What's the best cat food out there?

Question

I want truly human grade (as in USDA certified, or certifieable) cat food, but I don't want to have to prepare food at home for my kitty. So far, she likes By Nature Organics and Innova Evo. She doesn't like Wellness, Newman's Own, or Prairie (I know! A very very picky kitty!). Also, I've considered trying to work more vegetarian options into her diet (I'm a vegetarian and veganish and feel bad about contributing to slaughterhouses), but I'm worried about urinary infections. I've read those can be a problem w/ vegetarian cats.

So i guess this is really two questions:

1) What's the best meat-based prepared cat food?
2) Anyone out there had luck w/ a vegetarian diet? If so, were there problems and how did their health compare? What were you feeding them before, and so on?
3) Which is healthier overall: a very premium meat-based diet or a vegetarian diet. I know that a vegetarian one is superior to the commerical crap--the friskies and so on--but how does it measure up to a good diet?

Answer 1

Here we go again with people belly aching about "you shouldn't feed human food to cats", "cats are carnivores", and "veterinarians are the end all be all of knowledge". BLEH!

Contrary to popular belief, "human food" is perfectly fine depending upon what you feed your cat. (Note that I said DEPENDING UPON WHAT YOU FEED YOUR CAT- In other words, I am pointing out that not ALL "human food" is suitable for domestic feline consumption.)

It is well-known that nutrients, such as taurine, are destroyed during modern cat food preparation. The fact that pet foods contain materials not fit for human consumption is NOT a good thing. These foods often contain U.S. Department of Agriculture grade 4-D meat (which stands for dead, dying, disabled and diseased) consisting of (but not limited to): cancerous material from the reject piles of slaughterhouses and brain materials that can contain prions (the infectious organisms which cause diseases such as Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or BSE) and Chronic Wasting Disease). Important to note: Cats are extremely susceptible to BSE. What's more, several pet food manufacturers process euthanized pets- which is why traces of euthanasia drugs and flea treatment chemicals can be found in many pet foods.


Concerning cats being obligate carnivores-

I will begin by saying that belonging to the order Carnivora does not implicitly mean that an animal does not or should not consume anything other than meat. The mere fact that domestic cats are, well, domestic sets them apart from their wild relatives. Firstly, most modern day pet foods contain plant materials that have been rejected for human consumption. In other words, it's a common sense fact that domestic cats have already been eating an omnivorous diet for many, many years. Secondly, domestic cats live in an artificial environment. The effects of this have been the following: #1) It has rendered the domestic cat incapable of instinctively consuming it's natural nutrient requirements (which is evident from the fact that domestic cats will lap up anti-freeze, eat toxic houseplants, and so on...) And #2) Just as domestication has drastically changed the dietary requirements of dogs (Domestic dogs are classified as Carnivores, but they've evolved into animals capable of existing solely on non-meat products.), the dietary requirements of the domestic cat have been altered greatly as well.

As in the case of the domestic dog, due to human interference, the domestic cat became very capable of consuming non-meats. And this capability eventually led to dietary requirements which are different from those of the wild cat. As I tell people all the time, too much fish and meat (animal protein) causes excessive acidity. This is one result of the domestic cat having been fed an omnivorous diet. Ideally, our little feline friends would be wild and living in the wild- hunting and eating rodents, birds, and insects. But, as a result of domestication, they have developed needs unique from their wild counterparts.

Realistically, there's no possible way of feeding the domestic cat a perfect diet. All we can do is learn as much as we can about their needs and try as best we can to meet those needs. That is what I feel that I'm doing, and I give advice based upon what I'm doing.

As far as veterinarians are concerned- Sorry, guys, but veterinarians receive very little education regarding proper pet nutrition. I'd consult with a pet dietitian/nutritionist before I relied on anything that veterinarians said to me.


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I've never attempted to feed my cats a vegetarian or vegan diet. And I honestly can't say that I've done much research on it. But I did run across this website: http://www.vegancats.com/ Perhaps it will provide the answers you need. I can't recommend a "best" meat-based commercial cat food, because I have yet to find one that impresses me.

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Just in case you change your mind about feeding a homemade diet, I'm posting my recommendations below:


Most commercial cat food is full of carbohydrates, which will do the same thing in a cat as in a human... Within a very short time after excessive carb intake glucose levels rise rapidly because carbs are digested very quickly. When glucose levels are back down to normal, insulin levels are still near maximum and continually storing glucose in fat cells. As a result, glucose levels fall below normal, and hunger occurs again soon.

