Wonder how to choose the best cat food, especially when there are abundant pet food products in commercial pet stores? Refer to the ingredient list and make your decision based on these 6 key points:

The cat food label should list –

1. High-quality animal protein, such as chicken, fish, or turkey, as the first ingredient
2. Limited carbohydrates, such as those that include a lower proportion of grains or vegetables
3. A balanced ratio of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids
4. Absence of harmful additives – artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors, BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin
5. The life stage for which it is formulated to ensure your cat gets what they specifically need
6. AAFCO standards met

Please Note: AAFCO is a private, non-profit organization that sets standards for pet food labeling and nutrient levels for the pet food industry. However, AAFCO does not test the quality of pet food or approve any specific brands.

Let’s dive deeper into understanding how to choose the best cat food based on cat food ingredients and the claims pet food manufacturers make.

What does AAFCO standards mean? 

Understanding AAFCO standards is important but if you want to skip to ‘How to read cat food labels’ part, please feel free to do so.

Pet foods are regulated at two levels in the United States: national and state. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), through its Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) are two organizations that play critical roles in regulating animal feeds.

The AAFCO Statement of Nutritional Adequacy, Purpose, or Nutrition Claim assists pet owners in determining the best diet for their pets based on the pet’s life stage. According to the organization’s criteria, pet food producers must ensure that the statements stated on their product labels are genuine and verified. 

AAFCO has set standards for the testing criteria based on which pet food manufacturers claim balanced nutrition. This includes the minimum number of animals necessary for feeding experiments, the duration of the trials, and the required measurements on the test subjects. AAFCO has various procedures for each stage of a cat’s life. Growth, adult maintenance, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and all life phases are included. Pet food with a “all life phases” claim can be provided to any animal, regardless of its age.

AAFCO has created rules for the minimum and maximum amounts of nutrients that pet meals should include based on recognized nutritional requirements for pets. For example, if a cat food company claims that their product provides full and balanced nutrition for the maintenance of an adult cat, their food must include at least 18% protein in the form of chicken, fish, or turkey.

This does not necessarily imply that a cat parent can choose the best food for their cats simply based on 18% protein availability because a cat’s protein and other nutritional requirements vary based on a variety of circumstances including their age and health conditions. Thus, consult your vet before making decisions regarding cat food. 

FDA collaborates with AAFCO to ensure that pet food producers follow these labeling guidelines. It is critical to note that neither of these organizations has authority over pet food. They are in charge of the package label. Nobody controls the quality of your cat’s food. This is why it is critical to understand how to read a cat food label correctly.

How to choose the best cat food by reading the food labels correctly?

Labels for cat food include a lot of information, which can be very confusing. But with a little guidance, you can master label reading. The ingredient panel, guaranteed analysis, feeding guidelines, and nutritional adequacy statement are the four key nutritional sections of cat food labels.

Ingredient panels

This list gives all of the ingredients included in the food in descending order by weight. In other words, the first ingredient is found in the greatest quantity, while the last ingredient is in the smallest quantity.

Guaranteed analysis

This tells us how many nutrients are in the food. The minimal crude protein, minimum crude fat, maximum crude fiber, and maximum moisture must all be listed. If any claims for a nutrient are made on the package, other nutrients must be stated. The pet food manufacturer may additionally mention other nutrients if he wants. Sometimes a company’s website or contacting the company directly will give a complete nutritional profile.

Feeding guidelines

It suggests how much to feed your cat based on its size, age, and activity level. It is important to remember that the recommendations are merely a starting point. Since energy requirements vary widely from cat to cat, the easiest way to tell if you’re feeding your cat enough food is to calculate his body condition score and make adjustments as needed.

Nutritional adequacy statement

This indicates if the food is full and balanced, including all of the nutrients that a cat requires, or if it is simply intended for intermittent feeding or as a treat. The description must also specify if the meal is appropriate for all life stages or just one.

Let’s start with an essential aspect that the ordinary consumer will take into account when making a decision about the product: the product name and nutritional claim. Manufacturers may make a variety of claims to make a product sound more enticing and desirable, but these claims are subject to restrictions.

