The ultimate guide to help you choose the best cat food

Apr 20, 2023

The ultimate guide to help you choose the best cat food

As cat parents, we’re always looking for ways to improve our fur babies’ health and happiness. There are so many ways to increase our pets’ quality of life, from giving them more space to roam to bringing in a same-species friend to keep them company, but we should never neglect the most basic, yet most important factor: nutrition.

The best cat food has the power to transform your cat’s life for the better and, thankfully, buying high-quality food is one of the easiest things you can do for your cat. It just requires a bit of research combined with evaluating your pet’s specific needs. The good news is that there’s plenty of evidence pointing in the same direction, which makes your decision easier.

At Pawfectly Raw, we make raw cat food because we believe that it’s the best cat food on the market by a wide margin. If you don’t believe us, you can check out the studies yourself. Or just give it a try and witness the positive changes to your cat’s energy level, digestion, dental hygiene and more.

Every pet food brand makes big promises and, unless you’re a vet, it can be hard to figure out which products are high quality and which just have pretty packaging. But you don’t have to feel disoriented in the pet food aisle any longer. Without further ado, here’s a guide to choosing the best cat food.

Consider your cat’s unique needs

As we mentioned previously, part of picking the best cat food for your specific cat requires you to think about what life stage your fur baby is in and what issues, if any, you’re looking to solve with better nutrition.

A small gray cat approaches his plate to eat

Kittens

In order for kittens to grow and develop properly, they need higher concentrations of certain nutrients than adult cats do. Did you know, for example, that their protein requirements are higher than that of older cats? They also need more essential fatty acids than their adult counterparts. It’s no coincidence that meat offers plenty of both of these elements—it’s evolution.

Some other nutrients that you should pay special attention to when feeding your kitten include calcium and phosphorus (which promote bone development), the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (supports brain and vision development), copper, iodine and magnesium.

Senior cats

What’s the best cat food for a feline friend that’s getting up there in age? Just like kittens, older cats have their own set of special requirements. In fact, just like kittens, senior cats can benefit from a diet that’s higher in fat and protein.

Some vets also recommend extra antioxidants for older cats, since cats’ immune systems decline with age and antioxidants can help them ward off disease. Senior cats may also suffer from diminished sensitivity to thirst, putting them at higher risk of dehydration. Wet food (including raw food, with its natural moisture) is a convenient way to keep your cat hydrated.

Overweight cats

Raw meat is the best cat food for promoting a healthy weight for a couple different reasons. First of all, a high protein, low carbohydrate diet is what vets most recommend for weight loss. Raw food fits that criteria perfectly, while processed kibble tends to be lower in protein and high in carbohydrates due to the fillers it contains, such as corn and other grains.

Another factor that makes raw food a great option for weight loss is its aforementioned moisture content. Since it naturally contains water, cats can eat a higher volume of food compared to kibble while still consuming the same amount of calories, leading them to eat fewer calories overall and still feel satisfied.

A gray cat about to eat a large plate of salmon

Remember your cat is a carnivore

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require a diet that’s high in animal protein in order to meet their needs. The feline digestive system has evolved to efficiently utilize the nutrients obtained from meat. But not all meat is created equal…

Why raw meat is best

As you probably already know, the nutrient content of food depends on how it’s prepared. Many nutrients become damaged and greatly reduced in quantity when subjected to heat. These include vitamin A, certain B-group vitamins, vitamin D, and several important minerals such as potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Raw food is the best cat food because it provides all the bioavailable nutrients that meat naturally contains, without unnecessary cooking. This nutrition boost is the reason why pets fed a raw food diet often have higher energy levels and especially shiny coats.

Check the company’s standards

If this blog post has piqued your interest in trying raw food for your cat, that’s great! But how can you choose among the dozens of different brands that all say their products are the best? It’s crucial to choose a trustworthy company, because freshness is what makes raw food safe. Meat that’s past its date is not only gross, but also a health hazard for you and your pet.

Pawfectly Raw is committed to providing pet nutrition you can trust, which is why we use human-grade meat that’s approved by the USDA. You can read more about our standards here, or check out our FAQ page. For any unanswered questions, contact us and we’ll be happy to talk to you.

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