Dry Cat Food Archives - Best Cat Foods Advisor

What to Look for in Cat Food- What’s Good and What’s Bad Checklist!

16 Point Check List of What to Look for in Cat Food

Commercial cat foods come in all kinds of recipes formulated by companies keen to dominate the pet food market. The virtues of these cat foods will be plastered across their marketing. It is left to the consumer to plod through this information and the ingredients lists to determine what is best for their cat. In this article we point out, in layman’s terms, what to look for in cat food. We also provide a useful infographic tool for our viewers.

Dry vs Wet

Whether cat owners should be buying dry cat food as opposed to wet, or visa versa is not the aim of this discussion. In our view, both have merit, and both can have flaws.

It isn’t whether the food is dry or wet that is important, but rather the quality of the ingredients and formula. There are some excellent dry cat foods and there are some excellent wet cat foods.

What is Considered a Quality Cat Food?

A quality cat food will be a well-balanced meat-based formula providing all the nutritional requirements that cats require, without the inclusion of harmful additives.

The Cat Food Advisor Team have researched and analyzed countless cat foods. By reading the ingredient’s lists of the different products it is a relatively simple task to determine which offers the best cat nutrition.

Checklist of What to Look for in Cat Food

Here is a useful check list designed to guide our viewers with assessing and selecting a premium cat food.

Simply, copy and print the infographic or save it to your device, then utilize it when reading ingredient cat food lists.

We have elaborated upon the details of this Checklist below.

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What to Look for in Cat Food- 6 Must Haves!

Meat Protein/Amino acids

Cats are obligate carnivores deriving their protein from meat. Adult cats require above 25% protein dry weight from meat in their food.

Protein is broken down into amino acids. There are many amino acids essential for cats. An important one, which cats are unable to synthesize, is Taurine.

Omega Fatty Acids

Fatty acids contain anti-inflammatory properties and are essential nutrients for skin and coat health.

They need to be present in the correct ratio/balance in cat food. This ratio is 5 to 1 for Omega-6 to -3. Health problems can occur if the ratio is out.

-Omega 3 Commonly found in oily fish meat.

-Omega 6 Commonly found in chicken fat.

Real Meat

The #1 ingredient on the ingredient’s list should always be named real meat. The better meats are poultry, beef, lamb, rabbit, or fish (in moderation).

Minimal Processing and Cooking

In the wild, cats derive all their nutrients from raw meat.

The process of cooking destroys many nutrients such as vitamins, probiotics, and essential amino acids such as Taurine.

Very high temperatures during cooking will alter the molecular structure of proteins, making them harmful for cats. Slow cooking and baking are better cooking methods.

Balanced nutrition

Ensure a range of vitamins, minerals, probiotics, and prebiotics are present in cat food. Probiotics can help with digestive tract health, and vitamins and minerals maintain overall health.

Conforms with AAFCO Profiles

The Association of American Feed Control Officials regulate the production and sale of cat food. Look for the nutritional adequacy statement located on the pet food label to see if a product conforms to AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.

10 Things to Avoid in Cat Food!

Grains

Avoid food with soybean, corn, wheat, barley, or rice. Carnivorous cats’ digestive systems are not geared for them.

Mycotoxin, a by-product of fungi and mold that forms on contaminated grains is damaging to organs, especially the liver.

Pet food companies use grains as a binder, especially in dry kibble. They will validate grains as a requirement for high fiber and essential carbohydrate, however, cats get these from meat.

PH Out of Balance

The ideal PH range for cats is 6.3 – 6.7. A PH above or below this range can cause crystal formation in the urinary tract resulting in painful infections.

Unnamed Meat By-products/Meat Meal

Meat by-product is the offal discarded in meat processing. Meat Meal is similar. Unnamed by-product could include anything from road kills, deceased pets to deceased zoo animals.

By-product meat is usually fine for cats, so long as you know what is in it.

Food Coloring

Food colorings are problematic to cat health. The main colors added to some cat foods are:

-Red 40: contributes to cancers

-Blue2: linked to brain tumors

-Yellow 5: causes allergies and genotoxicity

Preservatives

Chemical preservatives like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) are very effective at preserving dry cat food but are suspected to be potentially cancer-causing agents. These chemicals are often added to oils and fats.

