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What’S The Best Premium Cat Foods ?

The most crucial part of keeping your cat healthy and happy is proper nourishment. Meeting all of your cat's nutritional needs is the first step toward providing them with a full and energetic life.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of different sorts of cat food on the market today, many of which have questionable additives that cats simply do not need in their diet.

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they require a diet high in animal protein. Many cat food makers incorporate a lot of protein from plant sources, which isn't good for your cat.

Fortunately, many cat food manufacturers are taking cat nutrition seriously and producing premium diets that meet all of your cat's nutritional needs, are manufactured with high-quality ingredients, and are free of filler components.

If you want to provide your feline buddy with the greatest diet possible, one of these premium foods is appropriate. With so many different types of cat food available nowadays, it might be tough to choose the ideal one for your cat.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) examined the components of dozens of cat diets and selected our best premium cat foods, providing in-depth reviews to assist you in selecting the best one for your feline.

Let's get started!

Reviews

Best Value ACANA Harvest High-Protein Dry Cat Food
 

The ACANA Homestead Harvest Adult Dry Cat Food is the most affordable premium cat food.

The food contains high-quality protein (65%-70%) supplied from ranchers, farmers, and fisherman, providing your cat with a natural source of omega fatty acids to keep their skin and coat healthy and vibrant, as well as natural taurine, DHA, and EPA to support heart health and eyesight.

It is also high in vitamins E, D3, and B12, as well as antioxidants that support immunological function. It’s free of fillers like maize, wheat, and soy, as well as artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

This chow contains somewhat less protein than many other feeds, and several buyers complained of a strong odor that their cats did not like.

Pros

  • Comparatively inexpensive
  • Animal components account for 65-70 percent of the total.
  • Omega fatty acid natural sources
  • Vitamins E, D3, and B12 are abundant.
  • Antioxidants have been added.
  • Artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives are not used.

Cons

  • Protein content is relatively low.
  • Kibble has a strong odor.

 

Instinct Raw Freeze-Dried Dry Cat Food
 

This Instinct freeze-dried dry cat food is manufactured with raw ingredients and is grain-free. It is our premium choice for your cat.

The cuisine contains cage-free chicken as an excellent source of protein, and it contains 81 percent real animal ingredients overall, with the remaining 19 percent created from natural fruits and vegetables.

This dry food contains no potatoes, by-products, artificial colors, or preservatives, yet it is high in live, natural probiotics, omegas, and antioxidants for exceptional skin and coat health, immune support, and digestive health.

However, because this kibble is fairly hard, it is not suitable for senior cats, and several customers reported tons of powdered kibble at the bottom of the bag.

Pros

  • Made with natural components
  • Recipe without grains
  • 81% genuine animal ingredients
  • Live probiotics and antioxidants have been added.
  • No artificial colors or preservatives

Cons

  • Not suitable for senior cats.
  • Powders quickly

 

Purina Pro Plan Chicken and Rice Dry Kitten Food – Recommended for Kittens
 

Purina has long been a favorite among cat and kitten owners, and its new Pro Plan Kitten formula is our top pick for kittens. The food contains 42 percent protein, which is mostly drawn from high-quality deboned chicken.

It contains natural DHA omega fatty acids, which aid in brain and vision development, as well as antioxidants, which aid in the development of your kitten’s immune system and probiotics, which aid in digestive health.

The natural omega fatty acids are also beneficial to your kitten’s developing skin and coat health, and the critical minerals calcium and phosphorus are included to maintain your kitten’s bones and teeth growing strong and healthy.

Unfortunately, this cuisine comprises grains such as corn and rice, despite the fact that the extra carbs provide a terrific energy boost. In addition, numerous consumers stated that their kittens did not like the newly modified formula.

Pros

  • Excellent for kittens
  • A high-quality protein source
  • High in antioxidants
  • Probiotics have been added.
  • Calcium and phosphorus have been added to help with growth.

Cons

  • Grain content
  • The new formula is less appealing.

 

Grain-Free Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Dry Cat Food
 

Nulo’s Chicken & Cod grain-free meal is made with 83 percent animal ingredients and 40 percent crude protein content, making it an excellent choice.

The deboned cod provides a natural source of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids, which nourish your cat’s skin and create a healthy, lustrous coat.

It also has probiotics to help with gastrointestinal health, as well as chicory root, dried kelp, and antioxidants to help with immunological health. The dish is high in vitamins E and A, which help with vision and cardiovascular health.

