25+ Of The Best (And Worst) Cat Food Brands
Cats might try a range of foods, but the options they can safely enjoy without causing those dreaded late-night upsets are actually quite limited. Though they instinctively hunt birds, mice, and fish, these aren't always the best choices for their health.
That’s why many pet food companies have carefully refined their recipes to suit feline needs. However, a closer inspection shows that some brands prioritize flashy marketing over genuine nutritional quality.
BEST: KASIKS
As Mallory Crusta noted in her review on Cats.com, KASIKS follows a simple, effective strategy by focusing on single animal protein sources—an approach that typically aligns well with cats' dietary requirements. Their chicken formula, in particular, is a great option for cats with allergies or sensitivities.
Moreover, KASIKS products avoid animal by-products, thickening agents, and artificial additives such as colors, flavors, and preservatives. The main drawbacks are that the food tends to be relatively high in carbohydrates and often doesn’t include organ meats.
WORST: Friskies
Cats often like Friskies, and it does offer a high protein content, but there are other important factors to keep in mind. Cats.com points out that it's an affordable option with relatively low carbohydrates, yet they also raise significant concerns.
While the protein mainly comes from animal sources, much of it is derived from unspecified animal byproducts of questionable quality. The food is also loaded with artificial additives and includes carrageenan, an ingredient that may cause inflammation. Some products in the range even contain plant-based ingredients, which cats—being obligate carnivores—aren’t equipped to digest well.
BEST: VetDiet
SELF Magazine highlights that VetDiet provides a broad selection of products tailored to cats at every life stage, with a special emphasis on formulas designed to boost the immune system and help manage weight. However, Kate Barrington from Cats.com points out that the high carbohydrate levels and inclusion of pea proteins in this cat food work against the weight control benefits.
Despite that, VetDiet's offerings have many strengths—especially their wet food, which supports healthy digestion. It mainly features high-quality animal proteins, clearly specifying muscle meat and organ content. Additionally, the soft texture makes it easy for cats to chew, and the recipes are free from artificial additives.
WORST: Fancy Feast
When it comes to budget-friendly cat food options, Mallory Crusta's review on Cats.com suggests Fancy Feast is a solid choice. Many of their products are low in carbohydrates, use thickeners that don’t include carrageenan, and offer plenty of animal-based proteins.
That said, the quality of those proteins can vary, as Fancy Feast sometimes includes questionable byproducts. Additionally, all their products contain artificial additives, and the Fancy Feast Gourmet with Savory Chicken & Turkey features higher carbohydrate levels due to added plant proteins.
BEST: Weruva
As Mallory Crusta from Cats.com points out, one noticeable drawback of Weruva cat food is its high price. Additionally, some of their products contain elevated carbohydrate levels.
That said, Weruva offers plenty of positives. Their formulas are made primarily from high-quality animal proteins with minimal plant ingredients and no artificial additives. For example, the Cats In The Kitchen Chicken Frick 'A Zee Aus Jus variety addresses the carb concern and includes fish oil as a natural source of omega-3s suited for cats.
WORST: Aldi
In some cases, Aldi's cat food products can count high-quality animal proteins and chicken fat among its primary ingredients. However, it isn't consistently true, and even when it is, that benefit comes with some significant drawbacks.
One problem is that it's not unusual for some of Aldi's offerings to feature nutritionally unhelpful grain ingredients and fillers. Although Aldi sometimes avoids artificial ingredients, it's not impossible for artificial coloring to be used in its products. Its cat food is also consistently loaded with carbohydrates due to its plant-based content and lacking in moisture.
BEST: Royal Canin
According to SELF Magazine, Royal Canin is often recommended by veterinarians because veterinary experts and nutritionists play a key role in creating its products. The brand provides specialized formulas for senior cats, as well as options enriched with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to promote healthier coats.
Additionally, some of their products target specific health concerns like urinary tract and bladder issues, along with diabetes. However, this high level of quality and specialization means Royal Canin is among the pricier choices available.
WORST: Triumph
As Mallory Crusta noted in her Cats.com review, Triumph cat food is consistent in using nourishing protein sources from the animals it features, and its formulas are relatively easy to digest. Additionally, the brand avoids artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
However, there are some concerns with this brand. Triumph's products tend to be excessively high in carbohydrates and often include carrageenan, a thickening agent that could potentially pose health risks for cats over time.
