Best Cat Food for the Modern Feline
We are often asked what the best cat food is for the modern feline. Unfortunately, while the question might be a simple one, the answer isn't necessarily so. Many factors need to be taken into consideration such as age, breed, condition, activity levels, or sensitivities to certain ingredients. Depending on these factors, what might be the best food for one cat might not be for another.
Another consideration is food quality. As humans are fond of saying "You are what you eat", the same goes for cats. Good quality pet food will improve the health and well being of the feline, just the same as it will for us.
The following is meant as a general guideline on what high quality cat foods should or should not contain and represents an opinion only. By no means is it definitive nor can it cover every situation or condition. We also recommend that you consult a qualified veterinarian.
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Quality Foods Should Contain: |
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Superior sources of protein, either whole fresh meats or single source meat meal (ie. Chicken meal rather than poultry meal). |
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A whole meat source as one of the first two ingredients. |
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Whole, unprocessed grains, vegetables and other foods. Nutrients and enzymes are more likely to be found in unprocessed foods. |
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Quality Foods Should Contain a Minimum of the Following: |
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Food fragments – lower cost by-products of another food manufacturing process, such as brewer’s rice and wheat bran. Manufacturers usually include at least one fragment to help lower costs. Beware of any food that includes several fragments. |
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Meat by-products (not handled as carefully as whole meat) – any food that contains meat by-products as the MAJOR protein source indicates a low-quality product. |
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Quality Foods SHOULD NOT Contain: |
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Fats or proteins named generically (ie. Animal fat/poultry fat instead of beef fat/lamb meal) |
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Artificial preservatives (BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin) |
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Artificial colors |
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Sweeteners (corn syrup, sucrose, ammoniated glycyrrhizin) to improve unappealing food. |
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Propylene glycol – a toxic substance when consumed in large amounts; added to some “chewy” foods to keep them moist. |
One of the widest ranges of natural cat foods that fit the criteria above is available online from Petacular Food & Supply located in London, Ontario, Canada. Links to the product pages with ingredients and analysis is provided below:
HealthyPaws
- Raw Diets
Holistic Blend
Merrick
Nature's Variety
Wellness Cat Food
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