Natural Foods for Pets

You want to feed your pets a natural diet. But there are so many natural products, how will you choose? Since "natural" means different things to different pet food manufacturers, start by reading the lists of ingredients on the packaging. Understanding your pets' nutritional needs will help you narrow down the choices, too.

  1. Species Appropriate

    • Cats are obligate carnivores and need animal protein (meat) and moderate amounts of fat. Dogs, too, need a meat-based diet. Species-appropriate food will have meat listed as the first ingredient.

    Raw Food

    • Raw Food is the dog's and cat's natural diet. Independent pet supply retailers sell frozen raw dog and cat food made from natural ingredients. Or try making your own (see Resources).

    Grain-Free

    • Dogs and cats don't use grains efficiently, and they're a common allergen in pets. Most independent pet supply retailers sell natural, grain-free brands, such as Evo, Before Grain and Wellness.

    No Dry Food

    • Dog and cat teeth are designed to tear flesh, not crunch kibble. Dry food is never a natural diet for pets, even if the label lists natural ingredients.

    Human Grade

    • The words "human grade" on pet food packaging can be misleading. If you call or email, most pet food manufacturers will tell you the grade of meat used in their food, where the ingredients are sourced and whether their products are made in factories that also produce food for humans.

    Organic

    • Pet food labeled "natural" isn't necessarily organic. The packaging will say whether the food is certified organic by the United States Department of Agriculture.