NL2004749C2

NL2004749C2 - Food for pet cats.

Info

Publication number: NL2004749C2
Application number: NL2004749A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Augustinus Theodorus Antonius Offenberg
Original assignee: Augustinus Theodorus Antonius Offenberg
Priority date: 2010-05-19
Filing date: 2010-05-19
Publication date: 2011-11-22

Description

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FOOD FOR PET CATS

INTRODUCTION

The present invention relates to food for pet cats, specifically 5 compositions and use thereof.

Pet food, especially for cats, typically consists of a source of plant or animal material intended for consumption by pets. Typically it is sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food. Most meat used for non-human animals is a by-product of the human food 10 industry, and is not regarded as "human grade”.

Cats are obligate carnivores, though most commercial cat food contains both animal and plant material supplemented with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Cat food is formulated to address the specific nutritional requirements of cats, in particular containing the aminosulfon acid taurine, as cats 15 cannot thrive on taurine-deficient food.

Various documents relate to pet food, specifically for cats.

RU2153813 (C1) relates to a method involving grinding raw plant material and providing enzymic hydrolysis by introducing into raw plant material of preliminarily prepared preparation based on the contents of cecum of common field 20 mouse (Microtus arvalis) in an amount of 5-10 wt.%; mixing preparation with raw plant material; holding for 1-3 days while continuously washing mixture with running water at temperature of 35-37 °C. Preparation is produced by growing of bacterial flora from cecum of common field mouse on nitrogen-free cellulose-containing substrate. Cellulose-containing plant wastes, such as straw, saw dust, pulp-and-25 paper industry wastes (raw cellulose) may be used as raw plant material. Obtained feed or additive is readily fed and assimilated by farm animals, as well as by domestic animals. Feed or additive facilitates regulation of cholesterol content and intestinal peristalsis, as well as enhances purgation of intestine from residue and activates digestive tract enzymes. An effect hereof is an increased efficiency by 30 enhanced feed assimilation.

CN101467594 relates to a kind of food for pet cats; the process comprises the following steps: mixing the internal organs of different kinds of fish, shrimps, chicken or rabbits and grinding into minced meat; mixing core flour and 2 0 0 A 74 9

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2 ground powder of dehydrated carrot and pakchoi in proportion; adding a little sugar, salt, vegetable oil and food preservative; stirring into paste state and pouring into molds with mouse or fish shapes; baking in an oven. 150-250 g of fish, 30-50 g of shrimps, 150-250 g of internal organs of chicken or rabbits, 100-150 g of dehydrated 5 carrot and pakchoi and some core flour, water, sugar, salt, vegetable oil and food preservative are contained per 1000 g of the paste. The invention is convenient for production, suitable for pet cats; and the products are in mouse or fish shapes for fun of pet cats on the feed.

US2007212474 (A1) relates to a frozen cat food that contains only 10 whole food ingredients. The whole food ingredients include fresh human-grade meat and/or poultry food products, mollusk, vegetables and fruit, and additional ingredients such as wheat germ, wheat germ oil, lecithin, and rice bran. The food ingredients are raw, with the exception of mollusk, which may be cooked. The cat food is made of only human-grade food products and contains no non-food 15 additives, such as amino acid, mineral or vitamin supplements. The raw frozen cat food provides a complete and balanced diet that meets or exceeds AAFCO standards.

WO 2005/053424 (A1) relates to a food composition for a companion animal such as a dog or cat, the food composition comprising an extract 20 of a herb or spice that comprises at least one compound selected from thymol and carvacrol as a substantial flavorant ingredient. A method is provided for enhancing payability of a food composition to a companion animal, the method comprising adding to the composition a palatability enhancing effective amount of an extract of a herb or spice that comprises at least one compound selected from thymol and 25 cavacrol as a substantial flavorant ingredient. A suitable extract is essential oil of oregano.

US 3,679,429 B relates to a method of enhancing flavor of an animal feed composition by adding a flavor improving acid to the feed composition. The acid may be applied directly to the food particle, applied over a fat coating, or 30 incorporated in a fat coating. The flavoring acid may be in an amount of 0.05 to 5% by weight of the feed.

US 3930031 (A) relates to a cat food composition of improved acceptability to cats as well as to a process for generally enhancing the palatability 3 of dried or intermediate moisture cat foods wherein the cat food composition is coated with a synergistically effective flavor enhancing mixture comprising between about 87 to 13 parts by weight of phosphoric acid to 1 part by weight of citric acid wherein said coating is applied on the composition to provide a level of phosphoric 5 acid in the cat food product of at least about 0.5% by weight. Cat food compositions containing the synergistically effective coating are significantly more palatable to cats than compositions which contain only citric or phosphoric acid as palatability enhancers.

