Our Top Healthy Choices for the Best Cat Foods for Growth

Cats need to eat healthily and stay fit; however, some beginner paw parents are conflicted about feeding their fur babies as a few of them are unaware of their options. We understand that it can be quite confusing, and your initial choice may not be the best cat food for your puss. And because there are a lot of choices out there, it can be quite hard to find the best cat food that would perfectly fit your feline companion’s appetite.

Cats have taken over the internet, and with that, more and more people are adopting their very own grumpy, independent, fun-loving, four-legged, and sometimes scratchy feline companion. One can make several choices when selecting the best cat food; however, you have to consider what best fits your situation to make a wise choice. Hopefully, with the help of our article, you would be able to easily compare the items that we’ve listed and researched for you and, in the end, find a great selection for your furry companion.

Editor’s Choice

After scouring the internet for cute cat photos, we then tried very hard not to get too distracted on our quest to find the best cat food there is. After an additional hour or so, we were still looking at cat photos, but then we realized that we needed to face reality and start working. We then spent the rest of our week comparing items that we have found to have the greatest characteristics, and out of all the items that we checked, here are the three that outshone others. 

Here are our Editor’s Picks:

Editor’s Pick for All Cats: Rachael Ray Nutrish Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe

Our editor’s pick for the best cat food for all cats, Rachael Ray Nutrish Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe, will provide complete and balanced nutrition for cats of all life stages. It is quite a popular choice for paw parents with multiple cats, allowing them to feed this to all cats regardless of age.

Editor’s Pick for Budget: Purina Kit & Kaboodle Indoor

Purina Kit & Kaboodle is our choice for the best cat food for adult cats on a budget, not only because it is affordable, but it also provides overall nutrition and a well-balanced mixture of vitamins and minerals, it also does not contain any by-products or fillers. Specially made for cats with an active lifestyle, it provides an amazing amount of energy per cup.

Editor’s Pick for Best Alternative: Hill’s Science Diet Kitten

Simply the best for your kitty, Hill’s Science Diet Kitten is one of the best cat food here on the list. It provides what your kitty needs to grow strong and healthy, endowed with balanced minerals that help keep the bones and teeth strong, preparing them for an active life ahead of them.

Product Comparison Table

Image	Product	Features	Price
Best Overall	Rachael Ray Nutrish Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
Best Value	Purina Kit & Kaboodle Indoor	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
Premium Choice	Hill’s Science Diet Kitten	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Kitten	Check Price On Amazon
	Purina Fancy Feast	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Vital Essentials – Turkey Mini Nibs	Dry: Yes Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Wellness CORE Turkey & Liver Recipe	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Now Fresh Grain-Free	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Blue Buffalo Life Protection	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Merrick Before Grain Meat	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Smalls Cat Food Subscription	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Smalls
	Nom Nom Chicken Chow Meow	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Nom Nom
	Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Wellness Natural Hairball Control	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Simply Nourish – Source Indoor	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Iams Proactive Health Senior	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Senior	Check Price On Amazon
	Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult and Senior	Check Price On Amazon
	Nutrience – Subzero Poultry & Fish	Dry: Yes Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	American Journey Grain-free	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Nutro MAX Dry	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Kirkland Signature Chicken and Rice	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Chicken	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Kitten	Check Price On Amazon
	Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Goldie Lox Salmon Recipe Au Jus	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Chewy
	Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Love Me Tender	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Natural Balance Limited Ingredient	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Instinct – Ultimate Protein	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Stella & Chewy’s SuperBlends	Dry: Yes Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Salmon & Chickpea	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium with Real Meat	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Turkey Canned	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Cat Chow Indoor	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Chicken Recipe	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Purina ONE Urinary Tract	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Hound & Gatos 98% Canned	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Feline Primal Chicken and Salmon Nuggets	Dry: Yes Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Wellness CORE Kitten Turkey Classic Pate	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Kitten	Check Price On Amazon
	Tiki Cat Hookena Luau	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Hill’s Science Diet Adult	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Northwest Naturals – Cat Nibbles – Turkey Recipe	Dry: Yes Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Nulo Medalseries High-Meat Kibble Cod & Duck Recipe	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Nulo
	Tiki Cat – Born Carnivore Herring & Salmon	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Purina Pro Plan SAVOR With Probiotics	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Meow Mix Tender Centers	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Ziwi Peak Mackerel and Lamb Recipe	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	The Honest Kitchen Grace Dehydrated	Dry: Yes Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	9Lives Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Super Blends	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Purina ONE Indoor Advantage	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Meow Mix Original Choice	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Meow Mix Indoor Health	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Stella & Chewy’s Raw Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels	Dry: Yes Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Life’s Abundance All Life Stage	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	IAMS Proactive Health Kitten	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Kitten	Check Price On Amazon
	Petcurean – GO! Carnivore Turkey + Duck	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Iams Proactive Health Adult	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Purina Cat Chow Gentle	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Wysong – Epigen	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Purina Beyond Ocean Whitefish and Egg Recipe	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	CRAVE Dry Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Newman’s Own Organics Advanced Chicken	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	IAMS Proactive Health Dry Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Instinct Raw Boost Dry Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Amazon
	Wellness CORE Grain-Free Chicken, Turkey & Chicken Dry Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Whole Earth Farms Dry Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon
	Cat Chow Real Chicken & Turkey Dry Cat Food	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Authority Chicken Entrée Adult Cat Food Paté	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: Adult	Check Price On Chewy
	Young Again – Zero Premium High Protein	Dry: Yes Wet: No Life Stage: Kitten	Check Price On Young Again Pet Food
	Feline Natural Chicken & Venison	Dry: No Wet: Yes Life Stage: All	Check Price On Amazon