BEST: Grandma Mae's Country Naturals
Carlotta Cooper explained on Cats.com that Grandma Mae's Country Naturals offers pet foods rich in various animal proteins. In certain products, more than 70% of the protein comes from premium animal cuts.
Their formulas are free from GMOs, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Additionally, they exclude wheat, corn, and soy gluten. However, many of their products do include lentils and pea proteins.
WORST: Wag
Mallory Crusta noted on Cats.com that Wag gets a lot right. Their products are packed with animal proteins, offer a balanced blend of muscle and organ meats, and are reliably free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
On the downside, they often contain a high level of carbohydrates. In some cases, this is due to added plant ingredients that don't provide much nutritional value for cats. Additionally, their formulas sometimes include carrageenan, a substance that may trigger inflammation.
BEST: Koha
Kate Barrington shared on Cats.com that Koha's products feature straightforward ingredient lists focused mainly on proteins from a single animal source. For example, their rabbit au jus contains 96% rabbit meat. They also consistently avoid fillers, artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
Several of their offerings have carbohydrate levels below 5%, and all are packed with moisture essential for a cat’s hydration and digestion. That said, some products do include a small amount of plant-based ingredients.
WORST: Special Kitty
In her review, Kate Barrington of Cats.com noted that Special Kitty has strengths in areas that other cat food brands struggle with. They contain multiple sources of whole animal protein, they're rich in moisture, and they're often low in carbohydrates.
However, it's also true that those wholesome animal proteins are diluted by a lot of junk. Most of their products contain a long list of artificial additives, as well as the thickening agent carrageenan and animal byproducts. Some also have other fillers including corn, which is one of the least healthy foods to feed a cat.
BEST: Smalls
Smalls stands out, as noted by Worst Brands, for offering human-grade cat food, meaning it's safe for people to eat too. True to its high standards, it sources its proteins from quality meats and is packed with beneficial moisture.
Additionally, Smalls avoids unnecessary plant ingredients or fillers, focusing on what's best for cats. The food is also praised for its soft texture and even helps reduce the odor of cat droppings. The only catch is that it requires a subscription to access.
WORST: Blue Buffalo
While Mallory Crusta of Cats.com pointed out that cats generally enjoy Blue Buffalo and appreciated its clear labeling of animal protein sources, she had several concerns about the brand. One issue was that its products were often high in carbohydrates, although some did a better job of addressing this than others.
The main issue, however, was that many Blue Buffalo products included concentrated plant proteins, which aren't beneficial for cats. Additionally, the brand consistently fell short when it came to providing adequate moisture for proper hydration and digestion.
BEST: Purina Pro-Plan/Purina One
While Purina's main brand is often regarded as average, Dr. Aimee Simpson, a veterinarian from Pennsylvania, shared with SELF Magazine that Purina Pro-Plan is frequently recommended by her peers. This is largely due to the brand's wide range of formulas catering to indoor cats, seniors, and those prone to hairballs.
However, some may find the price of Pro-Plan's specialized diets a bit steep. In those instances, Dr. Simpson suggests switching to the more affordable and versatile Purina One for a well-rounded diet.
WORST: Whiskas
While it may be an exaggeration to say that Whiskas has no redeeming qualities, it's unfortunate that one of the most popular and budget-friendly cat food brands isn't the best choice for your feline friend. A veterinarian interviewed by The Guardian likened it to eating fast food every day.
A review on Cats.com took a slightly more positive view, mentioning that Whiskas is low in carbohydrates and largely made from chicken, which is suitable for cats. However, the presence of dyes, preservatives, and meat composites makes it difficult to fully recommend.
BEST: Hill's Science Diet
As reported by People, Hill's Science Diet is celebrated for using some of the finest ingredients available in cat food. This is no surprise, given that the brand employs several veterinary nutritionists at its testing facilities.
But Hill's Science Diet isn't just about top-notch nutrition. They also provide a range of prescription foods designed to address issues like urinary tract infections, hairballs, sensitive stomachs, and bladder stones. The catch is that these high-quality offerings come at a premium, making Hill's Science Diet one of the more expensive brands on the market.
WORST: Meow Mix
While Cats.com notes that Meow Mix contains animal-sourced fat and is enriched with essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, these aspects alone don't make it an ideal choice for cats. For starters, there's little transparency about the sourcing of its meat content.
Additionally, the formula is low in both protein and fat, while being notably high in carbohydrates. Despite its affordability, these factors, along with the use of potentially harmful artificial coloring, make Meow Mix a less-than-healthy option for your cat.
