![]() The Best Food for Your Cat: My Recommendations. Editor’s Note: Even tough this article was first written in 2. I periodically update the information to keep it current. Most recent update: June 2. I try to answer as many general questions in the comments as I can. I cannot always verify the veracity or accuracy of information or recommendations provided by readers in comments. This post contains some affiliate links*. If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you know that I’m passionate about species- appropriate nutrition for cats. Cats are obligate carnivores, and they need meat not only to survive, but to thrive. How to Be a Responsible Cat Owner While cats are generally low maintenance pets compared to dogs, they still require a lot of care and attention. Despite the name fisher, the animal is not known to eat fish. The name is instead related to the word fitch, meaning a European polecat (Mustela putorius. The optimal diet for a cat is a properly formulated raw, home- cooked or grain- free canned diet. Never feed dry food. Cats shouldn’t eat dry food; even the grain- free dry varieties are too high in carbohydrates. And contrary to the myth that just won’t die, dry food does not clean your cat’s teeth. Most cats don’t chew their kibble long enough for any of the scraping action that is the theory behind this myth to kick in. What little they do chew shatters into small pieces. Some pet food manufacturers offer a “dental diet” that is made up of larger than normal sized kibble to encourage chewing, but in my years at veterinary practices, I’ve seen many cats swallow even those larger size pieces whole. Additionally, dry food leaves a carbohydrate residue in the cat’s mouth that actually encourages growth of tartar and plaque. Articles about feline nutrition, and one- on- one consultations. You can find many of the articles I’ve written about this topic in the Feline Nutrition section right here on this site. I also provide one- on- one consultations if you need help with transitioning your cat to a healthier diet. What I look for in a food. Protein is listed as the first ingredient on the label, and the meat/poultry used is fit for human consumption. If the meat is organic, that’s even better. The food is grain- free (no rice, barley, or any other grains. Even though these are considered healthy in human nutrition, cats’ digestive tracts are not designed to digest the unnecessary carbs). The food does not contain by- products, corn, soy, or any other fillers. Ideally, I’d like to see no carrageenan in the food. ![]() Some of the brands on the list below have carrageenan in some of their flavors, so check labels carefully. Ideally, I’d like a food to be GMO- free. ![]() Some of the brands on the list below may contain GMO’s. Avoid fish- based foods. A word about fish: most cats love fish- based foods. I recommend using them sparingly or avoiding them altogether. Sadly, much of the fish that goes into pet food is contaminated with heavy metals and other toxins. The "total" column indicates the percentage breakdown of the diet WITH WATER INCLUDED among the nutrients, while the "dry" column indicates the percentage breakdown. You're not listening to me. I don't want my cats to eat ANY meat. Is such a thing possible? Yes, of course it is. There are literally thousands of 100% vegan cats out. This can be a problem for cats with kidney disease. Some cats are sensitive to fish- based diets and develop urinary tract problems that resolve when fish is removed from their diet. Additionally, fish based foods may contain menadione, a synthetic form of vitamin K, which has been banned by the FDA for use in human supplements. ![]() ![]() ![]() One of the nice things about diagnosing bladder stones (uroliths) in cats is that the three main types are amenable to prevention, and sometimes even treatment.My recommendations. I am often asked what brands I recommend. Unfortunately, there are many diets on the market that sound good based on what the pretty packaging says, but when you take a closer look at the label, you realize that there’s not much substance behind the marketing claims. The brands listed below are foods that I either currently feed to Allegra and Ruby, or have fed to them in the past. This list is not meant to be exclusive, and it does not mean that there aren’t other really good diets out there. It just means that these brands are the ones I’m comfortable with after doing thorough research. I recommend the following foods (listed in no particular order). If you would like me to evaluate a brand not on this list, I would be happy to do so – please contact me for fees for this service.)Grain- free canned diets. Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein. Wervua is available from Amazon at very competitive prices with free shipping for Prime members. Nature’s Variety Instinct Canned Some Nature’s Variety Instinct formulas are available from Amazon at very competitive prices with free shipping for Prime members. Bravo Canned. Nature’s Logic Canned. Hound and Gatos Some varieties of Hound and Gatos are available from Amazon at very competitive prices. Tiki Cat. I only recommend the poultry- based flavors. Tiki Cat is available from Amazon at very competitive prices with free shipping for Prime members. Soulistic. This brand is exclusively sold by Petco (and also available from Amazon), but is produced under the same processing standards as Weruva. Addiction I only recommend the carrageenan free formulas. They are a bit higher in carbs than I like to see, but I still consider it a good brand. Wild Calling. Ziwi. Peak. Merrick. Raw diets. Darwin’s Natural Pet Food. Balanced Blends Raw Pet Food. Rad Cat. My Pet’s Pride. Stella and Chewy’s. Nature’s Variety. Raw Paws Pet Food. Primal Pet Foods. Dehydrated raw diets. The Honest Kitchen. Stella and Chewy’s. Primal Pet Foods Primal Pet Foods dehydrated formulas are available from Amazon at very competitive prices with free shipping for Prime members. Additional Reading. How much should I feed my cat? How to wean your cat off dry food. How to get finicky cats to eat. How to read a pet food label. Homemade food for your cat: healthy, simple and economical. The right diet for cats with kidney disease. Feeding your cat: know the basics of feline nutrition by Dr. Lisa Pierson. Feline Nutrition*FTC Disclosure: The Conscious Cat is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products on Amazon. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves. Photo: istockphoto.
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