Best Cat Food: 2024 Buyer’s Guide for Wet & Dry

Nutritional needs, 2 very important words. Like humans, cats require good nutrition to stay healthy and avoid getting sick. But choosing a good diet isn't always easy. You only need to make a quick trip to the pet store to see the problem:

Too. Many. Choices.

Wet, freeze dried, pate, dry food options and more! Such wide food varieties. So how do you know which one is best cat food for your feline companion?

To help make your purchasing decisions easier, we've compiled a list of the best cat food around. We've rated these products based on three key factors:

1. Superior ingredients
2. Customer reviews
3. Brand & reputations

Based on our research, the best dry cat food brands cover a wide range of price, flavor, and nutrition profile. Plus, our furry friends love them. That's sort of important, right?

But hang on a second! Before we go into our complete list of Best Cat Foods, let me introduce to you The Honest Kitchen.

Let’s talk about The Honest Kitchen. I’m sure you’ve heard of it before, and with good reason.

The Honest Kitchen is a company that specializes in making human-grade pet food using whole food ingredients. Its cat food range always starts with meat as the first ingredient. And not just any meat. It always starts with cage-free chicken, fish, or beef. 

And just like all quality and premium cat foods, Honest Kitchen’s offerings are free of by-products, preservatives, and fillers. They’re also GMO-free.

One of the unique aspects of the company’s cat food range is that everything is made with whole food ingredients. This means that they don’t cut corners. Instead of using meat meal or by-products, the brand uses whole cuts of meat to ensure that cats are getting the nutrients they need from real food, rather than processed ingredients.

Another thing that sets Honest Kitchen apart is its dehydrated line. Cat food recipes in this line go through a dehydration process that preserves the nutrients and flavors completely while having all moisture removed. It’s a life saver for pet owners like me who like to travel with pets, because the food is easy to store and bring. Just add water and off you go.

For pet owners who are looking for something different and high-quality for their feline friends, Honest Kitchen is a recommended try.

Top 6 Best Dry Cat Foods

Dry cat food is a convenient choice for most pet parents. The best cat food should be nutritious, delicious, and affordable.

Here are the top six leading cat food brands for the dry food category that fulfill our healthy nutritional criteria – favorable protein content and low carbohydrates:

1. Nulo Adult & Kitten Grain Free Dry Cat Food
2. Taste of the Wild Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat food
3. Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Dry Cat Food
4. Fromm FourStar Dry Cat Food Gamebird
5. Orijen Dry Cat Food
6. Castor & Pollux Organix Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Cat Food

1. Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe

Guaranteed Analysis

From the pet food brand that came in at the top of our review, Nulo's Dry Cat Food contains the finest all natural ingredients, sourced from the US.

It's been recommended by veterinarians and an excellent choice for active adult cats. It's content satisfies the nutritional needs of every feline.

As far as the taste goes, it seems to be hit or miss. Some owners note that their cats don't love the food, while others say even their older pickier felines can't get enough of it.

Related article: Review For Nulo Cat Food

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2. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Recipe

Guaranteed Analysis

This natural dry cat food from Taste of the Wild comes in either a 5 or 14-pound bag. It contains real protein (including trout, salmon, chicken, and venison), giving your cats an optimal mix of amino acids.

This “highly digestible” dry food also contains low-GI carbohydrates like raspberries, blueberries, and peas.

A complete and balanced meal with a natural ingredient made of favorable caliber meat is great for the adult cat digestive health system.

If there's anything negative about this dry food, it could be that cats like it so much they might eat too much too fast if given the opportunity, at least according to some users.

Related article: Taste of the Wild Cat Food Review

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3. Wellness CORE Original Formula

Guaranteed Analysis

This product is intended for adult cats.

It contains five key indicators of healthy nutrition: essential vitamins and minerals; probiotics and prebiotics; fiber; fatty acids; and healthy proteins and carbohydrates.

Just take a look at the first two ingredients: de-boned chicken and turkey. Readable, real, and healthy, right off the bat.

It's pricey, but comes in a big bag, so it lasts a long time for most cat owners. A truly wonderful turkey and chicken meal for your indoor cats.

Related article: Wellness Cat Food Reviews

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4. Fromm 4 Star Game Bird Formula

Guaranteed Analysis

Fromm's FourStar is a unique dry kibble option. In addition to duck and turkey, the product also offers quail and pheasant meat, which is tough to find in other brands.

Customers have noted that their cats' skin and coats became shinier and fuller when they switched to this product.

Some cat owners have even noticed that their pets shed less, which could be due to an increase in the health of skin and hair follicles. Nutritional content value is evident on this food brand.

You can notice that your cat's digestion improves while eating this cat food, too.

