In the context of pet food, the term “natural” is regulated by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), an organization that sets standards for both pet and livestock feed in the United States. The AAFCO defines a “natural” pet food as: “A feed or feed ingredient derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as might occur in good manufacturing practices.” Translation? Natural cat food should not consist of ingredients that are produced by or subjected to a synthetic chemical process. So, if a food contains artificial preservatives, flavors or colors, the term “natural” cannot be used.,Jump to section What Is Natural Cat Food? What Ingredients Are in Natural Cat Food? What Are the Benefits of Natural Cat Food? When Might a Vet Recommend Natural Cat Food? Vet-Recommended Natural Cat Food Natural vs. Organic Cat Food: What’s the Difference? How Do I Switch My Cat’s Food?