This rule awards points for the presence of an additional source of animal protein in the ingredients list, based on its position relative to the main meat ingredient.
However, the additional source must belong to a category different from the main meat ingredient.

The categories for animal protein sources are:
1) Poultry (chicken, turkey, etc.)
2) Mammal meat (beef, lamb, etc.)
3) Fish
4) Eggs
5) Seafood

Points Addition for Additional Animal Protein Source #

1. Additional Animal Protein from a Different Category at 2nd-3rd Places:

• If an additional source of animal protein from a different category than the main meat ingredient is listed in 2nd or 3rd place after the main meat ingredient, 4 points are added to the food’s score.

1. Additional Animal Protein from a Different Category at 4th-5th Places:

• If an additional source of animal protein from a different category is listed in 4th or 5th place after the main meat ingredient, 2 points are added to the food’s score.

1. Additional Animal Protein from a Different Category at 6th-7th Places:

• If an additional source of animal protein from a different category is listed at the 6th or 7th place after the main meat ingredient, 1 point is added to the food’s score.

This rule applies only to one additional source of animal protein per food. Only the highest-ranking one (based on position) is considered if multiple additional sources are present.

Examples #

1. A dry cat food with the following ingredients:
   “Chicken meal, brown rice, peas, herring meal…”

• Herring meal is an additional source of animal protein (fish category) listed at the 4th place after the main meat ingredient (chicken meal from the poultry category).
• According to the rule, 2 points would be added to the food’s score.

1. A dry cat food with the following ingredients:
   “Lamb meal, peas, rice, egg product, flaxseed…”

• Egg product is an additional source of animal protein (egg category) listed at the 4th place after the main meat ingredient (lamb meal from the mammal meat category).
• According to the rule, 2 points would be added to the food’s score.

1. A dry cat food with the following ingredients:
   “Chicken, chicken meal, peas, beef meal, oatmeal…”

• Beef meal is an additional source of animal protein (mammal meat category) listed in 4th place after the main meat ingredient (chicken from the poultry category).
• However, chicken meal (also from the poultry category) is listed before beef meal, so it would not be considered an additional source from a different category.
• No points would be added to the food’s score in this case.

By awarding points for an additional source of animal protein from a different category, this rule encourages the inclusion of multiple high-quality protein sources in cat food formulations, providing a wider variety of amino acid profiles for optimal nutrition.