Look for natural preservatives such as Vitamin E and C.

Flavor Enhancers

Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate– synthetic palatant can cause dehydration, organ damage, cardiovascular disease and bone and tooth damage)

MSG Mono Sodium Glutamate– tricks the brain into thinking the food tastes good and can lead to obesity and brain cell damage

These will be disguised as “Natural Flavors’ or “hydrolyzed protein”

GMO

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) have been linked with diseases of the liver, pancreas, renal and reproductive system.

Look for non-GMO, or better still, organic ingredients.

Legumes

Enzyme inhibitors found in legumes like peas and beans can interfere with digestion. These may be responsible for taurine and other amino acid deficiencies in cats.

Excessive Oily Fish and Fish Oil

Not an acceptable food for daily feeding. Fish contains high levels of fatty acids, which can lead to a vitamin E deficiency in cats, and painful conditions. Some cats develop allergies as a result of eating too much fish based cat foods.

Starchy Tuberous Vegetables

Potatoes and sweet potatoes are included in many cat foods as a binder. Although not toxic, it is unnecessary to feed cats excessive carbohydrates as this leads to weight gain.

Final Thoughts

Being confident in knowing what to look for in cat food will relax cat owners when buying cat food. Please use our ‘What to Look for in Cat Food’ infographic to assist you.

Viewers are welcome to share the infographic with their friends who have cats. They may well appreciate this simple guide.

Dry vs Wet Cat Food Pros and Cons

Trevor Cat Food July 31, 2021September 3, 2022Dry Cat Food, Wet Cat Food

Pet owners want the best for their cats! As a new owner of a furry feline, pet owners may become overwhelmed with the responsibility of providing for their essential needs of food, water, shelter, and safety. We are here to help our viewers provide for their cats. Let us start by looking at what to feed your pet? In this article we will discuss dry vs wet cat food pros and cons.

Also, we review some of the better products available in Amazon and Chewy stores to help our viewers with food purchases.

Dry vs Wet Cat Food Options

Walking down the pet food isle of the supermarket, you are presented with multiple brands of wet and dry cat food, each with brightly decorated packaging marketing depicting hungry cats devouring their product!

Generally, cat owners do not have the time to scrutinize each product, compare pricing and read ingredient lists to work out which cat nutrition is best for your cat, and their budget. Most people just want to ‘cut to the chase’.

Even though cats may have differences in age, lactating, health, breed, weight and whether they are an indoor cat or an outdoor cat, essentially, they will all have similar nutritional requirements.

A good cat food, whether dry or wet, should offer a diet with the correct balance of nutrition suitable for carnivorous cats.

There has always been a debate as to which is better- wet or dry food. Our team at Cat Food Advisor has studied cat nutrition and looked at many cat food products. Our view is: they are both suitable!

It is not whether the food is dry or wet that is important, but rather the quality of the recipe, particularly regarding the ingredients, that is important in determining if the product warrants a place in your home.

8 Best Wet Cat Foods (Fully Reviewed HERE)

Canned Food	Customer Ratings Average	Good For
Soulistic Moist & Tender	4.3 STARS	Free of by-products & additives
Delectables Soft Pate	4.7 STARS	100% nutritionally complete with Vitamins
Dr. Elsey’s 03255 Clean Protein	3.9 STARS	Hydrated and made with clean protein
Dave’S Grain Free Cat Food	4.3 STARS	Protein-rich, grain &gluten-free
Muse Natural Canned Food	4.4 STARS	Balanced diet with tender cuts of real meat
HILL’S Rx DIET i/d Digestive Care	4.6 STARS	Improve digestion and stool quality
Purina Pro Plan UT Health	4.7 STARS	Specific for Urinary Health
Royal CaninUrinary SO	New	Good for cats with Urinary Tract issues

Cat Nutrition 101

We have written many articles on our advisory site on cat nutrition. The best way to look at it is to study what cats in the wild eat. We are not referring to lions and tigers (although their general nutrition is pretty much the same!), but wild cats cousins of your pet.