GB 2452842 (A) relates to a method of increasing the physical 10 activity of a cat comprising feeding said cat a dry cat food with added liquid. The dry food may be in the form of kibbles. The liquid may be water, soup, gravy or stock.

WO 2008009739 (A1) use of psyllium seeds or parts of seeds to be incorporated into dry food for dogs in order to reduce the appetite of dogs at a concentration of over 0.2%, preferably over 0.5% and below 4% by weight of said 15 foodstuff. The invention also relates to a dry food for dogs obtained according to the described process.

The above patent documents relate to improving taste of food products.

Typically prior art cat food does not resemble natural cat food, or at 20 the most to a certain extend. Such causes various problems, such as lack of specific nutrients, problems with digesting cat food, problems with digesting organs, such as gastrointestinal tract, problems with kidneys and bladder, etc. Also various ingredients of prior art cat food can not be digested by a cat, or at the most partly, such as cereals.

25 Furthermore, various ingredients, such as supplements, especially synthetic supplements, may cause negative side effects, such as allergic reactions, cancer, and the like.

Thus there still is a need for improved cat food, overcoming one or more of the above mentioned problems and drawbacks, without jeopardizing 30 favourable characteristics.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cat food comprising: a. Animal protein (ex mouse) 2 - 45%, b. Mouse 4 - 30%, 5 c. Carbohydrates (polysaccharides) 20 - 60%, d. Further Protein (dry, powder) 0 -11%, e. Optionally further Carbohydrates (mono/disaccharides; fat; oil) 0.01 -10%, f. Optionally Various 0.01-10%, 10 g. Optionally Supplements 0.01 -10%, and h. Optionally Water, a method of preparing such a food and use thereof.

Percentages given are all weight percentages based on total weight of a final composition.

15 The present invention relates to cat food in dry, semi-dry, wet or frozen form, comprising one or more of mouse, mouse meat and mouse parts. Such use of parts of mouse in cat food fulfils a natural need for cat. In many varieties of commercially available cat food animal protein is added, such as in the form of beef. On the contrary, a cat living in the wild will never hunt bovine animal and eat such 20 an animal. The present invention is based on the insight that the amino acid composition of beef is very much different than that of mouse meat. Mouse meat is for instance rich in taurine. Taurine is regarded as an essential nutritious component for cat, which typically is added in synthetic form to cat food. Known prior art cat food further comprises too high concentrations of cereals, typically also present in 25 opened up form. Such is also not typical for a natural situation for a cat and may cause digestive problems, diarrhoea, and eventually lead to kidney stones, bladder stones etc. The present invention solves the above mentioned problems and/or overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages.

The term “animal protein (ex mouse)” relates to protein from an 30 animal source, not being in a dry or powder form, such as dehydrated poultry meat, fresh poultry meat, dehydrated chicken liver, beef, fresh and stored pork, fresh and stored turkey meat, and combinations thereof. Preferably the cat food comprises at least poultry meat.

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The term “mouse” relates to any component and part of a mouse, typically for cat edible parts of mouse. In this sense it does not relate to cecum. Preferably mouse will be obtained form suppliers working under specific pathogen free (SPC) conditions. As such, the mouse obtained will be specific pathogen free, 5 or at least to a large extend.

The term “Carbohydrates (polysaccharides)” relates to cereals and the like, such as rice, corn, barley, wheat, rice bran, and products made thereof, and combinations thereof. Preferably these carbohydrates are made more easily accessible to cat, e.g. by opening up. As such these carbohydrates can be digested 10 by a cat. Further it is preferred to have a relatively large amount of rice, such as from 30-40%, as rice is shown to be digested easily by cats. On the other hand, wheat is less preferred and is preferably absent, or present in a relatively low amount, such as 2-5%. Starch could be present as well, such as from 2-25%, though this is typically not the case.

15 The term “Further Protein (dry, powder)” relates to protein in dry, typically powder like, form, such as egg powder, powdered milk, potato protein, corn gluten, and combinations thereof. Also vegetable protein is considered, and combinations thereof.

The term “further Carbohydrates (mono/disaccharides)” relates to 20 sugar-like products, such as saccharose, fructose, and combinations thereof.

The term “triglycerides" relates to animal and vegetable fat and oil, such as poultry fat, beef fat, and fish oil, preferably having a high omega-3 and omega-6 content, being low on trans-fat and on trans-oil. Preferably triglycerides are added, in view of processability and palatability of a food product.

