For cat owners, choosing the right cat food is as important as finding a partner for their "master". It needs to be "well-matched" (nutritionally balanced), "compatible" (good palatability), and "well-understood" (safe and reliable). In recent years, with the booming domestic pet market, domestic cat food brands have emerged like mushrooms after rain, with continuously improving quality, offering more choices for cat owners. However, faced with the dazzling array of domestic cat foods on the market, which brand is good and safe has become a headache for many.

To choose a premium and safe domestic cat food, you need to pay attention to several key points: compliance with standards, ingredient transparency, nutritional balance, and good reputation and quality control. Though cat food pellets are small, there is plenty of knowledge contained within.

What kind of "food" do cats really need?

Cats are obligate carnivores; their body structure determines their nutritional needs are very different from humans or dogs. Simply put, cats require a diet high in protein, moderate fat, and low carbohydrates, and have special needs for specific nutrients like taurine and arachidonic acid.

• Protein is the "life fuel" for cats: Cats need large amounts of animal protein to maintain muscle health, bodily functions, and vitality. Unlike humans or dogs who can obtain protein from various sources, cats mainly rely on meat. Insufficient protein in cat food may affect their health. AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials), as an important international pet food standard setter, clearly defines the minimum protein content in cat food: not less than 30% for kittens and 26% for adult cats (on a dry matter basis). Of course, this is just the minimum standard; many quality cat foods provide higher protein content.
• Fat is an important source of energy: Fat not only provides energy for cats but is also crucial for skin and coat health. An appropriate amount of fat helps cats absorb fat-soluble vitamins and improves the palatability of cat food.
• Carbohydrates are not essential: Cats have very low carbohydrate requirements; excessive carbohydrates can easily cause obesity and other health issues like diabetes. Therefore, choosing a low-carbohydrate cat food is more beneficial for cats’ health. Grain-free cat food does not contain corn, wheat, rice, or other grains, theoretically reducing the risk of allergies, but “grain-free” is not the only criterion for good cat food; the key is whether the overall nutritional ratio is balanced and if the ingredients are of high quality.
• Taurine is indispensable: Taurine is vital for the health of a cat’s heart, eyes, and reproductive system. Cats cannot synthesize enough taurine themselves and must get it from their diet. Taurine deficiency can cause serious health problems.
• Vitamins and minerals: Calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and various vitamins (such as A, D, E, K, C, etc.) are essential nutrients for cats to maintain normal physiological functions. An appropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratio (usually recommended between 1:1 and 2:1) is very important for bone health.

How to understand cat food packaging?

The information on cat food packaging is like a product's "ID card". Learning to read it can help you better judge the quality of cat food.

• Ingredient list: This is the most direct reflection of the "hard strength" of cat food. According to regulations, ingredients on the list are arranged in descending order by weight. This means the earlier an ingredient appears, the higher its content in the cat food. Quality cat food usually lists animal protein sources (such as chicken, fish, duck fresh meat or meat meal) first and clearly specifies the proportion of various meat sources. Avoid cat foods where grains (such as corn, wheat) or unclear animal by-products are ranked high.
• Nutritional guaranteed analysis: This table lists the minimum or maximum content of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture in the cat food. Through this table, you can preliminarily understand whether the nutritional level meets the cats’ needs.
• Nutritional adequacy statement: A "complete" cat food should clearly state that it meets nutritional standards for specific life stages (such as kitten, adult, or all life stages). Common international standards include AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) and FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation). China also has its own pet food standard, GB/T 31217-2014 "Complete Pet Food—Cat Food." Although China's pet food standards are mostly recommended rather than mandatory, many responsible domestic cat food brands voluntarily benchmark against AAFCO and other international standards and even provide third-party test reports to prove compliance.
• Manufacturer and origin: Knowing the producer and place of origin helps understand the production background and quality control level. Brands with their own factories or cooperation with well-known large factories generally provide more reliable quality control.

Are domestic cat foods reliable?

In the past, many cat owners were skeptical of domestic cat food, thinking imported food must be better. But with the development of the domestic pet industry and technological progress, some excellent domestic cat food brands have made great strides in ingredient selection, formula development, production technology, and quality control.

• Quality improvement: Many domestic brands now focus on using high-quality animal protein sources, offering high meat content and grain-free formulas, and actively benchmarking or even exceeding AAFCO international nutrition standards. Some brands openly disclose ingredient sources and third-party test reports, increasing transparency.
• Cost-effectiveness: Compared to imported cat foods, some domestic cat foods can maintain quality while offering more competitive prices, making them more affordable for many cat owners.
• Localization advantages: Some domestic cat food brands tailor formulas based on Chinese cats’ dietary habits and common health issues (such as sensitive stomachs and tear stains), better meeting local needs.

Of course, the domestic cat food market also has mixed quality. Some small or “three-no” brands may have poor ingredients, false advertising, and unstable quality control. Therefore, when choosing domestic cat food, it is still necessary to be cautious and carefully identify the quality.

