Cats are notoriously picky eaters, often leaving pet parents scratching their heads when it comes to selecting the right food. With endless options available and a picky feline friend to boot, finding the ideal cat food can be a real challenge. Additionally, it’s essential to understand your cat’s unique nutritional needs and preferences to make an informed choice.Here's what to keep in mind when choosing the right food for your cat.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Cat Food

You’re going to want to choose a cat food that your feline friend loves and gets excited about, but there is so much more to choosing your cat’s food than simple palatability. You’ll want to make sure you’re picking a food that’s nutritionally complete, healthy, and appropriate for your cat’s age.
Nutritional Requirements

Cats have species-specific nutrient requirements. They need specific levels of fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and vitamins to remain healthy. Most often, these are in the form of minimum requirements that must be met by the cat’s diet. However, more isn’t always better! Some nutrients, like vitamin D, can be harmful when fed in excessive amounts. 

Perhaps the most important nutritional requirement for cat parents to know is that cats are obligate carnivores. This means cats have nutritional requirements, such as taurine or arachidonic acid, that must be met by eating animal products. A cat requires significantly more protein than a dog does.

Ingredients

The most important ingredient you should be looking for on a nutrition label is a protein source. The protein source should be one of the first ingredients listed on the food label. The protein source should be specifically named, such as “chicken”.

Contrary to what pet parents may hear from various sources, grains are not bad for cats. When placed in cat food, items like corn are altered to be more digestible and can provide a quick source of energy for the cat. Cats do not require grain-free diets. However, grains and other carbohydrates should not overtake the protein in the diet. An exception to this may be a restricted protein diet, such as a diet for a cat with kidney disease.

Life Stage

A cat’s nutritional requirements also change during life, so you need to ensure the diet you choose is appropriate for their specific life stage. 

A diet should state whether the food is complete and balanced for growth and reproduction (pregnancy or nursing), adult maintenance, or all life stages. A diet intended for adults that is fed to kittens will not meet their needs for growth. On the other hand, a diet intended for a growing kitten that’s fed to an adult may promote obesity.

When it comes to senior cats, there aren’t established guidelines for a senior cat’s nutritional needs. However, senior cats often have decreases in activity levels and metabolism that increase their risk of obesity. Some senior foods may come with higher protein content to help maintain muscle mass. However, keep in mind that required levels specific to seniors are not established. Senior cats should be fed food that meets the needs of adult cats or all life stages.

Types of Cat Food to Choose From
Pet parents have several options for food types. Generally speaking, it's best to pick one food type as the primary food in the diet. Sticking to one food type for at least 90% of your cat's caloric intake helps ensure they receive a nutritionally complete diet.
Dry Food
Dry food (kibble) is a good option for a lot of pet parents. Dry food is generally the most affordable and has the longest shelf life. It can also be left out for longer than most canned foods and can easily be placed in automatic feeders.

Wet Food

Canned food increases the moisture content that your cat takes in, so it’s a good option for cats who have health conditions that respond to increased water intake or for chronically dehydrated cats.

Wet food may also be more palatable to some cats. Cats rely primarily on scent when eating, so the increased smelliness of wet food may be enticing to some cats.

Canned food may also be less painful to chew for cats with dental disease.

Raw
Raw diets can be purchased over the counter or made at home. These diets consist of raw ingredients, including raw animal products. Generally, veterinary nutritionists do not recommend raw foods due to the risk of bacterial infection both for the pet and for the humans in the family. Pet parents who make raw diets at home should consult with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure the diet is nutritionally complete.
Homemade
Homemade diets can be appropriate for cats as long as they’re properly balanced. A boarded veterinary nutritionist can help you design a homemade diet that meets all of your cat’s nutritional needs.