These are seed oils — cheap, industrial oils that are high in omega-6 fatty acids and completely inappropriate for cats. While they may be marketed as “natural” or even “healthy,” the truth is that seed oils can disrupt your cat’s metabolism, drive inflammation, and displace the essential animal fats cats actually need.

This article breaks down:

• What seed oils are.

• Why cats can’t process them properly.

• The health risks they create.

• How to identify them on labels.

• What to feed instead.

By the end, you’ll know exactly why seed oils don’t belong in your cat’s diet — and how to make better choices for your feline companion.

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What Are Seed Oils?

Seed oils (sometimes called vegetable oils) are extracted from the seeds of plants. They are commonly used in human food and, increasingly, in pet food.

Common seed oils found in cat food include:

• Soybean oil

• Corn oil

• Sunflower oil

• Safflower oil

• Canola (rapeseed) oil

• Cottonseed oil

• “Vegetable oil blends” (catch-all labels)

Why do pet food companies use them?

1. Cheap filler: Seed oils are inexpensive compared to animal fats.

2. Shelf stability: They resist spoilage, keeping products on the shelf longer.

3. Marketing spin: Borrowing from human nutrition trends, seed oils are marketed as “heart-healthy” or “natural.”

The problem: cats are not humans. What might have limited benefits in a human diet is biologically inappropriate for a carnivorous animal.

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Cats Are Obligate Carnivores

Cats evolved as hunters of small prey. Unlike omnivores (humans, dogs), they are nutritionally dependent on animal-derived nutrients.

Metabolic differences that matter:

• No salivary amylase: Cats don’t start digesting plant material in the mouth like humans do.

• Limited carbohydrate metabolism: Cats lack hepatic glucokinase, meaning they don’t regulate blood sugar from plant starches efficiently.

• Essential fatty acid requirements:

  • Cats cannot convert plant-based ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) into EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

  • They must obtain arachidonic acid, EPA, and DHA directly from animal fat and marine sources.

👉 Takeaway: Cats simply cannot use plant oils the way humans (or even dogs) can.

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The Omega-6 Problem

Seed oils are extremely high in omega-6 fatty acids, especially linoleic acid. While cats do need small amounts of omega-6, the issue is balance.

• Wild cats: Eat prey with a natural balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.

• Pet cats fed kibble/wet foods with seed oils: Consume diets with 10–20x more omega-6 than omega-3.

Why this matters:

• Excess omega-6 promotes chronic, low-grade inflammation.

• Linked to:

  • Obesity

  • Diabetes

  • Arthritis

  • Skin and coat problems

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

The missing omega-3s

Because cats can’t convert ALA from plants into EPA/DHA, the omega-3 deficit grows worse if diets rely on seed oils. Only marine oils (fish, krill, etc.) provide what cats need.

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How Seed Oils Sneak Into Cat Food

If you’ve ever looked at the back of a cat food label, you may have noticed vague or misleading terms.

Watch out for:

• “Vegetable oil”

• “Plant-based oils”

• “Natural oils”

• Specific oils like soybean, sunflower, safflower, canola

These are almost always included for cost and shelf stability — not nutrition.

Marketing tricks to note:

• Some brands highlight “omega fatty acids for skin & coat” but fail to clarify that they’re plant-based (omega-6 heavy, omega-3 deficient).

• Words like “wholesome” or “natural” disguise the fact that cats cannot efficiently use these oils.

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What the Science Says

A growing body of research highlights the risks of omega-6 heavy diets in cats:

• Inflammation: High dietary omega-6:omega-3 ratios are associated with inflammatory conditions across species, including cats.

• Obesity & diabetes: Chronic inflammation from excess omega-6 is a known driver of metabolic disease.

• Skin health: While some linoleic acid is necessary, too much without balancing omega-3s can worsen dermatological issues.

For example:

• Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery notes that cats require preformed long-chain fatty acids (EPA, DHA, arachidonic acid) from animal sources.

• American Journal of Veterinary Research highlights the link between fatty acid imbalances and feline inflammatory diseases.

👉 The takeaway is clear: seed oils push cats into imbalance and disease risk.

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What to Feed Instead

If you want to optimize your cat’s health, focus on animal-based fats.

Better fat sources include:

• Chicken fat (rich in arachidonic acid)

• Salmon oil (EPA + DHA)

• Sardine or anchovy oil

• Krill oil

• Egg yolk

These fats supply the essential nutrients cats actually need, in the forms their bodies can use.

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How to Transition Away From Seed Oils

1. Read labels carefully. Avoid products with vegetable/plant/seed oils.

2. Prioritize animal fats and fish oils. Look for named sources like “chicken fat” or “salmon oil.”

3. Consider raw or lightly cooked diets. These rely on fresh animal fats rather than fillers.

4. Balance omega-3s. Supplement with quality marine oils if necessary.

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FAQs About Seed Oils and Cats

Are seed oils toxic to cats?
Not in the sense of acute poisoning, but they are biologically inappropriate and could be harmful over time. 

Can cats digest seed oils?
Yes, but they cannot efficiently use them to meet essential fatty acid needs. 

What’s the best oil for cats?
Animal-derived oils rich in EPA, DHA, and arachidonic acid (e.g., salmon oil, sardine oil, chicken fat).

Why do vets recommend foods with seed oils?
Many veterinary diets are produced by the same corporations that dominate the pet food industry. Their formulations often prioritize cost and stability over species-appropriate nutrition.

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Conclusion: Take Back Control of Your Cat’s Nutrition

Seed oils are cheap, convenient for manufacturers, and great for shelf stability — but they don’t belong in your cat’s food. Cats are obligate carnivores, dependent on nutrients found only in animal fats. When diets are padded with soybean oil, sunflower oil, or other seed oils, cats pay the price with inflammation, obesity, and long-term health issues.

If you want to feed your cat the way nature intended, avoid seed oils and choose animal-based fats instead.📺 Prefer video? Watch my full YouTube breakdown here: THE DANGERS OF SEED OILS IN CAT FOOD

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