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A bag of cat food with an appealing flavour or a claim about your cat’s health may seem like an obvious good choice. However, the front of the packaging does not tell you everything. For cat owners in the Netherlands, three pitfalls are particularly important: what a flavour name really means, the difference between complete and complementary food, and the true cost per day.
A product called “with salmon” or “with chicken” may also contain other animal ingredients, cereals or plant-based sources of protein. Some product descriptions, for example, state that the named animal species makes up at least 4% of the recipe. Always check the full ingredients list rather than relying solely on the flavour shown on the front.
This applies to cat food with chicken and cat food with fish. Your cat may find the flavour appealing, but its nutritional value is determined by the overall recipe.
Complete cat food is intended to provide daily nutrition when used according to the feeding instructions. Complementary food is an extra and does not replace a complete meal. Felix Soup Fish, for example, is described as complementary food for adult cats. The guideline states that one pouch per 4 kg of body weight per day should be given as a supplement to complete food.
Soup or snacks can therefore be a great way to add variety, but combine them with a product clearly labelled as complete food for adult cats.
A cat food multipack or bag containing several kilos may reduce the price per serving, but only if your cat eats the product happily and the food is stored correctly. Opened pouches or tins of wet food should be refrigerated according to the product information and used within the stated period. With dry food, a properly resealable package is important.
So compare the price per day, not just the price of the pack. Take into account the daily amount, your cat’s weight and the balance between dry and wet food.
Start by choosing a product that suits your cat’s life stage. This article focuses on adult cats. Food for adult cats is not the same as food for kittens. A kitten product such as g’woon Chunks in Jelly Junior is specifically intended for young cats and should not automatically be given to an adult cat.
You should also consider your cat’s lifestyle:
Product claims relating to digestion, the urinary tract or hairballs, for example, are not a guarantee for every cat. According to research carried out by the relevant brand, certain effects can be measured, but your cat’s individual response may vary. If symptoms persist, seeking advice from a vet is wiser than repeatedly changing food yourself.
The packaging should state which animal species and life stage the food is intended for. Look for wording such as “complete food for adult cats” or “complementary food for adult cats”. This information is more important than terms such as “natural”, “premium” or “with high-quality ingredients”.
Also check:
A high protein percentage does not automatically make a product suitable for every cat. Age, weight, activity level and body condition all help determine how much food is needed.
Dry cat food is practical to portion and easy to store. Examples in the range include Iams Naturally Adult Lamb & Rice, Purina One Adult Salmon and Iams Vitality Adult with chicken. Always provide fresh drinking water alongside dry food.
Wet cat food generally contains a high level of moisture and is often sold in pouches, tins or trays. Gourmet Perle Mini Fillets Mix Turkey & Tuna contains 12 portions of 85 grams. Felix Original Mix Selection in Jelly contains 44 pouches of 85 grams and offers several flavours.
A combination of dry and wet food can be useful for variety, but count the calories and adjust the portions accordingly. The feeding guidelines on the label should remain your starting point.
Why it suits this profile: This is complete dry food for adult cats, supplied in a single pack. Daily amounts are given according to body weight.
The packaging states that this is complete food and provides feeding guidelines. This means you do not have to use complementary food as the main meal.
800 g, lamb and rice flavour, 33% crude protein and clear feeding guidelines for each weight category.
Why it suits this profile: Convenient portions of wet food for adult cats that enjoy texture, gravy and variety between turkey and tuna.
The multipack makes the contents clear: 12 individual portions of 85 g. The product information also states that it is complete food.
Mini fillets in gravy, 12 portions and no added artificial colourings according to the product description.
Why it suits this profile: Designed for adult sterilised or neutered cats, with attention paid to portion control and an appropriate nutritional formula.
The packaging identifies the target group and gives serving sizes according to body weight. This prevents you from choosing based on the “beef” flavour alone.
800 g of dry food, 37% crude protein, 13% fat and adjusted feeding guidelines for sterilised adult cats.
Why it suits this profile: The recipe is intended for adult cats with sensitive digestion and contains turkey and rice as clearly identified flavour varieties.
The product description explicitly identifies the target group and states that it contains no added wheat. If your cat has allergies, always check the current label yourself.
Complete food for adult cats, turkey listed as the first ingredient according to the product information and 800 g of dry food.
We have compiled a complete, up-to-date list of products that fully meet these strict selection criteria and the applicable European safety regulations.
Choose a product labelled as complete food for adult cats. For an indoor cat, you can also consider the recommended amount and activity level. Purina One Indoor is specifically described as food for indoor cats. Weigh your cat regularly and adjust the portion if its body weight changes.
Both formats can form part of a complete feeding plan. Dry food is easy to portion and store, while wet food provides more moisture per serving and often offers variety in texture. Check whether the product is complete or complementary, and reduce the total portion when combining both.
Always follow the label. The product information supplied states that, for various wet foods, opened portions should be refrigerated and used within 24 to 48 hours. Store dry food in a cool, dry place, seal the bag securely and check the best-before date.
