Your Complete Cat Food Buying Guide

Your feline friends are an important part of your family, so why not feed them like your family too? Buying the correct type of food can lead to a longer, happier, and healthier life for your cat. To help with your complete cat food buying guide, we’ve put together some key details below to keep in mind!

Life Stages
Kittens and adult cats have very different nutritional needs. Look for life stage descriptions when reading labels. If the label says “complete and balanced for all stages of life,” that particular food is safe for a kitten and adult cat. You’ll also find cat food designed only for “adult maintenance,” which is meant only for adult or senior cats. Kitten food will be made for “growth and reproduction” as it generally has more protein, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. The higher amount of nutrients helps with proper growth and a healthy weight.

Ingredients
When buying cat food, it’s important to read through the ingredients. Protein, such as chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, etc., should be within the top three ingredients, as they are listed in order by weight. Cats get their nutritional requirements from meat sources, so their diet must be meat-based. Flavour is also an essential factor. Look for food with specific proteins listed, such as beef or chicken, over generic terms like “meat-flavoured,” as cats aren’t fond of plant-based flavours and thrive on a diet consisting primarily of meat. When choosing the “right” flavour for your cat, chicken is the most popular choice as it is incredibly gentle on a cat’s digestive tract and is often enhanced with essential nutrients that improve their health. Another option is turkey. Like chicken, turkey-flavoured cat food is also easily digested. Every flavour comes with its own set of benefits; for example, fish-flavoured food should contain a healthy dose of Omega 3s.
Whether you should choose grain-free food for your cat is debatable. Grains contain carbohydrates, which your cat can use as an energy source. If you do choose to feed your cat grain-free due to allergies, their food can still be full of other carbohydrates, such as potatoes, for an extra energy source.

Specialty Food
There are many different cat food options available that help with health conditions. Premium cat food companies, such as Hills Science Diet and Royal Canin, have created specialty formulas that help cats battle mild health conditions, including urinary care, hairballs, sensitive stomach, and weight control. Consult with your veterinarian before putting your cat on a regimen of these kinds of cat food.

Dry Food vs. Canned Wet Food
When it comes to types of cat food, you have two options: wet and dry. Wet food is recommended for felines who show a lack of interest in drinking directly from the bowl. However, too much wet food intake can cause them to gain excess bulk, resulting in various health complications. On the other hand, dry food improves oral hygiene and costs less than its wet counterpart. Both dry and wet cat food have pros and cons.

Dry Cat Food:
Pros

• Less expensive
• Can be left out all-day

Cons

• Less moisture
• Less protein
• More carbs

Wet Cat Food:
Pros

• High moisture content
• More Protein
• Fewer carbs

Cons

• Easily spoils if left out
• More expensive

We recommend feeding your feline a combination of dry and wet food—dry food to keep costs down and wet supplies to help increase palatability. Mixed feeding is also beneficial because it’ll prevent your cat from developing a strict taste for a specific diet.

You now know what to look for when buying cat food. The next step is to work with your veterinarian to ensure the food you plan to purchase is appropriate for your cat’s needs. Cats’ dietary needs can vary depending on breed, life stage, and medical history.

Stop by your local Feeds’n Needs to find a wide range of different cat food brands and formulas! Our experts are here to help answer any questions you may have.

For more information on your cat’s health, check out our other blogs!
Pet Obesity Awareness
Benefits of a Raw Diet

Sources:
Your Complete Cat Food Buying Guide | Blain’s Farm & Fleet Blog (farmandfleet.com)
Cat Food: Tips and Buying Guide (petminerals.com)