What’s Really in Your Cat’s Food?

If your cat eats the same favorite food every day, a new investigation reported by CNN may make you take a second look at what’s in the bowl.

The Clean Label Project tested 100 popular cat foods from 62 brands for more than 122 contaminants. The foods included wet, dry, air-dried and freeze-dried varieties.

The results were eye-opening: lead was detected in 99% of the foods tested, cadmium in 96%, and arsenic in 94%. Testing also found other contaminants, including mercury, pesticides, the herbicide glyphosate and chemicals associated with plastics.

There were some interesting differences between types of food. Dry cat food contained roughly three times as much lead as wet or air-dried foods. Seafood-based wet foods also contained considerably more mercury than wet foods made with other meats.

Should cat parents panic?

No.

Detecting a contaminant does not necessarily mean that it is present at a level that will make your cat sick. The investigation did not establish that any particular food causes illness in cats.

But it does raise an important question about long-term exposure, especially because many cats happily eat the exact same food every day for years.

What can we do?

One suggestion from the researchers is to consider some variety in your cat’s diet rather than relying exclusively on one food and one protein source. Cat parents can also pay attention to ingredient lists and ask pet-food companies about their ingredient sourcing and testing practices.

And before making a major change to your cat’s diet—particularly if your kitty has kidney disease, food allergies or another medical condition—talk with your veterinarian.

Source: CNN Health, “What’s lurking in your cat’s food? A new investigation finds toxic chemicals,” October 2, 2026. Read the original CNN report →