Description

Abstract: Consumer survey was conducted to identify prototype product of cat food. The consumers preferred fish as a main ingredient in the cat food. Linear programming was employed to formulate cat food to meet the requirement of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and thiamine. The optimum formula of cat food contained partially defatted peanut flour 24.35 percent, fish meal 9.71 percent, wheat flour 2.11 percent, wheat gluten 5.26 percent, potassium sorbate 0.11 percent, glycerine 0.53 percent, vitamin A 0.039 percent, thiamine 0.014 percent, tuna flavor 0.53 percent and water 47.37 percent. All ingredients were mixed, formed and cut into cylindrical with diameter 0.7 cm and length 1.25 cm, steamed for 10 minutes and dried at 70 deg C for 90 minutes. The product was dark brown in color with water activity of 0.76. The product was microbiologically safe. Acceptability test showed that consumers moderately liked in all characteristics of the product. Shelf-life of the cat food was at least 2 months when the product was packed in metalized PP bags and stored at ambient temperature.