Cat Food Carbohydrate Calculator

Our cat food carb calculator (also called a carbohydrate calculator for cat food or carb calculator cat food) helps you determine the carbohydrate content in your cat's food. This is especially important for diabetic cats, cats on low-carb diets, and weight management.

Why Calculate Carbohydrates in Cat Food?

Carbohydrate content is rarely listed on cat food labels, but it's important to know because:

Carbohydrate Calculator

Dry food: ~10%, Wet food: 75-80%

Default: 6% for dry food, 1.5% for wet food

Understanding Carbohydrate Content

Carbohydrate Calculation Formula

Carbohydrates = 100% - Protein% - Fat% - Fiber% - Moisture% - Ash%

As-Fed vs Dry Matter Basis

  • As-Fed Basis: Includes moisture content (what you see on the label)
  • Dry Matter Basis: Removes moisture for accurate comparison between dry and wet foods
  • Dry Matter % = (As-Fed % / (100 - Moisture %)) × 100

What is a Good Carbohydrate Percentage?

Carbohydrate LevelDry Matter %Assessment
Very Low< 5%Excellent for diabetic cats, very low-carb diets
Low5-10%Good quality, appropriate for most cats
Moderate10-20%Acceptable for healthy cats
High> 20%May contribute to obesity, avoid for diabetic cats

Related Calculators

Use our other calculators for complete cat nutrition planning:

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate carbohydrates in cat food?

Carbohydrates in cat food are calculated using the formula: 100% - % Protein - % Fat - % Fiber - % Moisture - % Ash. Use our calculator above by entering the values from your cat food label.

What is a good carbohydrate percentage for cat food?

Cats are obligate carnivores and don't need many carbohydrates. Good cat foods typically have less than 10% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis. Some premium foods have 5% or less.

Why do I need to know the carbohydrate content in cat food?

Knowing carbohydrate content is important for diabetic cats, cats on low-carb diets, and weight management. High carbohydrate foods can contribute to obesity and diabetes in cats.

How do I find the carbohydrate content on a cat food label?

Carbohydrate content is rarely listed on cat food labels. You need to calculate it using the guaranteed analysis values: 100% - Protein% - Fat% - Fiber% - Moisture% - Ash%. Our calculator does this for you.

What is the difference between dry matter basis and as-fed basis?

As-fed basis includes moisture content. Dry matter basis removes moisture for accurate comparison. Our calculator shows both values. Dry matter basis is more accurate for comparing different foods.

Are carbohydrates bad for cats?

Cats don't need carbohydrates, but small amounts (under 10% dry matter) are generally fine. High carbohydrate foods (over 20%) can contribute to obesity and diabetes, especially in indoor cats.

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