It comes in a small 5-lb bag, for a single-cat family this can typically last around a month. A few customers have noted that the seal on the bag doesn't close properly. For freshness, you possibly need to use a sturdy kitchen clip or something similar.

P S. This adult dry food is great for your senior cat. It has a balanced diet of natural dry cat food. Treat your cats with this approving grade kibble to satisfy his nutritional needs!

Related article: Fromm Game Bird Recipe Cat Food Reviews

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5. ORIJEN Cat & Kitten Formula

Guaranteed Analysis

Orijen's Food comes in a 12 lb bag, making it more cost effective compared to some of the other brands listed here. It contains the right blend of proteins, carbohydrates, and micronutrients that can help cats maintain a lean and healthy weight.

It's also more nutrient-dense compared to other brands. Just be sure to check the nutritional feeding recommendations, as they can be slightly different.

Some reviewers note that their cats don't seem to lose interest in the dry cat food, which is common with many kibble brands. However, other customers have noted that their cats don't enjoy the taste. For these people, the steep price doesn't seem to be as worthwhile.

This natural dry cat food is made of superior-grade real chicken meats. It will make cats healthier and it will benefit her digestive system and urinary tract.

Related article: Honest Review for the Orijen Cat Food

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6. Castor & Pollux Organix Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Guaranteed Analysis

Castor & Pollux's Organix Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe comes in a 4 lb bag or a 12 lb bag variety. Made in the USA, this kibble also contains flax seed which promotes a healthy skin and coat.

Customers have noted that irregularities with their cats' digestion (including vomiting and diarrhea) go away when using this kibble.

This dry food product does have a slightly higher carbohydrate content since it contains brown rice. So, it can be less ideal for cats who are overweight or mostly sedentary.

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Top 6 Best Wet Cat Foods

Here are the top six leading cat food brands for the wet category that promote optimal nutritional wellness for your cat companion at every stage of life:

1. Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free
2. Nature's Logic Feline Beef Feast
3. Halo Grain Free Natural Chicken Recipe
4. Ziwi Peak Grain-Free Cat Food Recipe
5. Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Poultry & Beef Feast Collection
6. Sheba Perfect Portions Paté Variety Pack

Wet cat food generally costs more than dry food options. Even so, it's worth it to pay a little extra in order to get a superior grade product that your pet needs.

The best cat food is a product that is full of organic meat, minerals and vitamins that will strengthen your cat's immune system and prolong her life…

1. Wellness Complete Health Chicken & Herring Formula

Guaranteed Analysis

Call it the cat's meow? This wet cat food from Wellness Complete features a delicious pate texture that most cats really seem to like.

This chicken and herring recipe packs a nutritional punch made with excellent kind of proteins and a combination of essential vitamins and minerals.

With an impressive 11% guaranteed crude protein and 78% moisture content, both of which are essential for healthy kitties.

This cat food also contains taurine, an essential protein for a diet that kitties must get from their diet.

Related article: Wellness Cat Food Reviews

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2. Nature's Logic Feline Beef Feast

Guaranteed Analysis

This selection of Nature's Logic Feline Beef Feast Canned Cat Food comes in a case of 12, making a bit more cost-effective and convenient.

The wet food is moisture-rich, easily digestible, and mostly animal-based. Carbohydrates come from vegetables and fruits, keeping the calorie content low.

This cat food also contains eggshell calcium and animal plasma, unique and potent sources of vitamins and minerals.

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3. Halo Chicken Recipe Pate 

Guaranteed Analysis

Halo Spot's Stew For Cats Wholesome Chicken Recipe works well for animals of all ages. For kittens, the company recommends feeding up to twice the adult amount to ensure your young cat gets enough calories and protein.

It's full of chicken meat, broth, and liver, along with healthy veggies including carrots, sweet potatoes, zucchini.

One downside: this product contains garlic powder. Garlic is known to be harmful to cats and dogs in large amounts. If you give your pet this product, be sure to monitor its reaction.

You also may want to consider switching out this product every few months to avoid too much garlic intake.

Related article: Halo Cat Food Review

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4. Ziwi Peak Venison Recipe 

Guaranteed Analysis

ZiwiPeak Canned Cat Cuisine New Zealand Beef Recipe is among the highest caliber pet food products available. The beef comes from free-range and grass-fed cattle. Cows used for this product are never given antibiotics or hormones, which can be harmful to cats and humans.

This product also contains green lipped New Zealand mussels. These marine animals are a natural source of chondroitin and glucosamine, which are great for your cat's joints.

Reviews are highly positive, and overall cats seem to love the taste. Some customers note that their cats experience stomach upset if they switch out the flavors from beef to another variety too quickly. Fortunately, this can be avoided by gradually introducing new foods over the course of a few days.

