Ingredient lists, percentages and marketing words, decoded.
The front of a pack is advertising. The back is information. Here is what to look for.
Complete or complementary?
A complete food contains everything a cat needs and can be fed on its own. A complementary food, such as a treat, broth or topper, cannot. This is the single most important line on the label.
The ingredient list
Ingredients are listed by weight before cooking. A named animal protein such as chicken, tuna or salmon meal should come first. Vague terms like meat and animal derivatives tell you very little about what is inside.
The analysis panel
Protein, fat, fibre, ash and moisture are shown as percentages. To compare wet and dry food fairly, remember that wet food is mostly water: 10% protein in a pouch with 80% moisture is about 50% protein on a dry basis.
Taurine
Cats cannot make enough taurine themselves, and a shortage harms the heart and eyes. Every complete cat food should list it.
Life stage
Kitten, adult and senior foods differ in calories, protein and minerals. Feed the stage your cat is in.
Words that mean less than they sound
Premium, gourmet and natural have no fixed definition. Judge the food by its ingredients and analysis, not its adjectives.
