Which cat food is best? The top UK cat foods to buy 2024

Cats are obligate carnivores because they require amino acids that are only found in animal tissue. In total, cats require eleven amino acids. You may have heard of two of these: taurine and arginine.
Taurine is an amino acid that is crucial for several key functions in the feline body. It is important for maintaining normal heart function, supporting eye health, and supporting the reproductive system. Taurine is also necessary for the formation of bile acids, which help cats digest fats and absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
Arginine is another essential amino acid that plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of cats. It is necessary for various physiological processes and has specific importance for feline metabolism. Some key functions of arginine included detoxification of ammonia, nitric oxide production and maintaining proper neurological function.
You may be surprised to learn that adult cats need more protein as a percentage of their overall diet than either humans or dogs do. Up until recently, the industry has followed traditional guidelines from organisations such as The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) or the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). As an example, AAFCO recommends a minimum of 30 per cent crude protein in their diet on a dry matter basis for growing cats, lactating cats or kittens.
Adult cats and neutered adult cats require a little less protein as they are no longer growing and if neutered, likely to be moving less. Similarly, senior cats will be less active and may need a similar diet high in protein and lower in fat. 
In addition to amino acids and these general levels of protein, cats also require fat in their diets, as well as essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) and various vitamins and minerals. If you are buying a commercial cat food that is labelled complete, it will contain all of the basic vitamins and minerals your cat needs to be healthy.

Outdoor cats will generally require more food as they are likely to be a lot more active, burning energy. You may therefore want to feed them either a food that contains more calories, or simply feed them more food. 
Indoor cats generally don’t move as much and we know sedentary cats are more prone to weight gain. You may therefore want to feed them a food that has a higher protein-to-fat ratio.

Some breeds such as Bengals or Savannahs are naturally more energetic. They need a lot of physical exercise and mental stimulation and therefore may require either a diet higher in fat or more food to ensure they have enough energy. Conversely, cats such as British Shorthairs, Ragdolls or Persians are more likely to be docile lap cats and will generally need a diet lower in fat, higher in protein to ensure they don’t gain significant amounts of weight and become unhealthy.

There are a number of considerations for cat owners when either choosing a diet for a new cat, or switching your cat’s current diet:
Palatability and taste preferences. You may need to switch your cat to a new food due to medical reasons or simply because they are starting to become overweight. You may well find that your cat refuses the new food because they don’t like it or are used to eating their own food. If this happens, try different brands, recipes or kibble sizes (if feeding dry) to see if you can find one that your cat likes. Don’t forget, as obligate carnivores, cats tend to love meaty and fishy foods so one that is high in protein might convert your fussy cat!
Your cat only eats wet food or only eats dry food. This could potentially be a problem if the wet food you are feeding your cat is complementary. Always check the label to ensure the wet food is complete (contains all required nutrients, vitamins and minerals for your cat to be healthy). Research the brand you are buying from to ensure it is reputable and the ingredients are high quality. Generally good food brands in the UK will be a member of UK Pet Food.
Grazing. Some cat owners leave dry food down for their cats all day and top up the bowls when they are empty. This may seem perfectly innocent, but you may lose track of how much food your cat is actually eating. It’s better to weigh out the food (look at the back of the pack to check the feeding guidelines) and ensure your cat is getting the right amount of food for its weight and age. 
Overfeeding. As mentioned before, always weigh out your cat's food according to the guidelines provided by the company you are buying from. Obesity is a serious issue in cats, with 1 in 3 cats in the UK being overweight. Obesity in cats leads to a number of other serious health issues such as arthritis and urinary health issues so it’s very important to maintain a healthy weight by not overfeeding them.
Begging. Indoor cats are particularly bad at begging for food, sometimes caused by boredom. They are also incredibly persistent and may do things like wake you up in the middle of the night demanding a midnight feast! It’s best to feed your cat a food that’s high in protein at regular meal times, with some healthy treats provided during the day so that they are full and satisfied before going to bed. This will mean they are less likely to force you out of bed and let them get into a bad eating pattern!
Cats with medical conditions or unwell cats. These cats may need a specific diet that commercial cat food cannot meet. If your cat is poorly or has recently been diagnosed with a disease, always check with your vet to see if they should be on a specific diet.
Homemade food. Cat owners can think that because cats are obligate carnivores, they are doing a good thing by feeding their cat a homemade diet. This can be true, however we would always recommend working with a board certified feline nutritionist to ensure your cat is getting everything they need from the food. The last thing you want is to miss something essential or get the wrong proportions and your cat to become unwell.

If you're worried because you've just adopted a cat yourself or you're an experienced owner having trouble with your cat's feeding habits, you've come to the right place. We know the frustration of your kitty suddenly deciding one day that the food they've happily eaten for years is now the most disgusting thing they've ever touched.
Our biggest advice would be to not worry. It's tempting to overthink what they should eat or why they aren't eating certain things. As long as they have a bowl of food in front of them every morning and evening, they are well looked after. If you find your cat hasn't touched their food in two days, we recommend contacting your vet. There might be a problem bigger than them being stubborn.
One of our writers, Ruby Barry, shares, "For my cats' routine, I feed a mixture of wet food and sensitive, dry food during the week. This is so they get the benefits of both without getting bored of one continuous meal. Every morning and evening, my kitties get a scoop of Hill's Science Plan Sensitive Stomach and Skin Dry Adult Cat Food, which has never let us down and aids my cats' sensitive stomachs. Every couple of days, they get a tasty Felix wet food sachet, which they go bonkers for."
We also suggest keeping a water bowl or water fountain away from their food if possible. Typically in the wild, cats go to water sources separate from their food. There is an instinct that the water could be contaminated with the food's bacteria. A cat water fountain is more similar to how water runs in the wild instead of stagnant water in a bowl.

This depends on the brand and also your local council's recycling scheme. Look for the triangle on the bottom of the pouch to see what type of plastic it is.
Pets at Home currently have a fantastic recycling programme where you can bring your old pouches into your local store, and they can recycle them for you.

As a general rule, cat food is not good for your dog. It tends to be higher in protein, calories and fat, which is not ideal for your pooch. It may not affect them if they manage to get their muzzle into the cat bowl once or twice. But if they make it a regular habit, this could affect their health badly long-term.
But we know dogs are determined creatures, so is there a way to stop them from guzzling the cat's food and sticking to their own food? Well, you can place your cats on a higher surface, such as a table, so your dog can't reach their food. However, if you want your pet's food to be on the ground, an automatic pet feeder is a handy gadget to have. It senses your cat's microchip and only allows the registered microchip access to the food. After they walk away, the lid will close, meaning no mutt muzzles can barge in!