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Cats are strict carnivores, so get all their nutrients from meat. Good quality wet foods are high in Protein and Fat, and because cats are strict carnivores, they use these two nutrients as their primary source of energy. Be sure to look at the ingredients - The best cat foods are the ones with a very high named meat content (labeled as Chicken, Turkey, Rabbit, Lamb, Tuna, etc.) as the FIRST, or first three, ingredients.

It is advisable to stay away from brands that include Corn, Wheat, Cereals, Soy and various Sugars in their foods - cats have difficulty in digesting these and do not provide any nutritional value to the cat whatsoever. Wet food with these specifications are much easier to find than in dry food.

The amount of moisture in cat food is also very important. Dry food contains no moisture, so is quite dehydrating. Cats are notoriously bad drinkers, even when they are thirsty. This is because they have evolved to get all their needed moisture from their prey (their ancestors were cats that lived in very dry and arid environments where water was hard to come by), so therefore have a low "thirst drive" and will not often seek out water on their own. This is a trait that has been passed down over the thousands of years.

Canned or pouched food has anywhere between 60 to 80% water. Seeing as in the wild a cat's prey is around 65%-75% water, wet food provides a cat with more than enough water each day.

Many dry foods and low-quality wet foods are often packed with carbohydrates - "filler" in the way of grains and cereals, none of which cats can digest or gain any nutrients from. Grain is used instead of meat because it is cheaper to produce and helps kibble pieces hold together. Cats need MEAT based protein, not PLANT based protein. Cats will often overeat on lower quality foods because they are not getting all the nutrients they need, which often results in obesity and Diabetes. Because kibble is baked at such high temperatures, all the "natural" nutrition is destroyed. Wet food isn't processed to such high levels as this, so most of the nutrition stays intact.

Lastly, it is not proven that dry food cleans a cat's teeth. Kibble is hard and brittle, so shatters at the tips of the teeth - providing little or no cleaning friction. Dental issues usually start under or around the gumline, so kibble is usually ineffective. Some cats don't even chew; they will just swallow the kibble whole. However, some cats will have perfect teeth no matter what food they eat, while others will not benefit at all.

You could feed both, but dry food only really serves as a convenience to us, and provides very little for your cat. There are some decent dry foods out there such as Applaws, Orijen and Felidae with a height meat content in them and zero grains, but even that will never compare to the nutrition of canned food.

For high-quality Cat food there is: Blue Buffalo, Felidae, Weruva, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, EVO, Bozita (the canned stuff is 90+% meat and can be bought from zooplus.co.UK), Applaws (70+% meat and comes in both tinned and dry), HiLife (60% meat), Feline Fayre, to name a few.

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12y ago
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12y ago

Cats are strict carnivores, so get all their nutrients from meat. Good quality wet foods are high in Protein and Fat, and because cats are strict carnivores, they use these two nutrients as their primary source of energy. Be sure to look at the ingredients - The best cat foods are the ones with a very high named meat content (labeled as Chicken, Turkey, Rabbit, Lamb, Tuna, etc.) as the FIRST, or first three, ingredients.

It is advisable to stay away from brands that include Corn, Wheat, Cereals, Soy and various Sugars in their foods - cats have difficulty in digesting these and do not provide any nutritional value to the cat whatsoever. Wet food with these specifications are much easier to find than in dry food.

The amount of moisture in cat food is also very important. Dry food contains no moisture, so is quite dehydrating. Cats are notoriously bad drinkers, even when they are thirsty. This is because they have evolved to get all their needed moisture from their prey (their ancestors were cats that lived in very dry and arid environments where water was hard to come by), so therefore have a low "thirst drive" and will not often seek out water on their own. This is a trait that has been passed down over the thousands of years.

Canned or pouched food has anywhere between 60 to 80% water. Seeing as in the wild a cat's prey is around 65%-75% water, wet food provides a cat with more than enough water each day.

Many dry foods and low-quality wet foods are often packed with carbohydrates - "filler" in the way of grains and cereals, none of which cats can digest or gain any nutrients from. Grain is used instead of meat because it is cheaper to produce and helps kibble pieces hold together. Cats need MEAT based protein, not PLANT based protein. Cats will often overeat on lower quality foods because they are not getting all the nutrients they need, which often results in obesity. Because kibble is baked at such high temperatures, all the "natural" nutrition is destroyed. Wet food isn't processed to such high levels as this, so most of the nutrition stays intact.

