Natural Balance Ultra Premium

While it's a little more expensive than the cheapest supermarket brands, experts say that the cost of Natural Balance Ultra Premium is low considering the quality of the ingredients. Notably, the meat content is excellent, and three of the top four ingredients are named meats or meat meals. Grains are used, but low-quality grains like corn, wheat and soy are avoided. There are also no by-products. One reviewer is disappointed with the use of brewer's yeast, though that's fairly far down in the ingredient list. Natural Balance Ultra Premium is a little harder to find than supermarket brands, but it is carried by some large national pet supply chains. Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover's Soul (*est. $11 for a 6-pound bag) is also well regarded, but the parent company has suffered from some recall issues in the past and the food is harder to find. Purina ONE Chicken and Rice Formula (*est. $12.50 for a 7-pound bag) is less expensive and sold nearly everywhere, but the ingredient lineup includes undesirable by-products and grains.

We found the best comparative reviews of Natural Balance Ultra Premium at About.com and Petfoodratings.com. We also found some discussion at the Tipped Ear Clan blog. Reviews from cat owners can be found at Petco.com and Zootoo.com.