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Why the protein content discrepancy on your top pick canned kitten foods?

By Franny Syufy, About.com

Joey Loved his Avoderm Kitten Food

Joey Loved his Avoderm Kitten Food

Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy
Question: Why the protein content discrepancy on your top pick canned kitten foods?
I'm confused.

Subject: The protein content listed on your top two brands of canned kitten food: Felidae Cat annd Kitten Formula w/Chicken, Turkey, Lamb and Ocean Fish and Evolve Kitten Turkey Formula.

On your web site's "Top Premium Canned Kitten Foods," these top two canned foods are listed as having 50% protein, 32% Fat, etc. The labels on both of these cans have the protein listed at 11%, fat is listed at 7%.

Question: How do you read the protein information on the can and why are your numbers different?

Answer: I apologize for the confusion. I should have mentioned in the introduction that all the mentioned foods had been converted to "dry matter," which I explain in How To Read Cat Food Labels. Since canned cat foods contain a high percent of moisture (usually 78%) the true percentage of the "good stuff" is easier to understand if that moisture factor is removed. Thus, the "11%" on the label converts to 50% when converted to dry matter.

Here's the formula:

100% minus 78% = 22%
11% divided by 22%= 50%

Converting both canned and dry foods to "dry matter basis" levels the playing field so that you get a true picture of the nutritional value of the ingredients. Hope this helps!

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