Cats will chase down and eat small rodents, frogs, birds, lizards and even insects. A hungry cat will eat the entire animal, head, organs, skin, and bone. You will not find cats grazing on grass, eating grain, or munching on fruit and vegetables. Cats are obligate carnivores. That means, they get all their nutrition from meat.

The #1 Ingredient Must be Meat

When considering dry vs wet cat food pros and cons, it is important that the first ingredient is a quality meat/s. A quality meat is ‘real meat’ from poultry, beef, lamb, fish, or rabbit. Taurine, an essential amino acid required by cats is abundant in unprocessed meats. Unlike dogs, cats are unable to synthesise taurine, therefore they require it in their meat based diets.

6 Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats (Fully Reviewed HERE)

Product	Average Customer Rating	Features
Friskies Dry Cat Food, Surfin’ and Turfin’ Favorites	4.8 STARS	All age cats Inexpensive Chicken flavor
Purina Beyond Grain-Free, Natural	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Grain free Natural probiotics No artificials Chicken
Purina One Tender Selects Blend	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Crunchy bites Real chicken Omega-6
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural	4.5 STARS	Adult cats Real beef High protein 36% Grain free
Royal Canin Fit Active Dry Cat Food	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Chicken flavor Balanced calories
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food	4.5 STARS	Adult cats High protein 36% Salmon meat Balanced nutrition

What About Meat By-product?

Meat By-products are essentially the non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat derived from slaughtered mammals.

Much of it is organs such as kidneys, brain lungs, spleen, livers, cleaned stomachs and intestines; as well as blood, bone, undeveloped eggs and feet.

Cat food companies use meat by-products in their wet and dry cat food recipes largely because it is an inexpensive ingredient as it is the offal from animals not considered suitable for humans.

Is Meat By-product Good for Cats?

Meat by-products do provide nutrition for cats, and it is accepted by the AAFCO as suitable for use in animal food, however, we suggested that meat byproduct should not be the first ingredient on the list. It may, however, be used in conjunction with real meat. Read more

6 Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats in 2023

Trevor Best Dry Cat Food May 7, 2020February 18, 2023Dry Cat Food, outdoor cat foods, outdoor cats 0 Comment

6 Best Dry Cat Food for Outdoor Cats of 2020

We have looked at a multitude of cat food products and read through countless customer feedback comments in order to put together comprehensive reviews for our viewers delving into the 6 best dry cat foods for outdoor cats in 2023. But first, a little background…

What Do Wild Cats Eat?

Wild cats thrive on almost every continent on Earth. People joke that cats domesticated humans and not the other way around. In fact, even though we have been companions for over 4000 years, research shows that about fifty percent of pet moggies still live outdoors.

Nonetheless, outdoor cats need feeding and care, although not as much as their indoor buddies. Unsurprisingly, these outdoor cats can be picky about the kind of food they eat.

Being carnivores, a cat must eat meat. In the wild, small cats eat rodents, birds, lizards, insects and fish.

Their delicate carnivorous digestive systems are not designed to digest plants, grains or carbohydrates, and as such, they can get horribly sick when they eat high amounts of those unnatural cat foods. Many cat food products are packed with fillers, that are not a natural part of a carnivore’s cat.

Outdoor cats are more active than their indoor relatives and they will be battling the elements of heat and cold, therefore outdoor cats require more calories. It is important to, not only give your cat food that is equivalent to their natural wild diet (mice, lizards and birds), but to feed them food that is nutritious and free from ingredients that carnivores won’t tolerate.

What to Expect From Our ‘Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats’ Reviews

We have researched and reviewed cat foods and selected products that we consider to be suitable and right for your outdoor cats.

The foods we have reviewed are perfect for outdoor cats, and of course indoor cats will do very well with any of them. Their digestive systems are the same, only their calorie requirements may differ. Here are our 6 best dry cat foods for outdoor cats in 2022.

