MCHA Calcium (Microcrystalline Hydroxyapatite) from bovine bone
This ingredient is only present in TCfeline Original.
Cats in the wild consume their prey whole—including bones—which provides a natural source of calcium and other essential minerals. For domesticated cats, small mammals such as rodents are the ancestral model of an ideal prey diet, and the bones of these animals play a key role in meeting their mineral requirements.
When formulating a biologically appropriate diet for cats, bone is the most natural source of calcium. However, incorporating ground fresh bone in home-prepared food is logistically and nutritionally limiting. Grinding whole poultry or rabbit is only feasible for a small number of cat owners, and these options exclude other beneficial meats such as beef, lamb, pork, or game. Additionally, the texture of ground bone is often off-putting to cats—my experience has shown that as many as 4 in 10 cats will reject food prepared this way.
Bone meal might seem like the next convenient alternative, but conventional bone meal is typically a rendered by-product of the meat industry. It is widely used in agriculture as fertilizer and feed, and in commercial pet food as “meat and bone meal”, but only a small portion is refined to edible-grade quality. Even then, it remains a sterilised, heat-processed product, often lacking the integrity and nutrient profile of unprocessed bone. Moreover, it may carry risks such as heavy metal contamination or, in some cases, infectious prions associated with BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy).
To ensure both safety and nutritional completeness, I use a unique, food-grade microcrystalline hydroxyapatite (MCHA) calcium sourced from either Australia or New Zealand. This ingredient—also known as whole bone extract or freeze-dried beef bone powder—was originally developed as a human nutraceutical to support bone health. It is produced from 100% free-range, pasture-raised, BSE-free Australian and New Zealand cattle, processed under strict veterinary inspection and biosecurity controls. The source countries are free of prion diseases and benefits from a longstanding national surveillance programme for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs).
The freeze-drying process used to manufacture this ingredient preserves the naturally occurring nutrients and bioactives in the bone matrix. This includes calcium, phosphorus, type I collagen, growth factors, bone-specific peptides, glycosaminoglycans, and a range of trace minerals—all present in their natural physiological ratios.
Key attributes of this ingredient include:
- A minimum of 24% calcium and 10% phosphorus in a microcrystalline structure for optimal bioavailability.
- At least 22% bone protein, including up to 20% type I collagen, with associated peptides and growth factors that promote bone formation and mineral retention.
- Naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans and trace minerals to support connective tissue and metabolic functions.
- Peptides in the protein fraction that help stimulate osteoblast activity and support bone remodelling.
- Independently tested for low lead content, meeting California’s Proposition 65 safety standards.
- Rigorous batch testing for heavy metals, total aerobic count, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella.
Proven efficacy and superior absorption
MCHA has been extensively studied for its ability to support bone health. Research shows it is more effective at improving bone mineral density than equivalent doses of calcium carbonate or calcium gluconate. (Epstein 1982; Annefeld 1986; Ruegsegger 1995.) It is important to note that this benefit is unique to whole bone MCHA, and does not apply to standard bone meal or synthetic hydroxyapatite, which lack the natural protein matrix or have been denatured by heat.
