What Goes in the Bowl Matters: Healthy Cat Food Tips Backed by Certified Nutrition Experts and WSAVA Standards
Meow, dear cat lovers!
Recently, I was chatting with a friend who’s a certified animal nutritionist—and as always when you talk to experts, you end up with a few aha moments! From that conversation, a set of simple rules emerged that I just had to share with you.
#1 Keep an Eye on the Main Ingredients
The first ingredients listed should clearly name an animal, such as chicken or rabbit—not vague terms like “poultry.”
This provides transparency about the origin of the ingredients, but it does not automatically mean that only muscle meat is included or that no lower-quality parts such as bones or bonemeal are used. There are indeed high-quality by-products as well as others of very poor quality.
Learn to Tell the Difference: Quality vs. Vague By-Products in Cat Food
When “animal by-products” are clearly named and quantified (e.g. duck heart, duck liver, duck stomach), it provides greater transparency about ingredient quality. However, true nutritional balance depends on the overall formulation, not ingredient naming alone.
Why does this matter? Because the mineral composition of a diet (such as levels and balance of magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium) contributes to urine characteristics, including pH. These factors, together with hydration and overall diet formulation, can influence the risk of urinary crystal formation.
Urinary crystals such as struvite (more commonly associated with alkaline urine) or calcium oxalate (more commonly associated with acidic urine) are influenced by multiple dietary and physiological factors, not single ingredients.
However, clear labeling helps consumers better understand what a product contains and the quality of its ingredients.
Example: Purina Felix includes chicken or salmon, as well as animal by-products and other additives such as colorants and binding agents, depending on the recipe.
While by-products are not inherently negative, conscious consumers prefer more clearly specified ingredients and fewer additives. Ultimately, we also personally prefer foods with higher ingredient transparency and clearer formulation standards.
#2 Check Who Formulated the Food
If a product doesn’t list all ingredients transparently (named animal and named by-products), the next step is to check who formulated it. Ideally, this should be a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a qualified animal nutrition expert:
- A PhD in animal nutrition
- A board-certified veterinary nutritionist - Europe: ECVCN | USA: ACVN
Tip: A quick Google search—or even asking AI, “Who formulates this food?”—often reveals the answer right away.
#3 No Unnecessary Extras
Good cat food should be free from sugar, artificial flavorings, colorants, and unnecessary thickeners.
These ingredients offer no real benefit and can be harmful in the long run.
Protein Content Matters
To ensure your cat gets enough energy and essential nutrients, the crude protein content should be at least:
- Dry food: 30–35%
- Complete wet food: 8–10%
Easy check: just open the product page and look at the nutritional analysis.
Feed Your Cat as in Nature: Small, Frequent Meals Are Better
Feed small portions throughout the day and place food bowls in different areas of the home. This encourages movement and adds enrichment to your cat’s daily routine. Combined with fishing-rod toys, treat hunts, or food puzzle balls, your cat gets exactly the mental and physical stimulation they need.
Both the AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) and FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation) emphasize that distributing small meals throughout the day promotes physical activity and mental engagement. Both organizations also advise against free feeding, as it can contribute to obesity. Multiple small meals support a healthy body weight and overall well-being.
Don’t Forget Dental Health
Foods with sauces and mousse-like textures can promote plaque buildup—so dental care should always be part of the routine.
Tip: Alternating foods—for example, offering a small portion of dry food after wet food—can help reduce plaque buildup.
Summary for Healthy Cats
- Clearly named animal protein among the first ingredients
- Or formulated by qualified nutrition experts
- Free from sugar and unnecessary binding agents
- Always check the crude protein content
- Small, frequent meals + movement + distributed feeding spots
- Dental care: alternate between wet and dry food
Personal tip: I really love Schesir and Farmina Matisse wet food, as well as Royal Canin or Hill’s dry food. I was genuinely surprised by the difference once I paid closer attention. Spending a little more on quality food gives me peace of mind—and often means fewer vet bills later on, many of which could have been avoided with better nutrition in the first place.
Lean muscle meat and simple recipes are also essential for maintaining a healthy weight. Cats should never be free-fed; instead, they should receive small portions spread throughout the day and night. In nature, cats hunt many small prey animals—they are solitary hunters of small game.
It’s also worth keeping in mind that a ratio of roughly 60% wet food to 40% dry food should not be exceeded. More wet food is generally beneficial and supports hydration, while too much dry food delivers significantly more calories and far less moisture.
Don’t worry—it’s not difficult at all. But it can make a huge difference to the long-term health of your cat’s organs and overall well-being.