Debunking 6 Common Pet Nutrition Myths: What Pet Parents Need to Know

A white dog gently interacting with a small black and white kitten resting on a blanket.

Written by Dr Hannah Godfrey PhD Animal Nutrition

These pet nutrition myths come up all the time, from “human grade ingredients” to homemade meals, grain-free diets, fats, and whether cats need anything beyond meat. The goal is simple: separate marketing noise from practical nutrition guidance so your doggo or kitty gets food that is safe, complete, and balanced.

Pull up a chair and let’s talk about what is really in your pet's bowl! As pet parents, we all want the absolute best for our furry family members, but navigating the world of pet nutrition can feel incredibly overwhelming. There is a lot of conflicting information out there, and it can be hard to separate fact from fiction.

At Tom&Sawyer, we are here to help you cut through the noise. We believe in providing honest, transparent feeding guidance to empower you to make the best choices for your fur baby. So, let’s put on our lab coats and debunk eight of the most common pet nutrition misconceptions, ensuring your doggo or kitty is getting exactly what they need to thrive!

Myth 1: "Made with human grade ingredients" means the food is human grade.

Human grade pet food is not the same as food that is only “made with human grade ingredients.” For a finished pet food to support a true human grade claim, the ingredients and the finished food must meet specific handling, processing, storage, and transportation standards.¹

This is a very common point of confusion! You might see other brands use phrases like "human-edible" or "made with human grade ingredients," but that does not actually mean the finished food is human grade.

At Tom&Sawyer, being Certified Human Grade means that every single ingredient, process, and finished meal meets human food safety standards and is produced in a licensed, government-inspected human food facility.

It is about rigorous standards and traceability throughout the entire process, not just the ingredients.

Myth 2: Homemade food is always the best choice for your pet.

Homemade pet food can come from a place of love, but long-term feeding requires precise formulation. Veterinary nutrition guidance notes that many homemade recipes can be deficient in one or more essential nutrients if they are not properly formulated.²

Why? Some recipes are not properly formulated from the start. But we also have to be concerned about variability of ingredients purchased in various locations, different cuts of meat, and so forth, all of which can affect the whole nutrient profile.

Unlike most home-cooked diets, our gently-cooked meals are carefully balanced by an animal nutritionist to provide long-term, reliable nutrition in every serving. We give you the comfort of serving home-style, restaurant-quality food without any of the guesswork.

Myth 3: Cats do not need carbohydrates or fiber.

The topic of cats and carbohydrates is more nuanced than “cats can never eat carbs.” Cats are obligate carnivores with unique metabolism, but digestible carbohydrates and dietary fiber can still play a role in complete and balanced feline nutrition.³

Because cats are obligate carnivores, many people assume carbohydrates have absolutely no role in their diet. While cats do have a limited capacity to utilize large amounts of carbohydrates compared to omnivores, this does not mean they are inherently harmful!

Cooked, digestible complex carbohydrates can provide a readily available source of energy. Perhaps even more importantly, dietary fiber (an indigestible carbohydrate) plays a massive role in supporting digestive health, promoting healthy stool quality, and supporting beneficial gut microbes.

For more information on whether cats can eat carbohydrates, check out our previous blog on Cats and Carbs!

Myth 4: Fats (especially Omega-6s) are bad and cause inflammation.

Fats are not automatically bad. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids both have important roles in the body, and the goal is balance, not removing one family of fats altogether.⁴

Fat is not always the enemy! While low fat meals are sometimes necessary for specific health concerns like pancreatitis or weight management, pets absolutely need certain dietary fats to stay healthy.

Omega-6 fatty acids, like linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, and Omega-3 fatty acids work together in the body to support normal inflammatory responses, skin and coat health, and immune function.

The key is all about balance. That is why our naturally supplemented meals include carefully balanced Omega 6 & 3 oils to let the real benefits of our ingredients shine through.

Myth 5: Gentle cooking cooks all the nutrients out of the food.

Gently cooked pet food is not about overcooking ingredients. The goal is to cook food safely while preserving meal quality, texture, aroma, and nutritional purpose. Research also shows that nutrient digestibility can vary depending on ingredient selection and processing method.⁵

Some pet parents worry that cooking destroys the nutritional value of fresh ingredients. But the truth is that cooking can help make some nutrients more available for our pets while also supporting food safety.

We prepare our gently-cooked pet food by cooking each ingredient individually to its optimal internal temperature. This is enough heat to support food safety, but not enough to cook the vital nutrients right out of the ingredients.

In fact, this process helps support digestibility and preserves the delicious taste that pets crave.