How to choose high-quality and safe domestic cat food?

Choosing domestic cat food can be like "finding a needle in the haystack," but mastering some techniques can improve success.

1. Choose complete foods that meet standards: Select cat foods clearly labeled as "complete pet food" and complying with national standards (GB/T 31217) or international standards like AAFCO. This ensures cats get comprehensive and balanced nutrition.
2. Focus on ingredients and composition: Prioritize cat foods using high-quality animal protein (like chicken, fish) as main ingredients and with high meat content. Choose products with transparent ingredients and clear labeling. While grain-free or hypoallergenic claims can be noted, actual ingredient makeup and nutritional analysis matter most.
3. Understand production background and quality control: Choose brands with good reputation, own factories, or cooperation with large, reputable OEMs. Some brands conduct regular third-party quality inspections and publish reports, helping judge quality control levels.
4. Consider the individual cat’s needs: Every cat is unique; age, health condition, activity level, and taste preferences affect cat food choice. Kittens need higher protein and calories; senior cats may need more digestible formulas supporting joints and urinary health. For special health issues (like sensitive stomachs or urinary problems), consult a vet and select prescription or functional cat foods accordingly.
5. Try small portions and observe: Before committing to long-term purchase, buy small packages for trial feeding. Observe your cat’s acceptance, appetite, and stool condition. If the cat has no loose stools, vomiting, or adverse symptoms and remains energetic, it likely suits them.

Some well-regarded domestic cat food brands (for reference only, choose according to your cat’s actual situation):

In recent years, some domestic cat food brands have gained recognition from cat owners due to good quality and reputation. Below are some widely discussed and relatively positively rated domestic brands, for reference only. Note each brand has different series and formulas, so careful research and comparison are necessary when choosing:

• Weishi (卫仕): This brand is well-known in the market, offering a wide product line emphasizing scientific formulas and ingredient selection.
• Birui (比瑞吉): As one of the earlier domestic pet food brands, Birui offers a rich product variety, with some meeting AAFCO standards.
• Honest Bite (诚实一口): Started with kitten food, focusing on ingredient quality and nutritional balance. Their kitten food claims high animal protein content and is grain-free.
• Jiang Xiao'ao (江小傲): Focused on grain-free formulas, emphasizing high-quality meat ingredients.
• Yiqin (怡亲): A proprietary brand of Boqi.com, launching high-protein, grain-free cat food focusing on ingredient traceability and third-party testing.
• Yuanben (原本): Reportedly founded by a veterinary team, emphasizing ingredient transparency and quality control, and offering free consultation services.
• Chonglv (宠率): Some products use single meat sources, focusing on high protein and low allergen, suitable for cats with sensitive stomachs.
• Gaoye Jia (高爷家): Launches high-protein grain-free cat food, openly discloses ingredient proportions and traceability information, and provides monthly quality control reports.

It is important to emphasize that the above are only some of the better-regarded domestic cat food brands on the market and not in absolute ranking order. Cats vary greatly individually; food suitable for others’ cats may not suit your “master”. When choosing cat food, the most important thing is to comprehensively judge based on your cat’s specific condition, combined with ingredients, nutritional analysis, production background, and reputation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why is it said that cats are obligate carnivores?

A: Cats’ digestive system and physiology require them to obtain most nutrients from animal-based foods. They have high protein needs, weak carbohydrate digestion ability, and need to get taurine and other specific nutrients from meat.

Q: What is the AAFCO standard? Does meeting AAFCO standards mean cat food is necessarily good?

A: AAFCO stands for the American Association of Feed Control Officials. It sets minimum nutritional standards for pet food. Meeting AAFCO standards means the nutritional ratios meet basic requirements, but AAFCO standards are minimums; higher quality cat foods will improve protein content, ingredient selection, and other aspects.

Q: Is grain-free cat food always better than grain-containing cat food?

A: Grain-free cat food suits cats allergic to grains, but not all cats are allergic. Grain-free products often use peas, potatoes, etc., as carbohydrate sources, which if too high can also lead to carbohydrate excess. Therefore, the key in choosing cat food is overall nutritional balance and ingredient quality, not just "grain-free".

Q: How to judge whether a domestic cat food is reliable?

A: You can judge based on aspects like whether it meets national or international standards; whether ingredient lists are clear and transparent with high animal protein content; whether the producer is legitimate with good quality control records; whether third-party testing reports exist and are public; and genuine reviews and reputation from other cat owners.

Q: What should be noticed when switching cat food?

A: Switching cat food should be gradual, mixing new food with the old in increasing proportions over about a week. This helps your cat’s digestive system adapt to the new food and avoids digestive problems.

Choosing a premium and safe domestic cat food requires cat owners to do their homework and combine their cats’ actual conditions to find the most suitable "favorite" for the “master”. After all, the health and happiness of cats is our greatest wish.