What is the best catkitten food on the market?

Mertie

Ive heard so many different opinions about which cat and/or kitten food on the market is the best. Ive heard Science Diet, Iams, Sheba, Purina One, etc. To the cat experts out there - which cat food is the best as far as healthy and tasty? Also, is it better to for a one year old kitten to have soft or hard food?



Lindsey

Keep in mind one thing: Nature created cats to be obligate carnivores. That means that they were designed to eat meat, not grain. They have very little use for grains in their diets. That determines what you should and should not feed your cat. Most grocery store foods (and Science Diet) are really nothing but grains. This really provides little to no nutrition for cats. Avoid foods with corn, and especially multiple sources of corn. Corn is hidden in food under different names to mislead you - it can say corn, ground yellow corn, corn gluten meal, and maize. Its still corn, but since its spread out in multiple types, it doesnt show up as the first ingredient on the list. Also avoid foods that contain by-products. This is a very low quality protein source for your cat. It isnt real meat - its all the scrap "parts" that have been deemed unfit for human consumption. Its such tasty bits as beaks, hides, tendons, feet, heads, intestines, spleens, spoiled and diseased meat, and even tumors. Nothing that you would intentionally buy and feed your pet! Go to the pet store, and actually read the labels of the foods there. If it contains corn or by-products, pass it by. Cats are no different than humans in that feeding a proper healthy diet staves off a great number of health problems down the road. Dry food is now linked to a number of feline disorders, including obesity, diabetes, urinary tract disorders, and kidney disease. Dry food was created for our convenience and not for the health of our cats. It keeps them perpetually dehydrated - cats are not big drinkers, and were meant to get most of their moisture from their live prey. Canned food best mimics this and is better for your cats health.



Kennith

Natural Balance Ultra Formula (for soft)Wellness Core (for hard)Here is a site that will tell you everything you need to know:http://www. consumersearch. com/cat-foodHard food is better for them, soft food can give them the runs.



Maren

Read the lables,..chose from the ones that offer more meat in them,,most cat foods start with grians,..or meal products,..more grains,..very few start with actual meet ingredients,..the ones that do are the better ones,..in my opinion,..



Kina

I give my cat special kitty and she loves it and its a afforitable price. she eats at least 3 bowls day and doesnt gain even a pound in a week.



Darci

Each owner will have their favorite. I went with Science Diet as the vet used it. I leave down the dry food with water all the time, and give the soft food once a day. I try to change the variety of flavors so they dont get hooked on only one flavor. There are also different kinds that can be used depending on age and health of the cats. It also cuts down on smell in the litter pan. Ask what your vet recommends.



Clarence

Natural Balance or Wellness. They are both organic and contain no corn, preservatives, or dyes. You wont find these brands at Wal-Mart or the grocery store you will have to go to a pet supply store, farm equipment store, or hatchery to get them. Science Diet is the #1 recommended food by veterinarians because during college vets only have 1 semester in nutrition and it is sponsored by Science Diet. They provide all the information for the course so it is a pretty biased opinion. I have never heard of Sheba... but Iams and all Purina products are grocery grade brands of food. They will not kill your cat but it is like you eating McDonalds every day of your life. All of these brands list corn as one of their top three ingredients... could you imagine eating corn every single day? It would reek havoc on your digestive system because it is not an easily digestible grain. Stick to organic/holistic foods. Your cat will maintain a better wieght, poop less, the poop wont smell as bad, and their coat and skin will be healthier. I always feed dry food because wet causes diahrrea and increases plaque build up on the teeth. If you feed only wet food you really should brush their teeth. EDIT: to ABAKER I work at Petco and we are not forced to recommend a specific brand. We are educated on all the qualities of all the foods available. Everyone at my store recommends organic products and Natural Balance and Wellness are the two foods that we recommend most. Of course when a customer comes in and says they can only spend $15 a month on food then we can not recommend the best but we can provide a product that the owner can afford in effect keeping the pet in a home and out of a shelter.



Jenine

Healthypetnet. com



Christopher

AVOID foods with corn and/or wheat ingredients. They are just fillers that make the food cheaper to make. Many cats have or develop allergies to these ingredients as well. Also, avoid food with by-products. Vets make money off the brands hey sell in their offices such as Science Diet and Royal Canin. Employees at pet store are trained to suggest a certain brand because they make deals with the pet food companies. Petsmart suggests Science Diet and Petsupermarket, Nutro. It does NOT mean the food is nutritionally good. Raw food is supposedly the best for them since it is the closest to what they should be eating. Cooking any food takes the nutrients out of it. Wellness is one of the best dry foods. Cats love it and it is very healthy for them. You can buy it at Petco and Petsupermarket. Natural Balance is also good and a little cheaper. Also, these brands test for harmful substances and mineral levels BEFORE they send them to the pet stores. That is why these foods have not been recalled while Nutro has just had its second recall in 3 years. If you cat is underweight you should stick to mostly dry food as it has more calories. Cats, especially male, can get urinary tract infections if they only eat dry food. This is because it has a high ash consent and cats usually do not drink enough water. Canned food for a meal a day tends to help. It is good to even add some water to the canned food as well. If the cat is over weight or becomes overweight canned food helps. They get fuller from a smaller amount of food and since it has so much moisture in it, it helps prevent urinary tract problems. Goodluck