Best Dry Cat Food for Outdoor Cats 2022

Product	Average Customer Rating	Features
Friskies Dry Cat Food, Surfin’ and Turfin’ Favorites	4.8 STARS	All age cats Inexpensive Chicken flavor
Purina Beyond Grain-Free, Natural	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Grain free Natural probiotics No artificials Chicken
Purina One Tender Selects Blend	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Crunchy bites Real chicken Omega-6
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural	4.5 STARS	Adult cats Real beef High protein 36% Grain free
Royal Canin Fit Active Dry Cat Food	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Chicken flavor Balanced calories
Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food	4.5 STARS	Adult cats High protein 36% Salmon meat Balanced nutrition

Reviews of the Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats in 2022

Friskies Dry Cat Food, Surfin’ and Turfin’ Favorites

Purina Beyond Simply Grain Free White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe adult dry cat food. Purina’s pet nutritionists design their cat food to include high-quality ingredients from carefully considered sources. Their high-protein cat food’s main ingredient is white meat, chicken raised, without steroids.

Offering a nutrient-rich blend that is one hundred percent complete and balanced for adult cats. This natural cat food, with added minerals and vitamins, contains feline probiotics for digestive health.

They have crafted a gluten and grain-free, dry cat food, without artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Their dry food, when mixed with their wet food range and toppers, can make mealtime for cats in your home a satisfying experience.

All Purina’s products are made in USA where they take positive steps to make it right for your pet and good for the planet.

This product- Friskies Surfin and Turfin, includes essential fatty acids, healthy protein, zinc, Vitamin A, Taurine, and antioxidants. The cat food is suitable for kittens, lactating mother cats and adult cats.

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Mix flavors
Support immune system
Support healthy skin and coat
Essential vitamins and nutrients

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Artificial colors
Ingredients include corn and soybeans

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Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural

The most important ingredient in this cat food is chicken. This product is grain-free; no wheat, corn, soy, or any type of grain is used as a filler. This is important as grains do not exist in a wild cat’s diet. However, they do include peas as an ingredient. Another ingredient very suitable for cats is eggs. Note that the Purina chicken meat has been sourced from USA, not overseas.

Understandably pet owners do not want to feed their cats artificial flavors or colors! Purina’s products do not have these. This cat food is made from natural ingredients that are safe for your cat. The positive addition of Taurine helps with muscle growth and good vision in your cats. Purina Beyond Grain Free is available in a 5 Lb bag. Other recipes are also available- like salmon.

Purina’s grain free product qualifies to be include in the 6 best dry cat foods for outdoor cats in 2022 list!

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No grain
Natural ingredients sourced in USA
Improve eyesight
Real meat
Vitamins, minerals and probiotics

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Pieces are a little large
Some cats digestive systems don’t agree with dry foods

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Purina One Tender Selects Blend

Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend with Real Salmon adult dry cat food offers delicious crunchy bites. Formulated with real ingredients, including small amounts of real carrots and peas.

Containing no artificial flavors or preservatives, this formula uses real chicken as its main ingredient, packed with omega-6 fatty acids. It is well known that fatty acids help nourish and maintain healthy skin and a lustrous fur coat.

An inclusion of antioxidants promotes immune health. Cat owners’ reviews of the product say it must have a great taste as their cats seem to love it. Along with a great taste, this cat food meal delivers 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats.

The crunchy kibble helps reduce plaque build-up and whiten teeth. An important point to note is this dry food for cats contains no grain fillers.

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Real salmon
No artificial ingredients
Support strong muscles
High protein
Reduced plaque on teeth
Suitable for adult cats

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Strong aroma

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Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Adult Cat Food

Inspired by the diet of the lynx (picture on the packet), a vigorous and renowned hunter, BLUE Wilderness is a grain-free, protein-rich food, containing meats that cats like. BLUE Wilderness is a product of the Blue Buffalo company. Based in the United States, Blue Buffalo makes premium-quality pet foods that contain real meat. There product also includes fruit and vegetables in the mix (peas and sweet potatoes). This addition of carbohydrates is claimed by the company to help fuel your cat’s energetic lifestyle.

This dry food recipe is packed with a blend of red meat (mainly beef).

In addition, it contains omega 3 & 6 fatty acids to support a healthy coat. Also included are antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists. These additions support immune system health.