Ensure these steps before you choose the best cat food

Examine the first three ingredients

Consider chicken, beef, fish, and lamb as healthy sources of protein for your cat. Examine the first three ingredients listed on the label. Pet food labels indicate ingredients in descending order of weight, beginning with the heaviest. If the chicken dish is at the top of the list, it typically signifies that there is more protein available. Regular chicken contains 80% water, which can cause it to rise to the top of the ingredient list even based on water weight—water that is subsequently removed to produce dry cat food. Chicken meals (and other protein meals) are dried, so if it’s at the top, it’ll deliver an adequate dose of protein.

Determine your cat’s food allergies

Fish is a common food allergy in cats, which may appear strange. If a package promises to contain no fish or to be “gluten-free,” it may usually be trusted. However, if your pet has a serious allergy, check the ingredient list anyhow to be sure.

Grain-free does not mean carb-free

Many cat owners are concerned about their cats gaining weight and opt for grain-free meals. While buying foods with fewer carbs and more protein is beneficial, read the label carefully. Even though a food is “grain-free,” it might still be high in carbohydrates, such as potatoes and vegetables. Your cat may continue to consume the same amount of carbs, if not more. Remember that properly digested carbohydrates may be used as a good energy source by cats and are not always negative.

Check out the guaranteed analysis

 Check the pet food label to see whether there is a mandatory guarantee that the food meets the recommended nutrient levels or the percentages of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture that are listed on the label. Although the word “crude” may seem unpleasant, it relates to the way the product was tested, not the quality of the nutrient. Additionally, while the guaranteed analysis gives a measure of the several nutritional categories, it gives no details about the food’s overall quality, the quality of its ingredients, or how easily it may be digested.

 Compare Canned & Dry Food 

After reviewing the Guaranteed Analysis, cat owners should be aware that wet and dry meals have different criteria. For example, 8% protein in canned cat food is different from 8% protein in dry food (wet would have a lower proportion), because canned food has 75-78% moisture while dry only has 10-12% water. It is advisable to convert canned food to dry matter and compare protein quantities. Simple conversions are available online or contact your veterinarian for assistance. Here’s an example: Divide the given protein content (8% in this example) by the total dry matter (25%). Then multiply by 100. Protein dry matter = (8/25) x 100 = 32%

 Go for Natural Feeding 

 According to FDA rules, “natural” cat food indicates that none of the ingredients have been chemically changed. Hooray! But what about food that is just branded “holistic?” This term has no legal significance; thus it is unlikely to have a big impact on your cat’s nutrition. For organic choices, look for a USDA-approved label on the container.

If it bears the “organic” mark, it must contain at least 95% organic components, excluding added water or salt. If the label states “Made With Organic Components,” it must contain at least 70% organic ingredients, not including added water or salt. If a business wishes to show that a product contains certain organic ingredients, but those ingredients make up less than 70% of the total, such ingredients might be listed as “organic,” but no seal is applied.

 Figure Out the Flavor of the Ingredients 

While flavorings might assist in providing more of what your pet enjoys, seek proteins in the first three components to provide your cat with the flavor it craves. If you want a certain flavor, use details rather than generics, such as “beef” instead of “meat.” This gives a better picture of where the protein came from.

 Determine Your Cat’s Nutrient Profile 

Cat meals are often labeled with either “All Life Stages” or “Adult Maintenance” AAFCO labeling. All Life Stages cat food is designed to suit the nutritional needs of a developing kitten (or nursing cat); thus it contains more calories, calcium, and phosphorus. For healthy cats, use diets labeled “Adult Maintenance.”

 Find the Nutritional Adequacy Statement 

Examine the label to confirm that the producer has created their pet food to fulfill the minimal nutritional criteria (i.e., it is a “formulated food”). Examine the package for a statement that says, “[Name] is prepared to satisfy the nutritional levels set by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stages].”

 Strive for Feeding-Trial Food 

Finding food that meets the basic nutritional requirements “as fed” to actual pets in an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials)-specified feeding trial is preferable. Then you may be certain that the meal has the nutrients it was “formulated” to have. The gold standard is considered to be the AAFCO feeding studies. Even though not all pet food manufacturers do these pricey studies, those that do (Hill’s and Nestle, for instance) will highlight them on their packaging.

Cat parents like you have the right to know what your cats are eating. If you know how to read cat food labels, you can supervise your cat’s nutritional intake and monitor their eating habits. Be aware of marketing tactics and enticing claims. If you have a query regarding the product, contact the manufacturer or a regulatory body.