How To Choose a Cat Food

Choosing granules according to the age of your cat

• Granules for younger cats (up to 12 months old) - their composition corresponds to the needs of developing kittens. The granules have a higher content of fats, vitamins and minerals. In order for the kittens to chew better, the granule pieces are smaller in size. They are often marked „Kitten“ or „Junior“.
• Granules for adult cats (12 months to 7 years) – contain a balanced amount of nutrients and vitamins needed for a cat to stay strong and in a good healthy condition. The feed tends to have a higher protein content and the granule pieces are larger. You will recognize them as they are marked with the „Adult“.
• Granules for older cats (over 7 years old) – this type of granule has a lower energy value due to a decrease in the physical activity of the cat. However, it should contain more minerals and vitamins. It may be marked „Light“ or „Senior“.

Choosing granules according to the size of your cat

• Granules for small cats – the pieces are smaller so that the jaws of the cats do not strain so much. Small breeds also consume smaller amounts of granules
• Granules for large cats – larger pieces that are rich in nutrients that strengthen the joint system of larger cats.

Choosing granules according to your cat’s physical activity

• Active cats – usually outdoor cats that need richer granules with a higher energy value. It is also important to choose granules with added joint nutrition for such cats
• Less active or neutered cats - such cats, often domestic, require granules with average nutritional values. As they do not burn as much energy as active cats, granules with a higher energy value could lead to obesity or health complications for the cat. Especially in neutered cats, which are more prone to obesity, it is advisable to choose a diet that contains less fat and more protein and fiber. This type of granule is often referred to as „Sterilised“, i.e for neutered cats.

Choosing granules according to the health requirements of your cat

• Hypoallergenic granules – are suitable for cats with allergies or intolerance to some ingredient in common granules. They can often be supplemented with prebiotics or probiotics to promote healthy digestion.
• Granules without cereals – this type of food specializes directly in cats suffering from allergies or intolerance to gluten in food (manifested by, for example by baldness or problematic digestion). At the same time, the more cereals appear in the feed, the less meat they contain. As a result, the cat is saturated for a shorter period of time and the food is consumed faster. Cereal-free granules are sometimes referred to as „grain free“.

How big a pack of granules should I buy?

Not sure what amount of granules to buy? For newly tested granules, it is best to obtain a smaller quantity first. If the feed proves successful, it is possible to proceed to larger packages, which will be more convenient for you and can be easily stored. A 10kg package is ideal, but if you are already sure that your cat likes a certain type of granule and is not picky, you can buy a 20kg pack straight away.

How will I recognise quality granules?

A thorough reading of the composition of the granules is required. You should find all the ingredients written on the packaging. The most important part is the meat, which should be at least 30%. It is also necessary to monitor the fat content - for less active cats 9% fat is ideal. Granules should definitely not contain chemical preservatives or dyes. If you want to avoid poor quality granules, do not buy the cheapest ones - they often do not contain the necessary nutrients and a suitable proportion of meat. In order for the cat to make up for the lack of nutrition, it consumes more and you then have to buy more granules.

Are cat granules also suitable for dogs?

If you have a cat and a dog at home it is definitely not appropriate to give cat granules to both animals. Cats need a different ratio of nutrients in their food than dogs.

Suitable cans for your cat

There are many types of canned cat food, which differ not only in taste and quality, but also in suitability according to the age and activity of the cat. As with the granules, you can also find hypoallergenic cans or cans without GMOs (genetically modified organisms).  

Choosing canned food according to the age of your cat

• Cans for kittens (up to 12 months old) - have a higher content of fats, vitamins and nutrients to support the proper development of the kitten. They contain smaller pieces of meat for easy chewing and swallowing.
• Cans for adult cats (12 months to 7 years) – their composition is adapted to the needs of an active adult animal, they contain a higher proportion of protein and larger pieces of meat.
• Cans for older cats (over 7 years old) – have more vitamins and proteins, the consistency is even finer due to possible dental problems of older cats.

Choosing canned food according to the activity of your cat

• Cans for active cats – mostly outdoor cats - the food has a higher energy value.
• Cans for less active or neutered cats – have a lower energy value due to reduced activity of cats in households or neutered cats. Thanks to their composition these types of canned food can help prevent obesity and other health problems in your cat.

How do I know a quality canned cat food?

The most important thing when choosing canned foods is their composition. The ideal choice is one with the highest percentage of canned meat, with only a small percentage of entrails and does not contain any extra additives such as oils, herbs, artificial preservatives, animal products of unknown origin (hooves, feathers, horns), large quantities of cereals or unnecessary dyes. 

The higher the price, the better the product?

It is not a rule that the most expensive canned cat foods are also the best. Therefore, it is appropriate to follow in particular the composition indicated on the packaging and to choose canned food with a higher meat content. If you want to save money it makes sense to buy a larger quantity - for example, a 400g package of canned food lasts a long time and is more cost-effective. If you have more than one cat to feed, do not be afraid to buy the 800g package. However, care must be taken to ensure that the can does not exceed the maximum consumption time from open indicated on it.

Is canned cat food also suitable for dogs?

They are not, as they contain a much higher proportion of meat and fat compared to canned dog food. Cats simply need a different composition of nutrients, which they use as a source of energy, so this rule also applies to the following pouches.

