Feeding inspiration: new insect study for healthy cats

In the highly competitive pet food industry, exciting innovations are crucial to capture the attention of caring pet parents who (in line with the pet humanization trend) want to treat their furry friends to the finest and most sustainable foods.

Flies flying high

One area of development that has gained increasing traction in recent years is the use of insect ingredients in pet food. Over 550 pet food products are already successfully incorporating these ingredients into their formulations, with the majority using insects as the sole source of protein. Applications range from complete food to treats. 

New cat study

Despite the surge in interest in this natural feed solution, research into the benefits for cats has yet to reach the level of data available for other animals, such as dogs. 

A new study conducted by Wageningen University and Research in collaboration with Petgood¹ successfully starts to bridge this gap with exciting new findings that relate specifically to the feline population.

Tasty, nutritious and good for the gut

The cats in this most recent study were fed a diet containing 37.5% ProteinX, a protein meal from Protix produced from the larvae of the black soldier fly. 

This was compared against a control diet based on poultry by-product meal (PBP) with a similar nutrient and ingredient composition.

The study unveils various benefits of insect ingredients in cat food. The key findings are that the ProteinX-based diet:

• Has great food acceptance
• Offers excellent digestibility and high nutritional value, comparable to a super-premium diet
• Supports gut health in adult cats due to its potential prebiotic effect.

Scientific proof

By conducting research specifically into the effects of insect nutrition in felines, Protix, the leading insect ingredients company, is paving the way for manufacturers to develop new cat food products with science-backed claims.

The findings in detail

In the study, eight adult cats were fed two different diets (ProteinX vs poultry by-product meal) over two 28-day periods. Specific health aspects were then measured.

Acceptance

Throughout the study, food acceptance was monitored, and samples were collected during the final seven days of each period for assessment of apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, faecal consistency, fermentation products and microbiota, as well as blood biochemistry and haematology. 

Despite their reputation for being choosy, none of the felines refused the black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) food, there were no incidences of vomiting, and no significant changes in blood parameters. The cats maintained food consumption, body weight and overall health during the entire evaluation period.

Digestibility 

The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, nitrogen, fat and gross energy were notably high for the BSFL meal-based diet, aligning closely with those of a super-premium diet. The felines’ faeces were well-formed, and of optimal consistency.

Supporting gut health in adult cats 

ProteinX was found to promote an increase in the production of faecal short-chain fatty acids (acetate, butyrate, and propionate), which are considered beneficial for cat health and modulate the gut microbiota. 

The cats presented a higher relative abundance of certain beneficial bacteria genera such as Bifidobacterium, known for its probiotic properties and considered beneficial for host health, while showing inhibition of Negativibacillus and Lachnoclostridium genera – these latter being associated with clinical signs of digestive issues and detrimental for gut health.

Therefore, by production of short-chain fatty acids and stimulating gut microbiota activity, increasing beneficial gut bacteria, and inhibiting certain gut bacteria linked to digestive problems, ProteinX shows the potential to support gut health in adult cats. 

Potential prebiotic effects

The results suggest that the unique composition of ProteinX meal and its presence of components such as lauric acid, antimicrobial peptides, and chitin yield high nutritional value, and potentially has prebiotic effects.

Impressive sustainability

Insect ingredients are naturally highly sustainable. Not only are they produced efficiently, but the black soldier fly is also a born upcycler, rapidly devouring organic waste and converting it into valuable proteins and fats. 

The positive environmental effects of Protix’s insects ingredients are borne out by independent Life Cycle Assessment figures from the Deutsches Institut für Lebensmitteltechnik (DIL).  

The research, published in April 2024, shows that ProteinX® insect meal reduces CO2 emissions by 78% compared to the poultry meal often found in pet food. 

It requires 86% less land than fish meal and 21% less water than soy protein concentrate. Other products, such as LipidX insect oil and PureeX insect meat, also demonstrate impressive results. 

The future of food

The results of this latest study open up exciting opportunities for manufacturers to bring natural and tasty insect-based nutrition to cats with claims based on scientific evidence. 

Protix looks forward to collaborating with industry stakeholders to translate these promising findings into products that will promote good gut health via palatable cat food. 

The company is at the forefront of a revolution in animal feed based on the natural nutritional promise of the black soldier fly. 

Get in touch and together, we can tap into growing consumer demand for natural pet food that optimizes feline nutrition and wellbeing.

¹Bosch, G., Loureiro, B. A., Schokker, D., Kar, S. K., Paul, A., Sluczanowski, N. (2024). Black soldier fly larvae meal in an extruded food: effects on nutritional quality and health parameters in healthy adult cats. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed (online).
DOI: 10.1163/23524588-00001093. Available upon request via Protix website: https://protix.eu/white-paper-catstudy/