Individual preferences
All cats are different. Some prefer certain flavors over others. The only way to know what flavor your cat prefers is to try different flavors. However, aside from flavors, you should also ensure the best ingredients for your cat. Here are some tips for picking the best dry food for your cat.
Meat or chicken “by-product” as first ingredient
Regardless of flavor, you should ensure your dry food has “chicken by-product” or “meat by-product” as the first ingredient. Cat food manufacturers are sometimes tempted to include corn or wheat as the first ingredient of their cat food. Corn and wheat are cheaper than meat. However, your cat needs as close as possible to a natural diet as possible. A “natural” diet for a cat is meat. Try to ensure that the first ingredient of your dry food is meat in the form of chicken by-product or meat by-product.
Try different flavors
Many cats enjoy seafood flavors, including shrimp, whitefish and tuna. However, a balanced diet of meat flavors is best for your cats. Try to include a variety of meat flavors, including chicken, turkey, and beef, into your cat’s diet. Otherwise, he or she may become picky and only want to eat one flavor. Eating only one flavor of food is not best for your cat, because it may deprive him or her of the vitamins and minerals found in other flavors.
Graduate up to “grain free”
If possible, try to graduate up to “grain free” dry food. “Grain free” food is food without corn or wheat. Grain free food costs more than cat food containing corn or wheat. However, grain free food will help ensure your cat is getting the nutrition that he or she needs.
The importance of water
Fresh, clean water is crucially important for your cat. A cat can live a week or longer without food, but only a few days without water.
See our article, “Getting your cat to drink more water” for helpful tips.
Tips for picking the best dry food (Summary)
- “chicken by product” or “meat by product” as first or second ingredient
- Test with a smaller bag of food before buying a large bag
- Switch it up with different flavors
- Consider grain free
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