What should I feed my cat?

I am so confused! I adopted a3 year old cat a few months ago.
The shelter told me to feed her only kibble and the brown one not the red etc...
So, I've been buying Royal Canin ..for spayed and appetite control.
I just realized it also say on the bag it's for cats 7 years old..
I also give her some can food in the morning along with the kibble.
So , please, can someone tell me what to feed this cat? Way too much choice out there...
Thanks you
Denise

Im confused about this question, the brown and not the red one of what? A 3 year old cat with no health issues should be able to eat any food you choose for her. Its always suggested to feed wet food with dry, and not an entirely dry food diet. You can choose between grain free food or not and then go from there!

To add to my last post I feed my 4 month old kitten Merricks Purrfect Bistro Chicken for her dry food. It is grain free and she tolerates it just fine! Its not too pricey either at about $35/12 lb bag.

These articles may help:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/choosing-the-right-food-for-your-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/choosing-the-right-food-for-your-cat-part-2

Many people here recommend feeding only canned food. Why canned food? A lenghty detailed explanation can be found at http://www.catinfo.org Short answer: dry foods are, well, dry, and keep a cat in a constant state of dehydration which can lead to urinary issues and the high calorie and carb content may also cause obesity and other health issues. A cheap inexpensive canned food can be a lot healtier for a cat than an expensive brand of dry food.

Dry food does not keep teeth clean as many vets and shelter workers and others will tell you. Only regular dental care at home with the occasional dental cleanng as needed will keep teeth clean. Just like your own teeth Use only pet toothpaste and other pet dental products.

Some people do feed some combo of canned and dry food (in separate bowls) for various reasons. Some feed mostly canned food but leave a measured amount of dry out for snacking. Others do a 50/50 mix or some other combo. Many add extra water to the canned food to ensure that the cat stays well hydrated. Cats won't drink enough water from a bowl to meet their needs so it's just easiest to add water to the canned food. Neve add water to dry food and let that mixutre sit out for hours. The food will quickly go bad and may upset a cat's tummy.

Royal Canin doesn't have the best ingredients so you may want to buy a different brand. Here are some suggestions for affordable canned food:

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/308964/healthy-but-affordable-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/272192/affordable-canned-food

http://www.thecatsite.com/t/313700/budget-friendly-can-food

Some of the brands listed may also have dry food available.

There isn't one brand out there that is the "best" one to feed. Every cat is different. What one cat likes another cat may not. Generally you want to stick with grain free foods that have real meat listed as the first ingredient.