Best Cat Food Brands

Ingredients

Before deciding on a particular brand of cat food, read the ingredients.

• Meat: Cats are carnivores so the main ingredients should be meats or meat meals, not grains or other carbohydrates.
• Fat: Fat should also be listed as one of the first five ingredients.
• Allergen free: Allergies lead to hot spots and yeast infections. Wheat, beef, chicken and soy are known allergens, so avoid these ingredients if your cat is prone to allergies.

Price

Price is a major factor in any purchasing decision, and cat foods can run the gamut. Typically, there are grocery store brands, mid-tier and top-tier products.

Caution! Vitamins are lost or become less potent and fat becomes rancid in bags of food open more that 4-6 weeks, even in sealed containers.

• Lowest price: With cat foods, you often get what you pay for. Cheaper products often contain lower quality ingredients.
• Quality matches price: When looking at mid-tier brands, typically only available at specialty pet stores, it is important to make sure that the price is justified by the quality. Look at the ingredients and then compare prices.
• Bulk options: Buying bulk keeps costs down. Shop by the price per unit, not the price per bag.

Wet vs. dry

Wet food costs substantially more than dry, but it is also much better for cats.

• Wet food: Wet food is gentler for cats to digest, better for their urinary health and often more palatable. In addition, cats often get much of their daily liquids through wet food. The health benefits may be worth the extra cost of wet food.
• Dry food: As a cost-effective option, dry food offers complete nutrition, but it is important to verify the quality of ingredients. A bag of dry food can feed a cat for a month, and it usually costs about half as much as a wet diet.
• Blended diet: A diet of both wet and dry food may be the most cost-effective option, so check to see if a brand offers both options.

Health benefits

Different formulas offer different health benefits. Select foods to meet specific needs of each cat.

• Urinary tract health: Cats can be susceptible to a build-up of crystals in their urine, resulting in blockages in males. Urinary tract health formulas can prevent the problem before it starts.
• Hairball formula: Hairballs are a common problem. Hairball control formula can reduce or eliminate hairballs.
• Prescription formulas: Some cats have health problems requiring prescription cat food. There are foods designed for cats with kidney, liver and heart problems, urinary tract blockages and other issues.

Mineral content

Cats have an assortment of urinary crystals made up of different minerals. Food with lower amounts of the right mineral can have a direct impact on a cat’s health and longevity.

• Low mineral formulas: Limiting the right mineral in cat food means less likelihood of bladder crystals, blockage in males or possible kidney problems.
• Consult your Vet: Your veterinarian can tell you which minerals you should avoid for your cat.
• Consider a wet food alternative: The extra water in wet cat food helps dilute any type of mineral in the urine and reduces the build-up of crystals in the bladder and kidneys.

Kitten and senior formulas

Make sure a brand offers formulas addressing all life stages. Changing brands suddenly can cause cats to experience digestive problems.

• Kitten formula: Food specifically formulated for kittens has a lot more calories, protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus for their growing body and bones.
• Adult cat formula: From indoor cat to health-specific formulas, adult cat food should have everything necessary for lifelong health.
• Senior formula: As cats age, they need fewer calories and different nutrients. Senior formulas typically contain nutrition designed to improve joint health, cater to sensitive stomachs and help senior cats stay active.

Dry cat food

Dry cat food is made into small, compressed nuggets. Producing dry food requires larger amounts of starch from carbohydrates than other types of cat food. Choose dry food with the highest amount of protein possible.

Wet cat food

Wet or canned cat food is not dehydrated, so it is very moist and soft. It offers higher moisture content and lower calories.

Raw cat food

Raw food is mostly composed of meat, carcass frame with bone and vegetables or grains, along with any extra supplements added for health benefits. This type of diet mimics a cat's natural diet.

Special formula cat food

Some cat foods are specially formulated to combat certain health issues. Obese or obesity-prone cats might benefit from weight management formulas. Special veterinary formulations help cats with a variety of medical problems.

Active kittens

A pet owner with a new kitten needs food to address healthy development, including calories and nutrients that support rapid growth.

Picky cats

Some cats are very picky about what they will and won't eat. They may turn their nose up at dry food, or go on a hunger strike when faced with a brand they don't like.

Inactive cats

An indoor, inactive or senior feline might carry extra pounds. Creating a diet to help them shed extra weight is challenging, so a special formula might be necessary.

Special needs cats

Special formulas can help cats with kidney, liver heart problems and intestinal or other urinary conditions. This can help reduce veterinary bills.