NRC

NRC Glossary: The NRC is the National Research Council, the scientific arm whose publication Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats is the foundational reference on what these two species actually need, nutrient by nutrient. It sits one layer beneath the everyday standards: where [AAFCO](/glossary/aafco) in the US and [FEDIAF](/glossary/fediaf) in Europe give manufacturers practical formulation targets, both build their numbers on the underlying physiology compiled by the NRC (NRC, 2006). The distinction matters because the NRC reports requirements in scientific terms, often as minimal requirements, recommended allowances, and safe upper limits derived from controlled research, whereas the industry bodies translate these into single working values with safety margins for real-world digestibility. A point that surprises many readers is how recent some of this knowledge is: the current comprehensive edition dates from 2006, and certain feline-specific findings, such as the cat's absolute dietary need for taurine, were only firmly established in veterinary nutrition during the 1980s. For premium buyers, the NRC is rarely cited on packaging, but it is the bedrock that makes a [complete food](/glossary/complete-food) claim meaningful at all, and it is the reference scientists return to when reassessing requirements by [life stage](/glossary/life-stage). Think of it as the science behind the standards rather than a standard you will see quoted on a bag. For how the layers connect, see the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary).

Petipedia · Editorial team

General documentary information. For an individual animal, a veterinarian's advice takes precedence over any online content.