Our Top 73 Healthy Options for the Best Cat Foods for Growth

Alrighty! We’ve scoured the internet for cute pictu– *ahem* the best cat foods there are and compiled it into this list, which will provide you with the information you need to make a delicious choice for your feline companion. There are hundreds of products out there, and we compared each product to one another to compile it into this list – without further ado, here are our choices for the best cat food.

1. Rachael Ray Nutrish Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe

This high-quality product is well known for its real meat content like salmon and has all-natural ingredients. Most veterinary specialists recommend this for felines with digestion problems because it has small kibbles that can be easily broken down by a sensitive tummy. If your cat prefers fish over chicken, this is a great choice for you. We love this product because it doesn’t have soy, ground corn, or wheat, which are well-known fillers.

2. Purina Kit & Kaboodle Indoor

Our budget pick for this list, Purina Kit & Kaboodle, may be affordable, but don’t underestimate the energy to provide your cat as it is jam-packed with lots of nutrients, ensuring that your kitty gets their daily nutritional needs. Not only that, but they also use poultry, salmon, and turkey meat as the main source of protein, helping keep muscles lean and strong. It is highly praised as it provides value for your money.

3. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten

If you have an indoor baby kitten and are looking for dry cat food, this product should be on your list. Crafted by experts, they ensured that your cat would receive the nutrients felines need in every bite. The kibble size is small (6×3.5mm), which helps avoid choking and build stronger gums and teeth as they can easily chew this down. If your cat is experiencing problems with breaking down what they eat, this cat food can help with their digestion and unpleasant bowels.

4. Purina Fancy Feast

If you’re having a hard time feeding your cat some plain old dry cat food, then this product is one of the best choices for an easy way to do so. This pet food has various delicious options that include beef and turkey, ensuring that your cat will eat it. It contains many necessary vitamins and minerals to support your cat’s overall wellness and balanced diet with every serving. Surely a great way to satisfy your cat’s cravings while being fit!

5. Vital Essentials – Turkey Mini Nibs

As a caring cat owner, you want was best for your cat’s satisfaction and well being. This freeze-dried cat food doesn’t have any preservatives or fillers, no by-products, or artificial colors. It is supplemented with vitamins and minerals to benefit your cat’s skin, bones, and immune system. It is made for felines of all ages and has small nibs, which they can easily chew; in addition to that, you can add these nibs to their existing food for an additional boost of nutrients as well!

6. Wellness CORE Turkey, & Liver Recipe

Having an hyperly active cat requires a well-nutritional food; that said, having this cat food can provide the complete whole-body nutrition that they need. It has a lot of delicious choices to pick from for your cat’s preference, and did we mention that it is made with soft texture so that they won’t have a hard time eating it! Just make sure to slowly transition your cat from his current diet as it may not be that easy to adapt to the new food.

7. Now Fresh Grain Free Recipe

Specially designed for felines 12 months or older, this food has a robust mixture of omega-3 and 6, salmon, duck, canola, coconut, and 100% fresh turkey combined for every cat’s balanced diet, which they will surely love. Like most of the other dry cat food brands, this one doesn’t have added fillers and is rich in flavors; that’s why it’s highly commended by paw parents that have picky eaters for cats. It has helpful packaging that will provide you with feeding instructions so that your cat can easily transition with a new diet.

8. Blue Buffalo Life Protection

If you have a hyperactive kitty, you need a pet food that consists mostly of muscle-building elements like this food product has. It contains real meat and will help build lean muscles; additionally, it also has probiotics, whole grains, apples, pomegranate, brown rice, and spinach to help with your cat’s digestive system. Many fur parents also recommend this dry cat food if you have an obese cat because this pet food will help them reduce their body weight to play again and be back to being active.

9. Merrick Before Grain Meat

This product is known for being a grain-free dry cat food with real meat (poultry and salmon) as it’s the main ingredient that makes this one of the best dry foods for your kitty. The recipe for this dry food and the additional probiotics is made to ensure that your feline has a controlled appetite to avoid weight issues and improve the digestive system. It can provide lots of benefits that your feline needs and comes with a reasonable price, so if you have a tight budget, this will be a perfect pick for you.

10. Smalls Cat Food Subscription

Animal experts craft the food from Smalls Cat Food. They process the raw material with a special technique that preserves the nutrients and minerals with minimal loss. Experts say that cats usually encounter urinary and chronic kidney issues after a few years due to a lack of water in their diets. This subscription service is well known to create high water content meals helping felines avoid such complications. It also provides your feline with a lot of muscle-building nutrients that match their active lifestyle.

11. Nom Nom Chow Meow

Nom Nom Chow Meow is another cat food subscription service that delivers gastronomic delights right at your doorstep. This service supplies tasty treats for felines of all ages and focuses on providing chicken and fish flavors made homemade to fulfill your cat’s excitement when it’s feeding time. They took particular care to supplement each serving with lots of nutrition and make sure that it does not contain any artificial products, further improving your furry baby’s health and a strong immune system.

12. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach

As the name states, this canned cat food is formulated to cater to your cat’s sensitive stomach. It’s primarily made from easily digestible elements that are gentle to the tummy. It also doesn’t contain any fillers or gluten and provides lots of vitamins and minerals like omega-6 fatty acids, which will also help your kitty bounce back from disheveling. Most reviews say that it is quite tasty, and their kitties did not have a hard time transitioning to this.

13. Wellness Natural Hairball Control Recipe

Every fur parent wants the best nutrition they can provide, which will surely provide this dry food. Each bite is filled with poultry-goodness, helping increase muscle mass and strength. Fibers and probiotics are also part of the ingredient list helping with digestion and controls hairball build-up. If you own a long-haired cat, we recommend this dry cat food for you as it would surely help them maintain a full and shiny coat.

14. Simply Nourish – Source Indoor Grain Free

This dry cat food is created for indoor cats; it is made with high-quality raw materials that complete every feline’s nutritional needs. Paw parents highly review it as it is quite inexpensive and will surely provide the nutrients they need. If you have many kitties that you need to feed but don’t want to compromise their health, then this is one of the products you should try.

15. IAMS Proactive Health Healthy Senior

Our furry babies deserve to live a long life, and that is why we are looking for what’s best for them. This dry food can provide everything that an elderly feline needs to stay strong and live a longer, fuller life. This dry cat food helps old cats stay strong and build leaner muscles for active playtime for years to come. It also contains many antioxidants that help build their immune system, shooing away sickness; this brand is highly reviewed by many paw parents and is known to provide high-quality pet food for felines.

16. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor

Nutro Wholesome provides amazingly balanced and nutritional kibble for your felines; it boasts farm-raised poultry, outsourced from real experienced farmers. Each bag provides many muscle-building properties and does not contain any fillers like corn, soy, or poultry by-products, ensuring a tasty, nutrition filled snack every time. Each serving also has its fair share of nutrients that help keep the skin and coat lustrous and irritation-free.

17. Nutrience – Subzero Poultry & Fish

Overall, this Nutrience is significantly above average compared to other brands; feline experts highly praise it for being filled with many nutrients. Proving that their fancy wordplay over nutrient and science isn’t just a namesake, this variant from Nutrience provides high-quality meats, which include deboned poultry fowls as well as innards and fish. This amazing mixture is quite irresistible amongst felines and will surely ask for more.

18. American Journey Grain Free Canned

This chewy exclusive brand is marketed as a premium protein source; it is quite affordable and is primarily sourced in the US. This cat food offers a fulfilling choice of turkey, beef, salmon, and poultry, which provides a balanced-diet for felines of all ages. This variation does not contain any artificial coloring or preservatives, making it a wonderful choice for every paw parent.

19. Nutro MAX Dry Cat Food

It was specially designed to minimize digestion problems and hairball control due to this product’s unique mixture of fiber-rich elements. We love this cat food because it provides taurine for improved eyesight and helps protect your furry companion’s vision, which degrades overage. It is also fortified with minerals that help improve the skin and fur’s condition, keeping it smooth and lustrous.

20. Kirkland Signature Chicken and Rice Formula

Kirkland is known to provide affordable, high-quality products for years, and this item is no exception. This product’s main source of meat is poultry mixed with probiotics to help digestion, providing a strong source of muscle-building elements. Despite its low price, Kirkland did not mix any artificial coloring and preservatives in his product, surprising because these elements are usually used in lower-priced kibbles.

21. Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain Free

Boasting over 90% protein content, this poultry variant from Dr.Elseys is a popular choice for paw parents who want to put their kitties on a low-carb diet. Excess carbs and fillers are the number one leading reason for feline obesity, which is why a lot of animal experts recommend this cat food as a weight-loss option. However, since the recipe consists mostly of meat and eggs, it may raise some felines’ cholesterol levels.

22. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten

This next item is specially formulated for laid back kittens that don’t like going outside; it does not contain any fillers or artificial preservatives. Each serving contains real meat from either poultry, lamb, or salmon, providing great sources of muscle-building elements, which is important for growing kittens as it helps them build strong, lean muscles. This product also provides DHA in the form of fish oil, supporting the brain’s development and the eye at an early stage.

23. Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Goldie Lox Salmon Recipe Au Jus

Weruva is a manufacturer that provides human-grade food for cats; their vision is highly-praised in the animal community as they strive to provide the best human-grade and organic ingredients for your cat. Their recipe has sunflower seed oil, which provides a lot of omega-3, while the salmon oil gives omega-6, both of which are important to building a strong immune system.

24. Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Love Me Tender

This product’s low-carb content makes it a great choice for paw parents looking forward to controlling their furry companion’s weight. It is also rich in essential minerals that provide well-balanced nutrition with every serving. This product also has a lot of moisture to ensure that your feline companion stays hydrated and is satisfied enough not to overeat.

25. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient

This product has different flavor choices, and with each option, the items that are mixed into it are strictly limited, ensuring easy digestion and reducing upset stomachs. This item comes in a wide array of meat choices such as poultry fowl, duck, salmon, or venison, which should keep your furry friend satisfied. It is also well rounded in terms of nutrition as it provides a completely balanced diet for your furry companion.

26. Instinct – Ultimate Protein Grain Free

If you’re looking for high-protein cat food, then you should consider this product. Instinct’s unique recipe guarantees that 80% of the kibble is based on animal sources; the remaining 20% is a hearty mixture of fruits and vegetables which provide additional fiber. To aid with digestion, Instinct also adds probiotics in the mixture, which supplements the good bacteria already residing in your kitty’s tummy. All in all, this is a well-rounded product that is sure to please your feline friend.

27. Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Indoor Salmon & Chickpea Formula

The next item is a great source of muscle-building elements; L.I.D. is packed with real meat consisting of poultry, duck, salmon, and even venison. Each element ensures that your felines grow strong and agile; this product provides a balanced diet with fiber for improved digestion. Additionally, this item also provides high levels of energy, which is specially designed for active felines.

28. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Super Premium

This product is filled with savory real poultry meat; it provides optimal satisfaction for felines of any age. Each sack has small-sized kibbles, which is great for young felines as it prevents choking or those that might have teeth issues or problems chewing. Each bite is a step closer to stronger teeth as it is both crunchy and crispy, helping clean teeth while eating.

It doesn’t contain fillers and provides a balanced diet for your kitty. All in all, this is a great choice for fur parents that own multiple kitties.

29. Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Turkey Formula

As felines grow older, their metabolism rate slows down as well; that is why elderly felines need more calories and protein for them to keep up with daily activities. Dr. Elsey’s special mix can provide all that and much more. Their recipes are rich in energy and muscle building nutrients, ensuring that our older kitty is strong and robust. They also included several anti-inflammatory elements such as salmon oil and green mussels, great sources of omega-3.

30. Stella & Chewy’s Dried Duck Duck Goose

Stella & Chewy is a well-known manufacturer for their enticing meat-filled recipes. Their mixture is rich in taurine and boasts 98% meat, bone, and organs, ensuring that each bite is filled with high amounts of crude protein for muscle building. Each serving also contains its fair share of fibers from pumpkin seeds and pea fiber supplemented with probiotics to ensure proper digestion suitable for felines of all ages.

31. Purina Cat Chow Indoor

Another entry from Purina, this variant provides a well-balanced bowl of deliciousness, and it helps minimize hairballs for your kitty aged 12 months or older. It is infused with garden greens and is enriched with 24 essential minerals to strengthen the immune system and dietary fibers to help with digestion. Do take note that this product might contain some fillers instead of other brands that are mostly meat.

32. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Recipe Grain Free Cat Food

This dry cat food also has natural ingredients and is known for being rich in protein, improved with additional nutriment and minerals. It is of premium quality and always incorporates deboned chicken as their ingredient, a wonderful choice for felines who love chicken. This is one of the best choices of cat food that you can get, as it provides superior improvement to your feline’s robustness and a completely balanced diet with each bite.

33. Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Adult Formula

Purina’s feline food especially helps kitties prone to getting urinary infections by reducing the urinary pH levels and selecting food items with low magnesium content suited for felines aged 12 months or older. Providing an additional boost, it also boasts omega-6, which helps control shedding and keep the coat nice and sleek. Being a respected brand Purina always ensures that its products are high-quality and promising that each pack contains 0% fillers.

34. Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites

If your kitty constantly leaves leftovers in the bowl, you might want to consider getting this pet food as it provides a unique combination of different, mouthwatering, tasty meats. The mixture is made up of poultry meat, ocean whitefish, filet mignon, liver, and salmon for an amazing explosion of taste in every bite. Many paw parents attest that they’ve seen an increased eating gusto in their fur babies, to the point that even the pickiest eater will come running as soon as dinner is served.

35. Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care

This specially mixed item is quite popular among paw parents, especially for those who own a sensitive kitty. It consists of easy to digest elements like fibers and omega-6, which help prevent constipation and diarrhea. It is worth noting that there might be a slight difficulty getting your kitty to eat this as it might not be as enticing as regular ones.

36. Hound & Gatos 98% Chicken

If your cat is prone to digestive issues like vomiting, hairballs, and diarrhea, we suggest considering Hound & Gatos as your best bet. Their special recipe supports sensitive tummies with its highly digestible mix, which contains salmon oil, a great source of omega-3 that helps minimize inflammation. Their mix also doesn’t contain any common irritants that could trigger irregular bowel movement and even regurgitation.

37. Feline Primal Formula Nuggets

This cat food is especially known for its frozen raw recipes for most felines; they understand that cats are mainly carnivores, so they concocted a recipe to meet carnivores’ daily needs. This dry food contains many muscle-building nutrients as they incorporate raw meat, fresh bone, and organic produce to ensure that your furry friend gets their share of balanced nutrition. They also included coconut oil and cod liver oil, which provides a perfect balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to improve skin and coat condition.

38. Wellness CORE Kitten Classic Pate

This next item is particularly made for your baby kitty, packed with highly nourishing nutrients built especially for growing cats. It has an assortment of turkey, poultry muscle meat, which are great building blocks for strong lean muscles. It also contains herring and menhaden fish oil, abundant DHA (omega-3 fatty acid), which helps with brain and eye development. Lastly, we love this product because it contains 108 calories per can, which is more than enough to boost your kitty’s developing body.