It must be noted that this particular product does not contain corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives.

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Real meat (beef)
Grain free
Support immune system
No artificial colors or flavors
Support healthy and shiny skin

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Does include chicken meal
Not sort after by fussy cats

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Royal Canin Fit Active Dry Cat Food

Royal Canin Adult Fit & Active dry cat food appears to be tailored for adult cats with access to the great outdoors to live a long, healthy life. Outdoor cats are so much more active than indoor cats, this product has ensured calorie requirements are suitable for maintaining a healthy, ideal weight.

Antioxidants have been added, which helps promote immune health. The dry cat food provides a balanced blend of vitamins and minerals to maintain optimal cat wellness.

It is suggested that cat owners try pairing with Royal Canin Adult Instinctive wet cat food formulas to add variety and interest to your cat’s meal.

The main ingredient is chicken meal. This product does include grain fillers.

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High energy
Maintain weight
Balanced vitamins and minerals
Antioxidants
Targeted for outdoor cats

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Not grain-free

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Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food

With real salmon being the main ingredient in the Wellness complete Dry Natural Cat Food product, cats should find it irresistible!

This appears to be a well-rounded recipe with a focus on the nutrition that moderately active cats need to stay fit and healthy. This is a formula suitable for both indoor and outdoor cats. Specially formulated for cats, this adult grained cat food has the right balance of protein and fat.

It also has a balanced blend of Omega Fatty Acids, vitamins and minerals. The company has crafted the dry cat food to support total wellbeing, including plenty of energy for playtime, sound digestion and immunity, a lustrous skin and coat, healthy eyes and strong teeth, plus controlled minerals for urinary health support.

Made in the USA with no GMO ingredients. This food is available in three different sized bags.

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No corn
Real meat
No Artificial colors or flavors
Support healthy skin and coat
Support immune and urinary health
Made in USA
No GMO

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Contains grains

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Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats Conclusion

If you have any questions regarding any of the 6 best dry cat foods for outdoor cats in 2023 that we have reviewed, or questions on cat related products or topics in general, please send us a message and we will endeavor to provide answers.

We have reviews on the Wholehearted Cat Food Brand looking at the features and flaws of both dry and wet cat foods.

A Final Word

Cat Food Advisor is privately owned. We do not accept money, samples, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers, like Chewy or Amazon (at no extra cost to you) when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

8 Best Dry Cat Foods to Buy in 2023

Trevor Best Dry Cat Food, Cat Food April 21, 2020February 18, 2023Best Dry Cat Food, Dry Cat Food, Dry Foods 0 Comment

Understanding the nutritional requirements of domestic cats and being able to sift through the many different brands, products, and options available, may seem like a daunting task to budding new cat parents, however, this need not be the case. We have identified the best dry cat foods and reviewed them for our readers in this article.

Cat Food Advisor has identified what we consider to be the best dry cat foods available in 2022 in Amazon & Chewy stores, and have provided comprehensive reviews on the products, pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each.

Our comprehensive Dry Cat Food Guide for Cat Owners

In our guide we list the important things to look for in a quality dry cat food. We recommend that you view our guide HERE before purchasing a dry cat food for your pet.

Here is a Quick View of Our Best Dry Cat Foods Selection

These have been identified to be nutritionally high-quality foods.

Product	Average Customer Rating	Features
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor	4.8 STARS	Vet recommended Chicken flavor High fiber
Blue Buffalo Indoor Hairball Weight Control	4.7 STARS	Hairball control Weight management Real chicken
Nulo Grain Free	4.6 STARS	Grain free All natural High meat/low carb Healthy gut
Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Diets (L.I.D.)	4.6 STARS	Grain free Salmon meat Natural ingredients
Wellness Complete Health Natural	4.5 STARS	Chicken meat All natural GMO free Balanced nutrition
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Salmon	4.8 STARS	Adult cats All natural Salmon & rice Omega -6
Fussie Cat Grain Free Protein Rich	4.7 STARS	All natural Protein rich meat Several recipe choices Allergy relief
Iams Proactive Health Adult Indoor	4.8 STARS	Chicken meat High fiber Omegas -6 -3 Lower fat content
Purina Cat Chow Sensitive digestion	4.8 STARS	Adult cats Natural ingredients High protein Vitamins & minerals

Our No. 1 Pick:

The best dry cat foods that we have reviewed is Fussie Cat Grain Free Protein Rich. It is our TOP

PICK because Fussie Cat offers a complete nutrition using natural high-quality ingredients high in meat protein, without artificial additives or grain fillers, yet packed with extras to ensure cats get all that they need! It has been carefully formulated specifically for cats of all ages. Our No 2 Pick is at the bottom of this article.