Lastly, it is not proven that dry food cleans a cat's teeth. Kibble is hard and brittle, so shatters at the tips of the teeth - providing little or no cleaning friction. Dental issues usually start under or around the gumline, so kibble is usually ineffective. Some cats don't even chew; they will just swallow the kibble whole. However, some cats will have perfect teeth no matter what food they eat, while others will not benefit at all.

You could feed both, but dry food only really serves as a convenience to us, and provides very little for your cat. There are some decent dry foods out there such as Applaws, Orijen and Felidae with a high meat content in them and zero grains, but even that will never compare to the nutrition of canned food.

For high-quality Cat food there is: Blue Buffalo, Felidae, Weruva, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, EVO, Bozita (the canned stuff is 90+% meat and can be bought from zooplus.co.uk), HiLife (60% meat), Feline Fayre, to name a few.

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12y ago

Cats are strict carnivores. They get all their nutritional needs from meat.

In general, the best cat foods are the ones with a very high, named-meat content. These are labelled as Chicken, Turkey, Tuna, etc. as the first ingredient with no grains, wheat, or corn. Corns and grains pack the food with carbohydrates, which is essentially cheap filler. Cats are not designed to digest such a high number of carbohydrate; cats need meat-based protein, not plant-based protein. Cats will often overeat on lower quality foods because they are not getting all the nutrients they need, which can result in obesity and other health problems which can shorten a cat's lifespan and overall quality of life.

The amount of moisture in cat food is also very important. Dry food contains no moisture, so is quite dehydrating. Cats are notoriously bad drinkers, even when they are thirsty. This is because they have evolved to get all their needed moisture from their prey (their ancestors were cats that lived in very dry and arid environments where water was hard to come by), so therefore have a low "thirst drive" and will not often seek out water on their own.

Canned or pouched food has anywhere between 60 to 80% water. Seeing as in the wild a cat's prey is around 65%-75% water, wet food provides a cat with more than enough water each day.

For high-quality Cat food there is: Blue Buffalo, Felidae, Weruva, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, EVO, Bozita (the canned stuff is 90+% meat and can be bought from zooplus.co.uk), HiLife (60% meat), Feline Fayre, to name a few.

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12y ago

A Raw, moist, very high-in-meat-protein diet with bone meal, is the best for cat or kitten. This is close to what a cat would eat in the wild and provides nutrients most naturally. Most of what Petco, Petsmart, Walmart, and Target carry will, generally not be of the highest quality available, nor carry the highest price. Deli's and specialty stores in the US tend to carry higher quality prepared cat foods which will, not unexpectedly, generally come at a higher price.

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In general, the best prepared cat foods are the ones with a very high, named-meat content. Also, they should be labeled by source, such as: Chicken, Turkey, Rabbit, Lamb, Tuna, etc., as the first, or first two ingredients. Reject those with ingredients such as grain, corn, wheat gluten, and various sugars as these ingredients have very little or no nutritional value for cats. It should also be noted that wet foods are much easier to find than dry foods, with these specifications.

The amount of moisture in cat foods is also very important. Dry foods contains no moisture, so they can lead to dehydration and bladder problems. Cats are notorious for not drinking enough water, even when they are thirsty. The ancestors of today's cats lived in arid (very dry) environments, where water was hard to come by. This harsh environment drove their evolution to produce animals that seek live prey, filling their need for moisture from them. Over thousands of years, cats have developed weak instincts for seeking and drinking water from a source separate from their food. Some modern cats will not drink plain water at all. Canned or pouched food contains 60% to 80% water. A wild cat's prey is around 70% water. So, wet foods with water content this high, provide a cat with enough water in its diet.

Many brands of dry food, including but not limited to; Purina, Friskies, Whiskas, IAMS, Science Diet, etc., regardless of price, contain high concentrations of carbohydrates, or fillers;such as corns, grains, and cereals. Cats can't digest these with any real efficiency. These fillers are used instead of meat because, compared to meat, it is less costly, and helps to hold the kibble together. These fillers provide some nutritional value, but relative to the nutritional needs of cats, their value is not on par with the meat they replace. However, some high quality dry food brands such as Orijen, Innova and Applaws are free of grains and cereals.

