Making a food choice for your cat can be daunting, but a higher price tag does not necessarily mean more nutritional benefits for your cat. It simply may mean the ingredients in that food are more expensive.
“The reality is that the ingredients for some foods being made are more expensive than others,” says Joseph J. Wakshlag, DVM, PhD, board-certified veterinary nutritionist and chief of the nutrition service at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. The cost of individual ingredients has an impact on the cost of the final diet.
“Traditionally, due to market demand and production, things like corn and wheat are less expensive than things like sweet potato and quinoa, though quality and nutrition-wise, they may not be dramatically different as carb sources in a food,” says Dr. Wakshlag. “Similarly, chicken meal is relatively inexpensive, but chicken byproduct is cheaper, although they will both provide protein, and these factors will drive price.”
Current fads in pet-food production and marketing and changes in consumer demand also impact prices. Foods that are getting a lot of advertising and being recommended by word of mouth often get a boost in price, while foods that are less popular may see a drop in price.
And it’s not just the pet food industry that impacts pet food prices. “The major diversity of ingredients being used is partly due to the fact that corn prices have gone up dramatically due to ethanol production, making it easier for a company to justify the use of other carb ingredients,” says Dr. Wakshlag. With more corn being used for ethanol, there is less available for cat food, plus more competition for the corn that is available.
Is Expensive Better?
Not necessarily. “All foods that are AAFCO-approved are nutritionally complete and will provide solid nutrition,” says Dr. Wakshlag.
Food ingredients that are more expensive—leading to higher cost of production and therefore higher cost of the final product—include:
- Omega three fatty acid sources
- Medium chain triglyceride sources
- Herbs or spices with potential health benefits
- Soluble fiber sources and probiotics
- Fresh meats
- Fruits and vegetables
While these ingredients can be beneficial and may even be necessary for some individual cats, the average healthy cat will do well on any complete and balanced diet regardless of the price tag. “There are no risks in buying cheaper foods,” says Dr. Wakshlag. Instead of worrying about the price, consider your cat’s health and wellbeing. If she is doing well on her current food, whether expensive or inexpensive, that diet is clearly working for her.
Is My Cat Thriving?
No matter what you choose to feed your cat, keep an eye on her physical condition and health. Signs of good health include:
- Ideal weight, with ribs easily felt under a thin layer of fat and an obvious waist
- Shiny coat
- Good muscle tone
- Pink, healthy skin that is not itchy, dry, or flakey
- Appropriate activity level for her age
- Good appetite
- Firm, well-formed stools
- Normal amount of time spent grooming
If your cat ticks all these boxes and your food has an AAFCO statement on the label, you do not need to worry about changing her diet.
However, if she is struggling in some of these areas, consult with your veterinarian about underlying health conditions and whether switching to a different diet might help. Senior cats may benefit from a diet with higher protein levels, and cats who do not care to drink much may do better on a canned diet that has more moisture than a dry diet.
Be Wary of Fads
Fads driven by marketing are a sales tactic, and often do not do anything to improve cats’ health.
Grain-free cat food is a great example of a fad. The vast majority of cats can and do thrive eating diets that include grains, and for most cats, there is no health reason that requires them to eat a grain-free diet. However, successful marketing campaigns drove up the popularity of these diets.
It can be easy to get caught up in the hype of these movements. Before throwing out your current bag of food, though, take a step back and look at how your cat is doing. Is he happy and healthy and doing well? If yes, then you do not have to jump on the bandwagon.
