Petsway is a family-owned Springfield MO company operating 4 Pet Supplies Plus franchises in Springfield and Nixa.

Comparing Cat Food

Eating is easy. Eating right is a bit trickier. It’s an accepted fact that consuming a healthy diet is important for wellness, but figuring out exactly what you should be feeding your family can be challenging. What about feeding your four-footed family members? Meeting your cat’s daily nutritional needs requires providing some 40 nutrients (source). That means finding the right cat food is crucial. With so many possibilities to consider, comparing cat food can get a bit confusing, but it’s an important task if you want to feed your pet a healthy diet.kitten looking at plate of dry cat food

Comparing Cat Food

Whether you have a terrific tabby, a beautiful black cat, or a colorful calico, identifying the best cat food for your feline family member requires a little work. What should you be thinking about when you’re comparing cat food options?

Species-Specific Foods

When hunting for the perfect food for your cat, start by looking at cat foods. This may sound obvious, but some pet owners assume that their various pets can all share food. In fact, different animals have different nutritional needs, so pet foods are designed for specific species. Dog food might resemble cat food, but it has a different nutritional balance and less protein than a food meant for cats. Although your cat might snitch from the dog’s bowl, feeding him or her dog food would not be a healthy choice.

The Time of Their Lives

When you wander down the cat food aisle, you’ll probably notice that some bags are labeled for kittens and others are aimed at seniors. A cat’s nutritional requirements will vary depending on its stage of life, so you’ll want to select a food that it appropriate for your pet’s age. A kitten that is fed adult food may not get the nutrients it needs to fuel its rapid growth, while an adult cat that routinely munches on kitten food will likely become overweight. Why should you consider a senior formula for your older cat? As cats age, they may need fewer calories or less phosphorus in their diet. Senior cat foods are often easier to digest. It’s always a good idea to consult with your vet to discuss the specific dietary needs of your cat, especially if you own a senior cat.

Dry or Canned?

Another aspect to consider when comparing cat food options is the type of food. Dry foods are economical and easy to store, but they may not be the best pick if your cat has trouble chewing or doesn’t tend to drink a lot of water. Canned foods may be more palatable and offer more moisture, but they have a strong odor and will spoil if left out for too long. Which is better? As long as your cat is healthy, it’s really a matter of preference.

Complete Versus Treat

Much like there are certain foods that are okay for a person to snack on but aren’t suitable as a meal, some product in the cat food section are meant to be supplements or treats. While these are okay for the occasional indulgence, don’t choose them when you’re selecting your pet’s primary food. Instead, look for a food that is labeled complete or balanced.

What’s in a Claim?

When it comes to pet food products, ingredients are obviously a major factor. The Association of American Feed Control Officials has set certain guidelines for pet food labeling. When a food advertises that it contains a single ingredient, like chicken, or a specific combination of ingredients, like chicken and beef, then it must be made up of at least 95 percent of the promised ingredients. If a food is labeled with a descriptive phrase, like tuna dinner or turkey platter, then at least 25 percent of the food should be the named ingredient.

Ingredients Are Key

A quality cat food will have the right mix of ingredients to help your pet thrive, so checking the package label for a few key ingredients can help you determine if a food is a good choice. For starters, look for animal protein. Cats are natural carnivores, and they need certain amino acids found in animal products to thrive, so a quality protein in the form of meats, by-products, or by-product meals is a must. As PetMD writes, by-products aren’t necessarily bad things. Many are made from sources like highly digestible and nutritious organs and contain calcium and other valuable minerals.

A Guaranteed Analysis

An additional tool that you may find useful when comparing cat foods is the guaranteed analysis. Found on every pet food label, it’s a quick way to discover how much protein, fat, fiber, and moisture the food contains. There’s just one thing that you need to remember: The numbers found in a guaranteed analysis can offer you a clear picture if you are comparing either two dry foods or two canned foods, but if you want to compare a dry food to a canned food, you’ll need to do a little calculating to account for the additional moisture content in canned food, as the Pet Food Institute explains.

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Do you want to find a cat food that will give your feline family member something to purr about? If you live in Missouri, head to Petsway, a family-owned pet store. Comparing cat food is simple at Petsway, because our knowledgeable associates can help you select the right product for your cat. We carry a wide range of high-quality cat food, and if you participate in our Frequent Buyer Program, you can score free bags of your cat’s favorite food! With locations in Springfield, Nixa, St. Louis, St. Peters, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri, we’re sure to have a store near you.