SUMMARY - DRY CAT FOOD COMPARISON
The top dry cat foods, supplied by cat owners whose feline friends vacationed at PurrInn Cats Hostelry, were evaluated by comparing the labels "guaranteed analysis" and "ingredients" to explore how dry cat foods meet a cat's urinary tract health, elderly cat kidney problems, and feline nutrition requirements. The dry cat foods list is organized based on the Main Ingredient Types with the Phosphorus, Protein, Fat, and Carbohydrate content percentages listed (Dry Matter Basis). Meat proteins were considered more digestible protein sources than plant products, meat-by-products, and meat meals, and a "less-likely-to contain- pollutants" protein source than fish. More cat food reviews and Feline nutrition information is available on line.
Calculate your cat food's Dry Matter Basis (DMB) protein and water content on PurrInn Cats Hostelry's H20 + DMB Calculator Excel spread sheet.
DISCLAIMER: This cat food review was developed in order to choose the an affordable good-quality cat food diet for our two cats, a sedentary overweight 9 year old cat and an active still-growing 1 year old kitten. Inclusion of specific brands of cat food is for the convenience of readers for comparing ingredients and nutrients from one cat food to another. It is NOT intended nor to be construed as a recommendation nor endorsement of any included dry cat food.
The results are a starting point for comparison, however, the difficulties in making any such list meaningful include:
1 - Cat food manufacturers constantly change the labels, formulas, ingredients and guaranteed analysis of their cat foods. A cat food on the list often differs from one from the same manufacturer with a nearly identical label.
2 - The “guaranteed analysis” minimum and maximum percentages on Cat Food labels are not the actual percentages included in the food's formula, and
3 - Cat food labels do not indicate the percentage of proteins derived from meats versus the percentage of less digestible proteins derived from plants.
Dry Cat Food Comparison Summary Legend.
| Ingredient Class | Top Value = Cost + % Protein + Quality protein + Moderate Fat & Moderate Carbohydrates | Protein % DMB | Fat % DMB | Carbo % DMB | $/lb protein | Cost / bag | bag size lb | Phosph-orus % |
| mmLfvfvvvvv | Wellness Core Adult Cat & Kitten Fish & Fowl Recipe | 56.18% | 20.22% | 3.20% | $5.83 | $34.95 | 12.0 | 1.63% |
| mmLLvmvvvvvvv | Natura Evo Adult Weight Management | 55.56% | 16.67% | 13.00% | 1.86% | |||
| mmLvvvfvvvvmvv | Natura Innova Senior Cat Food | 42.22% | 13.33% | 37.30% | $8.75 | $19.95 | 6.0 | 1.21% |
| mmvvvmfvvvvvvv | Halo-Spot's Stew Wholesome Chicken Recipe | 36.67% | 20.00% | 32.00% | $11.06 | $10.95 | 3.0 | |
| mmvvvvvvv | Prowl dehydrated cat food | 36.92% | 31.12% | 26.81% | 1oz | 0.84% | ||
| mLmfvmLvvvvvvv | Natura EVO Turkey & Chicken Formula Cat & Kitten | 55.56% | 24.44% | 7.00% | $5.82 | $40.95 | 15.4 | 1.76% |
