5 Steps to Read a Cat Food Ingredient List

Ingredients are listed by weight, so the earliest items dominate. For a carnivore, meat should lead—fresh meat best, then dehydrated, then meat meal—with about 10% organ meat for taurine and fat. Avoid controversial fillers (grains, potato, tapioca, pea), plant oils, and thickeners; steer clear of harmful additives like BHA/BHT, ethoxyquin, propylene glycol, and artificial flavors. Look instead for bonuses: taurine, fish oil (omega-3/6), and vitamins E and B.