Are you looking for the best cat food for your furry bundle of joy?
The right and balanced nutrition ensure that your cat lives a long and happy life. However, there are a lot of name brand and generic cat foods available on the market. So, it can be confusing, and sometimes intimidating to choose the right one for your kitty.
A lot of cat food contain artificial flavors, filler ingredients, coloring, etc. that provide little to no nutritional value to the food. Also, some ingredients are bad for your cat’s health and may even be carcinogenic!
Keeping your kitty happy, healthy, and satisfied should be your goal.
In this blog post, I’ll share the top 5 best cat foods available on the market along with a few things you should know about cat food.
Let’s begin, shall we?
The Importance of the RIGHT Cat Food: A Quick Look
It is important to know that every kitty has unique requirements when it comes to the diet. This means that you should consult a vet before making any tweaks or adjustments to your cat’s diet.
Following are a few considerations:
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Cat: It is safe to assume that is your furry friend lives indoors, she’ll be less active than if she was outdoors. This means that an indoor cat needs lesser number of calories than an outdoor cat as most of the cat’s time is spent lounging, grooming, and sleeping
- The Age Factor: As a cat’s age increases, her appetite decreases. Even a small percentage of change in a cat’s metabolism after the age of 10 calls for a tweak in the nutrition. Older cats also have a problem with chewing the kibble.
On the other hand, since kittens are at a critical stage of life and are growing, they need as much as three times more calories than an adult cat does!
- Health: Nursing or pregnant cats need calories from high-quality sources to help maintain their bodies and the litter. Cats with anemia also require high calories which helps replenish the blood cells
Finding the best cat food means that first, you should be aware of your kitty’s special needs. This means that you should consult the vet before making any changes or tweaks to your cat’s diet.
Moving on.
The Right Cat Food: What Does It Look Like?
A balanced diet helps in keeping your kitty healthy and helps regulate the metabolism.
The right food for your cat should be able to provide fifty of the most important nutrients which include Vitamin C and A, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Your kitty shouldn’t be burping or throwing up regularly either.
You should also consider the breed-specific needs of cats. Maine Coons and Persian cats have long and dense fur which means that they require a high amount of Omega fatty acids to help maintain their fur and keep it glossy, keep the moisture in the skin, and contain high fiber to control the hairball growth.
Some cats are at risk of developing obesity which comes with many health conditions that require close veterinary attention such as urinary problems and diabetes. These conditions can easily be addressed by tweaking the diets along with taking medicine.
If you have an overweight cat, you should look for the best diet foods for cats.
If your furry friend is prone to bladder obstructions or infections, you should look for foods that lower the cat’s urinary pH and help reduce the complication.
After all, prevention is always better than cure.
You should know the exact amount of calories your kitty needs to make sure that you’re within the ideal range. Normally, the vet tells you the average daily intake by analyzing your cat’s age, level of activity, build, breed, health, etc.
Cat Food and Allergies: A Quick Look
Cats can sometimes be allergic to an ingredient or two present in the cat food.
Following are the common signs of a food-based allergic reaction in cats:
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Losing fur
- Vomiting
- Excessive scratching
- Excessive grooming
If you see any of the signs mentioned above, it is important to call the vet to determine the most suitable course of action.
Daily Caloric Intake: A Quick Look
Did you know that about 58% of cats in the United States are overweight?
Being overweight brings with it some serious health conditions such as heart issues, high blood pressure, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, cancer, etc. So, it is important for a cat to be within a healthy weight range.
All these issues can simply be avoided if your kitty is in the right weight range.
Domestic cats mostly weigh between 8 to 10 pounds, while Persian cats have a weight range of 7-12 lbs and Maine Coons have an ideal range of 10-15 pounds.
For cats that have problems with weight, you need to know the exact number of calories a cat needs to maintain the ideal weight. Your vet can provide you with an accurate number. However, following is the general range:
- Kittens need up to 275 kcals per day
- Adult cats need up to 200-300 kcals per day
- Overweight cats also need 180-200 kcals per day
- Senior cats need up to 200-250 kcals per day
Keep in mind that the calories mentioned above are just an estimate. The actual number depends on the cat’s health, age, level of activity, etc.
Top 7 Best Cat Foods Available on the Market
There are a lot of different foods available on the market for adult cats from named brands as well as generic brands.
In this section of the blog post, I will go through the top seven best cat foods available on the market and will review each of these cat foods in detail later on.