Cats need meat-based protein, not plant-basedprotein. Cats will often overeat on lower quality foods because they are not getting all the nutrients they need, which can result in obesity (meaning shorter life span).

Lastly, the notion that dry food cleans a cat's teeth, has not been proven. Kibble is hard and brittle, so it shatters at the tips of the teeth - providing little or no cleaning friction. Dental issues usually start at or under the gum line, so kibble is usually ineffective. Some cats don't even chew; they will just swallow the kibble whole. However, some cats will have perfect teeth while the dental health in others will deteriorate, no matter what food they eat. If a cat's teeth are to last through its life time, it requires regular dental care. Incidentally, this care will allow a cat a healthy diet for longer, almost certainly extending the cat's life, significantly.

For high-quality Cat food there is: Blue Buffalo, Felidae, Weruva, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, EVO, Grau, Animonda Carny, Bozita, HiLife, Feline Fayre, to name a few.

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13y ago

First of all, the worst food you can feed your cat is supermarket brand cat food. Most supermarket brands -- such as Purina, Friskies, Whiskas, Fancy Feast, Tender Vittles, etc., etc. -- are made with extremely low-quality "meat." It is actually really disgusting. These brands are made with all the leftover animal parts, including ground-up chicken beaks and feet, cow eyeballs, intestines, and something called "Animal Digest."

Animal digest is essentially a mishmash of leftover parts; it can include rats, roadkill animals, and animals that were euthanized at animal shelters -- including dogs and cats. That's right, cats. These brands also include something called "ash," which is burnt animal remains. It is absolutely revolting.

Luckily, there are better foods available, made with high-quality meat that is fit for human consumption. They are more expensive than supermarket brands -- up to $2 a can -- but they will keep your cat healthy, and will add years to his life. It is well worth the money to keep your beloved pet healthy and happy. And in fact, you will most likely save money in the long run: since better cat food means a healthier cat, you will save hundreds, even thousands of dollars on veterinary bills.

High-quality cat food brands are sold at most pet stores, including Petco, Pet Stop, and petnetdirect.com. Some high-quality brand names include: Innova/Evo, Weruva, Max Cat, PetGuard, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Solid Gold, Merrick, Wellness, Eagle Pack, Newman's Own, WYSONG, Precise, B.C. Before grain, Orijen, Bozita, Applaws, HiLife.

There are also high-quality dry foods available to supplement your cat's wet food diet. Innova/Evo makes a great dry food. There's also a similar kind called Call of the Wild or Back to the Wild...something "to the Wild." Applaws also makes a dry food.

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12y ago

The best cat foods are the ones with a very high meat content (labelled as Chicken, Turkey, Tuna, etc.) as the FIRST ingredient with no grains, wheat, or corn. Foods that are free of grains, corns, and wheat gluten are highly recommended as these are cheap "filler" that bulk up foods - but have no nutritional value for your kitten. Wet food with these specifications are much easier to find than in dry food.

Kittens and cats are strict carnivores. They get all their nutritional needs from meat. Kittens in particular, need a lot of Protein and Fat in order to grow and develop in a healthy manner. Kittens need twice as much Protein as an adult cat does, so don't be surprised if you are feeding your kitten much more than you would an adult cat. Also, kittens have small stomachs, so the best method of feeding is "little and often", as often as four to six times a day for very young kittens.

The amount of moisture in cat food is also very important. Dry food contains no moisture, so is quite dehydrating. Cats are notoriously bad drinkers, even when they are thirsty. This is because they have evolved to get all their needed moisture from their prey (their ancestors were cats that lived in very dry and arid environments where water was hard to come by), so therefore have a low "thirst drive" and will not often seek out water on their own. This is a trait that has been passed down over the thousands of years.

Canned or pouched food has anywhere between 60 to 80% water. Seeing as in the wild a cat's prey is around 65%-75% water, wet food provides a cat with more than enough water each day.

For high-quality Cat food there is: Blue Buffalo, Felidae, Weruva, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, EVO, Bozita (the canned stuff is 90+% meat and can be bought from zooplus.co.uk), HiLife (60% meat), Feline Fayre, to name a few.

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12y ago

Cats are strict carnivores, so get all their nutrients from meat. Good quality wet foods are high in Protein and Fat, and because cats are strict carnivores, they use these two nutrients as their primary source of energy. Be sure to look at the ingredients - The best cat foods are the ones with a very high named meat content (labeled as Chicken, Turkey, Rabbit, Lamb, Tuna, etc.) as the FIRST, or first three, ingredients.

