Cat Food

More on cat food ingredients

Many foods contain meat by-products, animal digest, meat meal or bone meal. The nutritional values of these types of ingredients can vary greatly from batch to batch. In poultry, these are ground, rendered and cleaned parts of necks, feet, undeveloped eggs and intestines. These parts of the animal are generally less nutritious for pets and are of a lesser quality.

It is better, say experts, to look for specific origins when it comes to ingredients. "Chicken meal," for example, consists of chicken flesh, skin and bones only. A label that says "meat meal," however, doesn't indicate a source and can come from just about any animal. Experts say beef meal is a lesser-quality protein source for cats than chicken meal.

In dry foods, seeing meat at the top of an ingredient list can be a little misleading as meat has a high water content that's removed when it is processed into dry cat food. Meal, on the other hand, is meat with the water removed, and finding it high up in the ingredient list is a good indication of a high-protein dry food. Again, however, better cat foods will identify the source of the meal.

There are two schools of thought regarding the use of by-products in pet food. One point of view says that in the wild, a cat will eat every part of its prey -- bones, fur, internal organs and all -- therefore by-products are a part of a cat's natural diet so a small amount of by-product might not be too bad. Among those is Dr. Lisa A. Pierson, DVM, whose CatInfo.org website states "The whole issue of by-products or no by-products is a personal one." Pierson goes on to say that by-products at least are of animal origin and don't add carbohydrates to the food. She adds that it "makes more sense to include small amounts of animal-derived by-products in a carnivore's diet than it does to add hyperallergenic grains like corn, wheat or soy." Others, such as Susan Peters of AskSusanPeters.com, oppose all by-products in cat food. Her cat food rating system equally penalizes foods for the presence of carbohydrates and by-products. Most premium foods contain few if any by-products.

You also might see an ingredient called "animal digest," which is the dry or liquid by-product of the meat rendering process. Experts say that while there is meat content in animal digest, it's of little nutritional value as it is not very digestible. Animal digest is almost never found in top-quality cat foot brands.

Artificial preservatives also give cat owners pause. There have been no studies done to determine the effects of long-term buildup of preservatives. Even so, use of preservatives in human food has become a concern and that has translated to pet food. Based on customer concerns, the best cat foods have switched to Vitamins C or E as preservatives rather than chemical preservatives. If you decide to avoid artificial preservatives, check the label. Some common names of these chemicals include BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate.

Reviews say that cats need meat much more than carbohydrates, and some say that they don't need carbohydrates at all. In general, foods that contain primarily high-quality protein -- meat rather than meat by-products or grain fillers -- rank much higher in reviews. Many supermarket brands use comparatively more carbohydrate fillers -- such as corn or wheat -- which means your cat needs to eat more food in order to get the protein he or she needs. That, in turn, can impact your food costs in the long run, as well as your cat's overall health.

Dry cat food vs. canned cat food

Many cat owners prefer dry cat food, which stores easily and makes litter boxes easier to clean up. Dry cat food is great in terms of cost and handling (some people can't stand the smell of canned cat food), but canned cat food is closer to raw food and contains a lot of water, which helps cats get the hydration they need. Canned food also generally contains less filler and carbohydrates, though reading the labels carefully is key.

For certain cats with kidney or bowel problems, dry food can exacerbate the condition, and if your cat has urinary issues, the water content in canned food can be especially valuable. According to an excellent article we read at Max's House, a great website for health information on cats, wet food comprises a better diet for cats because it more accurately reflects the nutrient and water-to-protein balance a wild cat would consume in nature. So while dry cat food is more convenient for pet owners, and many cats seem to like the "crunch" of dry food, wet food is an important part of a cat's diet. Experts, including those at Max's House and About.com's Franny Syufy, emphasize that wet food should be your cat's main food. Some, such as Dr. Lisa A. Pierson at CatInfo.org, go even further, saying that dry food should be eliminated altogether. Still, most experts say that small amounts of dry food can be used for variety and convenience. On the positive side, small amounts of dry food can be a slight help in keeping cats' teeth clean and because wet food generally costs more than dry food, supplementing with dry food can help with pet-food expenses.

