Knowing What To Look For In Cat Food Labels

This article will let you know about all the things that you should look for when you read the cat food label before you buy. This is an important aspect to look for if you want to keep your pet fit and fine. Reading the labels will help you make your decision process much easier and help you choose the best foods for your cat.

Start with the basics. This includes:

• The nutritional requirements
• The protein source such as meat, fish, or poultry
• The taurine content which is an essential amino acid
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Fatty acids
• Enzymes and 
• Water content.

Cat Food

Remember, cats usually do not require any carb but in some cat foods, - rice, corn, and wheat may be used as fillers. This is applicable to both dry and canned cat food.

You must also check out the other ingredients mentioned in the label of the cat food such as:

• Binders
• Colors and 
• Flavoring.

These are not essential but are used by the cat food manufacturers to meet the aesthetic needs of the consumers. Also check the preservatives used that are necessary to keep the foods fresh. If you buy canned foods for your cat, make sure that it is not allowed to stay out for a long time.

Look for the quality

You must always choose cat food of the highest quality. You will surely not want to run to the vet every time your cat has its meal due to health issues that may arise from cheaper cat foods made from low-quality ingredients. 

It is always better to avoid additives and processed ingredients as these will never give the same nutrients as would whole fish and meats. Most importantly, these ingredients are the primary source of contamination due to bacteria and several other harmful agents that will cause serious health issues for your cat.

Therefore, when you read the label of the cat food, make sure that:

• It does not contain rendered fat. This is a very common additive found in low-quality pet foods. This ingredient will increase the required fat content easily but, at the same time, it is also the best source for the bacteria and mold to grow. Therefore, this is unsafe for your cat to eat. It is also not as healthy and beneficial as the whole fats that your cat will get from real meat and fish.

• It does not contain additives like artificial flavors and colors as these are known sources of carcinogens. If you see any mention of BHA, BHT, caramel color, and ethoxyquin, avoid that food as these are harmful to both people and pets. 

You will be better off if you do some research, look for some recommendations of top cat food brands, and most importantly, talk with your vet.  

Cat Food

The common vitamins

There are lots of things to consider when you buy cat food apart from the proteins and carbohydrates. There will be a lot of different types of vitamins in the best cat food that are required to keep your cat healthy. Therefore, look at the vitamins mentioned in the label especially.  Some of them are:

• Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene that is good for vision, skin and immune system
• B vitamins such as biotin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, niacin, and thiamin for better nervous system and vital organs
• Folic acid or B9 to promote cell growth especially in kittens and pregnant cats just as vitamin B12 supplement and 
• Vitamins C and E for a better immune system.

Irrespective of the type of food your cat likes to eat, it is essential that it is easily digestible and made from high quality ingredients. Hence read the cat food label.

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