| mLmvmvvfvv | Natura Innova Cat & Kitten Dry | 40.00% | 22.78% | 25.02% | $8.56 | $18.49 | 6.0 | 1.16% |
| mLmvmvvfvvv | Natura Innova Adult Cat Food | 40.00% | 22.22% | 26.67% | $6.84 | $36.95 | 15.0 | |
| mLLvfvmmLf | Orijen Cat & Kitten Chicken | 50.00% | 22.22% | 15.94% | $7.67 | $18.99 | 5.5 | 1.44% |
| mLLvLvvvvvvvvvv | Blue Buffalo Blue Wilderness | 44.44% | 20.00% | 26.52% | 12.0 | |||
| mLvmvvvfv | Premium Edge kitten chicken, salmon & vegetables formula | 37.78% | 24.44% | 18.72% | ||||
| mLvLvmvv | Merrick Before Grain Chicken 1 | 40.45% | 20.22% | 35.96% | 3.3 | |||
| mlvvmmvfvvvvvvvv | Lotus Chicken Recipe for Kittens | 40.00% | 24.44% | 15.94% | 8.0 | 1.40% | ||
| mlvvmfvvvvvvvv | Lotus Low Fat Chicken Recipe for Cats | 34.40% | 10.60% | 39.81% | 8.0 | |||
| mLvvLLvvvvvvvv | Blue Buffalo Healthy Living Adult Chicken | 37.78% | 20.00% | 33.30% | $5.33 | $28.99 | 16.0 | |
| mLvvLvvvvvvv | Newman's Own adult cat dry | 35.56% | 17.78% | 35.89% | $10.41 | $9.99 | 3.0 | |
| mLvvvfvvvvmvv | Natura California Natural Chicken & Brown Rice | 40.50% | 17.89% | 32.76% | $5.58 | $30.49 | 15.0 | 1.37% |
| mLvvvfvvvvmvv | Wellness Complet Health Chicken Chicken Meal Rice | 40.45% | 20.22% | 23.88% | $12.19 | $21.95 | 5.0 | 1.16% |
| mLvvvLvmv | Evolve Maintenance Formula with Chicken | 35.96% | 14.61% | 46.07% | 7.0 | |||
| mLvvvLvmvv | Wellness Indoor Health | 33.71% | 13.48% | 35.62% | $9.99 | $35.95 | 12.0 | 0.88% |
| mLvvvvLvmvvvv | Wellness Healthy Weight | 33.71% | 8.99% | 43.45% | 0.73% | |||
| mLvvvvLv | Organix Feline Formula Organic Chicken Brown Rice & Flax | 34.44% | 17.78% | 29.42% | 6.0 | 1.00% | ||
| mLvvvvvL | Purina Mills Exclusive Chicken & Rice Formula | 35.56% | 23.33% | 24.84% | $6.24 | $7.99 | 4.0 | 1.11% |
| mLvvvv | Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance | 33.33% | 22.22% | 36.67% | $2.27 | $16.99 | 25.0 | |
| mLvvvvvvvv | Simply Nourish Kitten Cat Food Chicken & Rice Recipe | 42.22% | 20.00% | 18.61% | 3.5 | |||
| mLvvvvvvvvvvvv | Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Turkey&PotatoeRecipe | 33.33% | 13.33% | 45.74% | $8.66 | $15.95 | 6.0 | |
| mbvvvm | Eukenuba Adult Chicken Formula | 37.78% | 23.33% | 26.18% | 4.0 | |||
| mbvvLvm | Iams Original with chicken | 36.67% | 16.67% | 32.47% | $4.36 | $28.77 | 20.0 | |
| mbvvvm | Iams Hairball Care | 35.56% | 23.33% | 23.13% | $5.19 | $13.29 | 8.0 | |
| mbvvvLv | Iams Healthy Naturals with Chicken | 36.67% | 16.67% | 32.47% | 3.5 | |||
| mvbvvLv | Purina One Vibrant Maturity 7+ | 40.91% | 14.77% | 32.90% | 1.02% | |||
| mvvbvvLmvv | Purina ProPlan Weight Management Adult | 52.27% | 11.36% | 27.22% | $3.94 | $28.99 | 16.0 | 0.80% |
| mvvbvvLv | Purina ProPlan Chicken & Rice Formula adult | 45.45% | 18.18% | 29.90% | $4.37 | $27.99 | 16.0 | 0.91% |
| mvvbvvLv | Purina One Chicken & Rice Formula | 38.64% | 14.77% | 34.39% | $4.78 | $5.69 | 3.5 | 0.80% |
| mvvvmvvfvvvvvvv | Now Adult Cat Formula | 34.44% | 20.00% | 31.89% | 3.0 | 0.67% | ||
| mvvvLmvvvvv | Hills Science Diet Ideal Balance Grain Free | 33.33% | 22.22% | 24.11% | 2.0 | |||