25 The term “Various" relates to further constituents, such as emulsifier, beet pulp, thickener, filler, colorant, preservative, salt, spice, herb, fragrant, flavour, and combinations thereof.

The term “Supplements” relates to vitamin, mineral, trace element, yeast, amino acid, amino sulfon acid, such as taurine, and combinations thereof. 30 Preferably the cat food comprises supplements. In view of prior art production processes, involving a high temperature step, which high temperature step causes loss of a part of various supplements being present in raw material, later addition of supplement is preferred. For instance, small amounts of supplement may still be 6 added, which amounts are less (30-50% thereof) than for prior art pet food. Such is clearly an advantage, e.g. in terms of costs.

The present inventor has come to the insight that for instance cereals that are consumed by a cat in nature is typically present in the 5 gastrointestinal tract of a prey, such as a bird or a mouse. As such the cereals are already partly digested, e.g. as a result of digestive juice of the prey, and therefore are more easy accessible to a cat.

Thus the need for cat food resembling natural food is solved by the present cat food. The present food comprises amongst others a high content of 10 natural taurine. Natural taurine (2-amino ethane sulfonic acid) is superior compared to synthetic taurine, typically being formed out of 2-hydroxy ethane sulfonic acid. Though chemically the former two are the same, there behaviour under various circumstances is different. Therefore there (chemical) composition must be different. It is expected that synthetic taurine is not (very) pure, and comprises for instance 15 by-products of the production process thereof. Possibly also synthetic taurine might be chemically the same as natural taurine, but present in a different form, such as crystal form, spatial arrangement, dimer, polymer, etc. As a consequence synthetic taurine withstands heat better than natural taurine. Part of the natural taurine will therefore be decomposed and/or inactivated during a production process of food. 20 On the other hand, various side effects of synthetic taurine appear, such as hart failure. Further, typically synthetic amino acids, as well as synthetic sulfon acids, increase growth of animals. Such may be required when feeding production animals, such as chicken, to ensure rapid growth. Chicken, for instance, which are fed synthetic amino acids reach there final weight one week earlier compared to 25 chicken without such synthetic amino acids, such as lysine and methionine. However, for pets such growth is unwanted. In fact synthetic taurine may cause allergic reactions with animals, as well as cancer.

As a further advantage the present cat food does not cause various digestive problems, and consequences thereof, and keeps a cat in good shape. Also 30 the present cat food provides a complete and balanced diet that meets or exceeds AAFCO standards.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the invention relates to the cat food according to claim 1.

In an example the present composition is in dry, semi-dry, frozen or 5 wet form.

In an example the present composition comprises animal protein which is chosen from one or more of 10-20% dehydrated poultry meat, 20-40% fresh poultry meat, 2-10% dehydrated chicken liver, 1-10% beef, 5-15% pork, and 1-10% turkey meat. As a cat is a predator is favors further animal protein. 10 Preferably a combination of animal protein sources is taken. Most preferably the present composition comprises poultry meat.

In an example the present composition comprises carbohydrate chosen from one or more of 20-60% cereals, which cereals are chosen from one or more of 10-40% rice, 10-30% corn, 3-15% barley, 2-10% wheat and 0,5-10% rice 15 bran.

In an example the present composition wherein the further protein in dry powder form is chosen from one or more of 0.5-5% milk protein, 0.5-5% egg protein, 0.5-5% potato protein, 0.5-15% corn gluten.

In an example the present composition comprises a further 20 carbohydrate which is chosen from one or more of 0.1-2% sugar, such as saccharose, fructose, and lactose. Sugar is readily available. It can easily be mixed with other ingredients and further ads to the flavor and palatability. A too high concentration will typically be refused by cats.

In an example the present composition comprises triglyceride which 25 is chosen from one or more of 0.5-5% poultry fat, 0.5-10% beef fat, 0.1-10% vegetable oil, and 0.1-5% fish oil.

In an example the present composition comprises various other constituents which are chosen from one or more of 0.1-10% emulsifier, such as lecithine, beet pulp, thickener, filler, colorant, preservative, such as citric acid, salt, 30 spice, herb, fragrant, flavour, and combinations thereof.

In an example the present composition comprises a supplement which is chosen from one or more of 0.1-2% vitamin, 0.1-2 % mineral and trace elements, 0.1-2% yeast, 0.1-2% amino acid, 0.05-0.5% taurine. In order to obtain a 8 balanced food it is preferred to add vitamin, such as vitamin A, vitamin B, such as vitamin B1-B12, vitamin C, vitamin D and vitamin E, mineral, trace elements, and so on.