It is advisable to stay away from brands that include Corn, Wheat, Cereals, Soy and various Sugars in their foods - cats have difficulty in digesting these and do not provide any nutritional value to the cat whatsoever. Wet food with these specifications are much easier to find than in dry food.

The amount of moisture in cat food is also very important. Dry food contains no moisture, so is quite dehydrating. Cats are notoriously bad drinkers, even when they are thirsty. This is because they have evolved to get all their needed moisture from their prey (their ancestors were cats that lived in very dry and arid environments where water was hard to come by), so therefore have a low "thirst drive" and will not often seek out water on their own. This is a trait that has been passed down over the thousands of years.

Canned or pouched food has anywhere between 60 to 80% water. Seeing as in the wild a cat's prey is around 65%-75% water, wet food provides a cat with more than enough water each day.

Many dry foods and low-quality wet foods are often packed with carbohydrates - "filler" in the way of grains and cereals, none of which cats can digest or gain any nutrients from. Grain is used instead of meat because it is cheaper to produce and helps kibble pieces hold together. Cats need MEAT based protein, not PLANT based protein. Cats will often overeat on lower quality foods because they are not getting all the nutrients they need, which often results in obesity. Because kibble is baked at such high temperatures, all the "natural" nutrition is destroyed. Wet food isn't processed to such high levels as this, so most of the nutrition stays intact.

Lastly, it is not proven that dry food cleans a cat's teeth. Kibble is hard and brittle, so shatters at the tips of the teeth - providing little or no cleaning friction. Dental issues usually start under or around the gumline, so kibble is usually ineffective. Some cats don't even chew; they will just swallow the kibble whole. However, some cats will have perfect teeth no matter what food they eat, while others will not benefit at all.

You could feed both, but dry food only really serves as a convenience to us, and provides very little for your cat. There are some decent dry foods out there such as Applaws, Orijen and Felidae with a high meat content in them and zero grains, but even that will never compare to the nutrition of canned food.

For high-quality Cat food there is: Blue Buffalo, Felidae, Weruva, California Natural, Instinct, Prairie, Natural Balance, Eagle Pack, Wellness, EVO, Bozita (the canned stuff is 90+% meat and can be bought from zooplus.co.uk), HiLife (60% meat), Feline Fayre, to name a few.

Another Answer

There are a lot of great brands of food out there for your cat. It really depends on what you are looking for and what country you are in. Foods like Wysong, Felidae, Chicken Soup, Wellness and Taste of the Wild are all great foods. From what I've heard Evo is also good if your cat has diabetes. If you're just looking for an all around good food look at the ingredients. Foods without corn, wheat, gluten, by-products, and dyes is generally going to be a good food. Not all foods with All Natural are really all natural. You have to look at the ingredients to determine if its really good for your cat.

Another Answer

Feed canned or wet food to your cat. Dry food is not good for their teeth, but could also buy plaque control treats, or brush your cat's teeth. As far as normal diet goes, eating either wet or dry food will not aid in dental health.

I also have some suggestions on what food not to feed your cat. For one, there's Fancy Feast and other supermarket brands. These foods often contain lots of grains, coloring and a lot of salt. The salt makes your cat love his food, but it's not good for him. Also, food coloring isn't good for cats (or humans for that matter!). Your cats won't care about the color or shapes in his food, which is what this brand boasts.

Another Answer

The best brand of any kind of pet food is whichever food the animal has a preference towards and the food does not negatively affect the animals health. Obesity is also, as with any animal, a negative health result.

Additional information: I lost two cats to the poison cat foods. Before getting another cat I did a lot of research on what food would be the best and healthiest. I ended up at healthypetnet.com and purchased the canned food from them.

I even ended up buying their kibble for my dogs. The kibble that I had been buying previously had all the wrong things in it. It costs more than store brands but I know for sure that my pets are getting food that is not going to make them sick and is good for them. After all, they can't go shop for their own so it is up to me to get the best.

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12y ago

Ask your vet. They will know what is best for your cat because all cats need something different.

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11y ago

Wellness and Blue Buffalo are good ones, besides raw feeding. If you don't know what raw feeding is, Google 'feline nutrition'.

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