Reviews for the Best Dry Cat Food

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food

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Veterinarian Recommended choice
Tasty chicken flavor
Light on their stomach
USA made
Company donates food to cat shelters throughout USA
High fiber

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Grain fillers
Some customer reviews claim the quality of batches is inconsistent
Contains one flavor per box or bag

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The Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Cat Food, developed specifically for indoor cats, uses high-quality ingredients that include salmon, lamb and chicken meat proteins. Their website claims that their recipes have been carefully formulated by a team of veterinarians and animal nutritionists and has clinically proven antioxidant benefits.

Their recipes are made with all natural ingredients boosted with vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Rest assured that their products never contain artificial colors, preservatives, flavors or chicken by-product meal.

Although the ingredients list shows meat as the main ingredient, it does contain grain fillers. Customers have generally given excellent product reviews. Some customers claim the quality of this cat food is inconsistent from one packet to the next.

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Blue Buffalo Indoor Hairball Dry Cat Food

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A balanced diet
Allows extra nutrition
Hairball and weight control
Real chicken meat protein (no chicken by-products)
Animal nutritionists/Veterinarian input
Uses rice as opposed to wheat or soy

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Only a single flavor/recipe

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Another great choice is the Blue Buffalo Indoor Hairball Weight Control dry cat food. Their nutritionally balanced recipe has been specifically formulated with the input of veterinarians and animal nutritionists for maintain a cat’s optimal weight. The main ingredient is real chicken meat and brown rice. The rice, used to provide carbohydrates and fiber is a better choice than using wheat, soy, or corn fillers.

The recipe is enriched with minerals, vitamins, and amino acids for healthy immune and digestive health as well as eye and bone health. Also included in the ingredients list are natural vegetables and berries. These additions give added fiber and antioxidants.

Their products are free from artificial colors, preservatives and flavors and animal by-products, making it one of one of our picks for the best dry cat foods list.

Blue Buffalo presents their product in three sized packets.

The Blue Buffalo Indoor Hairball dry cat food provides well rounded nutrition for any cat.

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Nulo Grain Free Salmon, Duck and Turkey

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Grain Free (no corn, wheat, soy)
No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
High meat/low carbs
83% animal based proteins
Low glycemic ingredients
Probiotics for healthy gut
Reduced carbohydrates to support weight management
Smaller kibble size, easy for cats to chew
Balanced nutrition

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Higher price

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Nulo Grain Free Dry Cat Food looks to be a very good product. We specifically like the very high meat protein content and the fact they do not have any grain fillers (rice, wheat, soy or corn), nor white potato. The meat ingredients include salmon, chicken, duck and turkey. This provides 83% of the protein in the product. Nulo have kept their carbohydrates in check, ensuring that your cat will maintain a healthy weight,

They do include an excellent BC30 Probiotic to ensure a healthy gut and good digestion. Also included within their balanced diet are vitamins and minerals.

The product is well presented as a small kibble. This is easy for cats to eat and helps with maintaining oral hygiene in cats.

They offer different products specifically formulated for adult cats and for kittens.

Nulo grain free dry cat food has been rated very highly by customers, with some finding the price of the product a little higher than other dry food products. We feel it is worth the extra expense having a quality product.

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Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets

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Salmon main protein source
Prebiotic fiber for healthy digestion
Comes in a natural flavor
Lean formula for indoor cats
Balanced nutrition
100% grain free

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One flavor/recipe choice

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Natural Balance Limited Ingredients Diets (L.I.D.) dry cat food is a healthy choice that has been formulated specifically for adult indoor cats with thought going into the balance of carbohydrates and protein, ensuring they are kept to a healthy weight. They offer only one flavor- Salmon and Chickpea in a 5lb bag.