Premium cat foods and cost

Although the best cat foods cost more due to their premium ingredients, experts note that premium cat foods are so densely packed with nutrients and calories (a good thing for animals) that your cat can be satisfied with smaller servings, which benefits your pet's digestion and weight, as well as your wallet. Because these foods contain less filler, your cat absorbs more of the food consumed as nutrients, so less is passed as waste.

Premium cat foods may initially appear to cost significantly more, but the amount of food your cat actually needs to eat can be reduced with higher-quality meals -- your cat will need to eat less to be satiated. You may be paying more per pound of food, but you will get more feedings out of each of those pounds. Natural Balance recommends feeding one 6-ounce can of its Ultra Formula (* est. $1.00 per 6-ounce can) per eight pounds of body weight per day. A supermarket brand such as 9Lives (*est. 50¢ for a 5.5-ounce can) is initially much less expensive. However, according to the can's feeding guidelines, a 6- to 8-pound cat should be fed two 5.5-ounce cans per day. That difference in recommended feeding size closes the price gap between the two foods.

Best canned cat food

When it comes to canned cat food, reviews say label-reading is important. Premium cat foods should contain primarily meat and protein. According to editors at the Max's House website, cats really don't need carbohydrates at all, because their systems have a short digestive tract made for absorbing nutrients from protein sources rather than processing carbohydrates. Modern cats have adapted to eating some carbohydrates, but if cats eat too much grain (including wheat, corn and soy products), the excess can turn to glucose, causing weight gain.

When it comes to wet cat food, About.com's Franny Syufy recommends Natural Balance Ultra Formula (* est. $1.00 per 6-ounce can) , which is extremely high in protein and low on by-products. Its primary ingredients are chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, duck, salmon, carrots, brown rice, flour and fish meal. Natural Balance pet foods were developed partly by actor Dick Van Patten.

Natural Balance also earns high praise at the Tipped Ear Clan, where blogger Calsifer says that while a number of the brands she lists are also superior to better known brands, Natural Balance "by far is the best" based on the quality of the listed ingredients and acceptance by both indoor and outdoor cats she's cared for.

Some Natural Balance varieties were voluntarily recalled in 2007 when melamine was discovered in rice protein concentrate provided by one of its suppliers (this is a separate incident from the wide-spread contamination found in Chinese-supplied wheat gluten used in products made by Menu Foods), but not the Ultra Formula we name in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. Since then, the company has launched its own extensive testing program that tests samples from each date code of product sold and provides the results to consumers via the web or by phone.

We also saw some very positive comments for Wellness cat food varieties, such as the company's Chicken Formula (*est. $1.20 for a 5.5-ounce can) . Dr. Lisa Pierson at CatInfo.org calls it a complete and balanced diet with, for the most part, low carbohydrate content. She does note that the company adds some high-quality grains -- brown rice -- to some of its foods, but that others are grain-free and clearly identified as such. AskSusanPeters.com gives perfect or near perfect scores to most varieties. The site's only concern is that many of the Wellness formulas contain an ingredient listed only as "natural flavor," and site owner Susan Peters is uncomfortable not knowing more about its origin.

Wellness also makes Franny Syufy's list of topped canned foods, but with a small asterisk. "Some cats love it and will dive right in, while others turn their noses up at it every time," she writes. Because of that, and because it is on the high end of the cat food price spectrum, Syufy recommends buying a can or two before committing to a larger order.

Organic cat foods are favored by some pet owners because fewer preservatives, chemical additives, pesticides and hormones are used in the manufacturing and procurement of ingredients.

According to About.com Guide to Cats Franny Syufy, Evanger's Organic Braised Chicken Dinner (*est. $1.35 for a 5.5-ounce can) is a top organic choice. She notes that the company claims to use the highest quality ingredients, with no additives, artificial colors, preservatives, by-products or salt, and that the brand is well received among participants on her Cat Forum. In addition, the food is certified USDA organic. Evanger's Organic Braised Chicken also has a fan in Susan Peters, who gives it a perfect score at her Ask Susan Peters website. The company's Organic Turkey & Butternut Squash Dinner scores equally well.