This popular canned cat food is expensive, but it is a superior-grade natural product with the best ingredients. It will make your cats healthier and happy. Trust me, your pet needs this. Feed your cat this product and see the difference.

Related article: ZiwiPeak Cat Food Review

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5. Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Poultry & Beef Feast Variety Pack

Guaranteed Analysis

Fancy Feast is one of the most well-known brands in the cat food industry. Hence, you will find them readily available in most grocery stores, pet supply stores and online.

This variety pack contains a delicious combination of your cat's favorite flavors – beef, chicken and turkey. This meal features small bites which were slow cooked and served in thick gravy.

Product is fortified with minerals and vitamins for balanced and complete nutrition, making your kitty's mealtime a sumptuous occasion.

Related article: Fancy Feast Cat Food Review

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6. Sheba Perfect Portions Paté Variety Pack

Guaranteed Analysis

Sheba perfect portions paté in not only a delicious treat for kitties, but it also proves to be convenient for owners. This product line comes in easy-to-open tear packages for the perfect portions every meal time.

This variety comes in many flavors, each of which are all grain free plus no unnecessary fillers. A very healthy treat for your cat.

Plus, it has added minerals, vitamins, taurine and fish oil so it’s a complete and balanced diet for kittens, adult cats or nursing moms alike.

Related article: Sheba Cat Food Review

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If you are looking for the Best Kitten Food Brands, read our detailed article here.

The Fastest Way to Choose the Perfect Cat Food

A Quick Go-To Checklist For Selecting The Healthiest and Finest Cat Food

In choosing the healthiest kitty foods, wet and dry, keep these 3 factors in mind:

1. High protein.
2. Low carbohydrates.
3. High water content.

The first ingredient should be an animal-based protein. It should be a type of meat you can read, never a “by-product.”

Look for carbohydrates like chickpeas and sweet potatoes. These have fewer calories, are more easily digested, and have more nutrition compared to wheat, soy, rice, and corn.

Whenever possible, go with US-based companies. These companies tend to be better regulated and source higher standard ingredients.

The Good Ingredients to Look For On A Nutrition Label

Premium brands use sustainable manufacturing processes. They source their ingredients from parts of the world known to use ethical and humane raising and farming practices.

Premium brands also use premium ingredients. The next time you're at a pet store (or shopping online), be on the lookout for the following ingredients. They're a good sign that the food you're about to purchase is ideal for your pet:

• Real animal protein. These should be clearly listed so you know exactly where it comes from. This includes chicken, beef, eggs, venison, lamb, salmon, sardines, mussels, and duck. Organ meat (e.g., chicken or beef liver) is a bonus.
• Vegetables and fruits. Most of the carbohydrates should be veggies and fruit you might have in your fridge. Look for things like sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, apples, and berries.
• Good fats. These are naturally present in animal proteins but can also be supplemented. This includes omega-3 fatty acids, also known as EPA, DHA, and ALA.
• Herbs and marine plants. This can include basil, dill, thyme, rosemary, sage, and kelp.

So, What Are Bad Cat Food Ingredients?

Feeding your pet superior grade nutrition helps prevent disease, increase its lifespan, and improve its energy levels. Who wouldn't want that for their furry friend?

But standard nutrition isn't just about what goes into the products. It's also about what stays out, too.

Bad ingredients are basically anything that is cheap and sourced from China and other Asian countries. Such pertinent data needs to be double checked by you. Do your research.

At best, they're unhealthy and not great for the environment either.

At worst, they're potentially toxic to your cats.

Avoid products with any of the following:

• Artificial colors and flavors, including Blue 2, Red 40, Yellow 5, or caramel coloring
• Artificial or synthetic preservatives, including BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin
• Corn
• Wheat
• Soy
• Sugar
• Anything labeled as a “by-product” (after all, a by-product of what exactly?)
• Any vague or nondescript “meat” (if the source is not identified, there’s no way to know where it came from or what’s in it)
• Rendered fat (this can promote bacteria and mold growth)
• Carrageenan
• Vitamin 3K
• Sodium Nitrate
• Sodium Nitrite

Here's a basic rule: if you can't pronounce it, it's probably not a good ingredient. Avoid products that are packed with strange words.

Another good rule: the shorter the better. Top-of-the-line cat food products contain fewer ingredients. But, their ingredients are much higher quality, so they offer plenty of what your cat needs and none of what it doesn't.

Know Where Your Wet/Dry Cat Food Comes From

If a pet food recall happens, it's often due to a problem at the facility that made it. Recalls aren't necessarily due to the specific ingredients themselves.

Good pet food companies closely regulate their manufacturing facilities. They assess their employees, equipment, and production for standard control. Your best option is to stick to companies that are US-based, like most of the companies listed previously.