As a dry cat food we like that it does not have grain fillers, which will only cause your cat bloat and digestive issues. Their main ingredient is salmon. It also contains chickpeas, peas and potatoes- providing carbohydrates and fiber. Their recipe has additional vitamins, minerals and fatty acids ensuring all nutritional requirements have been met.

Most customer reviews have been very positive, with some cat owners saying the quality of the product is inconsistent.

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Wellness Complete Health Dry Cat Food

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Free from artificial colors, preservatives and fillers
Range of flavor/recipe choices
Balanced nutrition formulated for adult cats
Vitamins, minerals and Omega fatty acids
Made in USA
GMO free
Main meat protein- chicken

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Rice, barley and oats included

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Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food is a balanced food with the main protein ingredient being chicken mixed with rice, barley and oats. All natural ingredients are boosted with the additions of vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. It is free from artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. It does not include fillers such as corn, wheat or soy.

Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Cat Food comes in three packet sizes- 2.5lb, 6lb and 12lb.

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Nutro Wholesome Essentials Cat Food- Salmon

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Formulated for adult cats
Salmon and brown rice recipe
Healthy antioxidants
Natural fiber
GMO free
No corn, wheat or soy
No artificial flavors or colors
Rich in Omega-6 fatty acids
Rated 5 star by customers

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Another favorite pet food choice for cats is the Nutro Max Cat Salmon Food. The salmon and brown rice recipe, suited to indoor cats, comes in a 6lb bag.

Nutro Max Cat Salmon Food comes with important nutrients such as Vitamin E, Taurine, Vitamin C, Tomato Pomace, and extracts from Cranberries and Blueberries- ensuring a healthy immune system and healthy digestion.

We like that the product has no GMO ingredients and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. It also has no corn, wheat, soy or chicken by-product meal- just real food for your cat!

Nutri cat food is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, supporting healthy skin and coat.

This recipe main protein meat ingredient is salmon, however, Nutri offers other meat proteins in other dry food products such as chicken and turkey.

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Fussie Cat Grain Free Protein Rich Dry Food

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All natural protein rich meat
Grain free & potato free
Packed with minerals, vitamins and superfood extras
Several recipe choices (fish and poultry)
Products formulated for adult cat and another for kittens
A good choice for cats with allergies or a food sensitive

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Some customer reviews say their cat does not like it

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Fussie Cat Grain Free Protein Rich dry cat food is our TOP PICK. It offers complete, balanced high-quality nutrition using natural ingredients high in meat protein, without artificial additives or grain fillers, yet packed with extras to ensure cats get all that they need!

It has been carefully formulated with a range of meat recipes some suitable for adult cats and a recipe for kittens. Recipes include: duck and quail, chicken and quail, chicken and turkey, salmon and chicken, and salmon on its own.

The product is a good choice for cats sensitive to allergies and those with UTI problems.

The product comes in three packet sizes, 2lb, 4lb and 10lb.

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Iams Proactive Health Adult Indoor

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Balanced diet
Chicken meat protein
High fiber- good digestion and reduced hairballs
Comes without bloating ingredients
Lower fat content
Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids- skin and coat

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Does not come in many flavors
Corn fillers

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The Iams Proactive Health Adult Indoor Pet Food is an exciting choice for domestic cats. Formulated for weight management of cats, with a lower fat content to similar products and high fiber. The extra fiber helps in hairball control and intestinal health. Packed with Omega fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat and added vitamins and minerals for bone strength, eye sight and immune health.

Iams’ main meat protein comes from chicken and turkey which most cats generally enjoy.

Packaged in a 22-pound bag.

