Deserving the best
All our food is made to the strictest quality requirements to ensure absolute safety.
Because cats and dogs deserve the best nutrition to remain in the best of health, ROYAL CANIN® is committed to:
- Select the suppliers of raw materials in accordance with very strict specifications
- Test the quality of the ingredients before they are accepted for use in ROYAL CANIN® foods
- Only use meat from animals which are declared fit and healthy for human consumption
- Quality control from the moment the raw materials enter the factory right through to the packaging stage, thanks to systematic measures and analyses at all key stages
- Complete traceability and identification of all ingredients
Palatability
Even the very best food, from a nutritional point of view, is worthless if it is not eaten.
ROYAL CANIN® study every possible parameter of its kibbles and food to ensure that it is as palatable as possible to the cats and dogs who eat it.
We look at everything from raw materials and formulation, to the size, shape, texture and density of the kibble, and finally the coating, smell and taste of the food, to find the most appealing formulation for our real customers – the cat and dog.
Quality Proteins
L.I.P. stands for Low Indigestible Proteins. When you see L.I.P. proteins in the ingredient list, this means that very high quality, highly digestible protein has been used in the food. For protein to be classified L.I.P. it must be over 90% digestible and easily assimilated into the body.
The use of high quality, easily assimilated proteins helps reduce the amount of undigested remains reaching the colon. If a large quantity of protein is undigested, it can lead to an increase in fermentation and result in soft and smelly stools.
All ROYAL CANIN® products use extremely high quality proteins which are rigorously selected and controlled throughout the manufacturing process.
Packaging
ROYAL CANIN® products are packed in our exclusive airtight bags in an oxygen-reduced atmosphere to ensure flavour and nutritional quality are perfectly preserved. Using this special method of packing, exclusive to ROYAL CANIN®, in association with hermetically sealed bags, ensures our food is always fresh and at optimum effectiveness.
Look out for the Controlled Atmosphere logo on all our product packs.
Importance of the kibble
Our innovation doesn’t stop with formulation. The breed, age, size and sensitivities of cats and dogs are also taken into account when we design kibbles.
The size, shape and texture of kibbles change according to the specific characteristics of the animal it is intended for. Siamese cats – who are known for picking up their food with their tongue or teeth and eating fast – have a tube shaped kibble with a specific texture designed to encourage grinding, which works to slow down the speed of ingestion and even helps maintain good dental hygiene. Mini Junior dogs have an easily re-hydratable kibble specially suited to their small jaws, with a crumbly texture to aid oral hygiene from early on in life.
Choosing a kibble
The final decision makers on which kibble shape, size and texture we use are the cats and dogs themselves. When developing our Bulldog kibble, 26 English Bulldogs tried out 10 different kibble designs. The dogs were given a tasty meal of Bulldog 24 in a see-through glass bowl, which was filmed from beneath with a hidden camera. From the video footage, each shape could be accurately assessed for ease of gripping and chewing, plus the time spent eating.
After study of the video and further input from our network of Bulldog breeders, a wave shape kibble, which is easy for the Bulldog to pick up and facilitates chewing, was selected.