5 Ingredients To Look For In Wet Cat Food

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With more information available to us now than ever, we cat owners can finally make informed decisions to help our cats get the best meals possible. Many wet cat food brands already use a mix of healthy ingredients, so shopping for a trustworthy brand can help you feel secure in your decision for your cat’s diet.

Knowing what to look for in wet cat food can make shopping easier, and you don’t need to know every single ingredient listed. In fact, just knowing the first five ingredients can go a long way in helping you pick the best wet food for your cat.

What Should I Look For in Wet Cat Food?

Whenever you pick up a can or pouch of wet cat food, the most important thing is to look at the first five ingredients listed. Ingredients are listed in order of most included to least with the first item making up the largest percentage of the meal. So, the first five listed ingredients are also the biggest portions of ingredients that your cat will eat.

In general, you want the first five ingredients to include proteins and moisture, since wet cat food is a great way to keep your cat hydrated. Other healthy ingredients to look for include fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins as this can help round out your cat’s diet. You should also try to avoid foods with high levels of fillers or additives like soy, grain, or preservatives.

Related: Is Wet or Dry Food Better for Cats?

5 Best Ingredients in Wet Cat Food

To make sure your cat is eating the best wet cat food, look for these five ingredients.

Protein

From chicken to fish, protein is a critical part of every cat’s diet. If you have a kitten, you might want to consider even more protein-dense foods as your cat needs protein to grow healthy and strong.

Fatty acids

Fats like omega-3 and omega-6 are healthy for all creatures, your cat included. Finding a wet food that includes natural fatty acids from animals is even better.

Taurine

Taurine is found in wet food either as an added amino acid or naturally through meat. A cat needs taurine to keep its eyes, heart, and other organs healthy and functioning properly.

Fruits and veggies

Yes, fruits and veggies can play an important role in your cat’s diet. When mixed with other ingredients in wet cat food, fruits and veggies provide healthy antioxidants and vitamins that serve as an excellent supplement to your cat’s diet.

Natural preservatives

Preservatives are fine in cat food as long as they’re natural, such as mixed tocopherols. You want to stay away from artificial food preservatives to keep your cat’s health in top shape.

You can see in the image that the first five ingredients in this wet food are pork broth, rabbit, pork liver, pork, and egg whites — all great ingredients for a healthy cat.

Which Ingredients to Avoid in Wet Cat Food

Before reading through the entire ingredient list of every wet cat food at your local store, remember that ingredients are listed by their weighted percentage. So, while carbs aren’t the best for a cat’s diet, low levels of carbs shouldn’t pose a threat to your cat’s health.

With that in mind, here are ingredients to avoid in wet cat food.

  • Fillers like wheat, corn, and soy. As carnivores, cats can’t digest plants as well as humans.
  • Meat byproducts, which means that the cat food is using the less desirable parts of the animal.
  • Sugar, specifically if it’s added for taste. Nobody needs added sugars in their diet, and sugar could lead to dental issues for your cat.
  • Artificial additives including fake flavoring, artificial preservatives, and fake coloring. These provide no health benefits and can end up being unhealthy for your cat.
  • Carrageenan, a common additive that makes wet cat food thicker. While not the worst for your cat, some cats could experience gastrointestinal issues from eating too much carrageenan. 
  • Artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Not only do these sweeteners provide no health benefits, but some could prove to be dangerous for your cat.
Thomas Short
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