Your pet's diet

Pros:

• meat as the first ingredient;
• taurine present;
• vitamins and minerals.

Cons:

• sugar and sweeteners;
• artificial colors;
• vague "by-products" listed without specifics.

Dry food — convenient to store and portion, can be left in the bowl longer, more economical, works well with automatic feeders. Downsides: low moisture content (about 8–10%), requires constant access to water.

Wet food — contains 70–85% water, helps maintain water balance, more appealing to cats that don't drink much. Downsides: more expensive, spoils quickly once opened, can't be left in the bowl for long.

Combined feeding: for example, wet food in the morning, a small portion of dry food midday, and wet food again in the evening.

Focus on nutritional completeness and how trustworthy the information is. The label should state that the food is complete and balanced, and suitable for your cat's specific age and condition.

Check the guaranteed analysis (minimum % crude protein and fat, maximum % fiber and moisture). AAFCO standards recommend at least 26% crude protein in dry food for adult cats and 30% for kittens.

Protein: cats are obligate carnivores, so the base of the food should be meat or fish. The first items in the ingredient list should be specific ingredients ("chicken," "turkey," "salmon"), not vague terms like "meat and by-products." Taurine must be present.

Fats: animal sources are preferable (chicken fat, fish oil, salmon oil) — a source of omega-3 and omega-6.

Carbohydrates and fiber: cats don't need many carbohydrates, so corn/wheat/rice aren't ideal as a base ingredient. Fiber is beneficial in moderate amounts (around 3–6%).

Additives: natural preservatives are preferable (vitamin E, vitamin C, rosemary extract) — avoid BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin.

Risks of low-quality food: allergies, digestive issues, obesity, nutrient deficiencies.

Labels like "Premium," "Super-premium," "Holistic," "GMO-free," and "Natural" are used often and mean very little — focus on the actual ingredient list and guaranteed analysis rather than marketing labels.