As with all species, cats have requirements for specific dietary nutrients, including vitamins, amino acids and minerals.  Very high ash content is unhealthy and may result in feline lower urinary tract disease as well as retinal degeneration and cardiac and kidney damage.  More recently, there is concern that cat food prepared from fish products may contain high levels of heavy metals and trace elements.    The purpose of this study is to determine whether different cat food products contain high levels of metallic ions or heavy metals and trace elements.   Cat food samples were prepared by first drying the food in an oven, and afterwards dissolving 0.5 grams of the dried material in 10 mL of 70 % nitric acid. Acid samples were heated in a microwave oven for 40 minutes for digestion and diluted to 1 % in nitric acid for analysis using an ICP-MS spectrometer.

Analysis of commercial cat food products for metallic ions and trace elements using ICP-MS spectroscopy

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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