WORST: Kirkland
In their review, Cats.com noted that the Costco's signature brand has policies they wished other companies would adopt, like sharing the specific cuts of meat included in their recipes. They also don't use artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and include include probiotics.
This would be impressive for one of the most affordable brands out there if not for one simple fact: It's not very nutritious. It's low and protein and fat and high in carbohydrates with insufficient moisture to be appropriate for cats. It was so close.
BEST: Merrick
According to SELF Magazine, Merrick's flagship Purrfect Bistro line is known to be free of artificial flavors, colors, and harmful (to cats) filler products like cornmeal. It's also supposed to help control hairballs and promote healthy skin and coats.
For their part, Cats.com seemed impressed as well, praising the company's high-quality meat sources, salmon oil rich in omega-3, and rich moisture. Although they noted that the carbohydrate content is a little high, the protein content is even higher. It seems reliable.
BEST: Farmina
According to SELF Magazine, Farmina is a lesser-known brand with a veterinary research team that consults independent veterinarians when developing recipes. The brand prides itself on high-quality ingredients from carefully screened farmers and purports to take cat health seriously.
In the eyes of Mallory Crusta from Cats.com, that care shows in the food's nutritional value, the high protein content from quality animal sources, and its use of animal fat instead of oils. Although the chicken recipe is considered lacking in moisture, the lamb and wild boar recipes don't have this problem. Unfortunately, they're also as expensive as they sound.
WORST: Kit N Kaboodle
Often considered at the bottom tier among cat food brands for many owners, Kit N Kaboodle is low-cost and has the quality to match. As Carlotta Cooper wrote for Cats.com, its signature product isn't even known for having much animal protein. That's less true of its other options, but they have many of the same drawbacks.
The original recipe is known for including corn and other plant byproducts as filler, but all of their products contain artificial coloring and a synthetic source of vitamin K called Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex. Other artificial flavors and preservatives were also found throughout the brand's line.
BEST: Nature's Logic
As SELF Magazine explained, Nature's Logic is committed to making cat food with all-natural ingredients and directly purchases and approves its meat sources. It's also a brand known for testing all the food that comes out of its American manufacturing operations.
For her part, Kate Barrington of Cats.com confirmed the lack of artificial products and fillers and praised its specificity in sourcing healthy animal proteins. The brand also ensures rich moisture in its food to help hydrate cats and includes probiotics while cutting carbs. However, it also includes unnecessary plant content.
WORST: Iams
Despite its "ProActive Health" marketing, Iams left a lot to be desired for Mallory Crusta of Cats.com. Although its products were consistently good sources of omega-3 fatty acids due to the included fish oil, they were inconsistent in their use of animal-sourced fats.
Moreover, their products were consistently high in carbohydrates and consistently used artificial caramel coloring. In some cases, the food was also made with low-quality animal byproducts and even less useful plant ingredients. Although the Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care cat food was the worst offender, the brand generally failed to impress.
BEST: Natural Balance
As Mallory Crusta noted, any recommendation of Natural Balance's products is conditional on how much each of them emphasizes vegetables in its recipe. That's because those that do are unhelpful for featuring large concentrations of plant products. After all, cats are obligate carnivores.
However, other products like their Ultra Premium Chicken & Liver Pate Formula were praised for their use of quality chicken proteins, their richness in omega-3 fatty acids, and their richness in moisture. However, be aware that Natural Balance's products are consistently high in carbohydrates.
BEST: Open Farm
As NBC News reported, Open Farm is marketed as a farm-to-bowl brand that sources its proteins from ethically farmed animals and sustainably caught ocean whitefish. The outlet also noted that Open Farm includes fruits and vegetables in its products, which are unhelpful to cats.
However, that and its insufficient moisture were the only complaints that Kate Barrington from Cats.com had. Otherwise, she was impressed by the company's use of multiple, high-quality, and clearly defined animal-based fats and proteins. She also appreciated the lack of artificial ingredients and noted that the Herring and Mackerel Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food doesn't have the moisture problem.
WORST: American Journey
According to Worst Brands, American Journey prides itself on its products' probiotic content and its high percentage of animal proteins (40%). However, the brand is also catching heat for significant drawbacks, some of which have only gotten worse over time.
In addition to being quite expensive, American Journey is also known for using plant-based products like Tapioca Starch, guar gum, cassia gum, and pea protein. It's also excessively high in carbohydrates and, in recent years, has been reported as lacking sufficient moisture.