This is my kitty diet recommendation that I posted in response to another cat food related question:


Most commercial pet food (regardless of whether it's generic, grocery, or premium) is full of corn, which is of no nutritional value to cats and loaded with carbohydrates. (A veterinarian may tell you differently in an effort to persuade you to purchase food.) Overloading a cat on carbs will fatten him/her up just as it will a human. And some experts agree that too many carbohydrates can lead to a UTI.

This is what I recommend:

25-50% of your kitty's diet should consist of meat. The bigger your kitty, the more meat he should eat. I suggest boiling boneless chicken until it's cooked medium (pink). Serve the broth to kitty as well. Many cats do well on raw meats, but don't switch kitty to raw immediately. If you do it, it should be done gradually. (Don't feed kitty tuna or liver. Tuna can cause steatitis (yellow fat disease), and liver can cause vitamin A toxicosis. And large amounts of fat can cause pancreatitis, so go easy on the fat.)

Commercial foods should consist of no more than 25% of kitty's diet. A superior diet doesn't include ANY commercial food, but we all know that sometimes we're in a pinch for time and sometimes need something quick to toss in kitty's bowl.
This is okay as long as commercial foods are kept to a minimum. When buying commercial foods, check the ingredients. Don't buy anything that lists corn as the first ingredient. This always means that corn is the primary ingredient. Look for foods that list meat or poultry as the first ingredient. And remember- Don't buy into the myth that dry food cleans teeth. If you must feed commercial cat food, try to stick with canned.

Leave grains out if at all possible, with the exception of white rice. White rice can help with digestive problems, but use it sparingly. Veggies should be routinely added to kitty's diet. Of the veggies, include broccoli, carrots, leafy greens, and peas. But be sure to shred/chop and cook.
It's not necessary to feed all of the above veggies every day. You can feed one or two one day, one or two the next, and so on.

I usually tell people to avoid dairy products since cats are lactose intollerant, but occasionally feeding yogurt and cottage cheese (very sparingly) won't hurt and can sometimes help with an upset tummy.

And, while it's best to avoid feeding too many carbohydrates, cooked and mashed sweet potato occasionally fed in small portions is okay if your kitty likes it.

Eggs are a great source of protein and can be fed cooked or raw, but try not to feed eggs more than twice per week (especially if fed raw).

But remember, sudden changes in diet can cause any number of problems. So "ween" kitty onto his new diet by mixing the ''new'' food with the food he is accustomed to and gradually increasing the amount of ''new'' food, and decreasing the amount of ''old'' food, with time as you notice positive changes.

Some people will say that bones are necessary for calcium and will add that cats have always eaten them. Firstly, broccoli and green leafy veggies, for example, are good calcium sources. (And, as someone kindly reminded me not long ago, you can purchase bone meal powder which is a great natural source of calcium and phosphorus.) Secondly, no one can state with authority that no cat is ever harmed by a bone splinter. It can, and does, happen. I realize that cats eat bones in the wild, but it's better to be safe than sorry in my opinion.

Others will say that a cat should be fed a diet consisting completely of meat. However, too much fish and meat (animal protein) causes excessive acidity. (And too much plant protein causes the urine to be too alkaline.) It's important to consider this when choosing kitty's diet because the most common cause of cat UTI is urolithiasis (which is the formation of stones in the urinary tract.) Struvite is the most common stone and is made up of minerals such as magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. The acidic and alkaline properties of these minerals upset the pH level in the urine, which is also influenced by the proteins present in kitty's diet.

Answer 2

I don't know which meat-based food is the *best*, but I also feed my kitty Nature Organics. She loves it. :-)
I actually feed her a combination of dry and wet food. For the dry, I use Castor and Pollux. It contains no corn, soy or wheat. She is fond of that too.
I would NEVER try a vegetarian diet with Madeline. She's a cat and cats are made to eat meat and meat-based foods. I know it's somewhat of a conflict of interest - being a vegetarian and all, but your cat will fall ill if you take meat out of its diet.

Answer 3

My cat got vomited daily from the cheap fillers in Whiskas and Science Diet until I switched to Nature Organics. Now she's super healthy, she's lost two pounds (the vet figures she had an allergy to something in there).

I distrust Science Diet because their sales program pays so much profit to the vets who shill their food, despite the fact that it's full of the fillers that are in cheaper pet foods, like diseased animals, or beaks and bones.

