The Best Cat Food in South Africa (original) (raw)

As of 2021, the estimated population of South Africa was just over 60 million people. Statistics gathered in 2022 suggest that pet ownership is on the rise in South Africa and the pet industry is expected to grow by 2.5% between 2021 and 2026.

In this guide, we’ll briefly discuss your cat’s nutritional needs before diving into a few details about the pet food market in South Africa. From there, we’ll introduce you to our top picks for the best cat food available in South Africa in stores and online.

NOTE: We’ve compiled a list of some of the highest quality cat food brands available in Spain based on product availability in online pet stores that serve South Africa. To learn more about how we came to our top picks, check out the Where To Buy Cat Food in South Africa section below.

In this guide, we’ll briefly discuss what your cat needs in terms of nutrition. We’ll also talk about the kind of cat food you’ll find in South Africa and introduce you to our top picks.

At a Glance: Best Cat Foods To Buy in South Africa

Want a quick look at the best cat foods reviewed in this article? In the comparison table below, we’ve highlighted some of the most important features of each product. You’ll find more detailed information about each product later in the article.

#1

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Doggobone

10.0

Picked by 31 people today!

Doggobone Alfies Original Recipe Raw Cat Food

#4

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Weruva

9.4

Picked by 21 people today!

Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chciken Canned Cat Food

#7

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Orijen

9.1

Picked by 18 people today!

Orijen Six Fish Dry Cat Food

#8

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Acana

9.0

Picked by 18 people today!

Acana Wild Prairie Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Why Should You Trust Us?

Having reviewed over 235 of the world’s most popular cat food brands and hundreds of formulas. We spent hours researching, contacting pet food companies, and analyzing labels. With the help of our cats, we’ve also accumulated hours upon hours of hands-on experience with different cat foods.

Based on that research, we’re bringing you an updated list of the best cat food brands and products available in South Africa. We’ve researched the brands themselves and evaluated individual recipes to bring you our top picks.

What Does Balanced Nutrition Look Like for Cats?

No matter where you live, it’s your responsibility as a cat owner to provide for your feline friend’s nutritional needs. The most important thing to remember is that cats are obligate carnivores.

The term obligate carnivore refers to animals that have a biological requirement for a meat-based diet.

Your cat’s body simply isn’t designed to process plant foods efficiently, so the majority of the ingredients in his food should be animal-based – definitely eh first ingredient and ideally three out of the top five. Avoid recipes that are too carb-heavy, especially if those carbs come from low-value grains like corn, wheat, and soy or starchy beans and legumes.

Adult cats require a minimum of 26% crude protein in their diets (measured on a dry matter basis) while kittens need 30%. The minimum fat content of a cat or kitten’s diet should be 9% but animal nutritionists generally recommend a much higher fat content around 20%.

Aside from making sure your cat’s food contains the ideal ratio of protein to fat (with minimal carbohydrates), be on the lookout for potentially harmful ingredients.

In wet cat food, be mindful of potentially carcinogenic thickeners like carrageenan. Even options like guar gum which may be less dangerous can contribute to digestive issues like diarrhea. Be sure to avoid vaguely-named animal ingredients and by-product meals as well as artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

The Pet Industry in South Africa

The South African pet food market is by far the largest in the Middle East and Africa, accounting for over 50% of annual sales in this region.

Though it has a long way to go to reach the size of the North American and European markets, the South African pet food market is growing in both size and competitiveness. According to GlobalPETS, the South African market grew by 14% in real terms – a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3% – between 2010 and 2015. During this time period, the annual rate of real GDP growth in South African halved.

One of the primary drivers of growth in the South African pet food market is the increasing number of pet owners switching to prepared pet food from table scraps and leftovers.

A 2018 Insight Survey report suggests that pet food manufacturers in South Africa are profiting off global pet industry trends. Pet owners around the world continue to view and treat their pets like family and a natural side effect of this trend is a rising demand for premium pet food products.

The South African pet food market has seen a steady increase in sales since 2014, primarily from foreign imports. A 2018 report from Euromonitor International suggests, however, that rising prices on imported brands are driving South African pet owners toward domestic brands. Several manufacturers have begun introducing private label brands at various price points to capture a larger share of the market.

Pet foods imported to South Africa from the United States must adhere to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety and labeling requirements. While they do not have any regulatory power, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) holds a lot of power in the American pet food industry which extends to foreign markets.

