The 8 Best Cat Foods in Singapore (original) (raw)
The United States remains one of the biggest manufacturers and exporters of pet food products. Popular brands like Fancy Feast and Royal Canin are available around the world, including Singapore.
While Singapore hasn’t quite joined the ranks of many European and American companies in manufacturing their own pet food, pet parents are not lacking for options. Australia is a major supplier of pet food in Singapore and many of the biggest American brands are easy to find.
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 Singapore and introduce you to our top picks.
At a Glance: Best Cat Food To Buy in Singapore
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
10.0
Picked by 31 people today!
PetCubes Wild Kangaroo Fresh Cat Food
- High-quality source of novel animal protein
- Meat is in chunks your cat can chew and tear
- Rich in moisture to support your cat’s hydration
#2
9.8
Picked by 31 people today!
Big Dog for Cats Turkey Raw Cat Food
- Made with 92% meat, bone, and offal
- Rich in species-appropriate animal protein and fats
- Raw and unprocessed, made with human-grade ingredients
#3
9.5
Picked by 25 people today!
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Food
- Made with ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients
- Comprised of 92% meat, organs, and green mussels
- Packed with species appropriate animal protein and healthy fat
#5
9.3
Picked by 18 people today!
Meow Wild Venison Freeze-Dried Cat Food
- First 7 ingredients are high-quality animal ingredients
- Made with fresh meat, ground bone, and organ meats
- Freeze-dried to preserve flavor and nutrition
#7
9.0
Picked by 18 people today!
Young Again ZERO Cat and Kitten Formula
- Three sources of highly digestible animal protein
- Extremely low carb content for a dry cat food
- Rich in animal-based fatty acids
Before getting into the details of our top picks, let’s dive into the subject of pet food in Singapore. We’ll also offer some tips for choosing a nutritionally balanced recipe and finding cat food in Singapore.
Your Cat’s Nutritional Requirements
Cats have unique nutritional needs based on their biological status as obligate carnivores. Whereas dogs are closer to omnivores in their ability to digest plant matter to some degree, cats are designed to subsist on animal products like meat, organs, and raw bone.
Your cat requires a protein-rich diet balanced with healthy fats, ideally from animal sources. To put it simply, the fewer plant ingredients in your cat’s diet the better.
Protein is particularly essential for growth and development in kittens but also plays an important role in maintaining lean muscle in adulthood. Fat helps the body absorb and metabolize essential nutrients in addition to providing a concentrated source of energy in the form of calories.
Your cat has no biological need for carbohydrates, but he does need an assortment of vitamins and minerals. These can be obtained entirely from animal sources like organ meats and raw bone, but many commercial cat foods rely on synthetic supplements to ensure nutritional balance.
When shopping for cat food, make sure the product is formulated with an emphasis on animal-based proteins and fat with limited carbohydrate content. It’s also wise to avoid fillers like corn, wheat, and soy as well as artificial additives like flavoring, colorants, and preservatives.
How Is Pet Food Regulated In Asia?
There is a widespread opinion in the pet food industry that pet food made in Asia (specifically China) is unsafe. A major factor in the development of this opinion was the major FDA recall of Chinese pet food due to elevated levels of melamine.
After the Chinese government traced much of the poisoned pet food back to Binzhou Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd., a number of different companies voluntarily recalled their own products. Since 2007, more than 150 pet food brands have recalled various cat and dog food recipes. Some of these brands include big names like Royal Canin, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Blue Buffalo, and Diamond Pet Foods.
So, China doesn’t have a great history when it comes to pet food safety, but does the stigma apply to other Asian countries? Perhaps not.
Thailand has become a major producer of canned cat foods and the second largest importer of pet food to the United States. Production costs are much cheaper in Thailand than in the US, but another determining factor is that most of the world’s tuna is caught there. Thailand is also a major producer of canned chicken products.
Pet food production in Thailand is overseen by the Department of Livestock Development – similar to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Thailand also has its own Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which is recognized by the US FDA.
While some Asian countries are building a name for themselves as major players in the pet food market, it’s important to evaluate individual products carefully. Many brands follow AAFCO standards for nutritional adequacy and any food exported from the USA must as well.
But What About Pet Food Produced In Singapore?
In researching cat food brands in Singapore for this review, I found that most of the brand produced in Singapore didn’t make any mention of AAFCO standards. This isn’t to say that there aren’t any standards for nutrition in pet food in Singapore, but I wasn’t able to find any specific details.
Though pet food standards in Singapore are a bit of a mystery, it’s possible that stricter regulations may be on the horizon.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, market research shows an increase in online shopping among pet owners. In fact, a report released in 2020 showed that the Asia Pacific region is one of the largest global pet care market. Many of the brands that are popular in the US and Europe are readily available for residents of Singapore through online retailers like Amazon.
As the pet food market grows, regulatory agencies throughout Asia may start to pay more attention to the pet food products manufactured in their own country.
The Best Cat Food in Singapore: Our Top Picks
My top pick is the only Singapore-made cat food brand I could find. I did find a raw food brand called Raw Instinct, but it was rebranded in 2020. The top pick on this list may, in fact, be the new company.
Some of my other top picks are Australian-made pet food companies that ship to Singapore or other Asian companies that use Australian ingredients. I’ve also included some of the most popular US-based pet food companies you can find on Amazon and other online retailers that ship to Singapore.
Singapore-Made Cat Treats And Supplemental Foods
While the options are limited for cat food made in Singapore, there are a few local companies that make treats and supplements which may be available for shipping.
Where To Buy Cat Food In Singapore
As is true in the United States, Singapore has a wide variety of pet food retailers. Some of the most popular choices include CatSmart, Pet Master, and SingPet. These stores also offer online shopping, some with free delivery in Singapore over a certain order size.
If you prefer to shop online, you’ll find that many of the several online pet retailers will ship to Singapore. Amazon is likely to be your best bet – Chewy does not ship internationally. Some major U.S. pet stores like Petco will ship to Singapore through an independent international shipping company called Borderlinx.
Final Thoughts
If you’re shopping for cat food in Singapore, you have plenty of options to choose from. Not only are there a few healthy choices for Singapore-made pet food, but with Australia being so close-by, access to premium products is simple.
The most important thing you can do for your cat is select a nutritionally balanced cat food appropriate for his life stage. It’s uncertain whether Singapore-made pet food is formulated to the same nutritional standards as US-made food, but there’s no reason to believe these foods are of lower quality.
Still, if you’re more comfortable with a tried-and-true brand, you can find them online at Amazon and from other Singapore-based retailers.