I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent running around in the pet store and searching online to figure out the best cat food. Lilo needs the best nutrition possible, but I was tired of finding mediocre foods. These best cat foods reviews should help you find the perfect option fast.
Looking for soft dry cat food?
Why is Your Cat’s Nutrition so Important?
Cats are known as obligate carnivores, meaning that they need meat both to survive and to thrive. Your cat’s nutrition is important in order to make this happen. An optimal diet will keep them strong, fit, healthy, and should be pretty delicious too.
Why Avoid Fish Based Cat Food? (And Other Things To Avoid)
Cats like fish, so why should you be avoiding it? Well, the sad truth is that most of the food that goes into pet food is contaminated with heavy metals or toxins. Whole fish, guts, and bones are often included, and the increase in phosphorus can harm cats with kidney disease. These fish-based diets can cause urinary issues in healthy cats too. The synthetic vitamin K, menadione, that’s often included, isn’t even fit for human consumption.
Fish is out, but there are a number of things you should avoid when it comes to your cat food. By products specifically aren’t good, such as corn or soy. Those are hard to digest, just like the grains or rye. Kitties don’t like to eat then either. As a rule, 3 of the first 5 ingredients shouldn’t be grains. Even potatoes and tapioca should be avoided since they increase blood sugar. Finally, any artificial preservatives or colorings are definitely out of the question.
Top 7 Cat Food Brands To Buy
You won’t need to go through as much trouble as I did when I looked for the best cat food. One of these foods will be perfect for your furry friend to chow down on.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Dry Adult Cat Food
Blue Buffalo knows that you love your cat like family, so why not feed them like family? Added proteins with no by-products like corn, wheat, or soy are a perfect alternative to a raw diet.
Why It’s So Popular:
– The ingredients are superior to prescription diets
– Gives your cat a shiny, thick, healthy coat
– Works perfectly for kidney related issues
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– Tends to give cats digestive problems
– There are reports of urinary tract blockage
– Quality control is often an issue
Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Dry Cat Food
Cats need great ingredients that are easy to digest so you can have easy litter clean up too. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, with antioxidants and amino acids to boot.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Perfect for maintaining a healthy weight
– Nutritionally completely and balanced
– Even picky cats start eating quickly
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– New formula makes cats vomit
– The kibbles are much too big for kittens
– Cats are known to cough up bile as well
Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food
Wellness CORE is completely grain free and focused on proteins like turkey, whitefish, and herring. There are only premium, all natural ingredients for your cat in this cat food.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Within a few days, diarrhea has disappeared
– You can start your cat on this right away
– The food actually smells good and natural
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– It is a little pricey compared to other brands
– The small, round pellets are not for all cats
– Cats have been known to develop urinary crystals
Nature’s Variety Instinct Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Pick any of the great flavors of this canned cat food to get lots of meat and zero grains or gluten. Health omega fatty acids lacking any sort of fillers ensure that your cat gets all the protein you paid for.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Within a few days, there’s a drastic improvement in health issues
– This grain free formula is perfect for sensitive stomachs
– Helps with vomiting and urinary issues
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– There’s a difference in consistency between batches
– Issues with ingredients being shipped from elsewhere
– You may need to add extra water to the food
Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food
Real chicken is the first ingredient in this cat food, so you can be sure that there’s no corn, wheat, or soy included. With the added vitamins and minerals, your cat will be meowing for more.
Why It’s So Popular:
– There’s no soy or wheat
– The pellets are smooth so they don’t irritate the mouth or nose
– The price is less compared to other brands
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– Corn gluten meal is actually included in the ingredient list
– The ingredients especially are suspect
– Quality control is often an issue
Purina Beyond Natural Grain Free Ocean Whitefish & Egg Recipe Dry Cat Food
Purina is one of the best brands not only for dogs, but for cats too. Real whitefish is the first ingredient, meaning that there’s no poultry by-product or grains to get in the way of a healthy diet.
Why It’s So Popular:
– Doesn’t make cats stinky or vomit
– There are no grains or extra by-products in the food
– The taste is really good, and ingredients include necessary taurine
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– It may be too rich; too much can upset the cat’s stomach
– The food still has pea fiber and sweet potatoes
– Over time, increased vomiting has been reported
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food
If you’re looking for the perfect recipe for your indoor cat, this chicken formula will do the trick. Wellness Complete supports a less active, indoor lifestyle without any by-products, corn, or soy.
Why It’s So Popular:
– More quality muscle meat and less grain than most dry foods
– Kittens prefer the taste over other foods
– Poops are firm and easy to scoop up
Check price and more details here
Keep In Mind:
– The brand itself is fairly expensive
– Cats really like it, but the food isn’t great for weight loss
– Some cats experience negative symptoms as a result
What To Look For In Cat Food?
So what specifically should you keep an eye on? Certain ingredients are absolutely necessary, but others are better left out.
Proteins
This should be the first ingredient on the label! Not only should it be first, but it should be good enough for humans to eat too. Organic meat is even healthier, especially if it contains specific amino acids. These essential amino acids are something cats can’t get on their own, which is why they’re such important ingredients.
Grain-Free
Lots of pets can’t eat grains, and even get sick. They would have to go on a grain free cat food diet. Cats specifically don’t do well on a grain based diet, since they need meat to survive. Avoid rice, barley, or other grains that cats’ digestive tracts just can’t handle. If there are grains, it’s not the end of the world, but the food should still be protein based with a low amount of carbs.
Avoid:
Don’t pick out any sort of food that has by-products, corn, soy, or other fillers. You don’t even want carrageenan in the food to enhance flavors, or GMOs. Natural food is always best.
Conclusion
I spent hours looking for the best food for my cat. Luckily for you then, these best cat food reviews will make your life a whole lot easier! Pick up a food that provides your cat with the highest nutritional value and easiest digestion possible.
