Which pet foods are the cat’s pyjamas (and which aren’t)
7.4.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin
It’s said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And when it comes to my cats and I, that’s certainly the case. I love my four-legged friends and want them to see them well-fed. With that, I hereby declare the search for quality cat food...on.
We’ve got four cats at home, each one with its own needs and quirks. But they all have at least one thing in common – they want to be fed regularly. The daily amount of food an adult cat needs varies from feline to feline, depending on factors including age, sex and level of activity. Our cats are accustomed to getting wet food once a day, and their dry food bowl is always topped up. What they chase down, hunt and eat outside the house is a mystery to me. Unless they bring their prey home, that is. I guess you have to expect that when you keep predators as pets.
Back to the cat food they get from me. The selection of products is enormous, with just a quick search of our shop yielding several thousand results. I tend to be pragmatic when buying cat food. Sub-standard, cheap stuff is out of the question, but as much as I love my cats, having four of them means it can’t be too expensive. I also buy from different suppliers every now and then, because I believe that our feline friends, like us humans, appreciate variety. Despite this, there’s one brand I keep on coming back to.
Felix wet food ends up in our cats’ bowls fairly often. For one, they obviously like it. Second of all, my cats all seem to be healthy and well-fed after tucking into it. But still, the question remains: am I actually giving my cats the right food?
Source: Patrick Vogt
Fast food for cats
Not to be a name-dropper, but with a major brand like Felix, I at least don’t seem to be doing anything wrong. But you’re probably wondering what I mean by that. Well, to cats, food like this is basically akin to when we humans eat at McDonald’s or Burger King. That is, it serves its purpose, even if it’s neither healthy nor sustainable. The fact is, fast food is heavy on calories and light on nutrients – and the same goes for cheaper cat food.
Biologically, cats are carnivores, meaning their diet is primarily reliant on meat. So the more meat cat food contains, the better. Inevitably, it’s also more expensive – after all, meat has its price. Rightly so, mind you. One of the main things cat food is derided for is containing too little meat and too many grains and other ingredients. Grain isn’t unhealthy or harmful to cats per se – on the contrary, it can be a valuable source of energy. As Paracelsus once said: «The dose makes the poison.»
What’s much more of a no-no is sugar, often a hidden element of additives and ingredients such as vegetable by-products. As is the case for us humans, too much sugar leads to obesity, diabetes and other issues. Plus, since cats don’t have the necessary receptors, sugar doesn’t add anything to their food in terms of taste. In other words, it’s pointless. Naturally, cat food manufacturers are aware of this too, so they keep their products’ sugar content as low as possible. But still.
Source: Patrick Vogt
«Meat is my vegetable»
The more meat my cats’ food contains, the better. I’m keen to accommodate this myself, often taking home extra snacks such as chicken hearts for my four-legged friends.
Without giving up on that, I’ve also resolved to buy wet food with a high meat content increasingly often. Take products like these, for example, which are slightly more expensive than Felix.
Cat food
Quantity discount
CHF3.60 per piece for 4 units CHF50.–/1kg
Leonardo Cat Food Turkey & Pulled Beef
Adult, 1 pcs., 90 g
Opening the Pandora’s box of cat food
I’m aware that I’ve only just scratched the surface of a topic that’s crying out for greater consideration and exploration. I’m also certain that, despite my good intentions, I’m not getting every single thing right when it comes to feeding my kitties.
So before you start pelting me in the comments with what I’m doing wrong and why, bear with me. This article is my springboard for a deep dive into the ins and outs of cat food. So we haven’t quite let the cat out of the bag yet (see what I did there?)
That said, good tips are certainly welcome. Who knows? Maybe I’ll even include them in my next article.
Header image: Shutterstock
I'm a full-blooded dad and husband, part-time nerd and chicken farmer, cat tamer and animal lover. I would like to know everything and yet I know nothing. I know even less, but I learn something new every day. What I am good at is dealing with words, spoken and written. And I get to prove that here.
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