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When it comes to our cats, we have a responsibility to make choices for them to ensure that they are eating safe and nutritious food. There are some ingredients that are good for your cat, such as chicken, and some that are not so good, such as corn meal. Here are 10 ingredients that you should be on the lookout for on cat food labels; some good and some not so good.
10 Ingredients: Good and Not So Good
1) Real Meat = Good. This means chicken, turkey, beef, venison, you name it. Real meat is a high quality source of protein and since cats are carnivores, they need meat to thrive.
2) Real Meat or Fish Meal = Good. Don’t let the meal fool you; this is a high quality product that provides a lot of protein. In meal, the moisture was removed prior to cooking. That means, for example, that chicken meal actually has a much higher protein percentage and provides far more beneficial nutrients than whole meat.
3) Orange veggies (sweet potatoes, carrots, etc.) = Good. These ingredients are known to boost the immune system and help promote healthy eyes in cats as well as providing a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamin B, and beta-carotene.
4) Berries (cranberries, blueberries, etc.) = Good. High in vitamin C, vitamin E, and fiber. Cranberries may assist with urinary tract infections and help with dental hygiene by killing certain bacteria.
5) Taurine = Good. Since cats are unable to create proper levels of taurine in their body naturally, it must be supplemented in their food. Taurine is an essential amino acid that is critical for normal heart muscle function, vision, and reproduction in cats.
6) By-Products = Not so good. Animal by-products are considered to be the lowest form of meat. Animal by-products are carcasses and parts of carcasses from slaughterhouses, animal shelters, zoos and veterinarians, and products of animal origin not intended for human consumption, including catering waste. This is not something we recommend you feed your cat or any other pet.
7) Grains (corn, wheat, soy) = Not so good. Corn is one of the most common allergens for cats who have sensitive systems or suffer from allergies. It can also be difficult to digest. Wheat has the same issues in cats. And while soy can provide some good fiber and protein, some cats can be sensitive to it.
8) Artificial and natural flavoring = Not so good. Both artificial and natural flavor ingredients are considered to be lower quality ingredients. Artificial flavor is usually derived from petroleum. Natural flavor is usually MSG or some similar flavor enhancer. Both of these ingredients have potential allergy risks and other possible health problems in cats.
9) BHA/BHT = Not so good. Both BHA & BHT are preservatives that have been banned in human foods in many countries due to cancer risks. However, they remain approved for use in pet foods. A growing number of pet owners are becoming aware of the potential dangers these ingredients bring and are shunning all foods containing BHA and BHT.
10) Artificial color (Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1) = Not so good. Not only is food coloring useless as far as feline nutrition is concerned, but there are some loose connections with food coloring causing cancer in cats. It can also be linked to hyperactivity, aggression, and insomnia.
The Top 10 Cat Foods
Did you know that the top 10 cat foods that are (currently) the best sellers on the market might not be the best food for your cat? Though their names are familiar and sales are through the roof, some might not be all that they’re cracked up to be. There’s a lot of fiction in some of these foods and the best we can do is discover the facts inside.
1) Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Variety Pack Beef & Chicken (wet)
Real meat and real meat juices: good. Wheat gluten, corn starch, artificial color, soy, and meat by-products: not so good.
2) Purina Pro Plan Focus Urinary Tract Health (wet)
Whole chicken and taurine: good. Meat by-products, wheat, soy, artificial flavors and corn: not so good.
3) Meow Mix Original (dry)
Salmon meal and ocean fish meal: good. First 2 ingredient being corn, followed with by-products and ending with dyes like Yellow 5 & 6, red 40, and Blue 2: not so good.
4) Blue Buffalo Wilderness Adult Grain Free Chicken (dry)
Chicken, turkey and fish meal, flaxseed, carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, cranberries, and probiotics: good. As we try to find something not so good, we say that peas do not really add much nutritional value.
5) Taste of the Wild (dry)
Chicken meal, chicken fat, venison, salmon, probiotics, sweet potatoes, blueberries: good. Peas as the second ingredient and natural flavor: not so good.
6) Friskies Prime Filets Variety Pack (wet)
Turkey, liver, chicken, whitefish, salmon, or tuna: good. The addition of wheat gluten, meat by-products and artificial flavors: not so good.
7) Wellness Complete Health Natural Canned Grain Free Chicken (wet)
Chicken, chicken liver, turkey, berries and carrots: good. It’s difficult to find anything that is not so good in this product.
8) Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor (dry)
Chicken and pork fat, apples, cranberries and carrots: good. Whole grain corn and wheat, corn and wheat gluten: not so good.
9) Natural Balance Green Pea and Duck (dry)
Duck, duck meal, flaxseed, taurine; good. Peas as the first ingredient, pea protein as the 4th, and the addition of natural flavor; not so good.
10) 9-Lives Pate Favorites Variety Pack (wet)
Fish, chicken, tuna, taurine: good. By-products and titanium dioxide: not so good.
No matter what the top 10 cat foods are at any given moment, discover what cat food is #1 for your frisky feline by reading the labels and making the most natural and nutritious choice for your cat.