Myth 6: Cats are basically just small dogs when it comes to feeding.

Cats are not small dogs. Cats have unique nutrient requirements, including dietary needs for nutrients such as taurine, preformed vitamin A, and arachidonic acid that reflect their feline biology.⁶

Cats are highly specialized hunters with unique nutrient requirements shaped by millions of years of evolution, and their biology is very different from a dog's! For example, cats continuously break down protein for energy, and they have a limited ability to synthesize certain essential nutrients themselves.

They must obtain specific amino acids, like taurine, and preformed vitamins directly from their diet, primarily from animal tissues. Feeding a cat is not just about meeting a protein target; it is about creating a complete nutritional package that respects the biology of a true carnivore.

Myth 7: Grain-free diets are low carbohydrate.

Grain-free pet food is not automatically low carbohydrate. When grains are removed, they are often replaced with other carbohydrate-containing ingredients such as legumes, potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or squash.⁷

For example, our naturally grain-free and gluten-free gently-cooked meals, like our paw-some Turkey Gobbler Feast or limited-ingredient Kangaroo* recipes, utilize nutrient-dense vegetables like sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and pumpkin instead of grain-containing carbohydrates.

These carefully selected carbohydrate and fiber sources play an important role in creating a complete nutritional package, supporting your fur baby's digestive health and providing the fuel they need to thrive.

Not sure whether grain-free or grain-inclusive is right for your pet? Read more on this topic in here!

Myth 8: Fresh, gently-cooked pet food is just a niche trend.

Fresh, gently cooked pet food is not just about following a trend. For many pet parents, it reflects a bigger shift toward clearer ingredients, complete and balanced meals, food safety, and a feeding experience that feels closer to real food.

With the recent rise in fresh pet food options, it might seem like a passing fad. But feeding our pups and kitties real, whole foods are far from a niche trend, it is a full-blown movement toward better pet wellness!

At Tom&Sawyer, we didn't just jump on the bandwagon; we were one of the pioneers of gently-cooked pet food, launching the category in Canada all the way back in 2015. When we realized the pet food industry was loosely regulated, we decided to create our own standard.

For over a decade, we have been leading the pack, preparing restaurant-quality, human grade meals in a licensed, government-inspected facility.

We even helped launch the Fresh Pet Food Alliance to bring much-needed transparency to pet parents everywhere. So, when you feed your canine companion or feline fur-iend our meals, you aren't following a fad. You are relying on years of established science and expertise to give them a happier, healthier, longer life™.

Ready to Bring Balance to the Bowl?

Choosing better food starts with knowing which pet nutrition myths to ignore. Whether your pet needs human grade pet food, a safer alternative to homemade pet food, a grain-free option, or gently cooked pet food made with whole food ingredients, the best next step is a meal plan built around their needs.

Whether you have a picky eater, a senior sweetie, or an itchy-scratcher, finding the right nutrition can change everything. Our gently-cooked meals are thoughtfully crafted with real ingredients and real science to deliver real results your pet can feel.

Ready to join Sawyer's Pack of Loyal Companions? Depending on where you live, you can start by picking up recipes like Turkey Gobbler Feast or Kangaroo*.

You can also build a custom meal plan based on your pet’s age, weight, activity level, and goals.

We are paws-itively thrilled to help your pet enjoy a Happier, Healthier, Longer Life™!
  • currently available in Canada only

 

Resources

  1. Oba PM, Utterback PL, Parsons CM, Swanson KS. True nutrient and amino acid digestibility of dog foods made with human-grade ingredients using the precision-fed cecectomized rooster assay. Translational Animal Science. 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6994059/

  1. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Should You Make Your Own Pet Food at Home? https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2016/07/14/should-you-make-your-own-pet-food-at-home/

  1. Verbrugghe A, Hesta M. Cats and Carbohydrates: The Carnivore Fantasy? Veterinary Sciences. 2017. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5753635/

  1. Burron S, Richards T, Krebs G, et al. The balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in canine, feline, and equine nutrition: exploring sources and the significance of alpha-linolenic acid. Journal of Animal Science. 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11161904/

  1. Do S, Utterback PL, Parsons CM, Swanson KS. Standardized amino acid digestibility and nitrogen-corrected true metabolizable energy of frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, fresh, and extruded dog foods using precision-fed cecectomized and conventional rooster assays. Translational Animal Science. 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10684041/

  1. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. Carb Confusion Part 1: The Role of Carbohydrate in Pet Foods. https://sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2021/07/07/the-role-of-carbohydrate-in-pet-foods/

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Complete and Balanced” Pet Food. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/complete-and-balanced-pet-food

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