39. Tiki Cat Hookena Luau

This specially developed product is designed for felines who are diabetic; it is a wonderful creation that helps paw parents to improve their diabetic feline companions’ way of living. Animal experts and nutritionists say that if you properly combine a strict low-carb diet and focus on weight loss, it could help your puss go into remission and cause them to no longer need insulin at all. That is what this product is all about; its moist consistency keeps your cat satisfied with just a small amount, and what we love about this product is it only contains 1.3% carb content.

40. Hill’s Science Diet Adult

This dry food has been praised time and again for its precisely balanced nutrition, formulated by over 200 veterinarians, nutritionists, and scientists recruited by Hill’s Science. Most reviews from paw parents say that they’ve noticed a considerable improvement in the softness of their furry companion’s coat when they switched to this diet. The manufacturer also uses high-quality raw materials containing no artificial preservatives and provides the highest amount of muscle-building nutrients versus other brands.

41. Northwest Naturals – Cat Nibbles – Turkey Recipe

This product is primarily made with turkey meat; it contains all the parts that are rich with nutrients that consists of the neck, heart, and liver. Each bag contains a standard amount of flaxseed and psyllium husk powder, great fiber sources that help with digestion. We love this dry cat food because it does not have any fillers and virtually has no carbohydrate matter, making it a species-appropriate meal for carnivores.

42. Nulo Medalseries High-Meat Kibble Cod & Duck Recipe

This premium product uses only the best US-sourced raw materials and comes highly commended by veterinarians. This dry food is specially made for felines 12 months or older; it will surely sate any hunger and satisfy your furry companion’s daily nutritional needs. Each meal contains 83% muscle-building animal-based nutrients and low-carb content, meaning it has more meat and fewer fillers.

43. Tiki Cat – Born Carnivore Herring & Salmon

Fur parents highly praise this delectable product because it contains more muscle-building properties than other brands. It has a whopping 52% muscle-building content coming from real meat and other sources. Another amazing feature that this delectable option provides is it does not have any poultry by-products and fillers, ensuring that you get what you pay for.

44. Purina Pro Plan SAVOR With Probiotics

This product is packed with muscle-building properties as it is made from our favorite poultry chick. The special recipe has rice and lives probiotics that promote a strong digestive system and a stable one. This kibble is infused with vitamin A and fatty acids that keep your furry companion’s coat nice and lustrous.

45. Meow Mix Tender Centers

Remember those candies with a tasty filling inside? This product is the feline variant of that! Beneath the crunchy exterior of this cat food is a delectable soft surprise for your kitty. Veterinary specialists recommend this for kitties who have dental issues or problems with chewing; in addition to that, this dual-textured item consists of salmon and white meat that contains essential nutrients that improve your fur baby’s overall health. It is specially made for felines 12 months or older.

46. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain

Is your feline sick of the taste that it gets from the same regular flavors? This product might be your best choice yet, as it provides the unique taste of roasted venison. It has high levels of muscle-building nutrients that promote lean and strong muscles. It also has fruits and vegetables with added fatty acids to ensure a lustrous coat and provides extra energy for your active feline.

47. Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Mackerel and Lamb Recipe

This Ziwi Peak dry cat food is not your regular dry cat food, it may look like kibble, but the good thing about it is that it doesn’t contain the same level of carbs low-quality content that regular kibble has. This specially prepared product is created by air-drying meat instead of extracting the essence; this ensures that the nutrients are not lost, providing a much fuller and healthier meal. Ziwi Peak’s recipe contains mackerel, lamb muscle meat, liver, lung, tripe, and bone and contains green-lipped mussel, a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. Wow, that is a lot of stuff!

48. The Honest Kitchen Grace Dehydrated

One of the more unique items that we have on the list, this product from The Honest Kitchen, offers dehydrated foods for your kitty. It is made mostly with turkey meat and eggs, which delivers high levels of crude protein. The same content also contributes to nearly 34.5% of crude fat content. In addition to their amazing recipe, it also has fresh fruits and vegetables to provide a small number of carbohydrates and fiber. Pretty amazing, right?

49. 9Lives Cat Food

This product was specifically designed to cater to kitties who like to sit back and relax inside the home; it provides complete and balanced nutrition with each bite. It also contains B vitamins that help felines 12 months or older to control their weight and improve metabolism to burn fats quickly. It has multiple delectable choices that your furry companion would surely love.

50. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Blends

This Rachael Ray variant provides a super-premium blend to improve your furry companion’s health; it has probiotics and prebiotics that improve digestion. It also contains berries that provide antioxidants that improve the immune system. We like this product because it does not have any fillers, artificial colors, or preservatives, definitely a great choice for paw parents who want to go green.

51. Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Adult

This product features 42 grams worth of protein every 250 grams, ensuring that each bite is another step to stronger muscles. Fulfilling the nutritional need of every feline per day, it also boasts added essential nutrients. And as a bonus, this product also helps reduce weight and improves hairball control.

