Making sure that your cat has a healthy diet is one of the most important things that you can do to ensure that they live a happy and healthy life. Understanding your cat’s nutritional needs is really important. Believe it or not, not all cat foods are made equally. This is why some are more expensive than others. Does that mean that you need to buy the most expensive food you can find? Not necessarily, but you shouldn’t opt for the cheapest either. You really need to make sure that it is nutritionally balanced for their unique needs. Here are a few ways that you can find the best dry cat food for your cat.
Feeding Your Cat an Age Appropriate Diet
Cats have three different life stages, ranging from kitten, adult and senior. Their age will be a good determining factor for the type of food that will be best for them. For instance, kittens require a diet that is high in fat and protein to help them grow and develop. They are more active, so they can handle the additional calories found in food specifically formulated for kittens. Adult cats need a diet that is lower in calories to help them maintain without gaining weight. Seniors need food that is formulated with highly digestible protein because it is harder on their kidneys to process the foods that are higher in protein. They are also less active and need a diet that is low in fat. These are all things that you will want to keep in mind when choosing a cat food.
Wet Cat Food or Dry Cat Food?
One of the questions asked most often is whether wet or dry cat food is better for cats when it comes to their nutritional requirements. The truth is that most pet owners find the most satisfaction out of mixing them up and offering variety. The dry kibble is great for your cat’s oral health care, and it is also much easier to feed. The wet formulas are often good for cats that don’t get enough water, and it also helps to keep them from getting bored with their diet. Many people offer it as just a treat every once in a while.
Now, without further ado, we will take a look at our picks for the best dry cat food.
Top 10 Best Dry Cat Food Picks
#1 – Meow Mix Dry Cat Food
Meow Mix Dry Cat food is a quality food that will suit any budget. It is available in a variety of different sizes for your convenience, and offers complete and balanced nutrition for both kittens and adult maintenance. It includes added antioxidants that help to support a healthy life, and added proteins to support an energetic and lean body build. If you want a food that is priced right and yet still packed with all of the nutrients that your cat needs, then this is definitely one to consider.
#2 – Taste of the Wild Dry Cat Food
Taste of the Wild Dry Cat food is made with real ingredients and packed with great flavor that your cat is sure to love. One of our favorite flavor picks is the roasted venison and smoked salmon. It has no grain fillers, but is instead supplemented with real fruits and veggies to make up the rest of the nutrients. With added natural antioxidants, your cat will benefit from a healthy immune system as well. While this one is pricier than some of the others, the quality is definitely on the higher end of the scale.
#3 – Purina Cat Chow Dry Cat Food
Here is another budget food that is packed with all of the essential 25 vitamins and minerals that your cat needs. It has no added artificial preservatives or flavors, and offers a high amount of protein much like a natural diet. If your cat is prone to hairballs, then you will be glad to see that this formula has added natural fiber blends that help to reduce hairball occurrences. This food is 100% complete and balanced for adult maintenance, and is available in a variety of sizes to meet your needs.
#4 – Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Cat Food
Blue Buffalo is another name brand that is known for their high quality pet foods. The Blue Buffalo Life Protection adult cat food is available in a variety of different flavors and varieties. You can choose from regular maintenance formulas, hairball formulas, weight control formulas, and formulas that are designed for cats with sensitive stomachs and digestive issues. It is all natural, and made to support your cat’s dietary needs. If you want a food that is made in the USA with quality in mind, this is a great choice.
#5 – Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat food is specifically formulated for indoor adult cats. It promotes a healthy immune function, and also helps them to maintain a healthy weight with lean muscle. It even helps to prevent hairballs! The adult formula is great for adults, when it comes to maintaining their health and wellness. They also have formulas that are designed for kittens, mature adults and seniors, depending on your cat’s particular stage of life.
#6 – Purina One Dry Cat Food
Purina One Dry cat food has high quality meat protein as the number one ingredient. It offers 100% complete and balanced nutrition with absolutely no fillers. If you want your cat to have a diet that is packed full of protein, then this is a great choice. In fact, it has 42 grams of protein packed into each cup of dry kibble. They have formulas that are specifically formulated for each life stage, and even formulas to help promote better urinary tract health and smoother digestion.
#7 – Merrick Before Grain Dry Cat Food
When the quality of the food is important, you want to find a food that has meat as the number one ingredient. Merrick’s Before Grain dry cat food has chicken as the first ingredient on the list. It is also made without grains, so it is easier on your pet’s tummy. Grains are fillers that are found in a lot of the foods on the market, but the problem is that they can cause digestive issues. When you want to stay away from grain, and give your pet nutrition at its finest, then consider this option.
#8 – Natural Balance L.I.D. Dry Cat Food
L.I.D. stands for limited ingredient diets. Natural Balance L.I.D. dry cat food is made up of only a select few ingredients. This is great for dogs that have allergies to particular ingredients. A favorite variety among cats is the green pea and duck formula that offers great taste and great nutrition. This food is complete and balanced for any life stage, from kitten to seniors. It is fortified with taurine, which is important nutrient that helps to promote heart and eye health. It is also packed with omega fatty acids which optimize your pet’s skin and coat. On the ingredients list, however, you will not find any grains, soy, wheat or other fillers, and no artificial colors or flavors.
#9 – Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food
The Wellness brand is definitely a brand that has caught the attention of many cat lovers over the years. Wellness Complete Health Natural dry cat food offers complete nutrition that is packed with meats, fruits and grains. It is low in fat and calories to help with maintaining weight, and rich in omegas to help reduce shedding and prevent hairballs. It is a healthy food that doesn’t contain any by-products, corn, soy, wheat, or artificial colors, flavors and preservatives.
#10 – Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food
If you want to stick with the Wellness brand, but don’t want the grains in the food, then Wellness Core Natural Grain Free dry cat food is a great choice. It is made up of all natural ingredients, and rich in proteins. It doesn’t contain any fish or grains, and is good for feeding your cat daily. It has 20% less fat than the Wellness Complete, but is still enhanced with all of the necessary nutrients, probiotics and antioxidants.
Check Out the Ingredients
When you are choosing a new food for your cat, it is important that you take a look at the ingredients list. Everything that you find in the food will be listed on the label. You will want to make sure that you find the following ingredients pretty high up on the list:
- Protein
- Taurine
- Vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and enzymes
- Water
Down further on the list, you will likely see some preservatives and fillers on the list, but they should be in limited quantity. The higher quality foods will have far fewer fillers and artificial preservatives. Here are a few of the ingredients that you will want to avoid, or at least minimize:
- added sugar
- chemical preservatives such as propyl gallate, ethoxyquin, BHT or BHA
- carbohydrate fillers in excess
- cornmeal
