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Danny's Cats

Who we cite

National Research Council

Also called NRC

Updated

What is the National Research Council?

The National Research Council is part of the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Its 2006 report Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats is a standard reference on what cats need to eat and drink, and our water and feeding articles cite its figures.

What is the National Research Council?

The National Research Council was set up in 1916 as the working arm of the US National Academy of Sciences and now sits within the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Its expert committees write reports on scientific questions.

What is the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats report?

Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats is the council's science-based report on what dogs and cats need to eat. The National Academies describe it as setting minimum requirements, recommended allowances and adequate intake levels for nutrients, with a safe upper limit where there is enough evidence of harm above a level. It also gives guidance on recognizing overweight and underweight pets.

The report is written mainly for scientists, pet food makers and veterinarians, so most owners meet its numbers second hand, through charts and guidelines built on it.

What do our pages use from the National Research Council?

Our water article cites its figure of about 50 to 60 milliliters of water per kilogram of body weight a day, close to VCA's rule of thumb, and notes a 2025 review's point that this figure was based on dogs. Our feeding article uses WSAVA's calorie chart, which WSAVA built from the report's 2006 daily energy formulas for adult cats.

Questions about National Research Council

Is the National Research Council a government agency?

The National Research Council is not a government agency. It belongs to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a private nonprofit that advises the US government on science. Its reports, including the one on dog and cat nutrition, are written by committees of outside experts.

Does the National Research Council endorse Danny's Cats?

The National Research Council does not endorse Danny's Cats. We cite one of its published reports, and it has not reviewed or approved anything on this site. The water and feeding articles that use its figures list the report, or the chart built from it, among their sources.

Where this comes up

Sources