In case you’ve ever stopped to learn the substances checklist in your cat’s meals – which you completely ought to – you’ll have noticed one thing known as ‘guar gum.’ Your first thought is prone to have been what on earth is guar gum? shortly adopted by is guar gum secure for my cat?
The very quick story is that guar gum is a thickening agent, and sure, it’s secure in your cat. However, as you might need guessed, there’s a bit extra to the story than that. Hold studying to be taught a bit extra about what guar gum is, the way it’s used, and why it’s a secure however not splendid ingredient for our cats.
What Is Guar Gum?
Guar gum is a polysaccharide (a carbohydrate constructed from a number of bonded sugar particles) extracted from the seeds of the guar, or cluster bean, plant (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba). It’s generally used as an emulsifier (one thing to assist bind substances collectively), stabilizer, and thickener in meals merchandise.
Though you’re unlikely to see guar gum on the entrance of a pack, and even excessive up in an substances checklist, you could be shocked at how usually it’s included in lots of merchandise we use (and eat) daily. Listed below are only a few of the myriad methods through which guar gum is used:
- thickening agent in meals
- prevents ice crystal formation when making ice cream
- vegan/vegetarian different to gelatin
- cosmetics, moisturizers, soaps
- binding agent in clumping cat litter
Along with these home functions, there have been promising leads to research utilizing drug-infused guar gum to focus on sure cancers, notably colon most cancers.
And naturally, it’s usually included in moist cat meals as a thickening or gelling agent and supply of fiber.
Is Guar Gum Secure For Cats?
Guar gum is completely secure for cats. Though it’s a sugar-based ingredient, which is pointless in a cat’s weight loss program, the quantity in cat meals just isn’t sufficient to pose any important threat or calorie improve. It isn’t poisonous, and normally will probably be a benign, although largely pointless, ingredient. Most processed cat meals include one type of thickening agent or one other, equivalent to guar gum, cassia gum, carrageenan, or xanthan gum.
Is Guar Gum Unhealthy For Cats?
Some people, notably these with celiac illness, present comparable gastrointestinal reactions (bloating, diarrhea, cramping) when consuming meals that include guar gum, regardless of its lack of gluten. Equally, some cats, notably these with a historical past of inflammatory bowel illness, are fairly delicate to the thickening agent.
One other problematic characteristic of guar gum for cats is that analysis has proven that it may block the absorption of protein from the massive gut. Subsequently, the online results of a meals containing guar gum is that your cat could also be getting much less protein from their meals than what’s indicated on the pack, in addition to ingesting pointless sugar and fiber.
Why Is Guar Gum Utilized in Cat Meals?
After we take a look at the dietary requirement of cats, we will see that they want a weight loss program that comprises roughly:
| Power: | 400 kcal |
| Protein: | 25-40 g |
| Fats: | 5-10 g |
| Carbohydrates: | 0 g |
That is per 100 g of dry matter. You’ll discover that cats don’t really want to eat carbohydrates, though fiber is normally included within the weight loss program of home cats to compensate for his or her much less lively life; guar gum is one such ingredient. Nonetheless, the primary purpose guar gum is utilized in cat meals is to masks how a lot of a meals consists of water.
Think about opening a can or sachet of cat meals to search out one thing that extra intently resembles soup than casserole, milkshake than meatloaf. With out the addition of a thickener like guar gum, that’s what many moist meals would seem like.
This isn’t essentially unhealthy, however one may argue that it’s a little bit dishonest. Let’s take a look at some comparisons:
| Premium Recent Meals | Premium Moist Meals | Price range Moist Meals | |
| Instance | Smalls | Hill’s Science Eating regimen | Sheba Gravy Indulgence |
| Protein | 13% | 8.5% | 5.5% |
| Fats | min. 8.5% | min. 4.5% | min. 2.5% |
| Fiber | max. 1.5% | max. 2% | max. 1.5% |
| Moisture | max. 73% | max. 78% | max. 87% |
| Thickening agent | None | Guar Gum Carrageenan |
Guar Gum Xanthum Gum |
- NOTE: The values included listed here are on an ‘as fed’ foundation for these meals. The dry matter values will probably be 4-5 instances these figures.
You possibly can in all probability think about what a meals comprised of 87% moisture would seem like with out the addition of a thickening agent. Basically, thickening brokers like guar gum are included to masks the shortcomings of those meals, making them seem extra nutrient-dense.
Ought to I Keep away from Guar Gum?
In case your cat has digestive points equivalent to inflammatory bowel illness or intestinal lymphoma, their splendid weight loss program ought to encompass high-quality, extremely digestible substances, with minimal pointless components. It’s best to at all times talk about your cat’s particular dietary wants along with your vet, as they might fluctuate from case to case.
With regards to feeding your cat, the intention ought to at all times be to feed them one of the best meals you’ll be able to afford that’s proper in your cat. The fact is that we will’t all afford top-quality, human-grade, contemporary cat meals, notably if in case you have multiple cat. What we should always all be doing, nevertheless, is taking a better take a look at the substances on the again of the pack so we all know what it’s we’re shopping for. Costly doesn’t at all times equal wonderful, and also you could be shocked to search out that a few of the greatest cat meals usually include a modest price ticket, so it pays to spend a while studying the nice print.
Most moist cat meals will include some type of thickening agent, and guar gum just isn’t dangerous or poisonous in your cat. Simply do not forget that it’s best to decide the standard of your cat’s meals by what’s written within the small print reasonably than the way it seems of their bowl.
Closing Ideas
Guar gum is a pure product, extracted from the seeds of the guar plant. It has a mess of functions, together with thrilling potential in treating most cancers.
Guar gum is a typical and secure inclusion in lots of moist cat meals. It isn’t a obligatory part, nor will it contribute any worth to your cat’s weight loss program. It’s used as a gelling agent to assist bind the substances collectively and masks how a lot water is within the meals. Though some cats, notably these with IBD, could also be fairly delicate to guar gum (and different thickeners, equivalent to xanthan gum), it isn’t dangerous or poisonous in your cat. Nonetheless, it may cut back the absorption of important vitamins, notably protein.
At all times learn the substances checklist in your cat’s meals to know what you might be paying for and what your cat goes to get out of it.
Featured Picture Credit score: spline_x, Shutterstock