While this food has nutritious nutrients, several customers claimed that their cats, both kittens and adults, would just refuse to eat it, which is disappointing given the expensive price.

Pros

  • Recipe without grains
  • 83 percent of the ingredients are from animals.
  • Omega-3 and -6 fatty acid natural source
  • Probiotics and antioxidants have been added.
  • Vitamins E and A were included.

Cons

  • Expensive
  • Some cats dislike the flavor.

 

Sheba Portion Control Seafood Pate Cat Food – The Best Can Option
 

If you’re seeking for high-quality canned food for your cat, we recommend Sheba’s Perfect Portions Seafood Pate.

This assortment contains three different seafood recipes with a light, pâté texture that your cat will like, all simply packed into a single, properly proportioned piece.

The fish recipe will ensure that your cat receives all of the important omega fatty acids required for healthy skin and coat. It’s high in taurine, as well as vitamins E and D3 and minerals like magnesium and potassium.

Furthermore, the cuisine is completely grain-free! This meal has a strong fishy odor that will turn off many cats.

Furthermore, while the serving size is adequate for most cats, it is insufficient for huge cats, making the food rather pricey.

Pros

  • Three distinct seafood dishes
  • Pâté texture is light.
  • Single-meal servings
  • Omega fatty acid natural source
  • Grain-free at all times

Cons

  • Fish odor is pungent.
  • Expensive

Buyer's Guide: How to Choose The Best Premium Cat Food

We all want the best for our cats, and excellent health starts with high-quality food that is devoid of needless substances.

However, selecting the appropriate food for your cat might be more complex than it appears, which is why there are so many components to consider.

However, there are a few crucial elements to consider that will make your selection much easier.

Ingredients

The first thing to look at is the ingredient list of the dish you’re considering. Because cats are obligate carnivores, the meal should have a high protein level — around 40% is optimal — and should be derived primarily from animal sources.

The issue is that protein percentages can be misleading because many food manufacturers add protein from vegetable sources, which are not appropriate for your cat.

Looking at the first-listed components is the best approach to understand where the majority of the protein content is coming from.

Ingredients are normally listed in the order in which they appear in the food. This indicates that the first ingredient will have the highest concentration in the recipe, while the last will have the lowest.

If the first or, preferable, the first three ingredients are animal-based, you may be certain that animals provide the majority of the overall protein composition.

Nutrition

Another crucial location to evaluate the quality of the food you’re purchasing is the nutritional label. You can analyze what’s ideal for your cat by checking the overall balance of key nutrients such as protein, fat, and carbs.

This label will also provide information on the overall content of other key nutrients such as taurine, fiber, and fatty acids.

Byproducts and filler additives

Ideally, you should feed your cat grain-free food. This is because they are obligate carnivores and do not require grains at all.

Obesity is just one of the consequences of including these. Grain-free diets should still contain carbs, which are typically in the form of healthful, readily digestible vegetables such as potatoes, peas, and carrots.

Meat byproducts should be avoided as much as possible. While these by-products may still have a high concentration of vital nutrients, quality management is a major concern.

Because animal by-products can comprise any number of components from a variety of animals, it is impossible to determine whether the by-product contains nutritious portions of the animal, such as the liver or kidneys, or far less nutritious parts, such as feet or skin.

Wet food vs. dry food

Another important factor to consider when selecting premium food for your pet is whether to feed wet or dry food. Both have advantages and disadvantages, so it’s easy to become confused.

Dry food is typically less expensive, easier to store, and more handy, making it the best choice for the majority of people. It can also aid in the maintenance of your cat’s oral hygiene.

Wet food, on the other hand, includes a lot of moisture and can meet a major portion of your cat’s daily hydration needs while also looking and tasting more “meaty.”

It is, however, pricey and cannot be stored for long after the tin has been opened. A combination of wet and dry food, either offered separately or mixed, is the best option.

Conclusion

All of these are the best premium cat foods, but the fresh cat food from Smalls is our overall favorite premium cat food.

The meal is created with real chicken, is free of byproducts, artificial colors, and preservatives, and is instead packed with nutritious, raw ingredients that your cat will enjoy.

The ACANA Homestead Harvest dry cat food is the most affordable premium cat food.

The food contains high-quality protein, DHA, and EPA to help support heart health and vision, is high in vitamins and antioxidants, and is free of fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Because excellent nutrition is such an important aspect of your cat’s overall quality of life, selecting the right food for your feline can be difficult.

BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes that our in-depth reviews have been helpful in finding the best food for your kitty friend!

Author Image

Dr. Deborah Fletcher

Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.

Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher

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