Newman's Own Organics also offers a line of organic pet foods, including canned cat food. Franny Syufy recommends the brand, and notes that varieties such as Chicken and Brown Rice (*est. $1.40 for a 5.5-ounce can) contain chickens that are fed a 100-percent all-vegetable, antibiotic-free diet and that the grains are grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. The company says that more than 70 percent of the products in its foods are organic, and that its manufacturing plants have been certified as organic by Oregon Tilth. The brand is included, but without comment, by Dr. Lisa Pierson on CatInfo.org's list of Quality Canned Foods with Grains.

Another highly recommended wet food is Drs. Foster & Smith Chicken Formula (*est. $1.05 per 5.5-ounce can). Main ingredients are chicken, chicken liver, chicken broth, brown rice, eggs, flaxseed, carrots and sweet potatoes. This food, however, is only available via the manufacturer's catalog or website. While a few varieties of the company's "Lite" cat food line were also involved in the 2007 rice gluten recall, the chicken formula was not.

Innova (*est. $1.15 per 5.5-ounce can) makes canned food that contains very similar ingredients. Innova EVO (*est. $1.20 per 5.5-ounce can) is a grain-free product that Dr. Lisa Pierson at CatInfo.org says is a complete diet for daily feeding. However, she notes that it is high in phosphorus so it would not be a good choice for cats with kidney problems.

While Innova products are said to be free of by-products, Susan Peters, author of the Ask Susan Peters website, is among the principals in a class-action lawsuit against a number of pet-food makers -- including Innova -- for false advertising. In the case of Innova, the suit alleges that feathers -- a by-product -- were found in samples of food that was tested, among other complaints. We have no way of judging the validity of the complaints, and we've seen scant mention of the suit anywhere outside of Peters' pages and those of the law firm that's involved, but it certainly bears watching.

The next step down from these products includes the higher-quality supermarket and pet store cat food brands. Iams has a reputation as a premium brand, but some varieties of their canned cat food contain by-products. We named Iams Chicken Formula (*est. 75¢ per 5.5-ounce can) as a reasonable choice among better mainstream brands in our last update, but a recent formula change introduced beef and chicken by-products and chicken by-product meal to the mix. So, we have not listed this brand among ConsumerSearch Fast Answers for this update.

Science Diet, another brand with a premium pedigree, does not stack up well either. For example, Science Diet's Minced Savory Chicken Entrée (*est. 95¢ per 5.5-ounce can) lists meat by-products as its fourth ingredient, and also contains corn starch, corn gluten meal, soybean meal and wheat flour. The primary ingredient is water.

We did see some good recommendations for some Nutro products, including Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care Indoor Adult Cat (*est. 80¢ per 5.5-ounce can) . The top three ingredients are chicken broth, chicken and chicken liver. In addition, there's no corn, wheat or soy, and no by-products. Franny Syufy at About.com says that she's fed this food to her cats and that it "remains a consistent favorite." She also notes that while some pouch foods from Nutro were recalled in 2007, this and other Nutro canned paté products were not and she continues to use it.

As for lower-priced mainstream brands, serious ingredient issues frequently pop up. For example, 9Lives Chicken and Tuna dinner (*est. 45¢ per 5.5-ounce can) certainly costs less, but the primary ingredient is meat by-product, followed by water, chicken, poultry by-products, tuna and fish. Friskies Chicken and Tuna dinner (*est. 50¢ per 5.5-ounce can) lists meat by-products and poultry by-products as its first two ingredients.

However, even among supermarket brands, a few acceptable choices can be found through careful label reading. Some varieties of Fancy Feast cat food may be a good choice because they contain no wheat, corn, soy, gluten or meat by-products. One example is Fancy Feast Flaked Fish & Shrimp Feast (*est. 55¢ per 3-ounce can) , which lists ocean fish, fish broth and shrimp as its first three ingredients. However, some other varieties don't measure up as well, with Flaked Salmon & Ocean Whitefish Feast (*est. 55¢ per 3-ounce can) , for example, containing wheat, soy, corn, gluten and meat by-products.

