A nutritional diet plays a huge role in our cat’s overall health, so when it comes to the best vet recommended dry cat food we asked for a veterinarian’s advice.
Healthy diets have been shown to reduce the risk of illness, improve digestion, increase energy, and lead to longer and healthier lives. Your cat’s diet can truly pave the way to a healthy future, So how can you determine which diets are best for your health?
Veterinarians often see the consequences of poor diets in the sick patients who walk through their doors.
I spoke in-depth Dr. Sabrina Kordis, a Veterinarian that works in emergency medicine, asked me to help her Create a list of vet-recommended dry cat foods.
First, let’s discuss diet fundamentals.
What ingredients should a kibble contain?
The source of dry kibble should be the most important ingredient. protein.
Cats are obligate Carnivores. They eat high-protein foods made from animal tissues. Our feline friends require more protein than most house pets, including dogs.
Here are some reasons. They need meat-based protein include:
- Cats depend on protein to build and maintain skin, fur, nails, and muscle.
- Cats must have 11 of the 20 amino acid required for normal body function.
- Cats rely on protein for their primary energy source.
- A cat’s metabolism breaks down amino acids at a higher rate than most animals and requires more protein in their diet because of this.
If you have any questions about the diet of your cat, you can always bring the bag to your vet and ask them if they are safe for your cat’s overall health.
How do you know your cat’s diet has adequate sources of protein?
Any diet can advertise having a great source of protein, so how do you know if that’s really true? Below, we’ll discuss a few tips and tricks to help you determine if dry cat food is suitable or not.
- If a cat food contains high amounts of grains and soy, there’s a large chance that most of its protein comes from plant sources rather than animal-based sources.
- You should ensure that the first ingredients are real meat sources like chicken, lamb, and fish.
- Search for terms like “poultry meal” and “fish meal.” This tells you that the protein has been processed or mixed with something else. You don’t want an altered protein as your first source of protein.
What are some signs that cats are not getting enough nutrition?
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of protein in a cat’s diet, it’s important to understand the signs of a feline friend that may not be receiving the proper nutrition they need.
An unhealthy diet can be characterized by:
- A hairstyle that is dull and rough.
- Skin conditions such as dry and flaky skin and skin irritations, hair loss, and skin inflammations include:
- Changes in stool such as loose stool or diarrhea, or even constipation
- Sudden weight changes
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
If your furry friend has any of the above symptoms, it is possible that they are not receiving the right diet.
It’s time to take your cat and their bag of food to the vet and get an opinion if this could be related to their current food.
Cat Foods Recommendations by Vets
There are a few diets that stand out among all the available. These diets have been shown to provide the proper nutrients for cats and promote overall wellness and vitality.
We’ll discuss these cat foods below in detail, but here are the brands that are vet recommended at a glance:
- Royal Canin
- Science Diet
- Iams
- Purina Pro Plan
Vet’s Choice for Best Dry Cat Food: Royal Canin
They can be fed special diets, indoor cats, or kittens.
We don’t care what cat you have, we can provide a Royal Canin diet to suit their needs.
Royal Canin is our favorite diet out of all the available options in stores. Royal Canin is a favorite among animal hospital patients. When given a choice, patients will always opt for the Royal Canin diet.
Science Diet
Science Diet has been around since the beginning and was the first diet to be introduced into the world of veterinary prescription foods. This brand is trusted by pet owners and veterinary professionals because of its long history.
Iams
Though it may not be as “high quality” as diets such as royal canin and science diet, it is still a great option for those who are on more of a budget.
Iams cat food is a higher-quality cat food that is more appealing to cats. Iams owners noticed a noticeable improvement in the appearance of their cats’ coats, better bowel movements, and less hairballs around their house.
Iams is considered to be the next best option in retail food, after Science Diet or Royal Canin.
Purina Pro Plan
It contains meat as its first ingredient and is therefore a reliable source to protein. It also contains beneficial nutrients and minerals that are good for your skin and coat.
This cat food line also promotes many areas of health such as probiotics for digestive health, one that lowers the pH of the urine for health, one that helps with weight loss and a diet that is suitable for senior pets.
Aspen Grove Vet Care: How to Choose a Healthy Cat Food
The vet professionals at Fort Collin’s Aspen Grove Veterinary Care recommend choosing cat foods that are:
- AAFCO approved
- High-quality ingredients
- Supported by transparent and reputable manufacturers
Summary: Top Vet Recommended Cat Food Brands
Overall, there are some great options for dry cat kibble at your local pet stores that fit your cat’s dietary needs.
The 4 Best Vet Recommend Cat Food Brands
According to our research and Dr. Sabrina Kordis’s insight, these 4 dry cat food brands are recommended and backed by most vets:
- Royal Canin
- Science Diet
- Iams
- Purina Pro Plan
Each brand is approved by AAFCO because they provide balanced nutrition that is species-appropriate.