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Purina Cat Chow Sensitive Stomach

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Natural fiber blend for digestive health
25 essential vitamins and minerals
100% complete balanced nutrition
Formulated for adult cats
No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives
High protein
Made with real turkey meat
Gentle on the stomach suitable for sensitive digestion

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Turkey By-product meal as main ingredient
Includes corn meal, soy meal and wheat fillers

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Another great choice is the Purina Cat Chow, formulated by the company for cats with sensitive stomachs. A turkey flavored recipe boasting 25 essential vitamins and minerals for a complete balance of nutrients for cats. The company offers a variety of formulas packaged in either a 6.3lb or 13lb bags. No artificial flavors, colors or preservatives are used with Purina’s Cat Chow.

We would have preferred real turkey meat as opposed to turkey by-product meal, and a little less corn and soybean meal used as fillers.

Customers have given this dry cat food a five star rating for flavor, value for money and ingredients.

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Best Dry Cat Foods- Buyer’s Guide

A full comprehensive buyers guide is available HERE. Below are the main pointers summarized:

Cat Needs

Cats are carnivores, so high protein meat should be the main ingredient. Cats are not omnivores like us humans, so they should have very little grains or plant foods in their diet.

Complete and Balanced

Cats require a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fatty acids and amino acids, together with vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients

The ingredients matter a lot. Choose options low in fat, sugars, and grain fillers. Try natural ingredients because they promote a healthy system. Steer clear of artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.

Other Health Benefits for Food

Look for Omega fatty acid rich foods for healthy skin and coat, pre and pro biotics for digestion and immune health and fiber to help with the reduction of fur balls and a functioning digestive system.

Mix Wet and Dry Foods

Although a dry food only diet offers all the nutrients your cat requires, mixing it up with tinned wet foods and fresh raw or cooked food will add variety and taste to what your cat eats.

Price

What you pay for is often what you can expect to get in quality with a dry cat food. Foods with high quality natural ingredients will cost more as apposed to animal by-product proteins and grain fillers.

The Final Pick For… Best Dry Cat Foods!

We showed you our No 1 pick at the beginning of this article. For our number 2 pick it would have to be Nulo Grain Free Salmon Duck and Turkey. A little pricier than the other dry cat foods reviewed in this article, but offering the very best quality nutrition for your cat!

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You may also be interested in the following Reviews and Articles:

8 Best Grain Free Cat Foods

8 Best Wet Cat Foods

Best Low-Carb Cat Food

10 Best Kitten Foods

Vegan Cat Food

7 Best Indoor Dry Cat Food

A Final Word

Cat Food Advisor is privately owned. We do not accept money, samples, gifts, or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.

For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.

16 Point Check List of What to Look for in Cat Food

Dry vs Wet

What is Considered a Quality Cat Food?

Checklist of What to Look for in Cat Food

Share this Image On Your Site

What to Look for in Cat Food- 6 Must Haves!

Meat Protein/Amino acids

Omega Fatty Acids

Real Meat

Minimal Processing and Cooking

Balanced nutrition

Conforms with AAFCO Profiles

10 Things to Avoid in Cat Food!

Grains

PH Out of Balance

Unnamed Meat By-products/Meat Meal

Food Coloring

Preservatives

Flavor Enhancers

GMO

Legumes

Excessive Oily Fish and Fish Oil

Starchy Tuberous Vegetables

Final Thoughts

Dry vs Wet Cat Food Options

8 Best Wet Cat Foods (Fully Reviewed HERE)

Cat Nutrition 101

The #1 Ingredient Must be Meat

6 Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats (Fully Reviewed HERE)

What About Meat By-product?

Is Meat By-product Good for Cats?

What Do Wild Cats Eat?

What to Expect From Our ‘Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats’ Reviews

Best Dry Cat Food for Outdoor Cats 2022

Reviews of the Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats in 2022

Best Dry Cat Foods for Outdoor Cats Conclusion

A Final Word

Our comprehensive Dry Cat Food Guide for Cat Owners

Here is a Quick View of Our Best Dry Cat Foods Selection

Our No. 1 Pick:

Reviews for the Best Dry Cat Food

Best Dry Cat Foods- Buyer’s Guide

Cat Needs

Complete and Balanced

Ingredients

Other Health Benefits for Food

Mix Wet and Dry Foods

Price

The Final Pick For… Best Dry Cat Foods!

You may also be interested in the following Reviews and Articles:

A Final Word