Dry vs. Wet vs. Raw: Which Is The Best?

Ask three different people about the best foods for cats out there, and you'll probably get three different answers. The main options (dry, wet, and raw food diets) all have their own benefits and drawbacks.

Making the choice between the three options really comes down to what you find to work best for your cat depending on his/her needs.

Choosing Dry Cat Food

As mentioned, dry cat food is convenient. Many cat owners prefer this type because they can leave it out, allowing their cats to eat as they please.

When you search for adult dry cat foods to treat and make your four-legged companion happy, the first thing to pick is natural meat from fish like salmon or poultry like real chicken meats. Trust me your adult cat will appreciate the well-balanced diet of organic and natural dry kitty foods.

Dry food (called kibble) also has a long shelf life, and is usually the least expensive option.

Choosing the healthiest dry cat food (from one of the five listed above) will help ensure that your cat gets all the nutrients it needs. Though companies claim that dry food is better for dental health (compared to wet option), there's not much evidence to actually support this.

Choosing Wet Cat Food

Some veterinarians and animal experts recommend wet food over kibble. In general, canned wet food has a much higher water content. This can help your cat stay well-hydrated.

For felines with certain chronic health conditions, such as kidney disease, wet food can be a better option.

A potential drawback is that compared to dry food, wet food/canned food for cats is a bit more expensive. Plus, it's less convenient to open, serve, and store.

Dry foods for cats should always be supplemented with the canned cat food, preferably with natural ingredients such as chicken meats, salmon or different kinds of dry fish. Meats like these are a treat for your cat and she will be more happy and healthier from such a diet. Your pet needs this.

Choosing Raw Food

The raw food diet movement has exploded in popularity in recent years. It's easy to imagine why some cat owners love it:

A raw food diet is completely natural and mimics a “wild” diet, it plays a roll of both wet cat food and dry cat food at once.

In their natural habitat, cats are strict carnivores. They obtain nutrients from animal tissue so many of these cat food brands offer a chicken meal in their pet foods repertoire. Such a native diet is much healthier for your cat’s digestive system.

This means that cats eating raw food receive mostly fresh and unprocessed meat and organs. A raw cat food diet is generally free from things like BHA and BHT. These are chemical preservatives and are potentially harmful to animals (and humans, for that matter).

A limiting factor for many people is the increased amount of money and work that goes into providing this kind of diet for their cats. Food must be prepared daily and stored properly to prevent spoiling. Finding and purchasing raw food takes some effort and costs even more than wet food.

Some companies offer pre-made raw food blends, complete with proteins, vitamins, and minerals. With a little research and trial and error, it is possible to find and prepare raw cat food yourself.

Cat Food FAQ

1. Why is it important to buy my cat different food according to her current life stage?

Like humans, animals have different nutritional needs depending on their age. As an example, kittens need diets rich in protein and calories in order to support fast-paced growth and development.

Older cats may need low-calorie food or one with specific nutrients to minimize the risk of weight-gain and age-related issues. “All life stage” option is not advisable for certain animals and may have unintended adverse effects.

Many dry cat foods are specifically made for elder cat, but…Your best bet is to consult with your veterinarian so he or she can help you make a more informed decision. After all, your ultimate aim is to have a healthy cat.

2. Is my pet overweight?

There are a few ways to tell:

1. Run your hands along her flank—you should be able to easily feel but not see her ribs.
2. Look down at your feline from above—there should be a clear narrowing at the waist.
3. Look at your kitty from the side—you should see a narrowing from this angle, too.

3. What is Nom Nom cat food?

Nom Nom is a company that makes fresh, human-grade meals, portions them out according to your cat's needs, and ships them to your front door. Almost every aspect of the Nom Nom experience is personalized, from specially-portioned food to custom delivery schedules to an engaged customer care team. The ultimate cat food for your beloved kitty.

4. Can Cat food go Bad?

Wet and dry food can go stale. This all depends on the food and the way it's stored:

• All feline food should be used before the expiration date on the label.
• If your kitty is “free feed,” you can leave her dry granules out as long as it isn't moist or exposed to high heat.
• Canned cat food should be thrown away after it's been left out for 4+ hours, and opened cans can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.
• Wash and refill your pet's food and water dishes at least weekly.

5. How much should I feed my cat?

As mentioned, the amount you feed your pet depends on its age, health status, activity level, and a few other factors. Your vet can help you determine how much your animal needs, the required animal protein in every diet, etc… A typical 10-lb kitty needs only around 250 calories per day to maintain an appropriate lean body mass.

P S. These adult dry foods with real chicken meats (and other poultry) are great for your adult cat. You can serve her a popular chicken meal without the fear of gaining extra pounds.