Choose complete food for everyday feeding: it is formulated to meet your pet’s basic nutritional needs. Complementary food can be given as a treat or as part of the diet, but it does not replace complete food.
The difference between these types of food matters for dogs, cats and other pets: the packaging and the product’s intended use indicate how to include it in the diet. Let’s look at what the labels mean and how to tell a staple food from an add-on.
| Criterion | Complete food | Complementary food |
|---|---|---|
| Role in the diet | Can be the basis of a cat’s diet and its only food | Treat or addition |
| Nutrients | Energy and essential nutrients in the required amounts and proportions | Does not provide the full range of essentials in the required amounts and proportions |
| What to check | The words “complete food” or an equivalent term on the label | The “complementary” label and intended use |
| Can it be used as the only food? | Yes, if the product is intended for the pet | No |
How does complete food differ from complementary food?
Complete food differs in that it provides a cat with energy and all essential nutrients in the required amounts and proportions; complementary food is not intended to do this. That is why a complete product can be a cat’s only food, provided it is specifically formulated for cats.
- Complete food: suitable as the basis of the diet if the packaging says “complete food” or uses an equivalent designation.
- Complementary food: does not meet a cat’s needs for all essential nutrients in the right amounts and proportions, so it should be given as a treat, not instead of staple food.
When choosing a product, check its intended use on the label: the animal it is for and whether it is marked as complete. For example, a can or pouch labelled “complementary food” does not become suitable as the basis of a diet just because a cat happily eats it.
How can you tell from the label whether food is suitable as the basis of a diet?
What to look for on the packaging
To tell whether food is suitable as the basis of a diet, look for the words “complete food” or an equivalent designation on the packaging, and check which animal the product is intended for. These two indicators matter more than whether the food is dry or wet.
- Product type. Look for the words “complete food” or a synonym: this food is formulated to provide your pet with energy and essential nutrients. If a product is labelled complementary, it does not replace staple food and is better suited as a treat.
- Animal species. Check the intended use on the packaging: cat food should not be chosen as the basis of a dog’s diet, or vice versa. The species listed must apply to the specific product.
- Form and presentation. A wet texture, convenient single-serve packaging or the fact that your pet eagerly eats the food does not prove that it is complete. For example, wet food can be either complete or complementary—the label tells you which.
Assess the packaging as a whole: first check the food’s intended use, then the animal it is for. If the product is intended for your pet and labelled complete, you can consider it as the basis of their everyday diet; how appetising or convenient it is does not change that.
Why is it important to check the label on every product?
It is important to check the label on every product so you can distinguish food suitable for a staple diet from a treat: complete food contains energy and essential nutrients in the amounts a cat needs, while complementary food does not provide them in the right amounts and proportions. These products can look similar, so rely on the label rather than the food’s appearance or format.
The number of pets in Moscow shows how many animals live in the city, but it does not determine what they should eat. In Moscow in 2023, there were 2.98 million cats, 20% more than in 2020. In Moscow in 2023, there were 1.4 million dogs, 13% more than in 2020.
What to look for on the packaging
- Complete food: look for the words “complete food” or a synonym on the label. This product can be a cat’s only food.
- Complementary food: treat it as a snack, not a replacement for staple food: it may lack essential nutrients or contain them in unsuitable proportions.
What happens if complementary food becomes the main food?
If you regularly give your pet complementary food instead of complete food, there is no guarantee they will receive all the essential nutrients in the right amounts and proportions. This product can be offered as an addition, but it is not designed to be the only food—unlike food labelled “complete.”
A common mistake
Complementary food does not become a complete diet just because your pet particularly likes it or it is convenient to serve. For example, a treat or complementary wet food does not replace food labelled complete: the product’s label, not the animal’s appetite, determines its intended use.
- “Complete” — the food is formulated as a staple diet and contains essential nutrients in the required amounts.
- “Complementary” — the product is intended to be added to the diet, not to replace complete food on an ongoing basis.
- Unclear intended use — check the label or ask the manufacturer whether the product is suitable as the sole food for everyday feeding.
If you are unsure, choose a product labelled “complete” or bearing an equivalent term. This is especially important when the food is the basis of your pet’s diet rather than an occasional treat.
Can you combine staple food and treats?
Yes, complete food can be combined with complementary food: the former makes up the basis of the diet, while the latter is given as a treat. Complete food is formulated to provide your pet with energy and essential nutrients in the required amounts; complementary food is not intended to do this.
Complementary food does not replace staple food: if you feed it instead of a complete product, the diet may not provide the right range of nutrients. So choose staple food by looking for the words “complete food” or an equivalent designation on the packaging, not by whether the product is dry or wet.
How to check the packaging
- For the basis of the diet: look for the words “complete food” or a statement that the product is intended for complete daily nutrition.
- For a treat: complementary food can be given separately, but should not be used instead of staple food.
- If the category is unclear: before feeding, check the product’s intended use on the packaging or with the manufacturer. Do not assume food is complete just because it is dry or wet.
What simple rule can help you choose food?
For a staple diet, choose food labelled “complete” or bearing an equivalent designation; reserve products marked “complementary” for treats. This rule helps you distinguish foods by their intended use rather than their appearance.
- “Complete” — this food is formulated to provide your pet with energy and essential nutrients as their staple food.
- “Complementary” — use it as a treat, not as a replacement for staple food: it does not contain all essential nutrients in the required amounts and proportions.
Dry or wet, in pellets or chunks—the form and packaging alone do not show whether food is complete. For example, wet food may be intended either as the basis of a diet or as a treat, so check the label on the specific can or package.
Before buying, read the label on the specific product you have chosen and check its intended use. If the food is to be your pet’s only food, look for the “complete” label or an equivalent term; a “complementary” label means it is not suitable as the basis of the diet.
Key takeaways
- The basis of the diet should be food labelled “complete” or bearing an equivalent term.
- Complementary food is intended as a treat, not as a replacement for staple food.
- Wet or dry form alone does not determine whether food is complete.
- Before feeding, check the intended use of the specific product on its packaging.
Frequently asked questions
Can I feed my cat only complete food?
Can I give complementary food every day instead of staple food?
How can I tell complete food from complementary food?
Is wet food always complementary?
Sources
- t-j.ru — “How to choose cat food”
- murkotiki.com — “Differences between complete and complementary food”
- baike.baidu.com — “Wet food for a staple diet”
- aller-petfood.com — “Which is better: dry food or natural food for dogs and”
- petcarecenter.ru — “Classification of dog and cat food”