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When it comes to knowing what to feed your precious pet, the odds might be stacked against you. For every 1 bag (or can) of cat food on the market that contains the most important ingredients you can feed your cat, there are 5 sitting on the grocery store shelf that contain questionable ingredients. How do you know what food you should be feeding your cat to keep her healthy and happy? The truth is, if you do a simple cat food comparison, it won’t be too tough to decide. In fact, the only decision you’ll need to make is; chicken, or fish?
Off The Shelf
The best way to begin your cat food comparison is to look at some of the most popular commercial brands that you can find on almost any grocery store shelf. Some are very popular due to having a big, orange mascot, while others are recognized by their catchy theme song. But how do they measure up when it comes to nutritional value?
9 Lives Daily Essentials
A very popular brand that has been around for a long time, you might think that it must be a great choice for your cat. Many people choose this brand and it has quite a following, so how bad can it be? What do the ingredients say? Looking at the top 5 ingredients will tell you a lot, as these make up the majority of the food’s nutritional content.
- Whole ground corn. This is one of the most widely known food allergens for cats. It can be difficult to digest, but it is typically added as a filler that boosts the protein in the meal. While it can be tolerable in small quantities, here it is the first ingredient you see.
- Chicken by-product meal. This provides a good amount of meat protein as it is dehydrated and concentrated. A by-product means that any part of the chicken can be used, including brain, blood, neck, intestines; anything that is unfit for human consumption.
- Corn gluten meal.Again, this is used as a filler and is a part of the corn that is left after removing the starch and germ. It can help your cat feel fuller, but might cause trouble if he is allergic to it.
- Soybean meal. Made by grinding the soybean to extract the oil, this can help aid in digestion for cats who have hairballs. Soy can be a good protein and fiber source that is good for the cat’s coat. Some cats can have soy allergies, so keep an eye out for any possible reaction.
- Whole wheat.This is a carbohydrate used in many commercial pet foods and can provide energy for your cat. Cats do not digest grains like people and dogs do, so watch for digestive issues. Wheat has also been associated with allergies, so take care with that.
Out of the top 5 ingredients, there is only 1 meat product, which is sad because cats are carnivores; designed to eat only meat. They do not eat grains and fibers in nature, so they do not get much from these additives in the way of nutrition. Other ingredients include beef fat and salmon meal, which are both good, but they are further down the list. Sadly, this brand also includes dyes which can cause anything from hyperactivity to depression in cats.
Other popular grocery-store brands include:
- Meow Mix Seafood Medley. The ingredients are not much different from 9 Lives. In fact, 4 of the top 5 are the same, but the 5th ingredient here is beef tallow, which is made from rendering cow fat and can be beneficial for providing a meat source. Further down the list you see the various seafood meals, but dyes are still included as well.
- Purina Cat Chow Naturals. There are no dyes here, which is great, and no unnatural preservatives. Chicken meal is an excellent protein source and it is listed first. But then comes the corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and brewer’s rice. Animal fat rounds out the top 5, and this is a good source on fatty acids and vitamins that support healthy skin and coat.
What About The Next-Step-Up Brands?
In later years, premium brands of cat food were created as a step up from the grocery store offerings, yet you can now find them in the cat food aisle with this others. But are the ingredients better?
- Iams Protective Health Adult Original. The top 5 ingredients are different in this brand as the first on the list is chicken, which is a meat great offering. Chicken by-product is still there, which can be sketchy if you don’t know what the by-product consists of. Corn meal is disappointing to see as it can cause digestive issues and allergies, but brewer’s rice is a better filler than wheat or soy (though still sub-par). Beet pulp is a good energy and fiber source, but can affect the stools in some cats. There are no dyes, no artificial preservatives, and some good quality amino acids and minerals added.
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Optimal Care Original. There are no dyes or artificial ingredients and the first ingredient is chicken, but the second is whole grain wheat, which isn’t bad in moderation, but isn’t good to see as a top 5. Corn gluten meal and Brewers rice are found here again, but the addition of pork fat means a high-quality fat source, but not a good meat protein. Again, plenty of good mineral sources round out this food.
For the most part, these brands do provide a better nutrients for your kitty’s needs, but still require a look out in case of digestive problems or allergies.
Remember, it’s your choice on what you feed your cat, but always do a cat food comparison and look at the ingredient list. You never know just what you’ll find.