Raw cat food

For pet owners who are extremely concerned about feeding their cats species-appropriate foods, brands like Natural Balance and Wellness are an easy-to-buy, easy-to-feed alternative. Organic foods, such as Newman's Own Organics and Evanger's Organic, are attractive alternatives for those who want to limit the amount of additives, preservatives, hormones and pesticides in their cat's food.

A number of pet owners take nutrition concerns a step further, however, by going with raw food. While it's closest to what a cat would eat in the wild, it can be expensive, messy and time-consuming to prepare. Yet people rave about the health benefits of raw food, claiming improvements in everything from energy levels to health problems. The idea here is that cooking kills off so much of the "live" benefits of foods -- and that uncooked food is more efficient at delivering needed nutrients (many humans who have chosen raw food diets claim to experience similar benefits).

Since cats and dogs in the wild are predators, the natural thing for them to eat is other freshly caught animals, by-products and all. Raw food proponents go to great pains to provide meals of raw muscle meat with bones, ideally a whole carcass of a rabbit or chicken. Whole hearts and whole livers are especially important.

But the preparation (including grinding the ingredients together and adding supplements like salmon oil) can be tedious. And some of the ingredients -- chicken hearts, for example -- might be nearly impossible to find, not to mention expensive. CatNutrition.org is a great resource to learn about raw cat food. The site offers recipes, ingredient lists and instructions for developing a raw food diet for your cat; additional information can be found at CatInfo.org.

A number of frozen commercial foods that feature a raw food diet are also cropping up and have their proponents. Of those, we saw the best comments for Feline's Pride. Several cat-food experts claim that Feline's Pride is their favorite commercially produced raw cat food. Cost is the biggest drawback. Varieties include chicken (*est. $95 plus shipping for 20 pounds), turkey (*est. $115 plus shipping for 20 pounds), duck (*est. $135 plus shipping for 20 pounds) and Cornish hens (*est. $135 per 20 pounds).

Best dry cat food

Innova EVO (*est. $18 for a 6.6-pound bag) gets top grades from About.com's Franny Syufy. Its formula contains no corn, no artificial preservatives and no by-products. Syufy says that EVO is "closer than other commercial dry cat foods in matching the nutritional quality of a raw food diet." Turkey, chicken, turkey meal and chicken meal are its top ingredients. It is very high in protein (about 50 percent) and low in carbohydrates (about seven percent); however, it can be hard to find since it is not generally available in larger pet supply stores.

Regular Innova (*est. $16 for a 6.6-pound bag) also rates well with Syufy. Its formula contains no corn, no artificial preservatives and no by-products. Syufy says turkey, chicken meal and chicken are its primary ingredients; Innova dry cat food is 36 percent protein. One drawback is that regular Innova has a higher caloric content than some other foods, so it may not be the best choice for cats prone to weight gain. There is a light formula for heavy cats.

Among other concerns, dry foods have long been associated with urinary tract issues in cats. Wellness Complete Health (*est. $18 for a 5.9-pound bag) is said to be designed to address that problem, and also provide all of the nutrition a cat needs in its regular diet. It is 36 percent protein.

Fran Syufy tests the food and comes away impressed. She notes that the protein content is exclusively delivered through animal protein, not fillers like corn, and that there are no meat by-products. There are some grains, but they are higher grains such as rice and barley. One possible issue according to Syufy is that some vets recommend less protein for cats with kidney problems -- exactly the kind of cats -- or more accurately, cat owners -- that might be drawn to a product that promotes feline urinary health. Syufy recommends checking with your vet if that's the case with your cat before starting on the food.

Syufy reports that cat acceptance of Wellness Complete Health is high. "My cats scarfed it up in short order," she writes. The fact that she is so impressed with the ingredients leads her to add that despite her preference to rotate foods to prevent boredom, "I suspect it will be served more often than not, from now on." Susan Peters at Ask Susan Peters is also impressed, despite a few quibbles such as inclusion of some fat and natural flavors, which she downgrades in her rating system. Still, she gives the brand kudos. User ratings at sites such as the Only Natural Pet Store are also generally positive.

Natural Balance Ultra (*est. $12 for a 6.6-pound bag) is another good dry food choice. It contains no chemical preservatives, no corn and no by-products. It has 34 percent protein.