| mvvvvmLvvvvvv | Hills Science Diet Natures Best Chicken Brown Rice Dinner Adult | 31.52% | 18.48% | 38.83% | $10.92 | $37.99 | 12.0 | 0.80% |
| mvvvvvvvfmvvvv | Now Fresh Adult Turkey Salmon Duck & Omega Oils | 35.23% | 20.45% | 30.72% | ||||
| Lvvv | Royal Canin Gastro Intestinal High Energy HE 30 | 33.89% | 22.78% | 33.56% | 8.8 | |||
| fLfLvmvvvv | Natura Evo Herring & Salmon Formula | 55.56% | 20.00% | 8.11% | 1.89% | |||
| fLLvvmvvv | Wellness Complete Health Salmon Salmon Meal & Turkey | 40.45% | 20.22% | 22.64% | $12.19 | $21.95 | 5.0 | 1.04% |
| fLLvvvmvvvvvvv | Blue Buffalo Lnogevity Mature | 35.56% | 8.89% | 51.11% | 2.0 | |||
| fLLvvLvvffvvv | Acana Pacifica Champion Pet Foods | 38.89% | 22.22% | 31.01% | 4.0 | 1.33% | ||
| fLvLvv | Merrick Before Grain Tuna 3 | 40.45% | 20.22% | 35.96% | 3.3 | |||
| fvmvvvmmvvvvvvv | Halo-Spot's Stew Wild Salmon Recipe | 36.67% | 20.00% | 30.89% | $9.59 | $18.99 | 6.0 | |
| fvvvvmLvvvvv | Hills Science Diet Natures Best Ocean Fish Brown Rice Adult | 32.61% | 18.48% | 37.46% | $10.55 | $37.99 | 12.0 | 0.79% |
| LLvm | One Earth Naturals Adult Formula | 37.78% | 20.00% | 31.67% | $7.41 | $11.09 | 4.4 | |
| LmvLvvvvLmmv | Natural Balance original Ultra for kittens To Adults | 37.78% | 20.00% | 34.82% | $6.85 | $34.95 | 15.0 | |
| Lvmvvvvm | Royal Canin Young Adult YWS 34 | 36.56% | 10.75% | 37.70% | ||||
| LvLvvvv | Avoderm chicken & herring meal Formula kitten food | 40.00% | 24.44% | 20.73% | 1.04% | |||
| Lvvmvvm | Royal Canin Intense Hairball 34 | 36.96% | 15.22% | 33.47% | $12.01 | $24.50 | 6.0 | |
| LvvLvmv | Natures Variety Instinct Chicken Meal Formula | 55.56% | 24.44% | 16.89% | $6.80 | $14.95 | 4.4 | 1.83% |
| Lvvvmv | Arkat VF Complete Chicken & Rice Formula | 37.78% | 16.67% | 31.63% | 6.6 | |||
| LvvvmfLvvvv | Taste Of Wild Rocky Mtn Feline Formula Venison & Salmon | 46.67% | 20.00% | 26.39% | $3.93 | $24.75 | 15.0 | |
| Lvvvfvv | Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken Meal & Rice Formula | 46.67% | 18.89% | 8.24% | 7.0 | 0.89% | ||
| Lvvvvmvvvvv | Royal Canin Indoor Adult 27 | 29.35% | 13.04% | 50.87% | 7.0 | |||
| Lvvv | First Mate Fish & Potato w/ Blueberries Formula | 46.67% | 20.00% | 23.23% | $7.93 | $39.95 | 12.0 | 1.44% |
| LvvvvvLfvv | Nutro MaxCat Indoor Adult Salmon Flavor Hairball Management | 33.33% | 16.67% | 33.34% | $8.05 | $14.49 | 6.0 | |
| Lvvvvvmvv | Nutro MaxCat Indoor Adult Roasted Chicken | 33.33% | 16.67% | 33.34% | $7.49 | $13.49 | 6.0 | |
| Lvvvvvv | Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care Indoor Adult | 36.67% | 15.56% | 28.63% | $8.57 | $49.49 | 17.5 | |
| Lvvvvvvmv | Royal Canin Active Mature 28 | 30.43% | 23.91% | 40.96% | 3.5 | |||
| Lvvvvvv | Royal Canin Oral Sensitive 30 | 32.61% | 15.22% | 44.02% | 6.0 | |||
| Lvvvvvvvvv | Royal Canin 34/29 | 35.00% | 16.11% | 38.78% | 2.5 | |||
| bvvvvff | Purina One Adult Cat Salmon & Tuna Flavor | 38.64% | 13.64% | 40.97% | $4.26 | $10.15 | 7.0 | 1.02% |
