Question & Answers

Applaws Cat Food

Q: Why have Applaws decided to launch a dry cat food?

A: Applaws had one aim when deciding to launch a dry food and that was quite simply to produce the best dry food in the market. Applaws decided to do things differently than just making a copy of the major brands. Applaws worked with leading international vets, animal nutritionists, animal behaviourists and cat breeders. Applaws decided to go back to basics and the team, spent time researching the type of healthy diet a cat would eat naturally in the wild. Cats are obligate carnivores and must have a high meat diet to thrive. The short gastrointestinal system of cats is adapted to metabolise a diet high in protein and fats from meat, and not the high level of carbohydrates and cereals typical in other dry cat foods.

When we first developed the formulation of our new food, all the major pet food companies told us that it was impossible to be able to produce an 80% all meat kibble without the use of cereals. However, after many tests and trails we were able to achieve our ambition and produce Applaws Cat the only cat food in the world to use 80% Chicken in their recipe.

Q: Is there any taurine in the cat food?

A: Applaws is naturally rich in Taurine which is an amino acid essential for the proper function of the heart and for eye health. Taurine is found in good quality meat protein and not in cereal protein. Cats require a high level of taurine for their body functions, yet have limited enzymes which can produce taurine from other amino acids such as methionine and cysteine. Therefore, they need a diet that is high in taurine. If taurine is deficient, signs such as heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy, retinal degeneration, reproductive failure, and abnormal kitten development can occur.

In many other brands the level of natural taurine can be very low which is why they need to add taurine (often synthetic) to their food to meet the minimum standard required by a cat. Applaws does not need to add additional taurine as our products are packed full of natural taurine from the high levels of natural meat used which conatain taurine which are well above the minimum levels required for cats.

Q: Why do you use 80% chicken in Applaws Complete Cat Food, does it really matter where the protein comes from?

A: You can get protein from cereals but cats find it easier to digest the protein in their food from quality meat as opposed to the protein derived from cereals. Not all protein is the same. Proteins are very complex in structure and proteins are required for all aspects of growth and development and are very important in structural makeup and the immune system. Proteins are made up of amino acids, which are the building blocks of health and development. Cats require 22 amino acids 11 of these they can synthesize them selves. The remaining ones – which are called the essential amino acids they must get from their food otherwise health problems can occur. Applaws has been developed to ensure that your cats’ diet is naturally rich in all the essential amino acids to keep your cat healthy for longer.

Q: Applaws is at 46% protein, which is higher than my current cat food, and I have always believed that a high protein diet can cause kidney problems.

A: No, this is a myth and probably started because in the past patients with kidney problems were commonly placed on low-protein and therefore a low – nitrogen diets. It is the nitrogen that causes the problem not the protein level. Today animals that have kidney problems are more likely to be put on a diet that is high in digestible protein, as opposed to a product based on cereal protein, which is poor in digestible protein. Applaws would be ideal as it contains the highest level of natural digestible animal protein and contains no cereal protein at all. A diet such as Applaws is more digestible compared to any other dry food product and it produces fewer nitrogen by-products that are actually better for the kidneys. It is the high protein found in cereal-based diets, which are poor in digestible protein, which can cause the harm. These can produce excess nitrogen stressing the cat’s kidneys and increasing the nitrogen in the blood stream, which can, in turn cause harm to other tissues.

Q: As Applaws Dry is high in Protein will it make my cat fat?

A: No in the fact the opposite is true. Most cats after a month or two will show an increase in lean muscle mass and as Applaws in low in carbohydrates most overweight cats will actually lose weight.

Q. The oil content at 20% is too high for my cat I do not want him getting fat.

A: Just like as with human food there are good fats and there are bad fats. If you have a high level of saturated fat you may put on weight and develop cholesterol problems. This is why the advise from doctors is to eat more food like chicken, as apposed to red meat like beef and lamb, and to increase our fish intake. The oil in Applaws dry contains salmon oil produced by gentle cold pressing, which increases the level of good cholesterol in the blood, so-called HDL cholesterol. This will actually help with the absorption of surplus fat making your cat leaner and fitter.

Research also shows that pure salmon oil can also help prevent heart disease, maintain optimum blood pressure and cholesterol levels and give almost immediate relief from joint pain, migraines, depression, autoimmune diseases and many other conditions. Pure salmon oil is also the perfect brain food improving brain development and memory function, from conception through old age. It also helps to significantly improve dry skin, dandruff and dull coats.

Q: Is it possible for a cat to have no carbohydrates at all?

A: It is not possible to have a zero carbohydrate diet because even high protein materials have carbohydrate fractions – eg glycoproteins. For example muscle contains glycogen a glucose polymer similar to starch. Cats, like all mammals, make some carbohydrate from protein (gluconeogenisis) so that they have glucose and other sugars for important functions such as energy for the brain. So although they may not have a dietary requirement for carbohydrate per se they do need carbohydrate in their metabolism. Applaws is made with the lowest amount of carbohydrates at less than 15%

Carbohydrate in the form of fibre is also important for gut health – both for prebiotic functions eg oligosaccharides and “bulk volume” to allow gut contents to move and avoid constipation.

Q: Is it natural for cats to eat plants and can it cause any harm to my cat?

A: Certain types of plant matter are very good for your cat and other types can prove deadly. The most common poisoning of domestic cats is through coming into contact with popular varieties of lily’s* which are highly toxic for cats (not dogs or other mammals). Even the pollen of a lily* can prove fatal if a cat tries to lick any pollen off its fur. Domestic cats are naturally very curious and may investigate any plant which come into the house so try and keep any house plants away form your cat and lily’s* should be totally banned from the house. Other types of plant matter such as grass can be very good for your cat as it can help with digestion and with the removal of fur balls.

(*Easter Lily, Tiger Lilly, Rebrum Lily, Red Lily, Stargazer Lilly, Day Lilly, Early Lily all causes of nephrotoxicy in cats)

Q: How does the Anti Fur Ball formula work?

A:The natural cellulose grass plant fibres help to flush the stomach of hairs by forming a slippery movable matrix. Otherwise the hairs simply remain in the stomach until regurgitated.

Q: Is there salt in your diet as I have been informed over the Internet that salt is bad for a cats health.

A: Yes, there is most definitely salt in our formulation. There is 1.134%, which is the ideal level for cats. Too much salt we all know is bad for us as it can lead to high blood pressure but a zero salt diet is also very bad for us. Cats like ourselves need an optimum level to keep us healthy.

Sodium is one of the key elements in salt and is one of the primary electrolytes in the body (the other two are potassium and calcium). Too little salt in the diet can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, or even an electrolyte disturbance, which can cause severe, even fatal, neurological problems. Drinking too much water with insufficient salt intake puts a cat at risk.

Salt can also contain many beneficial minerals including magnesium, iodine, and over 21 essential and 30 accessory minerals beneficial to a cat health.