Among mainstream cat food brands, we saw the best recommendations for Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care (*est. $19 for an 8-pound bag) . It gets great feedback following lots of user reviews at Petco. Most telling, the majority (97 percent) say they would recommend the food to a friend. The ingredient list shows some positives and negatives. The protein content is good at 33 percent and chicken meal is the first named ingredient. In addition, there are no by-products. Things fall a little short in some other areas, however, as the food contains corn gluten meal. Still, most say that Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care is among the better choices found in supermarkets and large pet stores.

We saw some recommendations for Eukanuba (*est. $19 for an 8-pound bag) in some older reviews, but the current ingredient listings don't inspire much confidence. For example, the company's Chicken Formula cat food leads off with chicken, but follows that with chicken by-product meal, corn meal and corn grits. Protein is listed as 34 percent. A new variety, Wholesome Naturals with Farm Raised Chicken (*est. $19 for a 7-pound bag), sounds more appealing, but the top four ingredients are identical to the less expensive Eukanuba varieties, as is its guaranteed protein content.

Science Diet dry cat food is another high-profile product with some questionable ingredients. Science Diet Original Formula (*est. $21 for a 10-pound bag) lists poultry by-product meal, ground corn, brewers rice and animal fat with artificial preservatives as its first four ingredients. The protein level is 30 percent.

Purina and some other pet food companies manufacture both low-cost and premium products. Purina's less expensive product, Purina Cat Chow (*est. $9 for a 7-pound bag) lists poultry by-product meal, corn meal, corn gluten meal, ground whole wheat, brewers rice, soy flour and animal fat as its main ingredients. That ingredient lineup earns it the lowest rating at AskSusanPeters.com.

Purina ONE Chicken and Rice Formula (*est. $14 for a 7-pound bag) is a bit better; chicken tops the ingredient list, though that's followed by brewers rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, wheat flour and animal fat. At about $14 for a 7-pound bag, it's less expensive than Innova or Wellness Complete Health, but those products don't contain any by-products or corn at all. On the other hand, the ingredient list is on a par with brands such as Eukanuba, but Purina ONE Chicken and Rice costs less and delivers the same amount of protein (34 percent).

Although premium foods are on the pricier end of the cat-food scale, they're consistently cited for their reliability, quality and long-term benefits. People posting to forums have written testimonials about the improved condition of their pets' coats after switching to these brands. Cat foods like Wellness, Nutro and Natural Balance aren't the only good cat foods -- once you know what ingredients to look for, you can read the labels and make your own analysis.

Vegetarian diets

While it may seem absurd to feed a cat a vegetarian diet after all we've reported here about the importance of meat protein and the unimportance of grains in a cat's diet, there are some arguments for a vegetarian diet, as long as it's properly balanced and meets the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

Cats also don't naturally like grains and plants. Even so, some vegetarian pet owners want their cat to have a meat-free diet. If you're determined, there are ways to make it work, and there are even commercial formulas available. Evolution makes both wet (*est. $1.75 for a 13-ounce can) and dry (*est. $30 for a 10-pound bag) vegan cat foods, and Evanger's offers a Vegetarian Dinner variety (*est. $1.40 for a 13.2-ounce can). Vegepet sells a variety of food supplements and other products for those who want to make vegan cat foods at home.

If you're considering a vegetarian diet for a dog or cat, make sure all the required nutrients are present, and then watch your pet carefully for changes in energy, coat luster, eye clarity, stool texture and overall affect. Dietary deficiencies don't show up instantly, so observe your pet for several weeks before deciding whether or not the new diet is acceptable.

Important Features: Cat food

The following is what reviews say to look for when purchasing cat food; the brands listed in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers meet most, if not all, of these criteria.

• Look for more meat in the list of ingredients and less by-product, grain and vegetable products. C.J. Puotinen, a natural health and nutrition expert and author of several books on pet care, says "Any commercial pet food where the major ingredient is grain is bad. Mother Nature doesn't feed dogs and cats that way; why should you?" Other reviews agree, and add that this is especially true of cats, which are obligate carnivores. Therefore, the primary ingredients in cat food should be chicken, turkey or fish instead of by-products and grains (such as corn, wheat or soy).