Choosing pouches according to the age of your cat

• Pouches for kittens – contain a balanced mix of nutrients that promote healthy growth and the proper development of the kitten. The meat is made up of smaller pieces that can be chewed and swallowed better.
• Pouches for adult cats – the composition is adapted to the needs of an active adult animal. The pieces of meat are a little bigger.

Choosing pouches according to the size of your cat

The size of the pouches suggest that they are more suitable for smaller cats that consume less. Since a pouch contains 1 to 2 servings, it makes more financial sense to make pouches a less often used variant/ suplement for larger cats. 

Choosing pouches according to the activity of your cat

As with cans or granules, choose pouches rich in fats and proteins for active, outdoor cats, while for less active or neutered cats choose diet pouches, i.e those with a lower fat content.

How do I recognise quality pouch cat food?

Quality pouches are identified by their meat content. Choose the ones with the highest meat content, as these will ensure a good supply of nutrients for your cat. But what should not appear in the list of ingredients? For example, unnecessary ingredients (oils, preservatives, spices), animal ingredients of unknown origin (hooves, feathers, horns) and larger quantities of cereals, corn and soybeans, which can cause unpleasant digestive problems. The pouches, like cans, are made up of more than 80% water, which prevents dehydration of the cat. Even so, it is important not to forget their drinking regime - cats are prone to urinary tract infection and kidney problems.

How to feed pouches?

Pouches are a very popular delicacy for cats, especially due to their attractive aroma and juicy consistency. They can function as the primary feed but they are more often used as a supplementary food. It is possible to mix them with dry feed and make the granules ‘special’. The pouches have the advantage that they exist in many different flavors. It is recommended to alternate these pouches - partly to prevent an increase in the cat’s appetite for them or for one particular brand but also to maintain a balanced dier for your cat.  

Choosing treats according to the age of your cat

• Treats for kittens – contain a balanced ratio of nutrients for the healthy growth of younger cats, positively affect their development.
• Treats for older cats – the composition is adapted to the needs of older, less mobile cats. Treats often have a lower caloric value to prevent obesity and other diseases.

Choosing treats according to your cat’s activity

More active cats can be given calorie richer treats, while less active and neutered cats are better off being rewarded with reats that have a reduced fat content. 

Choosing treats for your cat according to what you want to use them for

• Dried meat – usually quality treats that are made by drying lean meat. Drying helps preserve the meat, so this type of treats does not contain unnecessary additives, retains a lot of nutrients and also smells and tastes great.
• Dental treats – are enriched with vitamins, minerals and food supplements. The main function of dental treats is to clean teeth or strengthen masticatory muscles. If the cat is fed only wet food, it is recommended to use this type of treats regularly.
• Pâtés – a meat delicacy that even the smallest cat tongues will like.  
• ‘Grass’ for cats – helps cleanse the digestive tract, especially for domestic cats, which do not have daily access to fresh outdoor grass. Cat grass also contains valuable vitamins and minerals.
• Advent calendars for cats – who wouldn't look forward to Christmas? This time, the wait can be shortened not only by the owner but also by their pet, with an Advent calendar full of tasty treats.

How do I recognise quality cat treats?

Quality treats can be recognized by their composition. They contain meat, fats and vitamins, while cereals, sugar, dyes, preservatives and flavorings are not present.

How often can I give my cat a treat?

It is necessary to answer the question: what is the physical activity of my cat? Furthermore, it depends on the caloric value, and thus the appropriate daily amount of food. You can use treats as needed ( as a reward, to clean your cat’s teeth or digestive tract), you just need to keep in mind that it is a supplementary food, not their primary feed. With increased consumption of treats, the cat could be at risk of obesity or joint problems.

When to choose milk and when to move to granules or pouches for kittens?

When the kitten cannot be breastfed naturally, always choose special milk for kittens (never cow's milk, which can cause health problems for the cat). You can buy milk in either dried or liquid form. Around the 4th week, it is possible to gradually start including solids in your kitten’s diet in the form of granules or meat pieces for kittens. 

Milk for kittens

The composition of milk is very similar to the natural breast milk of cats, it contains good amounts of protein and fats, it is a source of calcium, minerals and vitamins. Thanks to the lower lactose content, milk for kittens is easily digestible. The dried variant of milk lasts longer, cheaper and easy to store. However, the preparation takes more time as the powder has to be mixed with water. Although the liquid variant of milk does not have the same advantages, its preparation takes almost very little time. 

How to recognize good quality cat milk?

The basis of judging if it is a good quality kitten milk is its composition. It consists mainly of 2 raw materials, skimmed milk and dried whey. Other important components that contribute to the healthy development of the kitten are also important - taurine (for healthy eyesight and heart), probiotics, minerals, vitamins, colostrum (to bolster the immune system) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). 

What ingredients are not suitable for feeding kittens - what is poisonous for cats?

As mentioned above, cow's milk is very bad for cats and kittens, due to the large amount of lactose that can harm the cat’s entire digestive system. What other foods should you watch out for when feeding cats? Kittens cannot be fed from a human diet, as they are too salty and fatty. The following items are completely poisonous foods for cats: onions, garlic, chocolate, grapes, raisins, raw potatoes, tomatoes and bread.