How to Compare Brands of Dry Cat Food

It is essential to consider the age, breed and any medical conditions of your cat when you compare brands of dry cat food. The past five years has seen the introduction of many new brands of dry cat food. Compare the brands and styles by referring to the ingredient list.

• Read the food ingredient list to verify the main ingredients. The best cat foods contain combinations of meat, meat meal and/or bone meal in the top four of the ingredients. The FDA regards 75 percent of the weight of meat to be water weight. Meat meals, such as chicken or bone meal do not contain any water weight. Meals are valuable to pets due to the high levels of protein. It is important to realize that meals may actually make up for the greatest majority of ingredient weight due to the moisture levels in meats.


• Check the “Guaranteed Analysis” label on the food and compare the findings. Consider the needs of your cat when reading this label. Older pets may require a lower fat content while a growing cat may require a larger protein intake.


• Compare dry foods by determining whether the feed label contains the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) seal of approval. Any food that does not have this label has not yet been clinically tested to ensure that it meets the nutrition requirements of cats.


• Consider that some foods are grain-free while others contain wheat, corn or rice. As much as 50 percent of cats are allergic to corn. While rice is not considered a grain, it has actually been found to be beneficial to cats because it provides carbohydrates and is good for the skin and fur of the pet.


• Look at the moisture content of the food because this varies from brand to brand. A higher moisture content means more water weight in the food.