Cat Food Buying Guide: How to Rate Any Cat Food in 5 Minutes
A brand-neutral scorecard for choosing cat food — completeness, manufacturer standards, calories, format and cost per day — plus common marketing traps.
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There are thousands of cat foods, and prices range from budget to luxury. Rather than rank brands (which change recipes, and differ by country), this guide gives you a scorecard you can apply to any food on the shelf. For the nutrition background, read how to choose cat food and wet vs dry cat food.
The 5-point scorecard
| Criterion | What to check | Must-have? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Complete for life stage | "Complete and balanced" (AAFCO) or "complete" (FEDIAF) for kitten, adult or all life stages | Yes |
| 2. Manufacturer expertise | Employs qualified nutritionists; runs feeding trials or research; strict quality control | Strongly recommended |
| 3. Calorie information | kcal per kg, cup or can clearly stated | Yes |
| 4. Your cat's needs | Right format (wet/dry/mixed), texture your cat accepts, suitable for neutered or special needs | Yes |
| 5. Cost per day | Price per day at the correct portion — not per bag | Your budget |
A food that passes 1–4 and fits your budget is a good choice.
How to calculate cost per day
- Find your cat's daily calorie needs (use our cat food calculator).
- Divide by the food's calorie content to get grams per day.
- Divide the pack price by the pack weight to get price per gram.
- Multiply: grams per day × price per gram = cost per day.
A cheaper bag of a less calorie-dense food can cost more per day than a pricier, denser one.
Rating food formats
| Format | Hydration | Cost | Convenience | Weight control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wet (pâté, chunks) | ★★★★★ | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | Most cats, especially urinary-prone and seniors |
| Dry kibble | ★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★ (measure!) | Puzzle feeders, budget, busy owners |
| Mixed feeding | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | A popular balance for many households |
| Commercial raw | ★★★★ | ★ | ★★ | ★★★ | Only with strict hygiene; discuss with vet |
| Freeze-dried | ★ (unless rehydrated) | ★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | Toppers and treats |
Marketing traps to ignore
- "Grain-free" — not healthier for most cats.
- "Human-grade", "holistic", "natural" — don't guarantee better nutrition.
- Pictures of vegetables and berries — nutritionally irrelevant for cats in small amounts.
- Ingredient-list "wars" — the first ingredient tells you little on its own; formulation and quality control matter more.
- "Complementary" or "gourmet treat" labels on foods that look like meals — they're not complete.
When to talk to your vet
Before choosing food for a cat with kidney disease, urinary problems, diabetes, allergies, digestive problems or obesity. Therapeutic diets are covered in special diets.
Switching foods
Change gradually over 7–10 days. If your cat refuses a new food, don't let them go hungry for more than a day — offer the previous food and try a different approach.