52. Meow Mix Original Choice

This product is great for general use; regardless of your feline companion’s lifestyle, it will provide a completely balanced diet for them. It has several delectable choices that include turkey, salmon, and ocean fish, which will keep your kitty hungry for more. It provides all the necessary nutrients and essential vitamins that help improve the strength of your cat’s bones, muscles, and overall vitality.

53. Meow Mix Indoor Health

Another entry from Meow Mix, this variant is specially made for felines who stay inside the house as it provides complete and balanced nutrition for kitties 12 months or older. This product provides all the essential vitamins and minerals, further improving the health of your feline companion. It contains a delicious mix of flavorful items such as turkey, salmon, and ocean fish, providing various choices.

54. Stella & Chewy’s Raw Absolutely Rabbit Dinner Morsels

Stella & Chewy’s is one of the leading brands in raw cat food; their products are affordable, have a lot of variations, and taste great (according to my cat, of course!). While their products are offered in frozen choices, most paw parents’ reviews say that they like the convenience of freeze-dried food. Their recipe mainly consists of rabbit meat, organs, and bones – rabbit meat is an optimal choice among felines who suffer from food sensitivities and allergies.

55. Life’s Abundance All Life Stage

Contrary to popular veterinarian recommendations, this premium food product can be fed to felines of all life stages. Its recipe consists of highly nutritional items that are cooked using a “fast-cook” process at low temperatures to preserve each ingredient’s nutritional value. The manufacturer also promises that they have strict protocols that ensure their products’ quality and safety. They also do not include any artificial elements and filler content like corn and wheat in their recipe.

56. Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent

This brand is well-known for providing and producing gourmet level cat food for felines, using human-grade sliced or shredded fish and meat. In addition to being meat-filled, the food is cooked in an umami-filled broth to preserve the raw ingredients’ moisture. This variant contains real meat and supplemented with many vitamins and minerals needed for a completely balanced diet.

57. IAMS Proactive Health Kitten

This dry food is one of our top choices for kitty kibble because it contains nutrients compared to those in mother’s milk. It helps promote brain development with omega-3 DHA and helps build a strong immune defense against diseases and other ailments. This item is also made in the USA following all standard protocols and policies; in addition to that, it only contains the best ingredients available.

58. Petcurean – GO! Carnivore

This dry food is produced with premium quality real meat, fruit and veggies, and omega oils. The manufacturer’s patent recipes have the most meat than other brands; it helps keep your kitty strong as it contains fewer carbs and more meat. It also contains both prebiotics and probiotics to help with digestive problems, and taurine helps improve vision, another wonderful and delectable choice for your kitty.

59. lAMS Proactive Health Adult

This product contains chicken as the main ingredient for a strong body and high energy; it has a special mix of beet pulp and prebiotics to help improve your fur baby’s ability to absorb nutrients. This mixture ensures that your furry companion receives complete and balanced nutrients every time they eat, providing lifelong benefits.

60. Purina Cat Chow Gentle

This product deviates from the regular chicken to a possibly less allergenic variant turkey; it still contains corn gluten, soybean, and wheat flour despite the meat difference. Nevertheless, the slightly high fiber content helps with improving digestion and fecal excretion. It contains at least 5% fiber and 12% moisture, which is quite surprising for a dry cat food recipe. It also contains biotin, choline, and taurine, which are essential nutrients in maintaining your furry friend’s well-being.

61. Wysong – Epigen

One of the more unique products on the list, Wysong’s Epigen, does not contain any starch and provides real meat and is created only with the strictest manufacturing protocols. It is nutritionally dense, meaning a small amount is more than enough to complete your cat’s nutritional needs. It is 66.7% real meat and only has 12.2% carbohydrates in each kibble; no wonder it is a paw parent favorite.

62. Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor

Another entry from Blue Buffalo is made especially for felines that have fur problems as it drastically improves the fur and coat condition. It is also gentle to the tummy and is digestion-friendly and is vet-approved for felines experiencing gastrointestinal problems. Lastly, if you properly control the amount of food your cat intakes, this product is a great weight control option.

63. Purina Beyond Ocean Whitefish and Egg Recipe

Another delectable choice from Purina, it contains real ocean whitefish and consists mostly of it. It doesn’t have any fillers like gluten, corn, soy, or poultry by-products, and it does not contain any artificial flavours or preservatives. Other than Ocean Whitefish and Egg, it also has other delectable choices that provide the same amount of nutrition in every bite. However, note that some reviews observed that the mixture might not be for every feline as they noticed that some of their fur babies regurgitated the food the first time they tried to consume it.

64. CRAVE Salmon and Ocean Fish

This item utilizes real meat as part of their ingredients and is a great source for lean meat; it is inspired by felines in the wild but is formulated for domesticated ones. It contains a wholly balanced diet for developing muscles, providing energy, and building a strong immune system for your kitty. It is supplemented by minerals and vitamins and is a great choice for your pets who love seafood.

65. Newman’s Own Organics Advanced

This organic product provides a highly nutritionally dense snack for your four-legged companion, if you don’t know Newman’s Own, they also make delicious salad dressings for human consumption, and they’re quite delectable. All of the ingredients that they use are organic and do not contain any artificial additives; it is also suitable for felines 12 weeks or older—recommended for cats who are experiencing digestive issues or are recovering from medical conditions because of its gentle recipe.

