If you happen to’ve ever stopped to learn the components 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 study a bit extra about what guar gum is, the way it’s used, and why it’s a secure however not ultimate ingredient for our cats.
What Is Guar Gum?
Guar gum is a polysaccharide (a carbohydrate made out of 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 components 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 components checklist, you could be shocked at how usually it’s included in lots of merchandise we use (and eat) day-after-day. Listed below are just some of the myriad methods during 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 ends in 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 Protected For Cats?
Guar gum is completely secure for cats. Though it’s a sugar-based ingredient, which is pointless in a cat’s eating regimen, the quantity in cat meals just isn’t sufficient to pose any vital danger or calorie improve. It’s not poisonous, and generally might be a benign, although largely pointless, ingredient. Most processed cat meals comprise one type of thickening agent or one other, resembling 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 comprise 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 possibly block the absorption of protein from the massive gut. Due to this fact, the web 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 have a look at the dietary requirement of cats, we will see that they want a eating regimen 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 truly want to devour carbohydrates, though fiber is normally included within the eating regimen of home cats to compensate for his or her much less lively existence; guar gum is one such ingredient. Nonetheless, the principle cause 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 seek out one thing that extra carefully resembles soup than casserole, milkshake than meatloaf. With out the addition of a thickener like guar gum, that’s what many moist meals would appear to be.
This isn’t essentially unhealthy, however one might argue that it’s a little bit dishonest. Let’s have a look at some comparisons:
| Premium Recent Meals | Premium Moist Meals | Funds Moist Meals | |
| Instance | Smalls | Hill’s Science Weight-reduction plan | 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 below are on an ‘as fed’ foundation for these meals. The dry matter values might be 4-5 instances these figures.
You may most likely think about what a meals comprised of 87% moisture would appear to be with out the addition of a thickening agent. Primarily, 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 resembling inflammatory bowel illness or intestinal lymphoma, their ultimate eating regimen ought to include high-quality, extremely digestible components, with minimal pointless components. You need to at all times focus on your cat’s particular dietary wants together with your vet, as they could range from case to case.
On the subject of feeding your cat, the intention ought to at all times be to feed them the perfect 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 when you have a couple of cat. What we must always all be doing, nevertheless, is taking a more in-depth have a look at the components on the again of the pack so we all know what it’s we’re shopping for. Costly doesn’t at all times equal glorious, and also you could be shocked to seek out that a number of the finest cat meals usually include a modest price ticket, so it pays to spend a while studying the effective print.
Most moist cat meals will comprise some type of thickening agent, and guar gum just isn’t dangerous or poisonous in your cat. Simply keep in mind that you must choose the standard of your cat’s meals by what’s written within the small print relatively than the way it seems of their bowl.
Last 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’s not a mandatory part, nor will it contribute any worth to your cat’s eating regimen. It’s used as a gelling agent to assist bind the components 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, resembling xanthan gum), it isn’t dangerous or poisonous in your cat. Nonetheless, it may possibly cut back the absorption of important vitamins, notably protein.
At all times learn the components checklist in your cat’s meals to know what you’re paying for and what your cat goes to get out of it.
Featured Picture Credit score: spline_x, Shutterstock
