Are you seeking the best cat food for your furry bundle of joy?
Proper and balanced nutrition ensures your cat lives a long and happy life. However, many name-brand and generic cat foods are available on the market. So, choosing the right one for your kitty can be confusing and sometimes intimidating. Many f cats food contains artificial flavors, filler ingredients, coloring, etc., That provides little to no nutritional value to the food. Also, some elements are bad for your cat’s health and may even be carcinogenic! Keeping your kitty happy, healthy, and satisfied should be your goal.
In this blog post, I’ll share the top 5 best cat foods available on the market and a few things you should know about cat food.
Let’s begin, shall we?
The Importance of the RIGHT Cat Food: A Quick Look
It is essential to know that every kitty has unique requirements when it comes to the diet. This means you should consult a vet before tweaking or adjusting your cat’s diet.
Following are a few considerations:
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Cat: It is safe to assume that if your furry friend lives indoors, she’ll be less active than outdoors. This means an indoor cat needs fewer calories than an outdoor cat, as most of the cat’s time is spent lounging, grooming, and sleeping.g
- The Age Factor: As a cat ages, her appetite decreases. Even a small percentage of change in a cat’s metabolism after period ten calls for a tweak in nutrition. Older cats also have a problem with chewing the kibble.On the other hand, since kittens are at a critical stage of life and are growing, they need as much as three times more calories than an adult cat does!
- Health: Nursing or pregnant cats need calories from high-quality sources to help maintain their bodies and the litter. Cats with anemia also require high calories, which helps replenish the blood cells.s
Finding the best cat food means first, you should know your kitty’s unique needs. This means you should consult the vet before making any changes or tweaks to your cat’s diet.
I am moving on.
The Right Cat Food: What Does It Look Like?
A balanced diet helps keep your kitty healthy and helps regulate the metabolism. The right food for your cat should provide fifty essential nutrients, including vitamins C and A, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Your kitty shouldn’t be burping or throwing up regularly, either.
You should also consider the breed-specific needs of cats. Maine Coons and Persian cats have long and dense fur, which means they require a high amount of Omega fatty acids to help maintain their hair and keep it glossy, keep the moisture in the skin, and contain high fiber to control hairball growth.
Some cats are at risk of developing obesity,y which comes with many health conditions that require close veterinary attention, such as urinary problems and diabetes. These conditions can quickly be addressed by tweaking diets and taking medicine. If you have an overweight cat, you should look for the best diet foods for cats.
If your furry friend is prone to bladder obstructions or infections, you should look for foods that lower the cat’s urinary pH and help reduce the complication. After all, prevention is always better than cure.
You should know the calories your kitty needs to ensure you’re within the ideal range. Usually, the vet tells you the average daily intake by analyzing your cat’s age, activity level, build, breed, health, etc.
Cat Food and Allergies: A Quick Look
Cats can sometimes be allergic to an ingredient or two in the cat food. The following are the common signs of a food-based allergic reaction in cats:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Losing fur
- Vomiting
- Excessive scratching
- Excessive grooming
If you see any of the signs mentioned above, it is essential to call the vet to determine the most suitable course of action.
Daily Caloric Intake: A Quick Look
Did you know that about 58% of cats in the United States are overweight? Being overweight brings severe health conditions such as heart issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, cancer, etc. So, a cat needs to be within a healthy weight range.
All these issues can be avoided if your kitty is in the proper weight range. Domestic cats mostly weigh between 8 to 10 pounds, while Persian cats have a weight range of 7-12 lbs,s, and Maine Coons have an ideal range of 10-15 pounds.
For cats with weight problems, you need to know the exact number of calories a cat needs to maintain the ideal weight. Your vet can provide you with an accurate number. However, the following is the general range:
- Kittens need up to 275 kcals per day
- Adult cats need up to 200-300 kcals per day
- Overweight cats also need 180-200 kcals per day
- Senior cats need up to 200-250 kcals per day
Keep in mind that the calories mentioned above are just an estimate. The actual number depends on the cat’s health, age, level of activity, etc.
Top 7 Best Cat Foods Available on the Market
There are a lot of different foods available on the market for adult cats, from named brands to generic brands.
In this section of the blog post, I will go through the top seven best cat foods available on the market and review each in detail later on.
