Download Cat Food List - Orphananimalrescue.org

CHOOSING A CAT FOOD
Keeping our cats healthy includes choosing the appropriate food. There are many
choices in cat food. We recommend feeding high quality or “premium” cat foods, or the
best quality you can afford. These premium foods are made with better ingredients than
economy brand foods that can be found in the supermarket. The kibble is more densely
packed with nutrients and calories making the food more easily digested. Often times
cats will eat less of the premium foods as they are better able to meet their nutritional
needs. This also equates to less waste in the litter box!
Economy foods are often made with low quality meat sources and “fillers” that make the
cat feel full but don’t provide adequate nutrition in which case you will end up feeding
your cat more food. This contributes to obesity in cats. It also means more waste in the
litter box. Economy foods also contain chemical preservatives.
We recommend feeding canned and dry food in most cases. Wet food is more natural to
a cat’s diet. Indoor cats often don’t drink enough water. Canned food provides them
with additional moisture to maintain a healthy system.
Online resource: http://www.bestfriends.org/Resources/Pet-Care/Cats/Health-AndCare/Feeding-Your-Feline/
Cats are carnivores. Their digestive system is designed to derive nutrition from a diet
consisting of mostly meat. Their bodies require an amino acid called Taurine which is
only found in meat products. Seek food that lists 3 to 4 meat or fish products in the
first 6 ingredients. The list of ingredients is based on their percentages in the food from
greatest to least.
Carbohydrates include whole grains (brown rice, barley, oatmeal) and vegetables
(carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc.) These are found in most cat foods but should
not comprise most of the ingredients.
Antioxidants are often added to premium cat food. They help maintain a healthy
immune system. Antioxidants have been found to help deter kidney, liver, and heart
disease.
Fats should be from quality sources (chicken fat, lamb fat, herring oil, sunflower oil, etc.)
NOT unspecified sources (vegetable oil, animal fat, poultry fat) with natural
preservatives (mixed tocopherols, vitamin E), NOT synthetic preservatives (BHA, BHT,
propylene glycol)
Note- sometimes manufacturers list carbohydrate sources separately, ex: corn gluten, corn meal and
brewer’s rice; however, these three carbs combined outweigh the protein which was listed first on the
ingredient list.
*BEST quality (or premium) foods include:
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California Natural
Canyon Creek
Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul
Natural Balance (also makes a limited ingredient line)
Eagle Pack
EVO
Felidae
Fromm’s
Innova
Orijen
Royal Canin
Taste of the Wild
Wellness
*GOOD quality foods include:
● Eukanuba
● Feline’s Pride
● Iams
● Life's Abundance
● Nature’s Recipe
● Nutro
● Pet Promise
● Purina Pro Plan
● Purina One
● Science Diet
● Wysong
Making the Transition:
When switching foods, expect to take 7-14 days to transition, gradually adding more of
the new food and reducing what had been previously fed. If your cat has a sensitive
stomach, transition to the new food over 2-3 weeks. If all is going well, and your cat
does not experience any vomiting or diarrhea, then you may switch to 100% of the new
food. If your pet does not like the new food, gradually switch to a different variety.
Note: Abruptly switching from one pet food to another often causes diarrhea. Diarrhea can also be a sign
that the diet is deficient and needs changing. Contact your vet with any concerns. Always provide plenty
of fresh water for your cat!