils are great sources of fibre for your cat, they shouldn’t be the main ingredient. Look for cat food with a balanced mix and a high percentage of animal protein, since cats are obligate carnivores and rely on meat for essential nutrients, amino acids and overall health.

Should I Avoid Cat Food With Peas or Lentils?

No, not really. The most important factor is whether the food is a balanced meat-first formula. It is fine and even helpful for digestion. When peas and lentils are included, there should always be plenty of high-quality animal protein as the main ingredient.

 

The Real Star: Animal Protein

What your cat needs is the protein and nutrients they only get from meat. Fuzzball provides cat food rich in animal proteins to ensure a well-balanced diet. 

 

No Fillers, No Junk

Cheap kibble, which is made with a lot of grains or by-products fillers, is not something Fuzzball works with. With real meats and purposefully selected plant ingredients, your cat is provided a meal that is nutritious and also balanced in textural and digestible quality.

 

Good Digestive Balance

Plant ingredients like peas and lentils also add dietary fibre, which can assist in digestion and maintaining healthy digestive patterns. Along with natural prebiotic ingredients, this blend promotes tummy comfort without substituting the protein that cats need.

 

Selecting the Correct Cat Food 

When searching for dry food for your cat, try to find:

Recipes with meat listed first — there should be a clear animal protein listed as the first ingredient. 

Nutrient balance — complete vitamins, minerals, fats and protein should be available. 

Limited amounts of peas and lentils — should just be a fibre source, not an ingredient competing with protein content. 

Absence of poor quality fillers and byproducts — these ingredients do not help support your cat's health and longevity.

 

Final Word from Fuzz

In Fuzzball's recipes, peas and lentils assist in texture and digestion, complementing real meat muscle, fish and healthy fats. Your cat is offered a meal that is both appetising and nutritionally complete!