66. lAMS Proactive Health

This variant is specially made for laid back cats that stay inside the home; it provides a balanced weight-control formula in addition to its hairball care. It has L-carnitine that promotes higher metabolism and helps burn fats to keep your kitty physically fit. It also has prebiotics, beet pulp, and essential fibers that promote digestion and help support the feline cardiovascular system for felines 12 months and older.

67. Instinct Raw Boost Natural

One of the best picks for raw feeding, Nature’s Variety, has a lot of delectable choices like a duck, chicken, and rabbit. The product has an abundant mixture of kibble with raw, freeze-dried meat and supplemented with omega-3 and 6 for improved coat conditions. It also has antioxidants to improve the immune system; it doesn’t contain potato, corn, wheat, or soy, which are well-known fillers.

68. Wellness CORE Turkey

This product provides a complete and well-balanced diet recommended for all cats aged three months and older. It contains a whopping 38% protein content, 12% crude fat, and 5% crude fiber; besides, it is quite affordable, running at an estimated amount of $4 per pound. It is quite a popular choice among fur parents who own multiple cats as they can just feed them the same thing and still provide the same level of nutrients for each cat.

69. Whole Earth Farms Salmon

This product by Whole Earth Farms provides a completely balanced diet that includes high-quality protein in addition to fresh fruits and vegetables that are delectable for your kitty. It does not have any artificial flavours, preservatives, or colors and, most importantly, no fillers. This salmon tasting kibble will provide all the necessary nourishment for felines 12 months or older.

70. Cat Chow Naturals Indoor with Real Turkey

Very tasty and healthy, it is formulated to help control hairballs and is packed with greens from the garden, which includes twenty-five essential vitamins and minerals. Each serving has a 100% complete and balanced diet for felines who dwell inside the house. Suitable for feline breeds that have thick furs like Persians, Maine Coons, and Ragamuffins.

71. Authority Chicken Entrée Paté

This canned cat food provides your kitty a purr-worthy snack; it has a delicious recipe rich with vitamins, minerals, and other necessary nutrients that include taurine and omega-3 and 6. Each can provide high-quality ocean fish and real chicken meat and broth, ensuring a satisfied puss in every bite. It doesn’t include any artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives suitable for felines 12 months or older.

72. Young Again – Zero Premium High Protein

Simple and clean, Young Again provides our felines a premium meal filled with high-protein content. This product contains hydrolyzed pork, which is considered a quality source of animal protein. Additionally, it does not contain any fillers or by-products, meaning that your kitty can easily digest this product compared to ones that have fillers and such. Do note that this contains possible allergy triggers because it has herring and fish oil, which can be a bit of a problem.

73. Feline Natural Chicken & Venison

This canned cat food simply provides what a carnivore needs, real protein. Much like raw meats that can be hunted in the wild, this item provides a rich source of real animal protein mixed with a combination of meat, organs, and blood, providing a wide array of animal-sourced nutrition. It also contains green mussels from New Zealand, which provides an abundant amount of omega-3 for an improved skin condition and reduced inflammation.

Who Should Consider Buying Their Cats Wet or Dry Cat Food?

Any fur parent should always consider getting quality cat food, regardless if it’s a wet cat or dry cat food. Both types have different health advantages that your feline companion can benefit from. For example, dry cat food is crunchy and can help scrub the dirt away from your kitty’s teeth; this will contribute to his all-around health and keep their teeth strong and clean.

Wet cat food, on the other hand, is more appealing to your cats as it replicates the slimy texture of meat; being the carnivores that they are, most fur parents agree that felines who eat wet cat food do it with more gusto. You can add supplements or medicines in liquid form to it, which will provide you a hassle-free, scratchless way of administering additional supplements or medicine to your puss. Most vets recommend moist food for felines who are recovering from sickness or have digestive problems as it can be easily consumed and broken down.

Top Features To Look for When Selecting the Best Cat Foods for Growth

Premium Ingredients

We need to know what goes into the food that we make our furry friend eat. Remember that many diseases come from bad food choices and that everything in excess is bad. Choosing brands that use premium ingredients rather than inexpensive ones  this means that the meat that they use in the

Life Stage

Some food is specially made for a certain feline life stage as each has different needs. Much like baby formulas for humans, specially formulated kitten kibble provides what they need to grow strong and healthy. Just like kibble made for our elderly felines, they are designed to keep our seniors in great shape, utilizing fewer ingredients that could cause health problems for them.

Low to Zero Preservatives

We recommend choosing items with no preservatives on their product; however, since most market products require long storage, it cannot be avoided. Just remember less is always better and keep an eye out for BHT, BHA, and Ethoxyquin preservatives as they are suspected to be potential cancer-causing agents.

Balanced Nutrition

Remember the food pyramid that they used to teach us in elementary? It is the same for cats as they need well-balanced nutrition. Some paw parents think that dry cat food provides more carbohydrates versus protein because of their biscuit-like form, that is why some opt for wet cat food or raw feeding instead. We recommend checking the label to see the breakdown of the food itself; this will allow you to gauge and balance their diets accordingly.

