To find out whether a food is suitable for your pet, check which animal and life stage it is intended for, how its purpose and ingredients are labelled, and what feeding recommendations are provided. The label can help you assess the product, but it does not replace consideration of your pet’s individual needs and health.
Packaging labels can sound similar even when they describe different properties of a food. Let’s look at which terms to check first and how to read them without making assumptions.
| Label information | What to check | How to use the information |
|---|---|---|
| Food type | Complete or complementary | Determine the product’s role in the diet |
| Intended use | Animal species and, for cat food, age | Check that the label matches your pet |
| Nutritional information | Ingredients and nutritional value | Assess both sections, not just the ingredients |
| Instructions | Feeding guidelines on the packaging | Follow the instructions for that specific product |
| Authenticity labelling | Honest Sign QR code, if present | Use it to verify the code |
- 3 sections Ingredients, nutritional value and feeding guidelines covered in Purina’s guide to reading pet food labels
- 2 animal species Cats and dogs, whose food labels Purina explains how to read
- 2 food types Complete and complementary — distinguish them by their intended use on the packaging
What does “complete” mean on a pet food label?
The label “complete” means the food is intended to be the main part of a pet’s diet, rather than simply an addition to other food. But the word alone does not tell you exactly which pets the product is suitable for: first check whether the packaging says it is for cats or dogs.
What to check on the packaging
For cat food, also look for age and intended-use information: for example, which age group or need the product is intended for. Refer to the information on the packaging itself, not just the prominent wording on the front: it does not replace the full description and feeding instructions.
- Ingredients — what the product contains.
- Nutritional value — information about its nutrients.
- Feeding guidelines — recommendations on how much food to give.
Purina treats ingredients, nutritional value and feeding guidelines as separate parts of the label for cat and dog food. They are best assessed together: “complete” indicates the product’s role in the diet, while the ingredients, nutritional information and instructions help you decide whether a particular food is suitable for your pet and how to serve it.
How is complementary food different from complete food?
Complementary food is not labelled as a standalone basis for daily feeding, whereas complete food is intended to be fed as the main diet. So “complementary” is not merely a description of the flavour or ingredients: it means the product should be considered alongside the main food, not used in its place.
What to check on the packaging
Before giving a food as your pet’s only food, check its type on the packaging and make sure it is labelled complete. Also check which animal it is for: cat food and dog food are not interchangeable. When comparing two packages, check this information rather than just the flavour name.
- Food type: “complete” is suitable as the basis of a diet; “complementary” should not be used in its place.
- Animal species: make sure the product is intended for the pet you are feeding.
- Role in the diet: if the packaging says “complementary,” use it alongside the main food.
How do you find the right food for your pet’s age and needs?
Choose a suitable food by checking two details on the packaging — the age category and the product’s intended use — against your individual pet. For a cat, start with these labels: they matter more than the animal pictured or the flavour shown on the front of the package.
- For a cat: check the age the food is intended for and its purpose; refer to the specific categories on the package you choose.
- For a dog: follow the labels for dog food specifically. A cat food label does not tell you which food is suitable for a dog.
- If the wording is unclear: don’t infer the product’s purpose from the picture or flavour. First check the information on the packaging; if there isn’t enough detail, don’t guess the category.
In its guide to reading labels, Purina covers food for both cats and dogs, including ingredients, nutritional value and feeding guidelines. However, the information provided does not specify a universal list of age categories: check the age and intended use directly on the package of the product you plan to buy.
How do you read feeding guidelines on the packaging?
Look for feeding guidelines in a separate table or in the manufacturer’s instructions, and check the information for the specific food you have chosen against your pet’s details. You cannot work out a universal portion without this information: recommendations apply to a particular product, not to all dog or cat foods.
Feeding guidelines and the ingredients list answer different questions. The ingredients list shows what the food contains; the table or instructions explain how to feed it. So an ingredients list cannot replace portion recommendations, even when the package gives a detailed list of components.
If the recommendation is unclear
Check whether the packaging specifies units of measurement and which pets the table applies to — for example, whether it distinguishes by age or food type. In its guide to reading labels, Purina highlights feeding guidelines alongside ingredients and nutritional value; for cat food, it also advises first identifying the product’s intended age group and purpose. If the recommended amount or units are unclear, ask the manufacturer for clarification. Don’t use figures from another package, even if the food seems similar.
What information about ingredients and the manufacturer should you check?
When reading a pet food label, check the ingredients, the nutritional value section and the manufacturer’s details separately: these are different types of information, and none replaces the others. A product line’s name alone does not tell you which company made the food, so look for the manufacturer’s details on the packaging.
- Ingredients — the list of what the food contains.
- Nutritional value — a separate section of the label; review it independently of the ingredients list.
- Manufacturer — check the details on the packaging rather than relying only on the product line’s name.
Purina’s guide, “How to Read Pet Food Labels,” covers ingredients, nutritional value and feeding guidelines for dogs and cats. It helps explain these parts of a label, but does not establish a universal rule for assessing every ingredient list. For cat food, also check the intended use stated on the package first — for example, the animal’s age.
How to check authenticity
Authenticity is a separate issue and cannot be determined simply by reading the ingredients or nutritional information. Guidance on checking pet food mentions the unique Honest Sign QR code: look for it on the packaging if this type of label is used for the product.
When doesn’t the label give you the full answer?
A label can help you understand what a food is intended for, but it does not provide a complete answer about its quality or suitability for a particular pet. One ingredient cannot replace an assessment of nutritional value, feeding instructions, or the animal and age the product is intended for.
Check four things on a package of prepared pet food: the animal species, age category, intended use and feeding guidelines. For example, with cat food, it is important to first identify the age group and purpose stated on the package; then review the nutritional information and instructions rather than judging the product by the name of an ingredient alone. Even the label “complete” does not, by itself, confirm that the diet is right for your pet.
If the label is incomplete
You cannot compare complete foods using universal ingredient percentages, a mandatory portion size or a single assessment method: the available materials do not establish such rules. Instead, compare the intended use, nutritional value and feeding recommendations stated on the packages, without filling in missing information with your own assumptions.
If the packaging does not make clear which animal species or age the food is for, what its type means or how much to feed, ask the manufacturer for clarification. Don’t guess at missing information based on the ingredients alone: without clear labelling, you cannot reliably determine whether the product meets your pet’s needs.
Key takeaways
- “Complete” describes food intended as the main part of a diet; “complementary” should not be treated as a substitute.
- For cat food, first check the age and intended use on the packaging.
- Ingredients, nutritional value and feeding guidelines are separate parts of a label.
- The Honest Sign QR code, if present on the package, is for checking the product’s labelling, not its nutritional value.
Frequently asked questions
Can you feed your pet only complementary food?
Where should you start when reading a cat food label?
Where can you find the feeding guidelines?
What should you do if the ingredients are unclear?
Sources
- purina.ru — “How to Read Pet Food Labels”
- vc.ru — “How to Read Cat Food Ingredients: A Consumer’s Guide”
- feedsmart.ru — “Rating Cat and Dog Foods, Food Analysis and Comparison, Comparison Table — Feed Your Pet Right — Food Analyzer, Food Classification, Choose a Food”
- urmall.ru — “Honest Sign for Pet Food: How to Check”
- petcarecenter.ru — “What Is a Balanced Diet for Pets?”
