Choosing the right cat food is a critical decision for any cat owner. Good nutrition is essential to keep your feline healthy and happy, but choosing the best products can feel overwhelming, especially when there are so many options available!
From kibbles and canned foods to freeze-dried, raw and dehydrated diets, it’s important to do your research in order to make an informed decision that best suits your cat’s individual needs.
To help make the process easier, let’s break down some key components you should consider when selecting the best food for your cat.
Understand Your Cat’s Nutritional Needs
The first step in choosing a cat food is understanding your pet’s nutritional needs. Your cat’s age, size, activity level and any pre-existing health issues are important factors to consider.
Kittens require a high protein, low fibre diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals so look out for foods specially formulated for their nutritional needs. Adult cats, on the other hand, need a balanced diet suited to their activity level, with indoor cats typically needing fewer calories.
Read Labels Carefully
Once you have an understanding of your pet’s nutritional needs, it’s time to start reading labels!
You want to look for premium cat foods with natural, wholesome ingredients like animal proteins, such as fish or poultry, healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, carbohydrates, such as grains or vegetables, vitamins, minerals and fibre.
A good rule of thumb is to look out for cat foods that contain more natural ingredients, fewer fillers and avoid artificial ingredients, such as preservatives and flavours. If an ingredient list looks too long or unfamiliar, it’s probably best to avoid that particular brand.
Finally, make sure the food has balanced nutritional content. Cats need high-quality proteins, as well as essential fatty acids and and amino acids to stay healthy. Most premium cat foods will list the full nutritional content on the packaging, so check before you buy.
Types of Cat Food
Once you understand your pet’s nutritional needs, you can start looking into types of cat food available. Dry foods are typically more affordable and easy to store, while wet foods contain higher amounts of moisture, which can be beneficial for cats that don’t drink enough water on their own.
Specialised diets are also available for cats that require additional nutrition due to certain health conditions or allergies. If you do decide to switch up your pet’s diet, do so gradually over time so they don’t digestive issues caused by a sudden change.
It’s also important to choose a variety of different types of food for your cat so they don’t get bored. Try switching up their diet regularly by introducing new flavours or textures—your cat will appreciate it! When trying a new cat food, buy a sample size first to make sure your cat will eat it.
Seek Trustworthy Sources
It doesn’t hurt to read reviews from other pet owners who have already tried out a particular brand of cat food. Reviews can help you see what others think about the product so you can make an educated decision when it comes time for purchase.
Best of all is to seek the advice from a trusted professional, such as your vet or a nutritionist. They may have prior experience with the brands you’re considering and can provide valuable insight regarding quality control and safety protocols used by those companies.
They may even recommend specific brands or formulas that are best suited for your cat given their unique dietary needs, especially if they have pre-existing health issues.
Choosing the right cat food can seem like an intimidating process, but with this guide we hope you’ll now feel more confident.
By taking into account key elements such as ingredients, age and activity level, and consulting with your vet before making any major changes to your cat’s diet, you can rest assured knowing that you’ve made an informed decision for your cat’s optimum nutrition.
We stock a wide range of quality cat foods to help you find the ‘purr-fect’ one for your cat. Our team of veterinarians focus on brands that offer conveniently portioned servings to keep your cat healthy and satiated. Shop the range now!