12/10/2021 07:50 Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases of Small Animals - Management and Nutrition - Veterinary Manual
AAFCO Nutrient Requirements for Cats a
Growth and Adult Adult
Nutrient (% or
Reproduction Maintenance Maintenance
per kg of diet)
Minimum Minimum Maximum
Protein (%) 30.0 26.0
Arginine (%) 1.25 1.04
Histidine (%) 0.31 0.31
Isoleucine (%) 0.52 0.52
Leucine (%) 1.25 1.25
Lysine (%) 1.20 0.83
Methionine +
1.10 1.10
cystine (%)
Methionine (%) 0.62 0.62 1.5
Phenylalanine +
0.88 0.88
tyrosine (%)
Phenylalanine
0.42 0.42
(%)
Taurine
0.10 0.10
(extruded, %)
Taurine (canned,
0.20 0.20
%)
Threonine (%) 0.73 0.73
Tryptophan (%) 0.25 0.16
Valine (%) 0.62 0.62
a Nutrient requirements are indicated on a dry-matter basis and are per kg of diet, not
per kg of body weight of animal. These AAFCO nutrient profiles for cat foods presume
an energy density of 4 kcal ME/g dry matter. Rations >4.5 kcal/g should be corrected
for energy density.
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-and-related-diseases-of-small-animals… 1/3
12/10/2021 07:50 Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases of Small Animals - Management and Nutrition - Veterinary Manual
Growth and Adult Adult
Nutrient (% or
Reproduction Maintenance Maintenance
per kg of diet)
Minimum Minimum Maximum
Fat (%) 9.0 9.0
Linoleic acid (%) 0.5 0.5
Arachidonic acid
0.02 0.02
(%)
Minerals
Calcium (%) 1.0 0.6
Phosphorus (%) 0.8 0.5
Potassium (%) 0.6 0.6
Sodium (%) 0.2 0.2
Chloride (%) 0.3 0.3
Magnesium (%) 0.08 0.04
Iron (mg/kg) 80 80
Copper (mg/kg) 5 5
Iodine (mg/kg) 0.35 0.35
Zinc (mg/kg) 75 75 2,000
Manganese
7.5 7.5
(mg/kg)
Selenium
0.1 0.1
(mg/kg)
Vitamins
Vitamin A (IU/kg) 9,000 5,000 750,000
a Nutrient requirements are indicated on a dry-matter basis and are per kg of diet, not
per kg of body weight of animal. These AAFCO nutrient profiles for cat foods presume
an energy density of 4 kcal ME/g dry matter. Rations >4.5 kcal/g should be corrected
for energy density.
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-and-related-diseases-of-small-animals… 2/3
12/10/2021 07:50 Nutritional Requirements and Related Diseases of Small Animals - Management and Nutrition - Veterinary Manual
Growth and Adult Adult
Nutrient (% or
Reproduction Maintenance Maintenance
per kg of diet)
Minimum Minimum Maximum
Vitamin D (IU/kg) 750 500 10,000
Vitamin E (IU/kg) 30 30
Vitamin K
0.1 0.1
(mg/kg)
Thiamine
5.0 5.0
(mg/kg)
Riboflavin
4.0 4.0
(mg/kg)
Pyridoxine
4.0 4.0
(mg/kg)
Niacin (mg/kg) 60 60
Pantothenic acid
5.0 5.0
(mg/kg)
Folic acid
0.8 0.8
(mg/kg)
Biotin (mg/kg) 0.07 0.07
Vitamin B12
0.02 0.02
(mg/kg)
Choline (mg/kg) 2,400 2,400
a Nutrient requirements are indicated on a dry-matter basis and are per kg of diet, not
per kg of body weight of animal. These AAFCO nutrient profiles for cat foods presume
an energy density of 4 kcal ME/g dry matter. Rations >4.5 kcal/g should be corrected
for energy density.
© 2020 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA
MSD MANUAL
Veterinary Manual
https://www.msdvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-and-related-diseases-of-small-animals… 3/3
