Are you looking for the best dry cat food for your cat?
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What is the best dry cat food in 2024?
We’re sure you want to treat your kitty to high-quality dry food, whatever their preferred tastes. But it’s not always easy choosing a nutrient-rich diet adapted to the needs of your cat.
Kittens become adult cats around the age of one. This means that they no longer need the same nutritional intake and it's time to change their dry food.
Adult cats are no longer growing and therefore need less protein and fat. If you continue to give kitten food to your adult cat, they could put on too much weight.
When choosing your cat’s diet, take into account their taste, as well as the nutritional qualities of the food. Consider the amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, as well as whether the meat is fresh and the ingredients are organic. Ideally, you should opt for premium kibbles. For animals with digestive problems, the ideal option is grain-free cat food.
Has your furry baby finally become a beautiful adult cat? To help you choose the best dry cat food for them, we’ve prepared this comparison. Follow it and your pet will purr with pleasure!
Summary
Why do I need to buy dry food for adult cats?
On the market, you can find "junior", "adult" and "senior" cat food. There’s a diet tailored to the different stages of an animal's life, and it’s not for nothing! Indeed, a cat’s nutritional needs change with age. For example, a growing kitten has to eat more protein than an adult. The best senior cat food is low in calcium, to prevent kidney damage and arthritis. Therefore it’s important to modify your cat's diet when your kitten becomes an adult and their calcium intake needs to be dosed appropriately.
Leave some dry food available to your pet at all times, so that they can help themselves to small amounts throughout the day - a cat food dispenser is ideal!
What are the different types of dry food for adult cats?
There are two main ranges of cat food: standard and premium. The former are the kibbles that you can easily find in any supermarket. They’re less expensive than premium dry food, being prepared with lower quality ingredients, but still provide the necessary nutrients. Standard dry cat food is made from animal by-products, such as carcasses or cartilage, which are not as high in protein as fresh meat.
Premium kibbles, on the other hand, are perfectly balanced and provide pets with all the nutrients they need. Made from high-quality ingredients, premium dry food for cats is available in various ranges that are adapted to the animal’s age and health, such as grain-free, organic or neutered.
You will find the best options at your vet's or in specialised shops.
Do I have to feed my adult cat dry food?
It is strongly recommended that you feed your adult cat dry food every day. Dry cat food is easy to dose and it allows your pet to eat throughout the day. Besides, kibble forces cats to chew, making their teeth and jaw work. It reduces tartar build-up and activates blood circulation in the gums. You can also choose a mixed diet with one-third wet food and two-thirds dry food.
If you prefer to feed your pet only wet food, you will have to give them a much larger quantity of food. Cans are 80% water, while dry food contains only 10%. Also, since cats need to eat a larger volume of wet food to feel full, they may have difficulty digesting it. Finally, it is more expensive than kibbles and does not keep for long once put into the bowl.
How should I choose the best dry food for cats?
There is a wide range of dry foods for adult cats. From grain-free to salmon to meat, it's not always easy to decide between brands. To choose the best dry cat food for your pet, you need to check the list of ingredients. The food should contain at least 40% protein and 12% fat, to meet the energy needs of your cat. On the other hand, carbohydrates should be as low as possible.
Choose premium cat food, which is of better quality than standard kibbles. It’s made from fresh meat or fish and is very well balanced. If your pet is neutered, it will need low-calorie food to prevent them from gaining weight.