BEST: Sheba
According to Mallory Crusta of Cats.com, Sheba's line of cat foods has many praise-worthy qualities. Their recipes are dominated by high-quality animal protein sources and their food options are consistently low in carbohydrates. They're also consistently free of artificial flavors and preservatives.
Sheba isn't perfect in that its products occasionally feature artificial colors and their labels are often a little vague about the poultry liver used. Still, Sheba is a consistently high performer in the cat food market.
WORST: 9 Lives
According to Worst Brands, there are many problems with the foods produced by the 9 Lives brand. For one thing, they rely heavily on low-quality animal byproducts and add empty calories in the form of starches and wheat flour.
They also contain soy proteins, which are fairly common allergens for cats that also provide no value to their bodies. Finally, 9 Lives is also known for adding artificial caramel coloring and preservatives like BHA to their foods. A cat can do so much better.
WORST: Pure Balance
For every strength that Pure Balance has, there seems to be a significant drawback. As Mallory Crusta wrote for Cats.com, options that that had animal-sourced fat and didn't feature low-value byproducts were also high in carbohydrates and low in moisture.
And while Pure Balance is free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, some of the company's products are also known to feature common cat allergens. Worse yet, some also contain the thickening agent, which is both a likely cause of inflammation and a potential carcinogen.
BEST: Tiki Cat
According to Worst Brands, Tiki Cat has emerged as a brand that makes all-natural, human-grade cat food with low carbohydrates. This makes it a popular company for owners of diabetic cats, and its food is known to have a soft texture.
Moreover, its protein content is supposed to be as high as 95%, depending on which of the 40 flavors is selected. Tiki Cat's food is also rich in moisture, and the fish content of its products is sustainably caught.
BEST: Wellness
Mallory Crusta of Cats.com's review of the Wellness brand describes cat food that excels in many areas. It's consistently loaded with species-appropriate animal sources, it's rich in moisture, has no artificial ingredients, and most options are low in carbohydrates.
Their kitten food is particularly impressive, as Crusta describes it as one of the most protein-rich options for this age group on the market. It's also rich in moisture, calorie-dense for growing bodies, supplemented by fish oil, and has an ultra-soft texture.
WORST: Rachael Ray
It seems that the biggest issue with Rachael Ray's Nutrish line of cat foods is that her brand is more used to feeding humans than cats. Although Mallory Crusta of Cats.com noted that its taste is popular among cats and it's primarily made from easily identified chicken parts, there are other ingredients that don't need to be there.
That's not to say that artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives are present because this is emphatically not the case. However, Rachael Ray's brand consistently includes multiple plant protein concentrates in their products, which consistently spike carbohydrate levels. Carrageenan is also sometimes present.
BEST: Orijen
Like many quality cat food brands, Orijen has a sadly high price point. But while some of their products have some plant matter snuck in, the recipes are consistently loaded with what cats need and the presence of what they don't need is often minimized.
As Mallory Crusta of Cats.com wrote, Orijen's range of products are consistently packed with multiple nourishing animal parts from high-quality protein sources. Many of them are also low in carbohydrates and none of them contain artificial ingredients.
WORST: Nutro
As Mallory Crusta from Cats.com described, Nutro is a brand that's usually pretty diligent about securing species-appropriate animal fat and protein sources. It's also typically free of artificial ingredients, high in protein, and some products use fish oil as an omega-3 fatty acid source.
However, this brand also has an annoying habit of including high concentrations of plant proteins in their products. Whether this is for filler or an attempt to enrich the food's flavor profile, it typically results in excessive carbohydrates.
WORST: Wishbone
Wishbone's products are typically made from two concentrated animal protein sources but Kate Barrington of Cats.com noted that some products are vague about what part of the fish their "fish meal" comes from. Nonetheless, they're free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives and they also contain chicken fat as a good source of fatty acids.
However, the brand's foods also carry some significant drawbacks. They're high in carbohydrates are loaded with unhelpful and unnecessary plant ingredients. Another strike against these foods is the consistent lack of moisture needed for hydration and digestion.
BEST: Steve's Real Food
As Kate Barrington wrote for Cats.com, Steve's Real Food lives up to its name in that the quality of their ingredients is consistent throughout their product line. They're typically made from a single source of animal protein and the majority of these foods consists of raw muscle meat, organs, and ground bone.
Their also rich in animal sourced fat and their fish products are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids due to the salmon oil. The only things to watch out for with this brand are the high price and the fact that raw cat food carries some risk of microbe contamination. Be sure to store it carefully.