Determination of Metals, Fungi and Mycotoxins in Cat Meal Samples used in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The cat food samples viz Canned Food, Pouched Food, Raw Food, Lightly Cooked Food, Dry Food were analysed for the presence of essential and non-essential metal ions in addition to fungal infection determination. All the food samples were found to have adequate amount of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins and folic acid. The concentration of essential elements in all the analysed samples are within the intake range of cats for their normal growth and development. Although the presence of heavy metals makes some concern about the quality of the food samples, but all these heavy metals are below the toxic level. All the food samples showed the presence of microbial fungi to some extent, but the release of micro-toxin from these fungal species are below the level of their profound health related issues among the cats. Among all the samples analysed the best food samples with very good health quality seems the dry food, followed by pouched food.