What Is Hydrolyzed Protein Cat Food? And Is It Right for Your Cat?
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What Is Hydrolyzed Protein Cat Food?
Traditional cat food contains intact proteins of normal size. Hydrolyzed protein cat food, on the other hand, contains proteins that have been broken down to a very small size.
The aim of a hydrolyzed protein diet for cats—which requires a veterinary prescription—is to disrupt or break down the proteins within the diet, so the immune system does not react to them. Most known food allergies are due to an abnormal reaction to intact proteins in food.
Hydrolyzed protein diets are often recommended to cats with the following:
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Food allergies: The treatment for food allergies in cats is to provide a diet that does not contain any allergy-inducing ingredients. Hydrolyzed protein cat foods are routinely used for this purpose.
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Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Hydrolyzed protein diets are also often prescribed for cats with chronic digestive diseases, like IBD. Cats with IBD are believed to have an inappropriate immune response to food substances, which results in symptoms. Hydrolyzed cat foods are recommended in these cases because the protein particles in these foods are reduced to such a small size that the immune system should not recognize them as a protein. If the immune system does not recognize the protein, it should not cause any symptoms.
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Sensitive stomachs: Hydrolyzed protein diets are hypoallergenic, thus reducing food sensitivities.
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Benefits of Hydrolyzed Protein Cat Food
Hydrolyzed protein cat food boasts the following benefits:
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Digestibility: It’s easier for cats to digest and absorb the smaller, broken-down protein fragments.
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Better nutrient absorption: Because this food is easier to digest, it also makes it easier for cats to absorb nutrients, like fiber and a variety of vitamins, that impact their overall health and energy levels.
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Immune health support: The food typically contains high-quality protein and antioxidants that help support a cat’s immune health.
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Skin and coat health support: Hydrolyzed protein cat food boasts omega-3 fatty acids and amino acids that help support skin and coat health.
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Gastrointestinal (GI) symptom reduction: Easier digestion can help with symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and gas.
Cat Food Allergy Symptoms
The most common symptom associated with food allergies in cats is itching that is not seasonal and always present. Itching can occur anywhere on the body, but the head and neck are often involved. In particular, the area around the eyes, in front of the ears, and sometimes the ears themselves will be itchy.
Behaviors also include:
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Licking
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Scratching
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Biting
Skin lesions may also be present, including:
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Small scabs or crusts called miliary dermatitis
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Redness
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Papules (raised spots)
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Self-induced scratches and wounds
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Self-induced hair loss
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Ulcerations
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Plaques
Less commonly, there may be gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea and/or vomiting.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Cats Symptoms
Symptoms of IBD in cats can include:
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Vomiting
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Diarrhea
Symptoms may vary in frequency and/or severity, and they can depend on the portion of the gastrointestinal tract affected.
The symptoms of IBD are similar to those of many other diseases, so this diagnosis may require extensive diagnostic testing.
Hydrolyzed Protein Cat Food Options
Here are some vet-recommended hydrolyzed cat foods, including hydrolyzed protein wet cat food:
Hydrolyzed Protein Cat Food FAQs
Can all cats eat hydrolyzed protein cat food?
Cats should be fed a hydrolyzed protein diet under the direction of a veterinarian.
Because these foods are balanced for long-term feeding, it’s important for your veterinarian to ensure that a hydrolyzed protein cat food will be suitable for your cat’s individual medical situation.
Your veterinarian can also determine if a hydrolyzed protein cat food can be consumed by other cats in the home.
Do I need a prescription for hydrolyzed cat food?
All hydrolyzed protein cat foods are by prescription and are to be used under the guidance of the veterinarian writing the prescription.
There are strict quality-control guidelines to ensure that all proteins in these diets are broken down appropriately. These guidelines also ensure that hydrolyzed protein foods do not contain contaminant proteins. If a diet contains contaminant proteins, the cat’s symptoms may not improve.
Your veterinarian can advise you about the feeding of hydrolyzed protein cat foods and help you to evaluate your cat’s response.
How long does it take for hydrolyzed protein cat food to work?
How long it takes for a hydrolyzed protein cat food to work depends on if the cat has skin issues or gastrointestinal issues. Most veterinarians recommend feeding a hydrolyzed protein for eight to 12 weeks as part of an elimination diet trial. Digestive issues like diarrhea may improve after a few weeks of eating the hydrolyzed food, but skin issues could take 10–12 weeks to improve.