So, take a peek:
| Food Name | Key Features | Our Rating | Prices |
| Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Cat Food | ● The recipe is developed explicitly for indoor cats
● Made from high-quality ingredients that contain prebiotic fiber that supports the kitten’s digestive health ● Contains a blend of antioxidants, including Vitamin E and C, for a healthy immune system ● Doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives ● Trusted and recommended by vets ● Good for cats over the age of 1 and under the age of 7 |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| BLUE Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Cat Food | ● The food contains sweet potatoes, which are a good source of healthy complex carbohydrates
● This food contains carrots, blueberries, and cranberries, which are excellent sources of antioxidants ● The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, soy, or corn ● No chicken by-products or poultry by-products are used to make the food |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food | ● The kibble is dual-textures, which makes it crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
● Comes in delicious white meat and salmon flavor the cats love ● The kibble is rich in all essential ingredients that help support the overall health of the cat ● Provides 100% complete and balanced meals for cats |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| 9Lives Dry Cat Food | ● Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for adult cats
● Contains essential vitamins and nutrients for an indoor cat to help maintain weight ● The kibble is excellent in taste ● The kibble is specially formulated to help support the control of hairballs ● Helps in an easy litter box clean-up |
4.4 Stars | Check Prices |
| IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adult Dry Cat Food | ● Helps the cat maintain a healthy weight and controls the growth of hairballs
● The critical ingredient of this kibble is chicken, which provides the cat with all the essential nutrition ● Formulated with essential nutrients, including potassium and calcium ● Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for cats |
4.3 Stars | Check Prices |
| Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Cat Food
|
● Features beef, pork, and seafood flavors that cats seem to love
● The kibble comes in a variety of appealing shapes and sizes that help keep the cat excited during mealtime ● The kibble has a rich aroma that tempts the cat into eating the food ● Made of high-quality ingredients ● Provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for all stages of life |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| ● The cat food contains real chicken as the #1 ingredient
● The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, corn, or soy, and no poultry or chicken by-products are used in the food ● The food is made from essential and natural ingredients ● Doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives ● Made of high-quality ingredients |
4.4 Stars | Check Prices |
Now, let’s take a closer look at these kitten foods, shall we?
Let’s begin.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Cat Food
The Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available. The food is developed to meet the needs of an indoor cat. The added fiber helps promote digestion. The ingredients used to make the food are of a high quality.
The kibble is rich in high-quality lean protein, which helps the cat maintain her weight and muscle mass. The kibble is ideal for cats under the age of 11.
Let’s take a look at the key points, shall we?
- The recipe is developed explicitly for indoor cats
- Made from high-quality ingredients that contain prebiotic fiber that supports the kitten’s digestive health
- It contains a blend of antioxidants, including Vitamin E and C, for a healthy immune system
- It doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Trusted and recommended by vetsSuitabled for cats over the age of 1 and under the age of 7
Let’s take a peek at the pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Free from filler ingredients and artificial color, preservatives, and flavors
● Developed to meet the needs of indoor cats ● Contains essential antioxidants and vitamins for all-round growth |
● The taste may put some picky cats off |
Overall, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Cat Food is one of the best available. The food meets all nutritional needs of indoor cats under age 11 and helps maintain weight and muscle mass.
BLUE Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Cat Food
The Blue Wilderness HighProteinn Grain Free Adult Dry cat Food is one of the best cat foods available. The grain-free formula is high in protein and features LifeSource bits that contain a blend of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.
Let’s look at the key features, shall we?
- The food contains sweet potatoes, a good source of healthy complex carbohydrates.s
- This food contains carrots, blueberries, and cranberries, which are excellent sources of antioxidants.s
- The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, soy, or corn
- No chicken by-product or poultry by-products are used to make the food
Now, let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Made from high-quality ingredients
● Contains ingredients rich in antioxidants that help boost the immune system ● No filler ingredients are used |
● May cause an upset tummy |
In summary, the Blue Wilderness HighProteinn Grain Free Adult Dry cat Food is one of the best cat foods available. The grain-free cat food is rich in protein and meets all the nutritional needs of an adult cat.
Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food
The Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available to buy on the market. The food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats and has an irresistible taste that cats love.
The following are the key features:
- The kibble is dual-textures, which makes it crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
- It comes in delicious white meat and salmon flavors that the cats love
- The kibble is rich in all essential ingredients that help support the overall health of the cat
- Provides 100% complete and balanced meals for cats
Let’s take a peek at the pros and cons!
