Best Cat Food Brands
The cat food industry is flooded with options for healthy cats and those with special needs. Read our guide to research the best cat food brands. Veterinary prescription diets are available for cats with specific medical problems, and other foods are available for cats prone to hairballs and urinary or digestive problems.
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Compare Top Cat Food Reviews | ||||||
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Delivers high-quality cat food to your home. Uses human-grade grade food with ingredients sourced in the United States or Canada. Has wet and freeze-dried food options available. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Diets include chicken and turkey for all life stages, salmon for small breeds and bison or lamb with antiallergenic elements for sensitive dogs. All recipes include probiotics, antioxidants and omega oils. Prices start at $8.99. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Merrick Cat Food features chicken, beef, liver and salmon, with blends available for seniors and kittens. The food is made without the use of grains, and vegetable fibers to aid digestion and stop the formation of hairballs. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Buy customized meal plans for your dog using fresh, whole ingredients. Meals are delivered pre-cooked and pre-portioned to your home. Prices start at around $30 a week. | ![]() | Get Started | ||||
Made in a range of flavors including turkey, chicken, liver and salmon, Hills Cat Food caters to growing kittens. Chunks of meat excite hungry kittens while providing a nutritious range of vitamins and protein. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Whiskas cat foods contain vitamins to support a balanced mealtime and come in three flavors: beef, chicken or seafood. Available in bags, sealed pouches or trays, Whiskas is protein-rich with an enticing aroma to excite any cat. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Meow Mix offers a free Help Me Choose webpage to help cat owners select the right formulas for their pets. The company offers wet and dry cat food options, as well as treats for felines. | ![]() | Shop Now on Chewy | ||||
Friskies strives to not only give cats delicious and nutritious food and treats that keep them healthy and strong, they also provide games and treats that help cats live life to the fullest. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
NUTRO Cat Food delivers balanced nutrition for indoor and outdoor cats in every life stage. Containing real fish or poultry as the primary ingredient, it provides a delicious taste even the pickiest cats enjoy. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Sold in Costco warehouses, Kirkland Signature Cat Food products provide cats with a healthy food that also contains the added benefits of probiotics, which ensure digestive tracts stay healthy and thriving. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent |
What to consider when buying cat food
Ingredients
Before deciding on a particular brand of cat food, read the ingredients.
- Meat: Cats are carnivores so the main ingredients should be meats or meat meals, not grains or other carbohydrates.
- Fat: Fat should also be listed as one of the first five ingredients.
- Allergen free: Allergies lead to hot spots and yeast infections. Wheat, beef, chicken and soy are known allergens, so avoid these ingredients if your cat is prone to allergies.
Price
Price is a major factor in any purchasing decision, and cat foods can run the gamut. Typically, there are grocery store brands, mid-tier and top-tier products.
Caution! Vitamins are lost or become less potent and fat becomes rancid in bags of food open more that 4-6 weeks, even in sealed containers.
- Lowest price: With cat foods, you often get what you pay for. Cheaper products often contain lower quality ingredients.
- Quality matches price: When looking at mid-tier brands, typically only available at specialty pet stores, it is important to make sure that the price is justified by the quality. Look at the ingredients and then compare prices.
- Bulk options: Buying bulk keeps costs down. Shop by the price per unit, not the price per bag.
Wet vs. dry
Wet food costs substantially more than dry, but it is also much better for cats.
- Wet food: Wet food is gentler for cats to digest, better for their urinary health and often more palatable. In addition, cats often get much of their daily liquids through wet food. The health benefits may be worth the extra cost of wet food.
- Dry food: As a cost-effective option, dry food offers complete nutrition, but it is important to verify the quality of ingredients. A bag of dry food can feed a cat for a month, and it usually costs about half as much as a wet diet.
- Blended diet: A diet of both wet and dry food may be the most cost-effective option, so check to see if a brand offers both options.
Health benefits
Different formulas offer different health benefits. Select foods to meet specific needs of each cat.
- Urinary tract health: Cats can be susceptible to a build-up of crystals in their urine, resulting in blockages in males. Urinary tract health formulas can prevent the problem before it starts.
- Hairball formula: Hairballs are a common problem. Hairball control formula can reduce or eliminate hairballs.
- Prescription formulas: Some cats have health problems requiring prescription cat food. There are foods designed for cats with kidney, liver and heart problems, urinary tract blockages and other issues.
Mineral content
Cats have an assortment of urinary crystals made up of different minerals. Food with lower amounts of the right mineral can have a direct impact on a cat’s health and longevity.
- Low mineral formulas: Limiting the right mineral in cat food means less likelihood of bladder crystals, blockage in males or possible kidney problems.