In an example the present composition comprises a palatability 5 enhancing effective amount of an extract of a herb or spice selected from the group consisting of anise, allspice, arnica, basil, bay, bergamot, black pepper, calendula, caraway, cardamom, cassia, celery seed, chamomile, cinnamon, clover, coriander, cumin, citrus, dill, elder, eucalyptus, fennel, fir needle, garlic, ginger, hops, juniper, lavender, lemon balm, licorice, marjoram, mustard, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, 10 passionflower, peppermint, primrose, rosemary, saffron, sage, savory, tarragon, thyme, turmeric, vanilla, and white pepper.

In an example the present composition further comprising 1-40% of one or more of potato, lentil, couscous, and beans (Fabaceae si), such as soybean, beans, pea, chickpeas, alfalfa, peanut, carob and licorice.

15 In an example the present composition comprises 0.1-5% beet pulp.

Beet pulp is a by-product and therefore cheap. It can easily be mixed with other ingredients and further ads to the flavor and palatability. A too high concentration will typically be refused by cats.

In a second aspect the present invention relates to a method for 20 producing a composition according to the invention, comprising the steps of providing raw materials, which may be semi-processed material, dosing said materials carefully, optionally grinding said materials, mixing said materials homogeneously, thereby forming a mixture 25 optionally sterilising the mixture, and packaging the mixture.

Dosing can be performed by any means available, as long as the accuracy thereof is good enough.

Mixing of the material is important to obtain a more or less 30 homogeneous material. Mixing conditions can be determined by the person skilled in the art based on requirements of the mixture and/or final product.

After mixing the mixture may be further processed into e.g. kibbles, chunks etc., as is required.

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The obtained mixture is packed into a package.

In an example the materials are grinded. Such is typically the case if a dry food is prepared. Grinding ensures a better mixing. Grinding duration, fineness of the material, etc. can be determined by the person skilled in the art 5 based on requirements of the mixture and/or final product.

In an example the materials are sterilised, or the like. As such the shelf life of a mixture and/or final product is improved.

In a third aspect the present invention relates to use of a composition according to the invention, for providing a healthy and nutritious food 10 for cats, and/or for preparing a food for cats useful for preventing diseases and discomfort.

The present composition is healthier for cats. Further it relates to a nutritious food. In order to improve or maintain health and/or nutrition balance of a cat the present composition may be provided to a cat. As such the present invention 15 also relates to a composition for cats useful for preventing diseases and discomfort, such as those mentioned above.

The invention will now be elucidated by the examples, which are by no means limiting the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

20 EXAMPLES

Table 1 present ten compositions according to the invention. Compositions 1-7 relate to dry cat food, compositions 8-10 to wet pet food.

Production process for dry food 25 Dry food for cat is produced in two ways, by extruding and by pressing. The preparation for both processes is the same.

The various raw materials, which may be semi-processed material, are being dosed carefully, thereafter grinded and mixed homogeneously, thereby forming a mixture.

30 In case of extruding moist, such as water, is added to the mixture.

The mixture is thereafter pressed through a die under high pressure and at elevated temperature, such as at 150 °C. Optionally high pressure steam is used for pressing. The high temperature is also beneficial for opening up cereals, thereby ' * 10 making starch available. The starch further provides an adhesive action thereby keeping food parts together. The form of the final product obtained depends on the orifices in the die. Using pressure results in a final product having a relatively large volume.

5 By drying the final product a dry food is obtained.

Production process for wet food, semi-wet food and frozen food The various raw materials, which may be semi-processed material, are being dosed carefully, thereafter mixed homogeneously, thereby forming a 10 mixture, and sterilised or the like. The mixture is now ready to be packed, such as canned, filled into sachets, such as aluminium sachets, to be frozen, etc. Packing is performed under strict hygienic conditions.

