Cat Food: Reviews

Experts say that wet food is better for your cat than dry food since it contains a high percentage of water, ensuring your cat stays hydrated. No wet food brand draws more praise then Wellness. All varieties are high in… protein, contain top quality ingredients and have all of the nutrients cats need so they can be used as the sole diet. Many varieties are completely grain free, though some include higher quality grains, such as brown rice. The only caveat -- aside from price -- is that a few reviewers have noted that while some cats love the food, other cats just don't like it.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

This cat food, which features a combination of chicken, duck and salmon, stands out for its protein-rich primary ingredients. It contains none of the by-products that make up the main ingredients in cheaper cat foods, and… it is free of wheat, corn, soy, yeast and glutens. There are no chemical preservatives and no artificial colors. A new safeguard is that Natural Balance now tests each date code batch of its food for a wide range of contaminants, making the results of those tests available to consumers.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

While most cat foods sold in supermarkets and big box retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target offer an undesirable ingredient line-up littered with by-products and low quality grains and glutens, careful label reading can… turn up a few better choices. One example is Fancy Feast Flaked Fish & Shrimp Feast, which lists fish, fish broth and shrimp as its first three ingredients and is free of undesirable grains, glutens or by-products. Fancy Feast illustrates the importance of reading labels however, because while this and a few other varieties have good-quality ingredients, reviewers say others Fancy Feast varieties use much lower quality ingredients.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Although some experts say that dry cat food should be avoided, others say it is a good supplement to canned food, and it is less expensive. Among top-quality dry foods, Wellness CORE draws good praise. Two top cat-food… reviewers say that they are currently feeding Wellness CORE to their own cats. The top four ingredients -- and five of the top six -- are named meats or meat meals, and there are no grains or glutens whatsoever. The food also keeps carbohydrates to a minimum, but includes potatoes for fiber.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

While it's a little more expensive than most supermarket foods, Natural Balance Ultra Premium Cat food is a good compromise where top-quality foods like Wellness CORE are just too costly. Unlike some less-expensive foods… -- and some that cost nearly as much or more -- you won't find by-products chemical preservatives or lesser grains such as corn, wheat or soy. Brown rice does make an appearance in third spot in the ingredients list, but the other top four ingredients are chicken meal, chicken and duck meal. Like the wet variety above, each batch of Natural Balance Ultra Premium is tested for possible contaminants, and the results are posted for owners to see.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Organic pet foods are growing in popularity as an increasing number of pet owners look to limit their pets' exposure to chemical preservatives, hormones and antibiotics present in most commercial cat food. Newman's Own… Organics Chicken and Brown Rice draws praise for using chickens that are fed an all-vegetable and antibiotic-free diet and for using other certified organic ingredients. Its manufacturing facilities have also been certified organic. Although it contains rice, it is free of less desirable grains such as wheat or corn, and is completely free of by-products.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Many cat experts and a growing number of owners prefer feeding cats a raw diet that simulates what an animal would eat in the wild. While very expensive, experts point to Feline's Pride as the best commercially available… raw food and the best alternative to making raw food at home. It consists of natural raw meats and bone and is free from preservatives, vegetables, grains and antibiotics. The only things added are essential nutrients such as taurine, so Feline's Pride is nutritionally complete.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse