Top 16 Worst Dry Cat Food Brands to Avoid

What should you avoid in dry cat food for your feline friend? Here are some things to watch out for: By-products, Meat, Wheat gluten, Corn, Meat by-products, and food dyes. These ingredients can be harmful to your cat's health and can lead to kidney and urinary tract problems.

Meat byproducts

Some dry cat food ingredients include by-products from meat. These by-products are concentrated sources of protein and minerals. However, some people question the nutritional value of by-products. Some studies have shown that meat by-products are beneficial for cats. They may also contain healthy organs and bones.

Animal by-products are not fillers. Many people mistakenly think that they are inferior parts of the animal, but this is not true. In wet food, these parts are organ meats, which are palatable and nutritious. In dry food, these by-products are generally in the form of by-product meals. They can also include tissues, bones, and organ meats.

AAFCO defines meat by-products as "animal by-products not intended for human consumption". These by-products include organs, the head, neck, horn, and skin. They may also include stomachs and intestines. In addition to meat by-products, poultry and fish by-products can also include organs.

A large amount of meat in pet food is low-quality. These ingredients are often made from animal byproducts such as four-D meat, expired supermarket meat, dead zoo animals, and other questionable sources. Meat byproducts are not good for your cat.

Rice

When choosing the right brand of dry cat food for your feline friend, you need to be especially careful about the ingredients. You should never feed your cat a diet that is high in grains, by-products, or rice. These items will irritate the urinary tract and may cause kidney problems. If you're still not sure, it's best to consult a PETstock Coupon Code. They'll be able to recommend which types of cat food are safe for your feline friend.

Rice is one of the 16 worst dry cat foods to avoid. It contains a lot of wheat, which is hypoallergenic and completely inappropriate in cat food. This ingredient is primarily used to increase profit margins for cat food companies. You should avoid rice, corn, and soy in cat food.

Rice is one of the most common ingredients in dry cat foods. However, rice is highly toxic to your cat. It can cause kidney disease, as well as gastrointestinal problems. Rice is also a poor source of protein, so avoid it if you have a finicky cat.

Purina Pro Plan is another brand to avoid. It contains lots of carbs and low-quality meat. While Purina Pro Plan contains chicken and a mix of chicken and wheat, the other ingredients in this food distort the protein content and make the food less nutritious. Other ingredients in this food include beef fat and animal liver, and a nondescript by-product meal. Even worse, it contains synthetic colors and flavors. In all, it contains about 28% crude protein, 11% fat, and 49% carbohydrates.

Corn

When choosing dry cat food, look for ingredients that are high in protein and low in grains. Typically, the first three ingredients on the list are meat or poultry. However, some brands use a technique called ingredient splitting to create the illusion of higher meat content. Many of these brands also contain multiple forms of corn.

Luvsome, a popular brand sold by Kroger, contains generous amounts of corn. It also contains ingredients that are less healthy than those found in other brands. It contains corn and meat and bone meal, as well as corn gluten meal. It also contains soy flour and ground wheat.

Canned foods are another option. They are affordable and easy to feed. Just make sure that the ingredients are human-grade and free of GMOs and carrageenan. Some manufacturers are cutting corners, so always check the label to make sure. However, canned food is still better than dry food.

Some cat food brands have been recalled for causing health problems in cats. Some pet food manufacturers alter the ingredients. Unnamed meat and fish ingredients may be the culprit. While corn and fish are natural sources of protein, they are not always the best choice for cats. In some cases, a product might contain metal, which can lead to a serious illness.

The USDA states that muscle meat contains 75% moisture. However, this moisture is removed during the three cooking processes. Also, the carbohydrates are already dried. Despite what people believe, cats don't have the digestive capacity to process many of these ingredients.

Chemical preservatives

Dry cat food contains a surprising amount of chemical preservatives, which can cause your cat to become ill. Many of these preservatives are linked to cancer and are not necessary for your feline friend's diet. Additionally, many food companies use food dyes to make their products look more appealing to humans, but this does not benefit your cat. Food dyes such as Yellow 5 and 6 have been known to cause allergic reactions and behavioral problems in cats. Caramel color is also a concern because it contains a chemical known as 4-methylimidazole, which is also carcinogenic for animals.

Fortunately, other ingredients in dry cat food are safe for your feline companion. Among them is cellulose, which is found in most low-quality pet food. It interferes with digestion and prevents your feline friend from absorbing enough protein from their food. If you are looking for the best dry cat food, considered a Pets Discount Code. It can also cause obesity and diabetes and should be avoided.

Other common ingredients found in dry cat food include preservatives and minerals. High-quality cat food contains fewer ingredients, minimizing the amount of these substances. The higher the number of ingredients, the more likely they are to cause harm. Cats can tolerate trace amounts of these ingredients, but prolonged exposure to them can result in negative health effects.

Meat Meal

Meat meal is one of the most controversial ingredients in cat food. While it may be a good source of protein, this ingredient doesn't have much value other than as a filler. The other ingredients include brewer's rice, which is cheap rice that contains few nutrients. Other fillers in this food include brown rice, beet pulp, and pea fiber.

Another thing to look for in dry cat food is the amount of grain it contains. This is filler and causes your cat to get fat. It is also low in moisture, so your cat won't drink as much as it would with wet food. Because dry food is so high in carbohydrates, it's very dehydrating for your cat. It's best to choose wet food with high moisture content and less filler. You can even use food puzzles and dispensers to keep your cat entertained. Be aware that some dry cat food brands like Whiskas and Felix contain grains. They may also contain added sugars, which are unnecessary and may affect the teeth of your cat.

You shouldn't feed your cat food that contains meat meal. The AAFCO cat food label rules tell you what's allowed and what's not. However, AAFCO does allow 4D meats, which are rendered meats and dead animals. While you might be able to find a kitty food that contains whole meat products, this is not the best choice for your cat.

Plant-Based Ingredients

Many cat parents are unaware that their cats can get protein from plant-based ingredients. 57 percent of cat parents don't even realize that plant-based ingredients can be a good source of essential nutrients, including protein. Cats also need adequate amounts of carbohydrates and fat, and plant-based ingredients are a great source of both. The added carbohydrates and fats will spare the cat's body from breaking down proteins for energy.

Many plant-based ingredients are available in commercial dry cat foods. The best of these are rich in protein, such as pea protein. However, pea protein is not as effective as animal-based proteins. Although the protein percentage is the same, the bioavailability is not. Some high-end pet foods may use pea protein, while others may only use soy or corn.

In addition to flaxseed and soy, many vegan pet food brands also include vegetable ingredients in their dry food. Benevo, for example, makes a vegan dry cat food containing a variety of vegetables and grains. Benevo also offers canned food called Benevo Duo. Another vegan brand, Wysong, produces a vegan dry cat food that contains brown rice, soybeans, and potato protein. The company is certified by The Vegan Society and is PETA-approved.

Conclusion

While plant-based ingredients can be a great source of protein, many cat foods also contain by-products or organs from animals. These by-products are often rerouted from the human meat market to the pet food industry. These rendered parts are not natural for cats, so you should avoid foods that contain them.