Getting a cat can not only bring joy and love to the whole family, but can also make you a responsible pet parent. To take good care of your feline friend, you have to understand its nutritional needs well, as it cannot voice its demands. Providing them with the best quality cat food in a timely manner is important to keep them active, energetic, healthy and happy.
Types of cat food
- Canned food
Canned cat food is considered to be very nutritious and rich in water content. It contains almost 75 percent moisture, meaning, after eating canned food, cats will remain well-hydrated. There is a wide range of canned cat food items easily available in the market. The majority of cats find canned food to be highly palatable. These foods can be stored for long durations as they have extended shelf life. Ingredients of canned food usually include meat (kidney or liver), fish or whole meat, and taurine. You must check the nutritional value on the label before serving it to your cat. - Dry food
Dry food, as the name suggests, has very low water content. Its moisture content varies between 5-10 percent, depending on the ingredients and formulation of the product. Dry food comprises meat byproducts, poultry, fish, grain byproducts and fiber sources. To improve the palate of dry food and make it more delicious, it is covered and glazed with animal fat. The latter acts as a flavoring agent in top quality dry foods for cats. However, in comparison to canned food, dry food is less digestible, less delicious, and inexpensive. Dry food has a lesser shelf life and has to be stored in an airtight container to avoid spoilage. - Semi-moist food
Moisture content in semi-moist cat food varies between 35 and 40 percent. Meat byproducts and meat are the main ingredients of semi-moist food for cats. Some semi-moist foods also contain cereals, grain byproducts, and soybean. These have better digestibility and palatability as compared to dry foods, as these have more water content.
While choosing food for your felines, you must check the nutrition label for its ingredients. Always buy from a reputable brand, as compromising on the quality may affect your cat’s health. Also, avoid food that has fillers.
Basics of cat nutrition
Providing the right nutrition for every pet is important, but it is all the more vital when it comes to cats because their nutritional requirements are different from other pets. Their bodies have evolved over a period of time to suit a more carnivorous diet. They are also called obligate carnivores. The wellbeing of your cat depends on nutrients such as protein, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, amino acids taurine and arginine, and water. All the above nutrients are found in abundance in meat. You could also feed your cats with carbohydrates and vegetables, but in very small quantities, their stomach can only digest them in small amounts.
Tips to pick cat food
As feline owners, you naturally love your fur balls and would want them to be healthy. The right diet plays a very vital role in their overall wellbeing. Feeding them with high-quality food is the most apt way to keep them agile and content. However, choosing the best cat food for them can be a daunting task. You would want to pick up the most nutritious food for them that fits your budget as well. So, here are some smart tips for choosing the best food for your cat.
Picking cat food based on ingredients
- Check for meat proteins
Cats thrive on proteins that are found in meat as they are obligate carnivores. So, before buying, you must look at the main ingredients on the label. Preference should be given to foods that have tuna, chicken, turkey, or beef as their primary ingredient. You must avoid cat foods that do not specify their main ingredient and instead have poultry or meat byproducts written on them. - Search for top-quality grains in the food
After meat, you must look at the grains that are present in the cat food. Most feline foods will have barley, corn, and wheat as grains that will provide them with necessary carbohydrates. Meat should be preferred over grains in the ingredient column. - Check for arachidonic acid and taurine content
These ingredients play an important role in the wellbeing of your cat. They indicate the presence of top quality meat in your cat food. If these are not present, your cat food does not have protein from an animal source. Preference should be given to food with animal-based protein over plant-based protein. - Confirm if there are minerals and vitamins in the food
Vitamin B, C, A, B12, and folic acid are very important vitamins that are required in the diet of your cat for them to stay healthy. Minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, and sodium are some of the vital nutrients that should be present in your feline’s diet for healthy bones, joints, and teeth. Carefully check the ingredient label for the presence of both vitamin and mineral in your cat food. - Check for byproducts
Animal byproduct is yet another vital ingredient of cat food. Top-quality feline foods will have animal lungs and liver as animal byproducts, while low-grade cat food will have only animal byproduct (feature or fur) written on them. You should avoid cat food with an unspecified animal byproduct as it will take more hours for your cat to digest them. Byproducts are usually listed prior to a list of vitamins, minerals, grains, and plant matter. These byproducts are rich in a lot of nutrients and hence provide great health benefits. - Check for AAFCO certification
You must look for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) certification on the feline food you choose. This organization makes sure that a pet food maintains a certain standard. It helps in regulating the pet food quality and ensuring its safety for the pet’s consumption.
