Words like ‘premium’, ‘natural’ and ‘gourmet’ on a cat food bag are largely meaningless — they are not regulated terms. To judge a food properly, ignore the front of the pack and learn to read the ingredient list and nutritional statement on the back.
The ingredient list
Ingredients are listed by weight, so the first few make up the bulk of the food. You want to see a named animal protein — chicken, salmon, lamb — near the top, rather than vague terms like ‘meat derivatives’ or a long run of grains and fillers. As obligate carnivores, cats should be eating a meat-led diet.
The nutritional statement
- Look for a line stating the food is ‘complete and balanced’ for your cat's life stage — this is the most important claim on the pack.
- ‘Complementary’ foods, including many treats and toppers, are not meant to be the sole diet.
- Check it is formulated for the right life stage: kitten, adult or senior.
Putting it together
A good food has a named protein leading the ingredients and a complete-and-balanced statement for your cat's life stage. Beyond that, the ‘best’ food is one your cat does well on and you can feed consistently — constantly switching brands chasing marketing claims does more harm than good.
