Standing in front of a shelf full of cat food can be overwhelming. Every bag and can promises “natural,” “premium” or “holistic” nutrition. In this guide, we’ll explain how to read a cat food label so you can choose a food that’s not just tasty but genuinely healthy for your cat.
What to Look for First
- “Complete and balanced.” This is the most important thing on the label. In the US, look for a statement that the food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) cat food nutrient profiles, or that it has been tested in AAFCO feeding trials. In the UK and Europe, look for the word “complete” (as opposed to “complementary”) food, meeting FEDIAF guidelines. A complete food provides everything your cat needs; a complementary food or treat doesn’t.
- The right life stage. Choose a food labeled for your cat’s life stage: “growth” for kittens, “adult maintenance” for adults, or “all life stages,” which is suitable for kittens too.
- The manufacturer. Choose brands that employ qualified veterinary nutritionists, do quality control and research, and will answer your questions about their food. The WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) publishes guidelines on questions to ask pet food companies.
Understanding the Ingredient List
Ingredients are listed in order of weight, before cooking. That means ingredients with a lot of water, like fresh meat, may appear first even if they make up less of the final food than a dry ingredient lower down the list.
- Animal protein sources, such as chicken, turkey, fish, lamb or beef, should feature prominently. “Meat by-products” and “meat meal” aren’t necessarily bad: they can be nutritious and are a concentrated source of protein, as long as the food is made by a reputable company.
- Fats, such as chicken fat or fish oil, provide energy and essential fatty acids.
- Carbohydrates, such as rice, corn, wheat, peas or potatoes, are found in most dry foods. Cats don’t need carbohydrates, but small amounts are fine and help form kibble. Grains aren’t harmful for most cats. Read more about grain-free cat food.
- Taurine is essential for cats and should be included in any complete cat food.
- Vitamins and minerals are added to make the food complete.
The Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed (or analytical) constituents show minimum percentages of protein and fat and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture. To compare wet and dry foods fairly, you need to compare them on a “dry matter” basis, because wet food contains much more water. For example, a wet food with 10% protein and 78% moisture actually contains about 45% protein in its dry matter, which is often more than a dry food with 35% protein.
Wet vs. Dry Food
- Wet food contains about 75–80% water, which helps with hydration and urinary health. It’s usually lower in calories per bite and often lower in carbohydrates. Once opened, it needs to be refrigerated and used within a day or two.
- Dry food is convenient, more affordable and keeps well, but it’s calorie-dense and low in moisture. Read more: is dry food bad for cats?.
Many owners feed a mix of both.
Watch Out for Marketing Terms
Words like “premium,” “super-premium,” “holistic,” “human-grade” and “natural” sound reassuring, but most have no strict legal definition and don’t guarantee better nutrition. Read more about holistic cat food. What matters most is that the food is complete and balanced, suitable for your cat’s life stage and made by a trustworthy company, and that your cat does well on it: a healthy weight, a shiny coat, good energy and normal stools.
Special Diets
Some foods are designed for specific needs, such as weight control, hairballs, sensitive digestion, urinary health or senior cats. Prescription diets for medical conditions, such as kidney disease, are formulated differently and should be used only under your vet’s guidance. Read more: types of cat food and how to choose.
