Comparison Chart of Cat Foods
Here's a quick, easy to use comparison chart of the cat foods I have reviewed with my cats. I've owned cats for my entire life, so over 30 years. I really find that web foods are best enjoyed by the cats, and that their skin, eyes, fur and health are far better when fed wet food. That's what nature intended their systems to process.This chart is done in REAL VALUES - not in the "stated values" - so that it is easier to compare against the AAFCO recommended amounts. Read Calculating Nutritional Content in Wet Food for more details on how and why this is done.
| Cat Food | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Ash | Fiber | Taurine |
| AAFCO Dietary Guidelines | 26% min | 9% min | - | - | - | 0.2% min |
| Companion Gourmet | 44% | 22% | 82% | 17% | ? | ? |
| Iams Select Bites | 50% | 22% | 82% | 14% | 8% | 0.28% |
| Meow Mix | 78% | 10% | 82% | 17% | 8% | 0.28% |
| Nutro | 44% | 25% | 82% | 14% | 11% | 0.28% |
| Purina Friskies | 44% | 25% | 82% | 14% | 11% | 0.28% |
| Whiskas | 64% | 11% | 78% | 11% | 9% | 0.23% |
My comments on these ingredients:
Protein: Cats need protein. In the wild they certainly didn't eat tons of grain - they ate meat. It is what a cat's body needs to thrive. That being said, TOO much protein can be harmful. Recommended Protein Amounts
Fat: Fat isn't a great "evil" for cats. It's a normal part of their diet. Fats and oils are critical for brain function.
Moisture: I am a strong proponent of cats needing moisture IN their food. Their mouths weren't meant to drink up gallons of water in a raw state. They are supposed to eat a lot of "juicy meats". If they eat a dry pellet, it literally goes into their stomach and sucks up water like a sponge. That's not great for a cat's health. They should eat very moist proteins, i.e. "wet food".
Ash: Ash is NOT a normal part of any cat diet. It's used as filler in many poor quality foods. Many vets feel ash can bring on urinary tract diseases in cats. Avoid ash.
Fiber: You've probably seen cats and dogs out eating grass sometimes. It helps to soothe their tummies. Just like humans need fiber for their food to be processed properly, so do cats and dogs. We're not talking about loafs of bread here - we're talking a small but important amount of fiber.
Taurine: Taurine is a CRITICAL protein for cats to get in their diet. If a cat doesn't get enough taurine in his or her diet, blindness could result. Recommended Taurine Amounts
Cat Food and Treat Reviews
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