Now, let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Provides a complete and balanced meal
● Features an irresistible flavor ● Rich in all essential ingredients |
● May not be suitable for specific cat breeds |
The Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food is one of the best available to buy. This food provides complete and balanced nutrition to adult cats and comes in a flavor that even the pickiest of cats can’t say no to!
9Lives Dry Cat Food
The 9Lives Dry Cat Food is one of the best available. The cat food provides complete nutrition for an indoor cat. The food features an advanced nutrient system that contains essential vitamins and minerals to boost the cat’s immune system while helping to maintain a healthy weight.
Key features include the following:
- Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for adult cats
- It contains essential vitamins and nutrients for an indoor cat to help maintain weight
- The kibble is excellent in taste
- The kibble is specially formulated to help support the control of hairballs
- Helps in an easy litter box clean-up
Let’s look at the pros and cons now!
| Pros | Cons |
| ● A complete and balanced meal for cats
● Specially formulated to meet all the needs of an indoor cat ● Helps maintain ideal weight ● Tastes amazing |
● May cause an allergic reaction in some cats |
The 9Lives Dry Cat Food is one of the best available. The cat food provides a complete and balanced meal for adult cats and tastes excellent. It contains all the essential vitamins and minerals required by cats.
IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adult Dry Cat Food
The IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adul Dry Cat is one of the best cat foods available. The food contains chicken and helps the cat to maintain a healthy weight, strong muscles, healthy skin and coat, and hairball care.
The cat food is designed to meet the needs of an indoor cat.
Let’s take a peek at the key features:
- It helps the cat maintain a healthy weight and controls the growth of hairballs
- The key ingredient of this kibble is chicken, which provides the cat with all the essential nutrition
- Formulated with vital nutrients, including potassium and calcium
- Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for cats
Let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Helps the cat maintain a healthy weight
● Contains essential nutrients, including calcium ● Contains chicken as the number one ingredient |
● May not be suitable for particular breeds
● Can cause gastrointestinal upset |
The IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adult, Dry Cat food is one of the best available. The cat food is made of the best ingredients and provides all-round development.
Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Cat Food
The Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Cat food is one of the best available. This cat food provides a complete and balanced meal for all life stages and contains delicious protein sources.
The cat food contains essential Omega-3 and six fatty acids that help maintain the cat’s fur and skin.
The following are the notable features of this cat food:
- Features beef, pork, and seafood flavors that cats seem to love
- The kibble comes in a variety of appealing shapes and sizes that help keep the cat excited during mealtime
- The kibble has a rich aroma that tempts the cat into eating the food
- Made of high-quality ingredients
- Provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for all stages of life
Let’s take a peek at the pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages
● Made from high-quality ingredients ● Good for fussy eaters |
● Can cause an allergic reaction |
The Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Cat food deserves the spot on my list of the best cat foods. The food is made from high-quality ingredients and comes in various shapes and sizes to attract the kitty.
Purina Beyond Natural Dry Cat Food
The Purina Beyond Natural Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available to buy on the market. The cat food is made from natural and high-quality ingredients and free from added preservatives, poultry, chicken by-products, etc.
The chicken and brown rice formula provides optimum nutrition for an adult cat.
The key features of this cat food include the following:
- The cat food contains real chicken as the #1 ingredient
- The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, corn, or soy, and no poultry or chicken by-products are used in the food.d
- The food is made from essential and natural ingredients
- It doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Made of high-quality ingredients
Let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Contains real chicken
● No by-products and meals used ● High-quality sources of carbohydrates used ● Contains natural ingredients |
● Can cause an upset stomach
● Short shelf life |
The Purina Beyond Natural Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available. The food is made from high-quality ingredients and contains chicken as the number one ingredient. It is free from any artificial colors and flavors.
Final Words: The Best Cat Food
The best cat food is the one that meets all the nutritional requirements of your cat, is made from high-quality ingredients, and contains real meat. Many cat foods on the market contain filler ingredients that are bad for the kitty’s health and provide little to no nutritional value. It is essential to get cat food trees from these ingredients.
Remember that even though the products I mentioned in the blog post are the best, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your cat will like the taste! Cats are picky eaters.
So, buying the smallest packet to try the food out is always a good idea. If your cat likes it, you may purchase a bigger pack later. This saves money and avoids the waste of food.
Still have questions? Let me know in the comments section, and I’ll reply soon!
