Cat Food Advisor 2023
The best dry cat food is rich in high-quality protein. It doesn’t contain a lot of veggies. And it’s free of additives that might harm your cat over time.
Great food is easy to describe, but finding kibble worthy of your cat’s bowl? That’s a little more challenging.
Kittens require protein-rich diets and good healthy fats. Protein and fats are important in developing and growing up strong.
Bones, teeth, and muscles all require this nutrition to turn the calories into energy as they lead their hectic and energetic lives.
Adult Cats
As a cat enters adulthood they need to draw back on the calorie intake a little. Cats slow down a lot and stop burning as many calories, so their weight needs to become a concern.
Being obese, or overweight can be very detrimental to a cat’s health. It leads to diabetes, heart problems, and arthritis problems.
Adult cat require a boost in calories if they are pregnant, or if they are malnourished for any reason. But outside of those reasons, they should never be overfed.
Senior Cats
As cats reach their senior years they really take a step back on the calorie burning. Often spending up to 20 hours a day sleeping and lounging around the house.
This means they need way less calorie intake to maintain a healthy and normal weight. Senior foods are lower in fat, and higher in nutrition.
Making the food easier to digest. Older cats can have stomach upset from rich foods, so a brand of senior food is much more stable.
Get to Know the Labels and Meanings
Cat’s nutritional requirements are not that complicated. A good brand will usually deliver all the necessary ingredients, and with you keeping an eye on the portion size you should have it covered.
You should still become knowledgeable about what you are feeding your cat. This means taking a look at the food labels. The basic ingredients should be listed first, and these are:
Protein
This should come from a meat source, such as poultry, beef, fish etc. Not just the generic ‘meat’ term, so you know the source and quality of the protein.
Taurine
This is an important amino acid that supports the development of a cat. Helping to regulate the minerals and water in a cat’s body.
Minerals, Vitamins, Fatty Acids and Enzymes
These are all essential ingredients. You should cast your eye over the label to make sure they are all listed. All important ingredients and vital to a cat’s healthy development.
Preservatives
It’s normal to have preservatives in cat food. They help to keep the food fresh and add to the shelf life. Ingredients such as wheat, rice, corn, colorings, and added flavors are all preservatives.
More expensive brands will have fewer preservatives. Some are surplus to requirements, but they bulk out the food and keep the prices down. So it’s a good consumer choice.
Why Should You Trust Us?
Over the last year, we’ve reviewed over 184 including most of the biggest brands on the planet. We’ve read customer reviews, spoken with market insiders, and tested foods hands-on. We also consulted 7 veterinarians to get their professional opinion on what makes great cat food.
In addition to performing our own qualitative analysis of the brands reviewed, we submitted samples for analysis at an ISO 17025-certified food testing and analysis lab.
We bought the products at full retail price, and the entire testing process was funded by All About Cats without direct input or influence from the companies involved.
Analytical testing in a food chemistry lab gives us the exact macronutrient and micronutrient content of each recipe. The tests also look at microbial content, yeast, mold, and heavy metals, helping you ensure that you’re only putting the best in your cat’s bowl.
To access the lab reports for each food reviewed here, click the “view lab report” link in the product review.
Based on that research, we’re bringing you an updated list of the best cat food brands and products in the industry. The following foods earn their place with outstanding ingredient quality, nutritional merits, and safety records.
Because it defies stereotypes with its low starch content, lack of legumes, and generous doses of species-appropriate protein, we’ve selected the best dry cat food on the market.
FAQ for Cat Food Advisor
What is the healthiest food to feed your cat?
Cats are meat eaters, plain and simple. They have to have protein from meat for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system. Cooked beef, chicken, turkey, and small amounts of lean deli meats are a great way to give them that.
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