15 • * 11 TABLE 1

Composition 1 2_3_4 5_6 7 8 9 10 dehydrated poultry meal__15,9% 14,0% 13,6% 22,0% 17,5% 11,1%_20%___ fresh poultry meat_________25% 35% 35% dehydrated chicken liver__4,0% 6,0%__4,0% 4,0%_8,0%_5%___ beef______6,0%_____ (fresh) pork_________13%__9% (fresh) turitey meat_________5%__ mice__8,0% 10,0% 10,0% 10,0% 4,0% 15,0%_6% 10% 15%_5% rice__33,0% 20,4% 25,0% 30,0%__33,0% 10% 15% 15% 20% maize__15,0% 19,0% 18,0% 15,0% 25,6% 18,0% 35% 25% 27% 20% barley__5,0% 10,0% 10,0% 5,0% 12,0% 5,0%_6%___ wheat______8^0%_____5% rice bran__3,0% 5,0% 3,0% 3,0% 4,0% 1,0%_2%_2%_2%_2% egg powder____2,0%_______ powdered milk____0,5%___1,0%____ potato protein___1,0% 0,5%___1,0%____ maize gluten__5,0% 4,0% 6,0% 1,0% 6,0%__10%___ poultry fats__3,0% 2,0% 2,0% 2,0% 2,0%____2%_ beef fats______5,0%_____ vegetable oils__3,0% 3,0% 3,0% 3,0% 1,0% 4,5%_2% 0,50%_1%_ fish oil___________ emulgator (= vega oil)__0,5% 0,5% 0,5%__0,5% 0,5% 0,90% 0,25% 0,25%_ beet pulp__3,0% 3,0% 4,0% 3,6% 3,0%_____ vitamins__1,00% 1,0% 1,0% 0,8% 0,8% 1,0% 1,0% 1,00% 1,00% 1,00% minerals and trace elements__0,50% 0,50% 0,5% 0,5% 0,5%_0,5%_0,5% 0,50% 0,50% 0,50% yeast___0,50% 0,25%___0,25% 0,25% 0,95% 0,95% 0,95% sugar________1%_1%__1,25% amino acids (lysin / methionin)_________0,20% 0,20% 0,20% taurine 0,10% 0,1% 0,15% 0,1% 0,1% 0,15% 0,15% 0,20% 0,20% 0,20%

Total 100,0%1 100,0%! 100,0%l 100,0%| 100,0%| 100,0%| 10Q,0%| 100,0%| 100,0%| 100,0% 2004749

Claims

A composition for cats comprising: a. Animal protein (ex mouse) 2-45% 5 b. Mouse 4-30% c. Carbohydrate (polysaccharide) 20-60% d. Furthermore Protein (dry, powder) 0-11% e. Optionally further carbohydrate (mono / disaccharide) 0.01-5% 10 f. Optionally triglyceride 0.01-10% g. Possibly several 0.01-10% h. Optionally Supplement 0.01-10%, and i. Possibly Water

Composition according to claim 1, in dry, semi-dry, frozen or wet form.

A composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the animal protein is selected from one or more of 10-20% dehydrated chicken meat, 20-40% fresh chicken meat, 2-10% dehydrated chicken liver, 1-10% beef, 5-15 % Pork, and 1-10% turkey meat.

Composition according to one or more of claims 1-3, wherein the carbohydrate is selected from one or more of 20-60% grains, which grains are selected from one or more of 10-40% rice, 10-30% corn, 3 -15% barley, 2-10% wheat and 0.5-10% rice bran.

The composition of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the further protein in drier powder form is selected from one or more of 0.5-5% milk protein, 0.5-5% protein, 0.5-5% potato protein, and 0.5-15% corn gluten.

6. Composition according to one or more of claims 1-5, wherein the further carbohydrate is selected from one or more of 0.1-2% sugar, such as sucrose, fructose, and lactose.

The composition of any one of claims 1-6, wherein the triglyceride is selected from one or more of 0.5-5% chicken fat, 0.5-10% beef fat, 0.1-10% vegetable oil, and 0 , 1-5% fish oil.

Composition according to one or more of claims 1-7, wherein the 200474 * * supplement is selected from one or more of 0.1-2% vitamin, 0.1-2% mineral and trace elements, 0.1-2% yeast, 0.1-2% amino acid, 0.05-0.5% taurine.

The composition of any one of claims 1-8, further comprising 1-40% of one or more of potato, lentils, couscous, and beans (Fabaceae sl), such as soybeans, beans, pea, chickpea, alfalfa, peanut , carob and liquorice.

A composition according to one or more of claims 1-9, comprising 0.1-5% beet pulp.

11. Method for producing a composition according to one or more of claims 1-10, comprising the steps of providing starting materials, which can be semi-processed materials, carefully dosing the materials, optionally grinding the materials, homogeneously mixing the materials, forming a mixture, optionally sterilizing the mixture, and packaging the mixture.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the materials are ground.

The method of claim 11, wherein the materials are sterilized.

14. Use of a composition according to one or more of claims 1-10, such as for providing a healthy and nutritious food for cats, for preparing a food for cats useful for the prevention of diseases and disorders. 30 2004749