Here's what animal charity PDSA suggests you look for and what to avoid when choosing the right cat food. Look for: It is more helpful to assess quality by observing a cat’s enjoyment eating the food, as well as their health. A cat on a poor diet tends to have poorer digestive health, with occasional vomiting, and frequent bulky or loose droppings. A high quality diet creates improved digestive health, with better formed, less frequent motions. Common symptoms include, lethargy, aggressive or hyperactive behaviour, chronic skin and ear problems, slime and jelly being passed with the stools, and flatulence, bloating and weight gain or loss. If you pay a visit to B&M today, you’ll find superb cat and kitten food from excellent producers, including Dreamies, Iams, Purina, Whiskas and more. It isn’t always easy to get it right. Cats need a complete and balanced diet providing protein, carbohydrate, fats, minerals, vitamins and fibre, as well as some very specific nutrients such as taurine and essential fatty acids.

Unlike dogs, who thrive on grains and vegetables in their dog food, cats are obligate carnivores: their metabolism has evolved to need some ingredients that can only be found in meat. While it is, in theory, possible to feed cats adequately from a home-made diet that includes meat, it makes more sense to use commercial cat food that has been formulated by companies who employ professional nutritional experts so that their products – labelled as “complete” – include everything your cat needs to thrive. Food for cats up to one year of age should have higher levels of vitamins and proteins, designed to promote healthy growth.Any commercially manufactured pet food in the UK labelled 'complete' that meets PFMA (Pet Food Manufacturing Association) guidelines will contain all the nutritional requirements for your pet. Your cat’s natural behaviour will continue throughout their life – and they'll probably stay active and curious for years and years. In fact, sometimes you’ll find it hard to believe they're getting older at all! You should also pay attention to your pet’s behaviour: if they seem ravenously hungry, looking for more, then you should give them some more. Or if they leave uneaten food in the bowl, give them less the next time. Your older cat may not be able to digest their food as easily as they could when they were younger. That means they may not absorb nutrients as efficiently as before. Putting your cat on a suitable diet will help their body to deal with these changes, and should increase both the length and quality of their life.

Despite statements on the internet suggesting that dry food may promote good dental health, there is no evidence that standard dry cat food is any better for cats’ teeth than wet food. There are some special “dental” diets that include ingredients that limit the accumulation of dental tartar in the mouth, as well as having a more abrasive, chewier formulation which does a better job of rubbing plaque away from the surface of the teeth. Dry foods are usually the most economical and easiest for you to feed and store. Dry cat food can be left out all day for your cat to nibble on and is beneficial for their teeth and gums. What's key is the amount you feed your furry companion, as pet obesity is rapidly on the rise.Cats choose their food based on smell, texture and how they feel once they start to digest it. They also like to 'graze' eating small amounts throughout the day, so it's best to leave food out for them (unless they are eating too much and putting on weight).

Some recent research has suggested that if cats are fed wet food, they may be less likely to hunt so prolifically. If owners are concerned about their cats preying on garden birds, they may wish to try feeding more wet food to see if this reduces the level of hunting. Is dry food better for cats’ teeth? If cats aren't given these essential nutrients in their diet, they will not thrive and they can become seriously ill, with a shortened life span. It's theoretically possible to feed cats on a vegetarian or vegan diet, topping this up with artificially manufactured supplements, but there are mixed reports of the consequences. I have heard vets describe vegetarian cats that are stunted, prematurely aged and clearly not thriving, while other vets describe some cats on meat-free diets that seem to be thriving. Is raw food a good option for cats? Ensure you're feeding your feline the correct amount by measuring out each meal on a set of weighing scales. A few extra bits of kibble or jelly might not seem like a lot, but they can massively contribute to weight gain. First, raw meat often carries bacteria that can cause disease in immunocompromised humans in the household (such as babies, elderly people or anyone on chemotherapy). Second, care needs to be taken to ensure your cat is fed a balanced diet: pure meat alone does not provide enough nutrients. Available in 85g pouches and 85g tins as mousse, paté, terrine, gravy and jelly - plus sauces and savoury cakesDry cat food, also known as kibble or biscuits, can also be highly palatable. One of the main reasons for obesity in cats is the fact that many carers leave a full bowl of cat kibble out continually, using an ad libitum self-feeding routine. The lower moisture level makes dry food cheaper to transport and store, and it’s more convenient and less messy for cat carers. What is the difference between kitten, adult and senior cat foods? Raw pet food has become more popular over the past few years (particularly for dogs), but experts don't generally recommend it, particularly DIY versions. Commercial cat food is classed as either complete or complementary: complete foods provide a balanced array of vital nutrients and are a one-stop solution, while complementary foods need to be combined with other foods to form a complete balanced diet. There is some debate regarding whether one is better than the other. The BVA says 'there's not enough evidence to recommend one over the other, there are advantages to both. A vet will be able to recommend the most suitable diet.' Some manufacturers produce frozen and freeze-dried raw cat food in both complete and complementary varieties, and the PFMA states that commercially prepared raw cat food marked as ‘complete’ has been formulated to provide the nutritional balance a cat needs in its daily diet, so if you are keen to switch, this is a safer bet.

The easiest, and most cost effective, way to meet your cat’s nutritional needs is to use food that has been scientifically formulated to be balanced by a nutritionist employed by a pet food manufacturer. All pet food that is labelled as “complete” is legally obliged to provide all the nutrients that a cat needs. Are pet store cat foods better than supermarket cat foods? Wet cat foods are very popular and are generally very appetising to cats. However, they are more expensive as the recommended feeding amounts are generally higher. In our member survey, 92% of cat owners said they feed a dry diet. Owners who feed their cat wet food should also monitor their pet's teeth, as wet foods tend to predispose them to dental disease. We know you love to pamper your pets - so let us help you to provide them with their favourite food for less when you head in-store.Don't forget to find out the best pet insurance for your cat. Also a dog owner? See the best dog food brands. How to choose the best cat food