You are what you eat, and that’s as true for cats as it is for people. Food is one of the biggest costs of owning a cat, and also one of the most important things you can do for its health. Here’s a guide to the different types of cat food and how to choose the right one, without the marketing hype.
The Basics of Choosing Cat Food
- Complete and balanced. Your cat’s main food should be labeled “complete and balanced” (US, meeting AAFCO profiles) or “complete” (UK/Europe, meeting FEDIAF guidelines). Foods labeled “complementary,” “supplemental” or “for intermittent feeding” are treats or toppers, not a full diet.
- Life stage. Kittens need a growth or “all life stages” food; adult cats need adult maintenance food; many senior cats do well on foods for older cats.
- Your cat’s needs. Weight, activity, whether your cat is spayed or neutered, and any health problems all matter.
- Your cat’s preference. The best food in the world won’t help if your cat won’t eat it.
- A reputable manufacturer that employs veterinary nutritionists and follows strict quality control.
- Your budget. A more expensive food isn’t automatically better, and many affordable foods are complete, balanced and well made.
Read more: how to read cat food labels.
Types of Cat Food
Dry Food (Kibble)
Dry food is convenient, affordable and keeps well once opened. It’s calorie-dense and contains only about 6–10% moisture, so cats on dry food need constant access to fresh water, and portions need to be measured carefully to avoid weight gain. Read more: is dry food bad for cats?.
Canned Food
Canned food (pâté, chunks, flakes or mousse) contains about 75–80% water, which helps keep your cat hydrated and supports urinary health. It’s usually more expensive per day than dry food, and once opened it must be covered, refrigerated and used within a day or two.
Pouches and Trays
Pouches and single-serve trays are another type of wet food, often chunks in gravy or jelly. They’re convenient and portion-controlled, but check the label: some are complete foods and some are complementary.
Fresh and Gently Cooked Food
Fresh, refrigerated or subscription cat foods are increasingly popular in the US and UK. They can be a good option if they’re complete and balanced and formulated by a qualified nutritionist, but they’re expensive and need careful storage.
Raw Food
Commercial raw diets are popular with some owners, but many vets advise against them. Raw meat can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria, which are a risk to cats and to the people in your home, especially children, older people and anyone with a weakened immune system. In the US, several raw and freeze-dried pet foods have been recalled after cats became sick or died from H5N1 bird flu. If you’re considering a raw diet, talk to your vet first.
Homemade Diets
Home-cooked meals sound healthy, but it’s very difficult to make a balanced diet for a cat at home. Homemade diets are often missing essential nutrients such as taurine, calcium and certain vitamins, which can cause serious health problems. If you want to feed homemade food, use a recipe from a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
Economy, Premium and “Holistic” Foods
In some countries, cat foods are divided into “economy,” “premium,” “super-premium” and “holistic” classes. In the US and UK, these terms are mostly marketing and have no legal definition. A higher price or a fancier label doesn’t guarantee better nutrition, and an affordable supermarket food made by a large, research-based company can be a perfectly good choice. Read more about holistic cat food and grain-free cat food.
Food for Specific Needs
Many brands make foods for particular situations:
- kittens;
- senior cats;
- spayed females and neutered males, who need fewer calories;
- cats that need to lose weight or gain weight;
- cats with hairballs or sensitive digestion;
- pregnant and nursing cats;
- specific breeds, such as Maine Coons, Persians and British Shorthairs.
Prescription (veterinary) diets for medical conditions, such as kidney disease or urinary stones, should be used only under your vet’s guidance.
How to Tell If a Food Suits Your Cat
A food that suits your cat will keep it at a healthy weight, with a shiny coat, good energy and normal, well-formed stools. If your cat has vomiting, diarrhea, itchy skin or a dull coat on a new food, talk to your vet. When you change foods, always do it gradually. Read more: how to switch your cat to a new food and what to feed a cat.
