BeneMeat cultivated meat diet shows strong acceptance in cat feeding study

A complete feline diet containing cultivated meat from BeneMeat has shown strong acceptance and adequate digestibility in domestic cats, according to a peer-reviewed study published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

• The study evaluated a complete feline diet containing BeneMeat cultivated meat against a control diet based on food-grade chicken.
• Optimal acceptance was observed in 9 out of 10 cats, with fewer leftovers reported for the cultivated meat diet.
• Protein and fat digestibility were comparable between the two diets, while body and muscle condition remained stable.

The study was conducted in collaboration between researchers at Ghent University and BeneMeat, a Prague-based cultivated meat technology company that is part of the BTL Group. It examined the acceptance and digestibility of a complete diet containing cultivated meat as a novel ingredient for pet food.

According to BeneMeat, the trial showed very good acceptance of the tested diet among domestic cats. Optimal acceptance was observed in 9 out of 10 cats, while leftovers were significantly lower for the cultivated meat diet compared with a control diet based on food-grade chicken.

The study also reported comparable protein and fat digestibility between the two diets, stable body and muscle condition in the cats, and optimal fecal consistency throughout the trial. The authors concluded that the cultivated meat ingredient tested may represent a well-accepted, adequately digestible, and well-tolerated ingredient for pet nutrition.

“This study represents an important step in evaluating cultivated ingredients for pet nutrition under standardized feeding conditions. The results confirm very good acceptance and digestibility of the tested ingredient in cats in comparison with the control diet,” said Simone Stringhetti, Clinical Studies Coordinator at BeneMeat, who coordinated the study on behalf of the company.

The study was published as a scientific article in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, under the title Can cultivated hamster cells compete with chicken meat? Insights on acceptance and digestibility in domestic cats. It added to a growing body of research examining how cultivated meat may be used first in pet food, where demand for high-quality animal protein intersects with concerns over sustainability, animal welfare, and the environmental footprint of conventional meat production.

Cultivated meat is produced by growing animal cells in a controlled environment rather than by raising and slaughtering animals. The process begins with a small sample of animal cells, which are provided with nutrients and grown into biomass that can contain muscle, fat, connective tissue, and other animal-derived components.

For pet nutrition, cultivated meat has attracted interest because cats are obligate carnivores and require diets formulated around animal-derived nutrients. Any new ingredient for feline diets must therefore demonstrate not only acceptance but also nutritional suitability and tolerance.

“This study provides an early contribution to a broader research effort. While further studies are needed, the results so far are encouraging and highlight the potential of cultivated meat for pet food applications,” said Federica Bortolazzi, lead author of the study from Ghent University.

BeneMeat has been developing cultivated meat technology since 2020, with work spanning cell line development, production systems, and manufacturing processes. The company reported that it has more than 150 R&D experts working across biology, chemistry, hardware, software, and commercial implementation.

In autumn 2023, BeneMeat became the first company in the EU to be registered as a producer of cultivated meat for pet food. The company has described pet nutrition as an important early application for cultivated meat, given the regulatory pathway and the potential to supply animal protein ingredients without conventional slaughter.

The latest study did not assess long-term health outcomes, and the authors noted that further research would be required. However, the findings provided early evidence that a cultivated meat ingredient could be accepted by cats and digested at levels comparable to a conventional chicken-based control diet under standardized feeding conditions.

BeneMeat said the findings supported its broader effort to develop cultivated meat as a practical ingredient for pet food manufacturers, including support across technical, legal, regulatory, and commercial challenges.

The full article was published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science on 21 May 2026.