How to Compare Brands of Dry Cat Food

Many nutritionally balanced foods are available to meet your cat's nutritional needs. The best way to compare brands is to consider your cat's stage of life, as well as the characteristics of each brand.

  1. Ingredients

    • The main ingredients in dry cat food may be fillers.

      The first five ingredients listed on the back of a bag of dry cat food tell you much of what you need to know about the quality of the cat food. In the wild, a feline's natural diet is high in protein. Brands that list corn, wheat or soy as a main ingredient will not be nutritionally complete.

    Price

    • A poorly formulated dry cat food can cause your cat to gain weight.

      Comparing cat food brands based on price is not as straightforward as calculating the cost per serving. Cheaper brands generally contain lower quality ingredients, and cats may eat more of such foods to meet their nutritional needs. You could end up spending more per month to feed a cheaper brand to your cat, which could become obese as a result.

    Flavor and Feline Preference

    • Your cat may not like all brands of dry food.

      Several brands may offer a good balance of nutrients, but your cat may snub some brands based solely on smell or taste. Because cats are individuals, there is no one best food for every cat.