What to Look for in a Premium Dry Cat Food
Life Stage
Match your cat’s life stage to the dry food you choose to feed them. Kittens have unique nutritional needs as they grow and develop, so it makes sense to feed them accordingly. Through the active adult years, feed your cat a balanced diet that will supply plenty of nutrients and energy to keep them healthy and happy. Senior cats will have different diet criteria than either of these first two life stages, so pick a formula that has been developed for your kitty’s golden years.
Flavor
This is a matter of taste, but the fact is that some felines are more finicky than others. Finding a dry cat food that your cat will eat and appreciate is sometimes a challenge, especially if you’re transitioning from wet cat food. While limited ingredient foods are good for digestion, they’re not always as appetizing to some cats. You may need to experiment with different protein sources and ingredients to find a dry cat food that your cat will gobble up.
Essential Nutrients
Your cat needs certain nutrients to thrive, including amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. For instance, taurine is an essential amino acid that your cat needs to absorb through diet. Look for dry cat food that meets the minimum daily requirements for essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals.
One thing to note is that your cat does not need carbohydrates in his or her diet, although there’s no data to show what the optimal carbohydrate percent for cats should be.
Hydration
It’s important to make sure your cat is drinking enough water, so along with dry cat food, we strongly recommend giving your cat a water fountain. Studies have shown that cats drink more when the source of their water is flowing. And if your cat is experiencing issues related to their urinary tract or digestion, slowly shifting their diet to a different kind of food can alleviate symptoms and discomfort. Adding some bone broth for cats to their diet can also improve your cat’s hydration.
How We Found The Best Premium Dry Cat Foods
To evaluate dry cat foods, our research panel put together a comprehensive questionnaire, asking for cat parents to describe the qualities that matter most to them when they choose a food for their feline at each life stage. We learned what brands were recommended by veterinarians, and which had the most trustworthy list of ingredients. We also looked for high-value brands that can fit in people’s budgets, and brands with wide retailer availability.
We also gathered details about a cat’s size, breed, age, and health history, which helped us make picks tailored to a wide range of cats, since the best cat food for an adult Ragamuffin that needs to lose weight won’t be the best cat food for a recently rescued kitten.
In total, 299 respondents described how they and their cats felt about the cat foods they currently feed or previously fed at home, using a combination of numerical scores and detailed feedback.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
This story was updated by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.
We also took a comprehensive survey on preferred brands and feeding habits. Each respondent provided data on their cat’s age, size, and breed, in addition to a detailed history of the cat food brands and products they mutually enjoy.
A previous version was written by Theresa Holland, a writer and animal lover with substantial experience covering pet products and breed guides. In addition to The Spruce Pets, she regularly contributes to The Spruce, MyDomaine, and Byrdie.
For this piece, Holland interviewed Dr. Lewis Singleton, a veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital, to obtain more information on dry cat food. Choosing the right cat food can be a daunting task, but consulting with a veterinarian about key ingredients to look for (or avoid) can make the task less intimidating.