Picking cat food based on the type
- Pick dry food for convenience
Dry food has a longer shelf life and is cheaper when compared to wet food. As a cat owner, you might have already noticed that cats eat at their own time. So, dry food is a convenient option as you can leave it out without it going bad. However, you must choose a top quality dry cat food that has animal proteins as ingredients. Dry food has its disadvantages over wet food. Dry food contains about 40-50% carbohydrates that are difficult for your cats to digest. And cats who are fed more of dry foods often become obese. So, moderation is the key. - Feed the cat wet food if it gets dehydrated
As you know, wet foods are expensive, but they are the best option for your cat if they are susceptible to urinary tract problems and dehydration. It will also help the cat to maintain the right weight as it contains fewer calories for a similar volume. The only problem with wet food is that it has a shorter shelf life. - Give the cat a mix of wet and dry food
Feeding your feline both dry and wet food, in a rotational manner, is the best way to keep it healthy. Feeding your pet wet food twice a week will be enough to keep your cat hydrated and will also suit your budget.
Top cat food products
Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Cat Food
This product from Stella and Chewy’s is great as it comes in the form of freeze-dried raw morsels. It is 100% nutritionally balanced and is quite close to the raw diet.
Ingredients
This cat food comprises as much as 98% raw turkey with probiotics and taurine that support gut health. It contains 40% protein and zero antibiotics, hormones, grains, or fillers.
Benefits
- One of the greatest raw food diets
- Quick and easy to prepare
- Minimally processed and no preservatives
Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Real Chicken Recipe from Merrick
This is one of the most widely used food products for cats. It has almost 45% protein content derived mostly from boneless chicken.
Ingredients
This cat food has no corn, no wheat, no gluten, and no soy product. It is dry cat food with the major ingredient being chicken.
Benefits
- Cats find it palatable
- Easy to digest
- Keeps your cat healthy
Primal Pet Food Freeze-Dried Nuggets
This food is highly recommended for cats that have sensitive digestive systems. These come as frozen and raw dried nuggets that need to be hydrated with water prior to serving your cats. The most preferred flavor when it comes to raw food would be the salmon and chicken formula.
Ingredients
Primal Pet has no gluten, grains, corn, soy products, or wheat. The salmon and chicken are raised with no antibiotics or added hormones. In this cat food, protein content is almost as high as 55%, derived from salmon and chicken.
Benefits
- Trouble-free
- Great for choosy eaters
- Rich source of protein
Castor and Pollux Organix Cat Food
This is one of the cheapest organic foods for cats that are available in the market. This comes in the category of dry feline food. It comes in a brown rice and chicken recipe flavor that felines relish.
Ingredients
This organic cat food does not have any wheat, soy, or corn. The protein content in this is about 30%. Organic chicken is the primary source of protein in this cat food.
Benefit
- Helps avoid vomiting
- No fillers
- Organic chicken is the primary ingredient
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Kitten Food
An inexpensive choice for growing kittens, this food provides them with all the vital nutrition they require to develop into healthy cats. This is a type of dry cat food that comes in chicken recipe flavor.
Ingredients
This kitten food is gluten-free, grain free, and is prepared with zero poultry and chicken byproducts. This food does not contain any added preservatives. The protein content in this is about 42%, which is adequate to make your kitten healthy and strong.
Benefits
- Gives kittens strength
- Top quality
- Aids in building lean muscle
Whole Earth Farm Grain-Free recipe
This food is a versatile option for cats with different preferences, ages, and stomach sensitivity levels. This is basically a type of dry cat food that comes in tiny bits, so it is easier for older cats to chew them. The duck and turkey flavor is the most widely loved. If you have more than a single cat at home, this is the best option.
Ingredients
This cat foo does not have any preservatives, artificial flavors, or colors. They do not contain any wheat, corn, and poultry byproducts like toenails or feathers or soy. They contain around 36% protein obtained from duck and turkey.
Benefit
- Versatile food option
- Cat-friendly
- Small bits that can be chewed easily
- Affordable food option
Weruva Grain Free Cat Food
This is one of the most delicious cat food options and is also considered good for human consumption. This falls in the category of canned wet food that comprises breast pieces of chicken in gravy mainly.
Ingredients
This grain-free cat food comes with nutrient-rich gravy that cats love. It has a very high protein content of almost 65% that comes from hormone-free and antibiotic-free chicken.
Benefits
- Prepared in a human food facility
- Top-quality
- Highly palatable
To wrap up, now you have a fair idea about how to choose the best cat foods for your feline companion. Free feel to consult a vet too, if your cat suffers from any health condition or has allergies. By providing the right kind of nutrition along with care, your little ball of fur can live a long and happy life.
