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15 Best Dry Cat Food Brands: Your Buyer’s Guide

Just as when shopping for dog food, there are many things to consider when choosing what you’ll feed your cat. You’ve likely heard it before, but the very first thing to keep in mind is that cats are obligate carnivores. This means that they must eat meat as a biological necessity. It’s part of their evolution and something they share with wild big cats.

When choosing a dry food, something high quality is best. High quality foods tend to limit the number of unnecessary ingredients and fillers so you know your cat is getting what they need. Additionally, if you’re inclined to free feed dry food, it’s more likely that a high quality food will keep them full for longer, which will reduce the urge to keep eating and thus control their weight. You should keep your cat’s activity level in mind when choosing a food.

For the health of your frisky feline, here’s our list of the best dry cat food brands.

Price: $ – $
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Sometime in the distant past, cats lost the ability to synthesize certain chemical compounds. These include the amino acids taurine and arginine, as well as niacin and vitamin A. The bodies of other animals, including dogs, can create these essential compounds out of other building blocks from non-meat sources, but cats cannot. Thus, a high-protein feed with a high proportion of animal meat is even more vital to cats than it is to dogs.

In compiling this list, we surveyed cat owners we know personally, tried a few with our own cats, and read extensively about the options. One source we found, Reviews.com went through a very elaborate process for choosing their winners, which makes for an interesting read. One thing we noted about their process was the exclusion of some brands due to recall history. We certainly can't argue with their logic, and to that end, we've taken their suggestions under advisement.

In an effort to balance convenience and in some cases, price, we've included a few brands they left out after having good success with them personally. While an abundance of caution is certainly best, it may do you no good to begin using a certain brand if you can neither afford it nor find it regularly. We tried to balance these factors somewhat, honoring personal feedback we encountered alongside other research. As with any choice when it comes to your pet's health, we strongly advise discussing with your veterinarian and making the choice that feels best to you.

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