The majority of US-made pet foods are formulated according to nutrient profiles established by AAFCO and several foreign regulatory agencies follow these same guidelines.

A similar organization called the Pet Food Industry Association of South Africa (PFI) exists in South Africa. The organization is self-described as: “an industry body dedicated to upholding quality standards and safety in pet nutrition.” As is true with AAFCO, membership of the PFI isn’t required for pet food suppliers but pet owners concerned about feeding their pets the best would be wise to consider a PFI member brand simply for their peace of mind.

What Brands Are Available in South Africa?

Many of the most readily available cat foods in South Africa come from big names that fall under the Mars Petcare family of brands.

Some of the top cat food brands include:

These and other popular brands like Hill’s are largely imported from the United States and from manufacturers throughout Europe. In some cases, however, the names have been changed.

For example, Hill’s Science Diet (owned by the Colgate-Palmolive Company) operates as Science Plan in the United Kingdom, and these are the products that are imported into South Africa.

The situation with Friskies cat food (a Nestle Purina-owned brand) in South Africa is a little bit different. Friskies has been popular in South Africa for years but in 2017 began transitioning into a new brand called Pamper. This occurred after Martin & Martin, a British pet healthcare company, purchased a Nestle Purina wet cat food plant in 2016 and began locally sourcing, manufacturing, and distributing Friskies products under the new name Pamper.

Other American-made brands that are easy to find in South Africa include Acana, Orijen, Weruva, and Pro Pac.

Just because these brands are familiar and readily available, however, doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the healthiest option. In fact, I found a few South African-made brands that seem to offer higher quality, more species-appropriate nutrition for cats than options like Whiskas and Sheba. I’ve chosen to highlight these products at the top of my list of recommendations.

The 8 Best Cat Foods in South Africa: Our Top Picks

It’s difficult to say that any particular cat food is the “best” considering one cat may have preferences or dietary requirements that are unique from another’s.

To compile this list, I researched the cat food options available in South Africa and evaluated them based on the tenets of an ideal feline diet. The brands I’ve chosen aren’t necessarily the most popular or easy to find but they’re made with more animal-based ingredients and fewer carbohydrates than some of the bestsellers on South African pet retail websites.

Again, I’ve placed the South Africa-made brands at the top of the list. I’ve also attempted to include a variety of product types and flavors to help cat owners like you find the right option for your cat.

Where To Buy Cat Food in South Africa

Because I am based in the United States, I wasn’t able to evaluate the cat food selection available in South African pet stores. My research was limited to the dozen or so online retailers I found combined with blog posts and comments from cat lovers online.

The online retailer that seemed to have the largest selection of cat food brands was Pet World. Whereas many online stores I came across stocked somewhere between six and ten different brands (largely the same selection), Pet World offers products from more than 30 brands. Pet World also has nine in-store locations split between Cape Town and the Johannesburg area.

If you’re in the market for specialty diets, it’s easy to find brands like Royal Canin and Hill’s Science Plan both in stores and online. VetEx Online is a great place to shop for these diets. They have a limited selection of veterinary cat foods available online and a slightly larger selection of veterinary dog foods.

Other South African online retailers worth checking out may include:

Global online retailers like Amazon may have some options available to cat owners in South Africa but primarily through independent vendors. Amazon ships to South Africa but they don’t sell all of the products themselves – you’ll need filter your search results to find vendors that ship to South Africa.

According to a 2017 Global Agriculture Information Network (GAIN) report issued by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, pet food manufactured by three companies is most accessible in major South African retail chains. These include:

These companies cater primarily to the needs of low-to-middle income customers, though options are available at all price points. You’re most likely to find these brands in major South African retail chains like Shoprite-Checkers, Spar, Pick n Pay, Woolworths, and Game.

Final Thoughts

Many of the major cat food brands available in North America and throughout Europe can also be found in stores and online in South Africa. While big names like Royal Canin and Whiskas may be easy to find, they’re not necessarily the most nutritious or species-appropriate options for cats.

I’ve done my best to assemble a balanced blend of popular American or European cat foods available in South Africa with brands that are manufactured domestically.

Regardless of where you live, your cat’s nutritional needs should be the driving factor when it comes to shopping for pet food. Your cat deserves the highest quality food you can consistently afford.

Need a refresher about feline nutrition? Check out our in-depth guide .