No one brand or type of cat food that is the “best” for all cats. Individual health concerns, age, and taste and textural preferences all play a part in determining the optimum diet for your feline.
“Complete and balanced” means that the food is formulated to meet the daily nutritional needs of a cat at a particular life stage. It has all the essential nutrients they need to thrive in the right quantities and ratios when fed according to the recommended guidelines.
International pet food regulatory organisations, like the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), have developed nutritional guidelines for each feline life stage, as kittens have very different nutritional needs to adult cats. Many complete and balanced diets for cats are formulated to comply with these guidelines.
If a cat is fed a diet that’ not “complete and balanced”, they’re at increased risk of developing nutritional deficiencies or toxicities which can impact their health and well-being.
Once, kibble and wet foods were the only commercially available cat foods available in the market. Now, the options seem almost endless. Your cat is rightly spoiled for choice when it comes to food formats.
Air-dried cat food is made by combining raw ingredients that are exposed to low temperature circulating air, which draws out the moisture to preserve the food.
Air-dried cat foods like Providore are highly palatable, easy to serve and store, and minimally processed. A cat-loving option on its own or as a topper to their normal diet.
Dry cat food, also known as kibble or cat biscuits, is a popular food option amongst cat owners as it’s widely available in a range of price points with a long shelf life. Kibble is made by extrusion, a process that applies high levels of heat to cook the food, removing moisture and killing foodborne pathogens.
Wet cat food often comes in tins or sachets and is a favourite of many cats. Like kibble, it is cooked at a high temperatures; however, it is cooked in its final packaging to maintain higher moisture levels. The high water content and meaty texture carries a stronger aroma which can entice and appeal to fussy cat’s senses.
Raw food diets are all about feeding natural ingredients that have not undergone any nutrient-altering processes. Some raw food diets aim to mimic the diet of ancestral wild cats, made up of only meat, offal, and bones. Others may take a more balanced approach, feeding a mix of raw meat, fruits, vegetables and supplements.
Feeding raw diets, especially homemade diets, can be challenging. It’s messy, smelly, and takes time. It can also be difficult to source offal and other obscure ingredients required to make a diet complete and balanced.
Then there is the food safety risks. Care needs to be taken when handling raw diets. Because the ingredients are not processed, there is no step that kills foodborne pathogens during preparation. Practice good hygiene to minimise the risk to you and your family.
Gently cooked cat foods utilise a low heat for gentle cooking to kill common foodborne pathogens. This low temperature ensures the nutritional integrity of the food is maintained more closely to the original ingredients.
If you are making fresh, gently cooked cat food at home, make sure to follow a complete and balanced recipe from a qualified pet nutritionist, using high quality ingredients and practicing good hygiene when handling raw ingredients.
When making freeze-dried cat food, raw ingredients are combined into a mixture which is then frozen and processed via sublimation to remove the water content. The end result is a light, high-protein food that is highly palatable, can be stored at room temperature, and is full of nutrients undamaged by cooking.
Rather than sticking to one type of cat food, many cats love some variety at dinner time. Mixed feeding, where two or more types of cat food are fed in one meal, engages all your cat’s senses and can tempt fussiest cats to take a bite.
Air-dried foods like Providore offer a quick, easy and nutritionally sound way to sprinkle your cat’s diet with happy, healthy additions to their main meal. Or maybe they’d love a wet food with a gravy sauce mixed into a meaty base of Providore. It’s a small thing that can make their meals seem new and exciting.
When mixed feeding, take care not to overfeed. The food used as a base should make up 70% of your cat’s daily calories, and the topper you mix in or add on top should be no more than 30% of your cat’s daily calorie requirements.
The amount of food a cat needs to eat every day depends on their:
There is no single amount that applies to all cats for all food types. Every food is made with a different recipe, with a different amount of nutrients per gram.
Feeding guidelines on cat food bags are a great place to start when figuring out your cat’s daily food needs.
Start with the recommended amount. Then, over the next few weeks, keep an eye on your cat’s shape and weight. If your cat’s weight seems to be increasing, slightly decrease the amount of food; if your cat seems to be losing weight, increase the amount of food.
If you have a kitten, their recommended portion size will change as they grow. Regularly check the feeding guidelines to ensure your kitten is getting the right amount of nutrients for their growth phase.
Remember: the amount listed here is usually the recommended portion your cat should get over 24 hours. If your cat eats multiple meals per day, split that amount up over each meal. For example, if your cat’s recommended portion is 40g per day and they get fed breakfast and dinner, they’d get 20g of food per meal.
Feeding guidelines work under the assumption that that specific food is all your cat will be fed in a day. You may need to adjust their daily food portions slightly to account for the extra calories added by treats. Treats should not exceed 10% of your cat’s daily recommended calories.
Cats typically like to eat lots of small, regular meals rather than one big meal. Two meals a day minimum is recommended for adult cats.
Kittens need to eat even more frequently than adult cats. They should get small meals at least 3-5 times a day until they are 6 months old.
It’s not recommended to allow your cat free access to food all day for a few reasons:
So, what’s the best cat food? It depends on you and your cat.
Providore is a delicious, high-protein, gently air-dried cat food crafted in small batches made with natural ingredients. Whether it’s used as a complete diet or nutrient dense topper, Providore will satisfy your cat’s tastes and nutritional needs.
Visit our store locator page to find a retailer near you and ensure your pet gets the best nutrition available.
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