The word "by-product" might immediately conjure up images of useless items for many people. However, some meat by-products are essential for cats, while others should be avoided as much as possible. This is because some meat by-products contain meat of unknown origin. 
The term "meat by-products" is broadly defined as any part of an animal that is not considered part of its normal meat, such as liver, heart, bones, skin, and even the neck. Therefore, "meat by-products" is not inherently a negative term. Wild cats don't just eat the muscle parts of their prey; bones, skin, feathers, and internal organs can also become part of their diet. Thus, meat by-products are actually essential for cats.
However, we also need to understand what cats actually need and what meat by-products they don't need. Check the packaging for information on the food's source, and the order of the ingredients is also important. From first to last, the ingredients should be listed strictly in descending order of content. Therefore, the first ingredient on the ingredient list must be meat; this is the most basic standard for good cat food or canned food that meets the nutritional needs of carnivorous cats. When you encounter cat food or canned food where the first ingredient is meat by-products or grains, you need to reconsider whether to choose it. Ideally, meat should be the first ingredient, and meat and meat by-products should be listed separately, clearly indicating their source and cut.