So, take a peek:
| Food Name | Key Features | Our Rating | Prices |
| Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Cat Food | ● The recipe is specifically developed for indoor cats
● Made from high-quality ingredients that contain prebiotic fiber that supports the kitten’s digestive health ● Contains a blend of antioxidants including Vitamin E and C for a healthy immune system ● Doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives ● Trusted and recommended by vets ● Good for cats over the age of 1 and under the age of 7 |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| BLUE Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Cat Food | ● The food contains sweet potatoes that are a good source of healthy complex carbohydrates
● This food contains carrots, blueberries, and cranberries that are excellent sources of antioxidants ● The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, soy, or corn ● No chicken by-product or poultry by-products are used to make the food |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food | ● The kibble is dual-textures which makes it crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
● Comes in delicious white meat and salmon flavor the cats love ● The kibble is rich in all essential ingredients that helps support the overall health of the cat ● Provides 100% complete and balanced meal for cats |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| 9Lives Dry Cat Food | ● Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for adult cats
● Contains essential vitamins and nutrients for an indoor cat to help maintain weight ● The kibble is great in taste ● The kibble is specially formulated to help support the control of hairballs ● Helps in an easy litter box clean up |
4.4 Stars | Check Prices |
| IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adult Dry Cat Food | ● Helps the cat maintain a healthy weight and controls the growth of hairballs
● The key ingredient of this kibble is chicken the provides the cat with all the essential nutrition ● Formulated with essential nutrients including potassium and calcium ● Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for cats |
4.3 Stars | Check Prices |
| Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Cat Food
|
● Features beef, pork, and seafood flavors that cats seem to love
● The kibble comes in a variety of appealing shapes and sizes that helps keep the cat excited during mealtime ● The kibble has a rich aroma that tempts the cat into eating the food ● Made of high-quality ingredients ● Provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for all stages of life |
4.5 Stars | Check Prices |
| ● The cat food contains real chicken as the #1 ingredient
● The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, corn, or soy and no poultry or chicken by-products are used in the food ● The food is made from essential and natural ingredients ● Doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives ● Made of high-quality ingredients |
4.4 Stars | Check Prices |
Now, let’s take a closer look at each one of these kitten foods, shall we?
Let’s begin.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Cat Food
The Hill’s Science diet adult Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available on the market. The food is developed to meet the needs of an indoor cat. The added fibre helps promotes digestion. The ingredients used to make the food are of a high quality.
The kibble is rich in high-quality lean protein which helps the cat maintain her weight and muscle mass. The kibble is ideal for cats under the age of 11.
Let’s take a look at the key points, shall we?
- The recipe is specifically developed for indoor cats
- Made from high-quality ingredients that contain prebiotic fiber that supports the kitten’s digestive health
- Contains a blend of antioxidants including Vitamin E and C for a healthy immune system
- Doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Trusted and recommended by vets
- Good for cats over the age of 1 and under the age of 7
Let’s take a peek at the pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Free from filler ingredients and artificial color, preservatives, and flavors
● Developed to meet the needs of indoor cats ● Contains essential antioxidants and vitamins for all-round growth |
● The taste may put some picky cats off |
All in all, the Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dry Cat Food is one of the best available on the market. The food meets all nutritional needs of indoor cats under the age of 11 and helps maintain the weight and muscle mass.
BLUE Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Adult Dry Cat Food
The Blue Wilderness High protein Grain Free Adult Dry cat Food is one of the best cat foods available to buy. The grain-free formula is high in protein and features LifeSource bits that contain a blend of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants for a healthy immune system.
Let’s look at the key features, shall we?
- The food contains sweet potatoes that are a good source of healthy complex carbohydrates
- This food contains carrots, blueberries, and cranberries that are excellent sources of antioxidants
- The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, soy, or corn
- No chicken by-product or poultry by-products are used to make the food
Now, let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Made from high-quality ingredients
● Contains ingredients rich in antioxidants that help boost the immune system ● No filler ingredients are used |
● May cause an upset tummy |
In summary, I feel that the Blue Wilderness High protein Grain Free Adult Dry cat Food is one of the best cat foods available on the market. The grain-free cat food is rich in protein and meets all the nutritional needs of an adult cat.
Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food
The Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available to buy on the market. The food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats and has an irresistible taste that cats love.
Following are the key features:
- The kibble is dual-textures which makes it crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside
- Comes in delicious white meat and salmon flavor the cats love
- The kibble is rich in all essential ingredients that helps support the overall health of the cat
- Provides 100% complete and balanced meal for cats
Let’s take a peek at the pros and the cons!
Now, let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Provides a complete and balanced meal
● Features an irresistible flavor ● Rich in all essential ingredients |
● May not be suitable for certain cat breeds |
All in all, the Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food is one of the best available to buy. This food provides complete and balanced nutrition to adult cats and comes in a flavor that even the pickiest of cats can’t say no to!