- Consult your Vet: Your veterinarian can tell you which minerals you should avoid for your cat.
- Consider a wet food alternative: The extra water in wet cat food helps dilute any type of mineral in the urine and reduces the build-up of crystals in the bladder and kidneys.
Kitten and senior formulas
Make sure a brand offers formulas addressing all life stages. Changing brands suddenly can cause cats to experience digestive problems.
- Kitten formula: Food specifically formulated for kittens has a lot more calories, protein, fat, calcium and phosphorus for their growing body and bones.
- Adult cat formula: From indoor cat to health-specific formulas, adult cat food should have everything necessary for lifelong health.
- Senior formula: As cats age, they need fewer calories and different nutrients. Senior formulas typically contain nutrition designed to improve joint health, cater to sensitive stomachs and help senior cats stay active.
Types of cat food
Dry cat food
Dry cat food is made into small, compressed nuggets. Producing dry food requires larger amounts of starch from carbohydrates than other types of cat food. Choose dry food with the highest amount of protein possible.
Wet cat food
Wet or canned cat food is not dehydrated, so it is very moist and soft. It offers higher moisture content and lower calories.
Raw cat food
Raw food is mostly composed of meat, carcass frame with bone and vegetables or grains, along with any extra supplements added for health benefits. This type of diet mimics a cat's natural diet.
Special formula cat food
Some cat foods are specially formulated to combat certain health issues. Obese or obesity-prone cats might benefit from weight management formulas. Special veterinary formulations help cats with a variety of medical problems.
Cats that need a special diet
Active kittens
A pet owner with a new kitten needs food to address healthy development, including calories and nutrients that support rapid growth.
Picky cats
Some cats are very picky about what they will and won't eat. They may turn their nose up at dry food, or go on a hunger strike when faced with a brand they don't like.
Inactive cats
An indoor, inactive or senior feline might carry extra pounds. Creating a diet to help them shed extra weight is challenging, so a special formula might be necessary.
Special needs cats
Special formulas can help cats with kidney, liver heart problems and intestinal or other urinary conditions. This can help reduce veterinary bills.
Cat food FAQ
What foods should cats avoid?
- Raw meat, fish and eggs
- Fat trimmings
- Onions, shallots and scallions
- Garlic
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Raw dough
- Grapes and raisins
- Caffeinated drinks
- Anything containing the sugar substitute xylitol
What homemade food can cats eat?
- Cooked meats and fish
- Cooked eggs
- Whole grains
- Most vegetables
Cheese is fine in moderation, but some cats may be lactose intolerant.
You can also feed your cat a homemade raw diet that includes plenty of protein, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Consult your veterinarian before switching your cat to a raw diet to ensure that their nutritional needs are being met.
Do cats need wet food every day?
What do cats naturally eat?
What does holistic cat food mean?
Do older cats need special food?
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Compare Top Cat Food Reviews | ||||||
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Purina's Pro Plan cat foods come in a range of blends to accommodate finicky taste buds and special nutrition needs. Available in wet or dry forms, Pro Plan formulas are based on fish or chicken to provide great-tasting protein. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Iams offers a premium line of cat foods that suit nearly every dietary restriction your cat may have, including grain-intolerance. Specially formulated wet and dry food options are available for any medical need. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Natural, healthy and holistic, dry food treats include biscuits, chewy meat morsels, meat jerkies and dental training goodies. Packed with antioxidants, their LifeSource Bits help prevent cancer. Prices range from $10 to $100. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Fancy Feast is a Purina brand of gourmet wet and dry cat food. Founded in 1982, they have a reputation for providing a great variety of high quality cat food products. | ![]() | Shop Now on Chewy | ||||
9Lives Cat food is dedicated to helping cats live a long, healthy life. 9Lives offers tasty wet or dry food that help support a variety of cat functions such as weight control, healthy digestion, and a healthy skin and coat. | ![]() | Shop Now on Chewy | ||||
Offers products for dogs and cats of all breeds. Freeze-dried raw formula features whole foods and no artificial preservatives or additives. Made fresh in North America. Third-party tested for purity and potency. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent | ||||
Read Author Review | HealthWise Cat Food contains chicken and rice with no by-products. The formula is healthy for cats and kittens, low in magnesium to help kitty avoid any urinary tract infections and high in whole grains to help hairball issues. | ![]() | Chat with a ConsumerAffairs decision guide Live agent |
Information in this guide is general in nature and is intended for informational purposes only; it is not legal, health, investment or tax advice. ConsumerAffairs.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of the information provided and assumes no liability for any damages or loss arising from its use.
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