Part 5: Nutrition:
Ingredients, Nutrients, Raw Diets & Common Myths

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Nutrition is one of the most discussed, most divisive —and misunderstood— topics in cat care. For Devon Rex cats in particular, whose metabolisms, coats, and digestive tolerance can vary widely, there is no single diet that works for every individual. The goal of good nutrition is not adherence to a feeding philosophy, but meeting a cat’s biological nutrient needs consistently and safely over time.

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Starting With the Basics: What Cats Actually Need

Cats are obligate carnivores. Their bodies require specific nutrients that should largely come from animal-based sources, including:

• High-quality protein

• Taurine

• Arachidonic acid

• Certain vitamins and minerals in precise ratios
   

How those nutrients are delivered can vary! The presence, balance, and bioavailability of nutrients is what ultimately matters.
 

Ingredients vs. Nutrients: Understanding the Difference

A common source of confusion in pet nutrition is the belief that ingredients alone determine food quality. Ingredients are simply vehicles for nutrients.

For example:

• Taurine may come from muscle meat, organ meat, or added supplementation

• What matters is that the finished diet contains enough absorbable taurine, not which ingredient supplied it
   

Ingredient Terms Explained

• Meal (e.g., chicken meal): A concentrated, rendered ingredient with moisture removed. When properly sourced, it can be a dense and consistent protein source.

• By-product: Nutrient-rich animal parts such as organs that cats would naturally consume. Quality depends on sourcing and formulation not the "by-product" label itself. It sounds a bit gross but is very in keeping with the types of flesh that an animal would eat, and is also used in many raw diets. 

• Fresh meat: Contains a lot of water, which can make it appear higher on ingredient lists despite contributing less protein after processing (kibble has virtually no water and so that water weight has been cooked away!).
   

Ingredient Splitting

Ingredient splitting occurs when similar ingredients (e.g., peas, pea flour, pea protein) are listed separately so they appear lower on the ingredient panel. This can make a formula seem more meat-heavy than it actually is. This practice highlights why ingredient lists alone don’t tell the full nutritional story.

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Why Regulated, Tested Foods Matter

Commercial diets that meet established nutritional standards are designed to be:

• Complete and balanced for a specific life stage

• Consistent from batch to batch

• Tested for nutrient adequacy

• Backed by formulation standards or feeding trials

This doesn’t mean all commercial foods are equal—but regulation and testing provide a baseline of safety and predictability, which is especially important for kittens, breeding cats, and cats with health sensitivities.

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Where Raw Feeding Fits—and Why It’s So Controversial

Raw feeding often enters the conversation once owners begin questioning ingredients and processing methods. Rightfully so, not all foods are anywhere close to created equal. While some cats do well on carefully formulated or pre-made raw diets, veterinarians on the whole tend to approach raw feeding with an abundance of caution and usually don't recommend it for pet owners.
 

Common veterinary concerns include:

• Risk of bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria) - For both the cat and the humans!

• Nutritional imbalances in homemade or poorly formulated/quality controlled diets

• Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio errors

• Taurine, iodine, or other vitamin deficiencies

• Human health risks during handling

• Limited regulation and long-term feeding data
   

These concerns are not ideological! They truly stem from how narrow the margin for error is in feline nutrition. Nutrient deficiencies may not show immediate symptoms but can cause serious long-term harm.

 

Veterinary Nutrition Education: What’s Fair to Say

Veterinarians do receive nutrition education during their training, but the depth varies:

• Some receive foundational coursework only

• Others pursue additional training, certifications, or continuing education in nutrition

• Clinical experience also shapes nutritional perspectives

This variability is one reason you may hear different recommendations from different vets. It’s reasonable. and appropriate for owners to ask questions and seek clarification. There is nothing wrong with advocating for your pet, but remember that Vets should be treated with respect too. 

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One Size Does Not Fit All

Even within the Devon Rex breed:

• Some cats tolerate higher fat levels better than others

• Many cats gain significantly more weight when on a high carb diet

• Some require easily digestible proteins

• Some thrive on certain textures or feeding schedules

A food that works beautifully for one cat may cause digestive upset, coat issues, or weight instability in another. The cat’s body condition, stool quality, coat, energy, and long-term health should always guide adjustments.

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Nutrition Myths addressed:

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“Vets get kickbacks from food companies”

Veterinary clinics may sell certain diets, but this does not equate to unethical kickbacks. Prescription and therapeutic diets exist because they are formulated, tested, and proven for specific medical needs. Recommending tested diets is part of evidence-based care.

“Vets don’t learn nutrition in Vet school”

Veterinarians do receive nutrition education, though length and depth varies. Many pursue further training post-graduation. Nutrition is a growing and evolving field, there is always new information being pursued and discovered.

“Pet food companies test on animals”

Yes, of course they do, and this is a necessary part of food science. Feeding trials are how nutritional adequacy, digestibility, safety, and long-term outcomes are proven. Without testing, claims remain theoretical. How else can it be proven what effect certain food related things have on an animal WITHOUT feeding it to those animals and recording the information? For context: The companies that don't test on animals still acquire the research from the companies that do!

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A Balanced, Practical Approach

For Devon Rex cats, the best nutritional plan is one that:

• Meets established nutrient requirements

• Is well tolerated by the individual cat

• Is adjusted as life stage or health changes

• Balances safety, science, and practicality

No single diet is universally superior. Thoughtful feeding means staying informed, flexible, and focused on outcomes—not trends.

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Bottom Line

Good nutrition isn’t about chasing the “best” food—it’s about delivering the right nutrients, in the right balance, for the individual cat, over the long term. For us at PureX, though we love a few different and wonderful brands, we've chosen to stick with Royal Canin #royalcaninbredandfed 


**Fun Fact** Royal Canin is the only brand available in Canada that has specifically done any research on feeding the youngest kittens and their moms, and getting them through the weaning stage (a notoriously troublesome digestion change stage from mothers milk to solid foods).