What you feed your cat can significantly impact their health. However, navigating the sea of cat food options can be overwhelming, especially considering all the complicated labels, colorful advertisements, and enticing marketing jargon. Understanding how to read a cat food label is crucial for ensuring your cat is fed the complete and balanced diet they need to thrive. To help you know what to look for and what to avoid, the Just Cats Clinic team has compiled this simple step-by-step guide to understanding cat food labels.

Step #1: Look beyond buzzwords to find the truth about cat food

While the terms “holistic,” “grain-free,” “all-natural,” and “human grade” may sound appealing, they’re not regulated by any governing body and are often used loosely by pet food manufacturers to lure consumers into purchasing their products. These terms aren’t necessarily bad, but you should dig deeper and scrutinize the ingredient list to ensure the food truly meets your cat’s dietary needs.

Similarly, terms such as “premium” and “gourmet” are more about marketing than nutritional content. When in doubt, always research the ingredients before trusting the promises or claims on a cat food package.

Step #2: Look for the AAFCO label on cat food packaging

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets pet food labeling standards. Labels on quality cat food should bear an AAFCO statement indicating that the food meets AAFCO’s nutritional standards, which ensures the food has been tested and provides cats with complete and balanced nutrition. Foods that are not considered complete and balanced diets will not include an AAFCO statement and may be labeled for “intermittent or supplemental feeding” only. These can include toppers, mix-ins, and bowl enhancers designed to encourage picky eaters.

AAFCO labels will also tell you whether a specific food is formulated for all life stages (there isn’t an appropriate all life stages diet) or a specific stage, such as gestation and lactation, growth and development, maintenance, or senior.

Step #3: Read the fine print of cat food ingredient lists

What’s in your cat’s food can help or hinder their overall health. While you don’t need to research every single listed ingredient, a basic sense of what to look for can help you separate high- and low-quality foods. Key considerations include:

  • Protein — Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they require meat-based protein to thrive. Look for high-quality whole protein sources, such as chicken, turkey, or fish,  which should be included in the first three ingredients. Avoid foods that first list fillers such as corn or soy.
  • Carbohydrates — While cats need some carbohydrates in their diet for energy and healthy fiber, these nutrients should primarily come from vegetable or whole grain sources. Be cautious about foods with excessive carbohydrates from fillers such as corn, wheat, or soy, which can trigger allergies or food sensitivity and promote obesity, especially in less active cats.
  • Fat — Healthy fats are essential for your cat’s skin, coat, and overall health. Fat also provides easily digestible energy to fuel your feline’s daily activities. Look for specific fat sources, such as chicken fat or fish oil, rather than vague terms such as “animal fat.”
  • Non-nutritive ingredients — Watch out for artificial additives, such as dyes, flavors, and preservatives, which serve no nutritional purpose and may harm your cat’s health. Avoid common preservatives such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and ethoxyquin.

Step #4: Inspect cat food labels for a guaranteed analysis

The guaranteed analysis is a chart that details the food’s minimum or crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture levels. This information can help ensure the food meets your cat’s nutritional needs, but does not ensure digestibility or quality, and therefore must be considered with other label findings.

Step #5: Consider your cat’s specific needs

Your cat is unique in every sense, including their dietary requirements and preferences. These will vary according to numerous factors, including age, activity level, body condition (e.g., thin or overweight), and health conditions. For example, while young kittens need an easily digestible diet with a higher fat content to support their rapid metabolism and development, aging cats in renal failure need a low protein, sodium, and phosphorus diet to ease the workload on their kidneys. If your cat has been diagnosed with a chronic condition, your veterinarian will advise you on a therapeutic diet to support their health through nutrition.

Step #6: Ask your veterinarian for a food recommendation 

If the thought of analyzing cat food labels is making your head spin, don’t worry—your Just Cats Clinic veterinarian is always happy to provide a tailored nutritional recommendation for your cat. Simply contact us or request a recommendation at your cat’s next appointment. Our list of trusted manufacturers, formulas, and flavors, all backed by diligent research and dedicated feeding trials and produced in state-of-the-art facilities, ensures safety, satisfaction, and quality results.

Feline nutrition can be intimidating, but with a basic understanding, you can navigate the cat food aisle with ease and select a diet that ensures not only a healthy appetite and a clean plate, but also a healthy, happy cat. For additional feline nutrition resources, or to schedule an appointment at Just Cats Clinic, contact our team or request a visit online.