Five catfood brands that are good for your pets (and where you can buy them)

Disclaimer: This article is directed at the Pakistani audience. It is not sponsored and does not have any brand affiliations. Just a catmom looking out for other catmom and dads!

The biggest dilemma for any pet parent is the kind of dry food that they should go for. Unfortunately, if you are from countries like Pakistan, not only would you have fewer quality options but the research being put into the available options is sub-par and lacking too. In think article, you'd find the catfoods that are truly GOOD for your cat (and the reasons why). Psst, btw - we have a surprise at the end.

Tip: You can click on the title to buy the products!

UPDATE: On some further research and feedback it was made apparent that Reflex has quality standard issues and does not quite meet the nutrition requirements of a cat so we are striking Reflex Catfood off of the list and replacing that with Nutragold!

1. Nutragold (Country of origin: America) | 2250RS for 1 KG

Nutragold comes under the umbrella of Diamond Pet Foods which is a massive wholesale manufacturer in the United States. It is also a safe option for those that have a budget. The food contains all the necessary ingredients for your cat's well-being including cellulose to help prevent and control hairball formation, and a pH-balanced and magnesium-controlled diet with multiple protein sources.

Ingredients:
Chicken, chicken meal, barley, egg derivatives, ground rice, powdered cellulose, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salmon, potatoes (2%), millet, natural chicken flavor, linseed, sodium bisulphate, ocean fish meal, potassium chloride, DL-methionine, choline chloride, dried chicory root, taurine, shell fish flour (a source of glucosamine), cartilage of poultry (a source of chondroitin sulphate), kelp, carrots (0.1%), peas (0.1%), apples (0.1%), tomatoes, blueberries, spinach, cranberry powder, rosemary extract, parsley flake, yucca schidigera extract

Minerals & Vitamin: Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Ferrous Sulphate, Copper Sulphate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Proteinate, Manganous Oxide, Omega-6 Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fatty Acids

While we know as a rule of thumb that all good cat foods must have a protein base at the beginning of their ingredients list (since the quantity of the ingredients is in ascending order and we'd want more of the protein for our feline friends). 

2. Whiskas (Country of origin: America) | 2700RS for 1.2KG Jelly & 3000RS for 2KG Dry Food

Whiskas originate from America and follow strict nutrition standards for your pet's well-being. Not only do they have a wide assortment of wet and dry foods that follow established AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control) Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for adult cat maintenance, but they also provide a variety of cat/kitten treats that your feline friend will appreciate.

Ingredients:
Poultry By-Product Meal, Ground Yellow Corn, Ground Wheat, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Animal Fat (Preserved With Bha & Citric Acid) Natural Flavors (Source Of Chicken Flavor), Cellulose, Salt

Minerals & Vitamins: Calcium Carbonate, Taurine, Dl-Methionine, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Bha & Citric Acid (A Preservative), Yucca Schidigera Extract, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Biotin.

In terms of price point, it's one of the more reasonable so you can make sure your cat stays healthy without breaking the bank!

3. Purina (Country of Origin: America) | 2900RS for 1.2 KG Wet food

Purina is a subsidy of Nestle and has various kinds of catfoods like Felix, Friskies, Fancy Feast, etc. It also has a proven track-record of maintaining health and nutrition requirements in its cat foods so your pets live a long and healthy life. The only downside for Pakistanis is that dry food is hard to get in the country. However, brands like Felix are available at most outlets.

Ingredients:
Meat and animal derivatives, Fish and fish derivatives, Minerals, and Various sugars.

Minerals: Iron, Calcium, Copper, Manganous sulphate, Zinc, Taurine, Flavourings. 

Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin D3: 96, Vitamin E: 14. 

Purina being Nesle affiliated is a known and reputable pet food brand so you know you are getting good value for money and you are not trading the health of your cat for anything! 

Oooh plus, its jelly food is one of the cleanest that is available and we just love that for our pets.

4. Royal Canine (Country of Origin: France) | 1700RS for 400G & 5799 for 2KG

Royal Canine started as a french brand and soon spread its wings to Europe and now most of the world. It is one of the most recommended cat food in Pakistan. The biggest downside to this one is that it's very expensive due to the recent inflationary pressure. 

Ingredients:
Chicken By-Product Meal, Chicken Fat, Brewers Rice, Brown Rice, Corn Gluten Meal, Corn, Wheat Gluten, Rice Hulls, Natural Flavors, Chicory, Powdered Cellulose, Fish Oil, Sodium Silico Aluminate, Psyllium Seed Husk, L-Lysine, Vegetable Oil, Calcium Sulfate, Potassium Chloride, DL-Methionine, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Fructooligosaccharides, Taurine, Hydrolyzed Yeast

Minerals & Vitamins: Vitamin E, Inositol, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin C, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B1, Vitamin A Acetate, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Choline Chloride, Safflower Oil, Marigold Extract, Trace Minerals, L-Carnitine, Rosemary Extract, Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols And Citric Acid.

Major Pro:

Despite being the most expensive one on the list, the royal canine has plenty of veterinarian options to choose from which work wonders if your cat is experiencing any sort of stomach issues (diarrheas, etc.)

...and now our winner!

5. PureLove (Country of Origin: Pakistan) | 410RS for 500G

For all pet parents who want to give the best quality food to their pets but also want to stay *not broke* this one is for you. This brand is an initiative of a Pakistani who made sure all the standards of quality were met with this product (something that we rarely see here). Plus the ingredients list speaks for itself.

Ingredients:

Pure Protein (Chicken), Gluten Free Grain, Animal Fat, Seasonal Vegetables, Fish Meal, Vegetable Protein, Food Flavoring, 

Minerals & Vitamins: Omega 3, Fatty Acids, Vitamin D and B2, Calcium & Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Iodine, Magnesium & Potassium

Pro: 

The ingredient list is short and everything is human grade which is something we can all appreciate. 

It is local and CHEAP without compromising on quality.

Con:

Your cat might need adjusting to the flavor of the food, I would recommend that take the shift of cat-food slow with this one. Mix some of it in the current food of your cat and increase the quantity periodically. 

Where you can buy these?

Nutragold, Royal Canine, Purina & Whiskas are available on PetsOne, Daraz, and PetsHub. PureLove has their own dedicated site where you can order from if you live in Karachi (see here). For those that live elsewhere, you can buy PureLove catfood from Naheed (see here). 

Happy Shopping!