• Choose foods without dyes or artificial preservatives. There's no proof that dyes or preservatives are unhealthy for cats, but little has been done to research the effects of these ingredients building up in cats' systems over time. The preservatives may be hard on your cat's internal organs. Dyes can stain carpets and upholstery. Premium foods seldom contain dyes and artificial preservatives, but many supermarket brands do.

• Balance canned food and dry food. Canned cat food has an advantage in that it contains a high percentage of water -- which reviews say matches the water content wild cats would get from a natural carnivorous diet. Wet food ensures better hydration, since cats will need to drink less water throughout the day. Dry food is easier on owners and their wallets, but many experts urge moderation in their use. If using a dry food, look for one that's high in protein and low in carbohydrates, and make sure your cat has plenty of water.

• Read the label. Given the absence of rigorous comparison testing, the food's ingredient list and nutritional data is the best guide to quality. The best products avoid the use of grains like corn or wheat, soy and animal by-products. If cost, availability or your cat's preferences are an issue, try to stick with a food that minimizes such ingredients and lists them further down the ingredient list.

• Pet food safety is a growing concern. Last year's recalls of cat foods because of tainted wheat and rice glutens have spotlighted some major issues regarding pet foods and their ingredients. While the majority of foods -- and all of the foods listed in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers -- have been deemed to be safe, this is an ongoing issue. It is a good idea to keep a watchful eye on things for the foreseeable future. The FDA and ASPCA websites set up to address pet food safety are a good place to start. Those web addresses can be found in the Best Research section below.

Opinions differ on the importance of palatability. It's important that your cat finds its food tasty, otherwise he or she might not eat enough. However, most experts say the food's health content is more important than its taste -- after all, you wouldn't feed your kids candy for dinner just because they like to eat it. Savvy pet owners feed their cats what's healthy and don't allow themselves to be trained by their pets to deliver kitty junk food on demand. Cat experts largely agree: Finicky eaters aren't born, they are created by their owners.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (With Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
3	Natural Balance Ultra Formula (wet) (* est. $1.00 per 6-ounce can)	details
3	Innova EVO Cat & Kitten (wet) (*est. $1.20 per 5.5-ounce can)	details
2	Newman's Own Organics Chicken and Brown Rice (wet) (*est. $1.40 for a 5.5-ounce can)	details
2	Wellness Chicken Formula (wet) (*est. $1.20 for a 5.5-ounce can)	details
2	Evanger's Organic Braised Chicken Dinner (wet) (*est. $1.35 for a 5.5-ounce can)	-
2	Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal & Rice Recipe (dry) (*est. $18 for a 5.9-pound bag)	details
2	Innova EVO Cat & Kitten (dry) (*est. $18 for a 6.6-pound bag)	details
2	Feline's Pride Gourmet Chicken Dinner (raw, frozen) (*est. $95 for a 20-pound box)	-
1 each	Wet: Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care Indoor Adult Cat , Nature's Logic , Weruva , Drs. Foster and Smith, Nature's Variety , Avoderm Select Cuts , PetGuard , Felidae , Precise , Eagle Pack , Evolve , Merrick , Trader Joe's, Natural Life , Pet Promise , Artemis Holistic , Fancy Feast Flaked Ocean Fish , Fancy Feast Flaked Fish & Shrimp , Halo , Kumpi Kat, Meow Mix Beef in Gravy Pouches , Iams, Hill's Science Diet , Wysong , Nature's Recipe , Purina ONE , Orijen, Innova Dry: Innova EVO , Innova , Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care , Artemis Holistic, Nature's Variety , Halo , Life's Abundance , Newman's Own , Wysong , Purina ONE

Experts recommend premium cat foods much more often than store brands. That's because these foods contain more meat and natural ingredients than cheaper foods, whose primary ingredients are often corn meal, glutens or by-products instead of chicken, lamb or fish. The premium foods are low in bulk, so the cat needs to eat less. The higher-quality foods also contain no dyes or artificial preservatives.

Sponsored links