How to Compare Dry Cat Food

As with humans, cats should sustain a balanced and healthy eating lifestyle. Certain dry food products that contain massive amounts of artificial ingredients can lead to health problems, including obesity and organ failure. It's important to note the types of ingredients that are included in your cat's daily food supply.

  1. Nutrition

    • Cats are carnivores and receive much of their nutrition through the consumption of animal-based proteins. Taurine (an amino acid found in animal-based proteins) is a primary ingredient in dry cat food, and it's essential to ensuring proper, healthy development of your cat's physical growth, eye function and heart function. Taurine is commonly found in meat ingredients, including chicken, lamb and fish.

    Preservatives

    • From sweeteners to byproducts, dry cat food can contain a plethora of artificial ingredients that can lead to behavior problems, allergies, diabetes and even cancer. Behavioral problems, such as hyperactivity and stress, can be induced by the daily consumption of sweeteners, including corn syrup, beet pulp sugar and molasses. Byproducts, which consist of meat, tissue, skin and insides of animals that are dead, dying, disabled or diseased, can cause severe health problems for cats.

    Specialty Diets

    • Depending on your cat's health, you may need to purchase a dry food that specializes in reducing or eliminating a specific physical condition. Many manufacturers provide products that cater to special needs, including weight loss and hairball prevention. Certain products also cater to a cat's age and specialize in food for senior cats (age seven and older), as opposed to adult cats.