Cat and dog foods

Made for small-breed adults, this grain-free kibble starts with venison and lamb meal, then garbanzo beans, peas and lentils. It's 32% protein (about 36% with the water out) and 422 calories a cup, and the maker says it meets AAFCO's Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

Pea fiber sits right behind chicken meal at the top of this dry food for adult cats that beg or gain weight, and fiber can run up to 10.8%. A cup is 284 calories, and protein is 32%, about 35% with the water out. Royal Canin says it's formulated to meet AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

Beef, beef broth and beef liver lead this canned food for dogs and puppies, with lamb meal and fish meal further down, so it isn't single-protein. At 78% water, its 10% protein is about 45% with the water out, and a 13.2 oz can is 480 calories. The maker says it meets AAFCO's growth and maintenance profile, large dogs included.

Royal Canin makes this dry food just for adult Bengals, 1 year and older, with chicken by-product meal first and wheat gluten and wheat behind it. Protein is 38% on the label, about 41% once the water's out, and a cup is 404 calories. The maker says it meets AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

The spring vegetables in this Bistro kibble are carrots and green beans, listed after the vitamins, while corn, soybean meal and beef & bone meal lead. It's 19% protein, about 23% with the water out, and 375 calories a cup, and Kibbles 'n Bits says it's formulated to meet AAFCO's maintenance profile.

Trout, fish meal and salmon meal make up the first three ingredients in this grain-free cat kibble, ahead of sweet potatoes and lentils. It's 32% protein on the label (about 36% with the water out) and 424 calories a cup, and the maker says it meets AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages.

Trout comes first in this canned cat food in gravy, then fish broth and vegetable broth, with ocean fish and salmon behind them. With up to 82% water, the 8% protein is about 44% on a dry-matter basis, and a 5.5 oz can is 149 calories. The maker says it meets AAFCO's profiles for growth and maintenance.

Chicken, chicken liver and chicken broth are the first three ingredients in this canned food for cats and kittens. It's 78% water, so the 10% protein is about 45% with the water out, and a 5.5 oz can is 196 calories. Diamond Naturals says it meets AAFCO's Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for growth and maintenance.

Chicken is the first ingredient after water in these muttballs, with egg product third; the closest thing to the rice pasta in the name is rice flour, eighth. An 8 oz tub is 255 calories, and Nutrish says it's formulated to meet AAFCO's nutrient profile for all life stages, including large-breed growth.

Chicken is the first ingredient after water in this wet food, followed by chicken broth and egg product. Its 9% protein is about 41% with the 78% water out, an 8 oz tub is 226 calories, and Nutrish says it's formulated to meet AAFCO's nutrient profile for all life stages, including large-breed growth.

Grains fill three of the first five spots in this adult kibble: after chicken and chicken meal come brewers rice, barley and oatmeal. It's 22% protein on the label, about 24% once the water's out, and 329 calories a cup.

Corn, not meat, is the first ingredient in this dry food for adult Chihuahuas (8 months and older), with chicken by-product meal second. It's 26% protein, about 29% with the water out, and 323 calories a cup. Royal Canin says it's formulated to meet AAFCO's Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.

Chicken is the first meat in these chunks in gravy for adult dogs, right after water, and beef comes sixth, behind wheat flour and wheat gluten. At 82% water, the 8% protein on the label is about 44% on a dry-matter basis, and a can is 332 calories.

The steak in the name shows up as beef, fifth on the list, and as natural T-bone steak flavor further down; water, chicken and meat by-products lead these chunks in gravy for adult dogs. It's 82% water, so the label's 8.5% protein is about 47% with the water out, and a can is 332 calories.

Prime rib isn't on the ingredient list for these chunks in gravy for adult dogs; beef is sixth, after water, chicken, meat by-products, wheat flour and wheat gluten. It's 82% water, so the 8% protein on the label is about 44% once the water's out, and a can is 332 calories.

Chicken takes first place in this chopped, ground canned food for adult dogs, ahead of water, meat by-products and chicken by-products, with brewers rice fifth. It's 78% water, so the 8.5% protein on the label is about 39% on a dry-matter basis, and a can is 447 calories.

At 22 oz and 732 calories, this chopped ground dinner for adult dogs comes in a big can. Chicken is listed first, then water, meat by-products and animal liver, with beef sixth. It's 78% water, so the 8% protein on the label is about 36% with the water out.

Chicken, not turkey, is the first ingredient in this chopped ground dinner for adult dogs; turkey is sixth, and the bacon comes as natural bacon flavor. For a “dinner”, labeling rules only require the named ingredients together to make up 25% of the food, not counting added water. A can is 407 calories.

The name says beef, but chicken is the first ingredient in this chopped, ground wet food for adult dogs; beef comes sixth, after water, meat by-products, animal liver and brewers rice. It's 78% water, so the 8% protein on the label is about 36% on a dry-matter basis, and a 13.2 oz can is 420 calories. Pedigree describes it as complete adult nutrition.

Sold as a refrigerated roll you slice and cube, this adult dog food lists beef first and chicken second, which is worth knowing if you're steering clear of chicken. At 78% water, its 10% protein is about 45% with the water out, and half a pound is 315 calories. Freshpet says it meets AAFCO's adult maintenance profile.

Four grains follow chicken and chicken meal in Fromm's Classic adult dog food: brown rice, pearled barley, oatmeal and white rice. It's 23% protein on the label, about 26% with the water out, and a cup is 409 calories.

If you look for meat at the top of the list, this food for adult Cocker Spaniels (12 months and older) starts with brewers rice, brown rice and oat groats instead; chicken by-product meal is fourth. It's 23% protein (about 26% with the water out) and 304 calories a cup, and Royal Canin says it meets AAFCO's maintenance profile.

“Chicken flavor” on the bag only means you can taste it; labeling rules set no minimum amount, and chicken by-product meal doesn't appear until sixth, behind whole grain corn and meat and bone meal. It's 21% protein on the label, about 24% with the water out, and 405 calories a cup. Artificial colors are on the list too.

Lamb meal does make the list in this adult dog kibble, but in twelfth place, after the salt, while whole grain corn and chicken by-product meal lead. A “lamb flavor” name only has to deliver a taste you can detect. Protein is 21% (about 24% with the water out), and a cup is 405 calories.