Things to Look For on a Cat Food Label

ADULT CAT CARE

pet food labelReading a Cat Food Label

Whether you've just brought a new kitten into your home, or your fussy feline demands a re-evaluation of the dinnertime goods, it’s important to be knowledgeable on deciphering pet foods labels. Does grain-free mean lower in carbs? What’s a Guaranteed Analysis?

Questions abound when it comes to pet food label analysis. Expert Ashley Hughes, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at American Animal Hospital Association-accredited Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, DC, weighed in on what consumers should look for on cat food labels to keep pets feeling healthy and satisfied at every meal.

For starters, to ensure that your cat gets enough good sources of protein – think chicken, beef, fish and lamb -- check the first three ingredients on the label. Pet food labels list ingredients in order of the weight of the ingredient, starting with the heaviest.

If chicken meal tops the list, it usually means more protein, says Hughes. Regular chicken is 80% water, which can move up the ingredients list even based on water weight — water that is then removed to make dry cat food. Products like chicken meal (and other protein meals) are dehydrated, meaning that if it’s at the top, it will provide an appropriate level of protein.

For the complete article on how to read a cat food label, visit petMD!

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