| bvvvvff | Hills Prescription Diet r/d | 35.75% | 9.50% | 27.37% | $10.66 | $28.99 | 8.5 | 0.67% |
| bvvvvm | Iams Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Proactive health | 31.11% | 13.61% | 37.58% | ||||
| bvvvvmv | Hills ScienceDiet Healthy Development original Kitten | 40.66% | 23.08% | 13.57% | 1.10% | |||
| bvvvvvLL | Purina Cat Chow complete formula | 38.64% | 14.77% | 42.44% | 3.5 | 1.02% | ||
| bvvv | Hills Science Diet Optimal Care Original | 33.15% | 20.99% | 35.31% | ||||
| bvvv | Hills Science Diet Oral Care | 32.42% | 20.88% | 27.71% | 3.5 | |||
| bvvvv | Hills Science Diet Mature Adult Indoor | 31.52% | 19.02% | 29.62% | 15.5 | |||
| bvvvvv | Hills Science Diet Mature Adult Hairball | 31.52% | 19.02% | 26.90% | $7.19 | $36.49 | 17.5 | 0.76% |
| bvvvvb | MeowMix Hairball Control Chicken Turkey Salmn Ocean Fish | 35.23% | 12.50% | 40.00% | $4.09 | $3.99 | 3.2 | 0.91% |
| vLmvvvvv | The Goodlife Recipe | 38.64% | 14.77% | 24.03% | 3.0 | 0.91% | ||
| vLvmfvvvvvvv | MeowMix Wholesome Goodness Chicken Tuna Vegetable Medly | 36.36% | 13.64% | 44.09% | $4.16 | $3.99 | 3.0 | 1.14% |
| vLvf | Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet Green Pea & Salmon Formula | 33.33% | 13.33% | 44.89% | 10.0 | |||
| vLvvLvv | Purina Cat Chow Indoor Formula | 34.09% | 10.80% | 44.67% | 7.0 | |||
| vbvvvmm | Purina Fancy Feast w/ Savory Chicken & Turkey | 35.56% | 17.78% | 41.67% | 1.0 | |||
| vbvvLb | Walgreen PetShoppe Gourmet Formula | 35.23% | 12.50% | 45.57% | 3.5 | |||
| vbvvLvv | Albertsons Happy Tails Indoor Formula | 34.09% | 10.80% | 44.89% | $4.52 | $9.50 | 7.0 | |
| vbvvv | Purina Vet Diet EN Gastroenteric | 56.82% | 18.18% | 21.31% | 6.0 | |||
| vbvvv | Hills Science Diet Adult Light 1-6 years | 34.44% | 9.56% | 39.36% | $4.51 | $27.99 | 20.0 | 0.56% |
| vbvvvb | Whiskas Meaty | 34.09% | 13.64% | 45.00% | $3.11 | $6.92 | 6.6 | 0.91% |
| vvb | Hills C/D Multi Care Prescription Diet | 32.61% | 14.13% | 38.60% | $11.36 | $34.09 | 10.0 | 0.87% |
| vvmv | Hills D/D Skin Support Duck & Green Pea Formula | 29.35% | 18.48% | 45.65% | 8.5 | |||
| vvbvbb | Purina Friskies Grillers Blend | 34.09% | 13.64% | 42.82% | 1.14% | |||
| vvbvbLL | MeowMix Seafood Medley/Original Choice | 38.64% | 13.64% | 41.14% | $1.75 | $10.72 | 18.0 | 0.91% |
| vvbvvvb | Purina Friskies Seafood Sensation | 34.09% | 13.64% | 42.82% | $1.55 | $11.59 | 25.0 | 1.14% |
| vvvbvvvL | Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management | 56.18% | 8.99% | 23.60% | 8.0 | |||
| Dry Cat Food Comparison Summary Legend | Protein | Fat | Carbohy- drate/other | $ / lb Protein | Cost / Bag | bag size lb | Phosph -orus % | |
| m = meat | < 10 % | |||||||
| f = fish | 10-20 % | < 10 % | ||||||
| L = f/m meal | > 55% | 20-25% | 10-20% | |||||
| v = vege/grain | 44-55% | 25-30% | 20-30% | |||||
| b = by product | 40-44% | 30-35% | 30-35% | |||||
| < 40% | > 35% | > 35% | ||||||
| Averages | 38.41% | 17.61% | 31.81% | $6.98 | 1.09% |