9Lives Dry Cat Food
The 9Lives Dry Cat Food is one of the best available. The cat food provides complete nutrition for an indoor cat. The food features an advanced nutrient system that contains essential vitamins and minerals to boost the cat’s immune system while helping to maintain a healthy weight.
Key features include the following:
- Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for adult cats
- Contains essential vitamins and nutrients for an indoor cat to help maintain weight
- The kibble is great in taste
- The kibble is specially formulated to help support the control of hairballs
- Helps in an easy litter box clean up
Let’s look at the pros and cons now!
| Pros | Cons |
| ● A complete and balanced meal for cats
● Specially formulated to meet all the needs of an indoor cat ● Helps maintain ideal weight ● Tastes amazing |
● May cause an allergic reaction in some cats |
To summarize, I feel that the 9Lives Dry Cat Food is one of the best available. The cat food provides a complete and balanced meal for adult cats and is great to taste. It contains all the essential vitamins and minerals required by cats.
IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adult Dry Cat Food
The IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adult Dry Cat food is one of the best cat foods available on the market. The food contains chicken and helps the cat to maintain a healthy weight, strong muscles, healthy skin and coat, and hairball care.
The cat food is designed to meet the needs of an indoor cat.
Let’s take a peek at the key features:
- Helps the cat maintain a healthy weight and controls the growth of hairballs
- The key ingredient of this kibble is chicken the provides the cat with all the essential nutrition
- Formulated with essential nutrients including potassium and calcium
- Provides a 100% complete and balanced meal for cats
Let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Helps the cat maintain a healthy weight
● Contains essential nutrients including calcium ● Contains chicken as number one ingredient |
● May not be suitable for certain breeds
● Can cause gastrointestinal upset |
To summarize, I feel that the IAMS Proactive Health Specialized Care Adult Dry Cat food is one of the best available. The cat food is made of the best of ingredients and provides all-round development.
Purina Friskies Surfin’ & Turfin’ Favorites Cat Food
The Purina Friskies Surfin’& Turfin’ Favorites Cat food is one of the best available on the market. This cat food provides a complete and balanced meal for all life stages and is made of delicious sources of protein.
The cat food contains essential Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids that helps maintain the cat’s fur and skin.
Following are the notable features of this cat food:
- Features beef, pork, and seafood flavors that cats seem to love
- The kibble comes in a variety of appealing shapes and sizes that helps keep the cat excited during mealtime
- The kibble has a rich aroma that tempts the cat into eating the food
- Made of high-quality ingredients
- Provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition for all stages of life
Let’s take a peek at the pros and cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages
● Made from high-quality ingredients ● Good for fussy eaters |
● Can cause an allergic reaction |
All in all, I feel that the Purina Friskies Surfin’& Turfin’ Favorites Cat food deserves the spot on my list of the best cat foods. The food is made from high-quality ingredients and comes in various shapes and sizes to attract the kitty.
Purina Beyond Natural Dry Cat Food
The Purina Beyond Natural Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available to buy on the market. The cat food is made from natural and high-quality ingredients and is free from added preservatives, poultry and chicken by-products, etc.
The chicken and brown rice formula provides optimum nutrition for an adult cat.
The key features of this cat food include the following:
- The cat food contains real chicken as the #1 ingredient
- The kibble doesn’t contain filler ingredients such as wheat, corn, or soy and no poultry or chicken by-products are used in the food
- The food is made from essential and natural ingredients
- Doesn’t contain any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Made of high-quality ingredients
Let’s weigh the pros against the cons, shall we?
| Pros | Cons |
| ● Contains real chicken
● No by-products and meals used ● High-quality sources of carbohydrates used ● Contains natural ingredients |
● Can cause an upset stomach
● Short shelf life |
To summarize, the Purina Beyond Natural Dry Cat Food is one of the best cat foods available on the market. The food is made from high-quality ingredients and contains chicken as the number one ingredient. It is free from any artificial colors and flavors.
Final Words: The Best Cat Food
The best cat food is the one that meets all the nutritional requirements of your cat, is made from high-quality ingredients, and contains real meat.
Many cat foods on the market contain filler ingredients that are bad for the kitty’s health and provide little to no nutritional value. It is important to get a cat food that is free from these ingredients.
Keep in mind that even though the products that I have mentioned in the blog post are the best, it doesn’t necessarily mean that your cat will like the taste!
Cats are picky eaters.
So, it is always a good idea to buy the smallest packet to try the food out. If your cat seems to like it, you may go ahead and buy a bigger pack later. This saves money and avoids wastage of food.
Still, have questions? Let me know in the comments section, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!
