Ingredients to look for/avoid in canned cat food

A cat needs several ingredients for their basic health. Cats need protein from an animal source, preferably chicken or fish or lean beef. A canned cat food should also have taurine, an essential amino acid. Cats also need a balance of vitamins, enzymes, fatty acids, minerals and enzymes. A canned food should not have corn, soy, colorings or artificial flavors. It also should have only 5- to 8% ash and a low grain content. Avoid foods with ingredients such as "bone-meal", added sugars or any kind of corn meal. Chemical preservatives such as ethoxyquin, propyl gallate, BHA and BHT or more than 8% grain are definitely bad for your cat. The best cat food contains at least 78% moisture. This helps your cat get the hydration it needs because a cat ingests moisture through the intestine. Some preservatives are necessary in canned cat food. However, the more natural the preservative, the better. Many natural cat food formulas use vitamin E as a preservative. Canned cat food should still be refrigerated and used within 3 days.