Vet Recommended, Naturally Good and Healthy Ingredients To Look for in Wet Cat Foods and Dry Cat Foods

Earlier, we discussed ingredients and balanced nutrition; just in case you don’t know what you’re looking for in the label or Nutrition Facts, here are several items that are veterinarian approved.

Real Protein

Cats are carnivores, so we recommend that you find an item made with real meat providing real protein. While meat isn’t the only source of protein (as you can find it in beans, legumes, etc.), veterinary specialists recommend food products containing animal-based protein, as it allows your furry companion to digest it without any issues easily.

Fruits and Veggies

Despite being religiously carnivorous, felines still need their fair share of fruits and veggies. These are rich in carbohydrates and will provide a much-needed energy boost for your feline companion.

Good Fats

Naturally available in animal protein, this healthy ingredient helps keep your cat’s all-around health balanced. A great example of this ingredient is the omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties, a wonderful choice for felines who are experiencing dehydrated skin, hotspots, or allergies as it helps give your kitty a fuller, more lustrous coat.

Herbs and Seaweed

Herbs for my cat? You heard that right. Herbs and seaweed play an important role in keeping the digestive system in great shape. It also helps your fur baby feel more relaxed and calm as well; some of the best examples are kelp, nori (a type of seaweed used mostly in Japanese cuisine), catnip, and thyme. It isn’t required, but keep an eye out for treats or food with herbs or seaweeds.

The Pros and Cons: Wet Cat Foods Vs. Dry Cat Foods

Each variation has its own merits and disadvantages, but both are viable choices for a healthy and well-fed cat regardless of your choice. Here are some of our findings regarding the differences between the two. 

Dry

This is probably the most popular variant there is; it is cheaper, can be purchased in bulk amounts, and kept in storage for extended periods. It is quite convenient for paw parents who are mostly out of the house as they can just leave a sufficient amount of dry cat food in the bowl that could last enough for a day without spoilage. However, because it is dehydrated, this means that you also have to make sure that there is a sufficient amount of water available for your cat to rehydrate himself throughout the day.

Did you also know that dry cat food also slightly maintains your kitty’s dental health because it helps keep the teeth clean and strong? However, you need to observe your cat’s hydration habits. Suppose your furry companion is not much of a drinker. In that case, it could not be the best choice for him sticking to a dry cat food diet because he could quickly become dehydrated and potentially lead to a chronic urinary tract infection. Imagine eating chips without any source of water; it would leave you dehydrated throughout the day.

Wet

Despite being more expensive than dry cat kibble, wet cat food can provide everything that your feline friend needs in terms of sustenance. Experts say that feral cats usually receive their hydration from their hunted prey in the wild, consisting of 70% moisture content than regular canned cat food with around 80% moisture. However, one of the downsides of this variant is its spoilage. Most wet foods in the market can only be exposed for a limited amount of time because the water content in it is a highly potent breeding ground for bacteria.

In general, wet foods contain better quality ingredients, more meat protein, and fewer carbohydrates than dry cat food. While it can cost more, these are more likely better for your feline companion.

Good Questions Regarding Top Cat Foods

How Much Food Can I feed my Cat?

Most products in the market have specific instructions on how much food should be fed to our feline counterparts regardless if it’s wet or dry cat food and most of them agree that it depends on the life-stage and the weight of your cat. Each life-stage requires different amounts; a three-month kitten requires 30 to 55 grams of food a day and up to 75 plus grams (depending on the weight) of a 12-month old cat. In addition to that, you also need to split up the suggested amount between three to five meals a day plus treats.

Is it Adult Cat food okay for my Kitten?

We don’t recommend feeding your kitty food for adults as it does not contain the necessary mixture to help them grow and build up a strong immune system. In addition to that, the size of kitty kibble is noticeably smaller than those made for adults; this is to prevent your young feline from choking on the food. In emergency cases, like when you run out of kitty kibble in the middle of the night, you can opt to feed them adult food, given that you at least grind some of them into smaller pieces.

Can we mix and match wet and dry cat food?

There is no problem with mixing wet and dry cat food; just make sure that you properly ration it according to your pet’s weight and age. You need to make sure that you’re meeting and not overly exceeding the calorie count of your kitty’s daily consumption to prevent them from going overweight.

How do you separately feed your two cats, different cat foods?

In some cases wherein our feline companions need a special prescription diet (digestive care, urinary care, etc.), you may need to feed them a special type of food, and in a house, with two to three cats, this can be quite a hassle. We recommend using a crate to feed your cat with special needs separately or at least keep him in a different room while doing so. This allows them to consume food without any interruptions completely.

Is raw food better than other types of best cat food?

Some paw parents prefer using the BARF diet (bones and raw food or biologically-appropriate raw food) rather than purchasing pre-made commercially available products. Cats are carnivorous. They are inclined to eat raw food and easily digest it because of their digestive system; however, raw food may contain pathogens like E.Coli and Salmonella, leading to serious infections. If you’re seriously considering doing so, we recommend that you properly prepare it safely to prevent bacterial germination and cross-contamination.

Conclusion

Providing the best cat food to our pets is our number one priority, and we hope that after reading this article, we’ve empowered you with enough knowledge to know which cat food is best suited for your situation. Regardless of your final choice, we hope that your furry companion enjoys the buffet that you’ve prepared for him and that he grows big, strong, and healthy for years to come!