Cat Food Guide: How to Choose the Right Food for Your Cat

The selection of cat food is vast, and it's often difficult to see through the manufacturers' marketing claims. As a cat owner, you want to make an informed decision that serves your pet's well-being without falling for marketing hype. This guide will help you recognise the important quality features of cat food and avoid common pitfalls when shopping.

The 3 Most Common Pitfalls When Buying Cat Food

Many products advertise with appealing images and terms like "gourmet" or "premium," but the true quality is hidden in the ingredients list. Pay attention to these three points to make a well-founded choice:

1. Misleading meat content claims: Phrases like "with chicken" often mean that only a minimum of 4% of the specified meat type is included. The rest can consist of undefined "animal by-products," the quality of which is untraceable for the buyer. A high-meat cat food is distinguished by a clear, high-percentage declaration of muscle meat and high-quality offal.
2. Hidden sugar and unnecessary grains: Sugar is often added to enhance flavour or for browning (caramel), but it has no nutritional value for cats and can harm dental health. Grain frequently serves as a cheap filler. Since cats are natural carnivores, a high grain content can be difficult for some animals to digest, especially for food for sensitive cats. A sugar-free cat food and grain-free cat food is therefore a conscious choice for many.
3. Empty "Premium" Promises: Terms like "Premium," "Delicacy," or "Gourmet" are not legally protected and say nothing about the actual quality of the raw ingredients. Don't rely on the packaging design; instead, check the declaration of ingredients.

What Really Matters: The Decisive Criteria for Food Selection

To objectively evaluate the quality of a cat food, you should check three core aspects. These will help you better assess the composition and suitability for your cat.

1. The Declaration: What's Really in the Food

The ingredients list is the most important tool for evaluating a food. A distinction is made between two types of declaration:

• Closed Declaration: Here, ingredients are grouped together (e.g., "meat and animal by-products," "cereals"). This makes it impossible to determine the exact composition and quality.
• Open Declaration: All ingredients are listed individually and ideally with percentage shares (e.g., "70% chicken, consisting of hearts, meat, liver, gizzards"). Such a transparent listing is a clear sign of quality.

2. Wet Food or Dry Food: An Objective Comparison

Both wet food for cats and dry cat food have specific characteristics. The decision depends on your cat's needs and your personal preferences.

• Wet Food:
  • Advantage: High moisture content (approx. 80%), which supports fluid intake and can contribute to urinary tract health.
  • Disadvantage: Shorter shelf life after opening and often a higher price per feeding.
• Dry Food:
  • Advantage: Long shelf life, easy to portion, and can support dental cleaning through the abrasion of chewing.
  • Disadvantage: Low moisture content (approx. 10%), which is why the cat must drink enough additional water.

A combination of both food types is also a common feeding method.

3. Unwanted Additives: Necessary or Filler?

A species-appropriate cat diet is based on prey animals. Unnecessary additives should be avoided.

• Grains (Wheat, Corn, Soy): Can lead to digestive problems or intolerances in sensitive cats. High-quality carbohydrate sources like potatoes or peas in small amounts are often better tolerated.
• Sugar: Offers no nutritional value and can contribute to long-term health problems.
• Artificial Colours, Flavours, and Preservatives: Are unnecessary for the cat and often only serve appearance or acceptance.

Our Selection: Suitable Cat Food for Various Needs

Based on objective criteria such as a transparent declaration and the absence of unnecessary additives, we have compiled some products for different requirements.

MATCH FOR: Quality-Conscious Owners Focused on High Meat Content

MjAMjAM Juicy Chicken with Delicious Carrots 6 x 400g

Why This Fits Their Persona: Ideal for owners who value a natural diet with clearly declared, high-quality ingredients. The recipe is based on the cat's natural prey.

How It Avoids the Trap

This food avoids the vague meat content pitfall with an open declaration showing a 72.5% meat content (chicken meat, liver, hearts).

Key Advantage & Pros

Completely free of grains, sugar, and artificial preservatives. High protein content (12%) to support muscle maintenance.

MATCH FOR: Owners of Sensitive Cats

Perfect Fit Adult Dry Food for Sensitive Cats, 750g (6 Bags)

Why This Fits Their Persona: This dry food was specially developed for cats with sensitive stomachs. The recipe is designed to support digestion and avoid common triggers of intolerances.

How It Avoids the Trap

It addresses the problem of hidden fillers by being formulated without wheat and soy, according to the manufacturer, which are common causes of digestive issues.

Key Advantage & Pros

Contains yeast as a natural source of prebiotics to support a healthy gut flora. The "Total 5" formula supports five key areas of health.

MATCH FOR: Budget-Conscious Bulk Buyers

animonda Vom Feinsten Adult Poultry + Beef Wet Food, 32 × 100 g

Why This Fits Their Persona: This bulk pack offers great value for money for owners looking for solid food quality without breaking their budget. Ideal for stocking up.

How It Avoids the Trap

Despite the budget-friendly bulk price, it is formulated without grain, sugar, and soy. The meat content is a solid and clearly declared 63%.

Key Advantage & Pros

Convenient 100g trays that guarantee freshness. Contains taurine to support heart and vision function. Made in Germany.

Frequently Asked Questions about Cat Food

1. How much food does an adult cat need per day?

The required amount of food depends on the cat's weight, age, activity level, and individual metabolism, as well as the energy content of the food. As a rough guideline for wet food, a 4 kg, normally active cat needs about 200-250 grams per day, divided into at least two meals. For dry food, it's about 50-70 grams. Always follow the manufacturer's feeding recommendations on the packaging and adjust the amount as needed.

2. How do I properly switch my cat's food?

An abrupt food change can lead to digestive upset. Gradually mix the new food with the old over a period of 7 to 10 days. Start with a small portion of the new food (about 25%) and increase it every few days until the meal consists entirely of the new food.

3. How can I tell if my cat is not tolerating its food?

Signs of food intolerance can be varied. Common symptoms include digestive problems like diarrhoea or vomiting, skin issues such as itching and hair loss, a dull coat, or general lethargy. For persistent symptoms, a veterinarian should always be consulted to determine the cause.