Top Picks for Best Cat Food: How to Choose

Dear feline companions, their fundamental needs can be categorized into several key areas:

1. Protein: Obtainable from sources like meat, fish, and poultry;

2. Taurine, along with appropriate vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and fatty acids;

3. Water; and last but not least, your furry friend doesn't require carbohydrates.

Now, let's delve into how to choose the right cat food. Here are five dimensions for new pet parents to consider when selecting their cat's diet:

Age of the Cat:

For kittens (under 1 year), opt for a kitten formula, unless your vet advises otherwise.

Adult cats (17 years) should be on an adult formula.

Senior cats (over 7 years) may benefit from switching to a senior formula.

It's important to note that different formulas have varying ingredients and concentrations, so choosing the right one based on age is crucial. Raising a cat is quite similar to raising a child, after all.

Activity Level:

This is quite significant, as the level of exercise and range of movement among our feline friends can vary greatly. Choose a food that provides the right amount of energy, avoiding overfeeding. Indoor cats may benefit from an indoor formula that reduces fat intake, much like how we humans should be mindful of our weight for health reasons.

Health Condition:

Many cat food companies now offer specialized prescription diets. Always consult with a professional veterinarian before making any changes. For instance, if your cat has gastrointestinal or liver issues, or if it needs to lose weight, a specific diet may be necessary.

Ingredients:

Becoming a responsible cat parent means understanding ingredient labels. This way, you won't waste money on unnecessary items.

Here are some tips: Pay attention to the first 35 ingredients listed, as they are the most prominent. Since cats are obligate carnivores, a cat food primarily made from meat or meat meal, such as turkey, chicken, or lamb, is ideal. But don't worry, fellow cat lovers, you don't need to find a perfect food that ticks all boxes.

Here are some good ingredients to look for:

Real meat or meat meal (as the first or second ingredient); free from animal byproducts; free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives; rice; eggs; natural oils like sunflower or fish oil; probiotics; plant fibers; vitamins and minerals like taurine and vitamin A; fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, cranberries, carrots, and apples; and tocopherol, a natural preservative and form of vitamin E.

Ingredients to avoid include:

The first 3 ingredients are not real meat; corn or corn gluten and wheat ingredients (most cats have adverse reactions to these); animal byproducts (such as feathers, which you wouldn't want your cat to eat); and artificial colors, flavorings, and preservatives; and butter.

Once you've chosen a brand, keep an eye on their website and product information for updates, dosage recommendations, promotions, and safety concerns.

Your Budget:

Now, here's the harsh reality: to give your pet the best life, you'll need to be prepared to spend. Highquality ingredients mean higher costs, so don't expect to find a great product at a low price.

My advice is to choose the best product within your budget for your cat, which can also save you money and effort on vet visits later on. Just like humans, what we eat has a significant impact on our health, and the same goes for our feline friends.

For those who have no budget concerns or would rather go without than see their cat suffer, I urge you not to just go for the most expensive option. Always check the ingredients, and don't hesitate to ask fellow cat owners for their honest reviews.

Final Tips:

When switching to a new cat food, do so gradually to avoid digestive issues.

Consider trying small samples before committing to a larger purchase. If you have only one cat, avoid buying large bags of food to ensure freshness.

Always observe your cat's reaction to new food and reassess based on the considerations mentioned above. Don't fall into the trap of thinking you can feed the same thing every day without getting bored.

Whether to choose dry food or wet food (canned), it's a personal choice for each cat and neither is inherently better. Dry food is convenient and less prone to spoilage or spills, while wet food can help increase water intake, which is beneficial for your cat's health. You can alternate or mix the two based on your cat's needs.