Whether you are an experienced cat owner, or a newly adoptive cat parent, trying to select the proper food for your kitten can be confusing. There are several things for you to consider when purchasing cat food. Keep the following tips in mind when shopping.
- First, you should spend some time becoming acquainted with the labels on pet food. Learning how to understand the ingredients will help you to make an informed decision. You should look for foods that have "complete and balanced" on the label. Pet food companies must meet specific criteria in order to label their food this way.
- You should also check to see that the specific source of protein is included in the list of ingredients. It should be the first ingredient labeled if you want a quality food. This is especially true with canned food. Protein should be from some form of meat source. Many foods contain corn meal and⁄or excessive carbohydrate fillers. Dry food can be composed of as much as 50% fillers. This means your cat will fill up on food, but the nutritional value just is not there.
- There are a few things you should avoid when selecting a food. Words, such as by products (meat and/or meal) are indicators that the product don't have a direct source of protein. Most descriptions, including the words animal digest, digest, and added sugars, are included on less than premium products.
Kittens especially like moist food instead of dry. Kittens that eat dry food may find certain shapes of kibble more appealing than others. Sometimes you may have to try several types of food and treats to find the one that's right for your pet. You should check treats that you buy to ensure they don't contain too much sugar.