I know you can get artificially produced vegetarian cat foods that provide all of a cat's necessary nutrition, but my sister tried it on her cat, and the poor thing refused to eat it. I'd probably stick with the Nature Organics.

Answer 4

1) Innova Evo is the best food out there. It's expensive but worth it and you don't have to feed as much for the cat to get adequate nutrition.
2) Cats cannot survive on a vegetarian diet. Unlike dogs they are not omnivores but carnivores. They need taurine in their diet to maintina proper health. Taurine is derived from the liver of animals.

Answer 5

Hmm. If you don't want to do your own food, buying pre-made is your best bet. There are companies out there that sell raw organic foods for dogs, maybe they do it for cats, too.

I would seriously advise against trying to force a vegetarian diet on any animal. Cats and dogs are naturally carnivorous and really don't consume carbohydrates at all.

I would suggest talking to your vet. Preparing food for your pet might be the best bet and it's possible that it could be as easy as buying organic ground meat.

Please don't let your personal beliefs get in the way of your pet's well-being. Just as chickens aren't designed to live indoors in tiny cages, cats and dogs weren't designed to be herbivores. Once an animal has been domesticated, it will rely on you to keep it healthy and safe. This probably means that it will need to eat meat. (Important note: cats aren't big fish eaters, and with the danger of mercury, it should be an occasional treat, not an everyday staple. Turkey is supposed to be a good one, though.)

Answer 6

Cat's are obligatory carnivores. While omnivorous humans can survive on a vegetarian dies, cats must have meat to survive. So don't impose human morality on to your pet's health.

Our cats eat Science Diet. The premium pet foods are more expensive, but they don't use cheap fillers. Pet foods like Friskies use the cheap fillers. They do not sate the animal causing the pet to eat more and to become overweight (in addition to other problems). So stick to the premium pet foods. It will be cheaper in the long run.

BTW, don't give your cats human food either.

Answer 7

I would have to say a natural one, get it go out and hunt for its food, but cats have become lazy because we feed them. Some say a raw meat diet is the best.

Theres been a few product information releases about veg*n cat food being harmful to cats specially male cats, and that they should fix in 30% of a meat based cat food.

Answer 8

If you feed a cat only vegetable protein, it will die a horrible death from malnutrition. There are certain chemicals in meat that cats need in their diets, that cannot be supplied by a vegetarian diet.

If the idea of feeding your cat meat is offensive to you personally, limit meat to several times a week -- maybe every second day, and supplement with other foods. You can probably also add some egg and cheese to the diet so that the cat gets animal fats.

I know that cats fed solely on processed dry dog kibble eventually go blind from a lack of taurine in their diet. You should probably consult a vet. Please feed your cat meat. I know it upsets you, but your cat's health will be worth it. Cats are predators, and require some meat in their diets to be healthy, whereas dogs can survive quite well on a vegetarian diet, as they are omnivorous.

Answer 9

I would totally recommend Merrick Gourmet Cat Food.
These meals use high quality, human grade meat or poultry as the number one ingredient. The fresh vegetables and fruits that are added are so real that you can see them and they are loaded with healthy nutrition. These are not cans of blenderized brown mush, these are real gourmet meals for your cat. The cat is a true or “obligate” carnivore (meat only diet) and is specially designed by nature to hunt small rodents and birds. Their digestive tract, as well, is intended to assimilate raw meat best.

You can find more information about natural pet foods as well as some links where you can find more information and high quality pet foods at:
http://www.peaceful-organic-planet.com/natural-pet-food.html

Answer 10

I feed my cat Innova Evo, too. I like that it's grain-free because I don't think cats would normally make grains a big part of their diet in the wild and I like that it's food-grade meat. I like a lot of what I know I about Natura, who makes Innova Evo and a bunch of other brands. They make an organic brand of dog food. I'd love to see them move ALL their pet food to organic and then I'd feel even better about feeding it to my cat. Although I choose for myself an animal-free diet, I do believe my cat is healthiest with a carnivorous diet. I don't know if I trust myself or anyone else to do a vegetarian cat diet well enough to keep him healthy and I'm not willing to experiment with him.

I do think that with a grain-free diet like Innova Evo that you're not supposed to go back and forth with grain foods. You might check with them about that. While you're at it maybe you can ask them to make Evo organic!

Answer 11

I've used Science Diet dry food and nothing but for my cats and they've never had any problems urinary tract, teeth or otherwise.

I NEVER give or gave them ANY human food or canned food. They were always healthy!!!