THE BEST CAT FOOD FOR YOUR CAT 2023

As a cat owner, you want to give your furry companion the healthiest diet possible. But with so many options on store shelves, how do you know which cat foods are genuinely high-quality and nutritious?

In this article, we’ll recommend the top cat food brands that veterinarians and everyday cat parents trust to provide complete nutrition. We’ve researched both dry and wet cat foods to find options that work for your cat’s needs and tastes.

Our Goal Is For You To Learn How To:

Evaluate cat food ingredients and labels
Understand different nutritional needs by age and activity level
Choose foods that are safe and high-quality
Successfully transition your cat to a new food.

By the end, you’ll feel confident picking the right cat food to keep your kitty full of energy and vibrancy.

Pros and Cons of Wet vs. Dry Cat Food

Before getting into the top 5 wet and dry cat foods, it is important to first understand the advantages and disadvantages each of them have. Here are some pros and cons to consider when choosing between wet or dry food:

Wet Food Pros

Higher moisture content to support hydration
Typically contains more protein
Better aroma and flavor for picky eaters
Softer texture some cats prefer

Wet Food Cons

More expensive per serving than dry food
Spoils quickly after opening
Not as good for dental health

Dry Food Pros

More affordable and easier to store
Helps clean teeth and prevent tartar
Stays fresh longer once opened
Provides consistent nutrition in precise kibble servings

Dry Food Cons

Lower moisture content
Strong aromas can fade over bag storage
Too crunchy or hard for some cats

Ideally you should consider feeding your cat a combination of wet and dry foods in order to balance these pros and cons. Your cat will benefit from enhanced hydration, variety, dental health, and balanced nutrition.

So without further ado, let’s get right into the top 5 best wet and dry cat foods for your feline friend.

The 5 Best Wet Cat Foods

Wet cat food provides essential moisture and protein that can benefit feline health. In this section, we’ll review the top 5 best-wet cat food options based on quality ingredients, nutrition, flavor, affordability, and excellent customer satisfaction. Whether you are looking for natural limited-ingredient formulas, delicious gravies, or veterinarian-recommended foods, you’ll discover the ideal wet cat foods to feed your cat.

1. Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Flaked Wet Cat Food

If you’re seeking a flavorful, protein-packed wet cat food, Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Flaked is a great option. This canned food features tender cuts of meat in a tasty gravy your cat will love.

The first ingredient is real chicken or tuna, providing quality animal protein to help maintain strong muscles. The flakes are bathed in a savory gravy full of richness and flavor even the pickiest cats go wild for.

Key benefits of Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Flaked include:

High-protein recipes with chicken or tuna first
Flaked slices in scrumptious gravy cats enjoy
Packed with natural flavor enhancers
Contains amino acids for muscle support
Infused with vitamins and minerals
Canned for high moisture content
No by-product meals, corn, wheat or soy
No artificial flavors or preservatives

Flaked entrées offer a break from routine ground cat foods, adding appetizing texture and taste. The varieties include Chicken Entrée, Tuna Entrée, Chicken & Tuna Dinner, and Ocean Fish Dinner.

With over 2,000 glowing reviews, cat owners agree this is a go-to wet food even finicky felines love. The savory flavors and smooth gravy make it easy to add moisture and nutrition to any cat’s diet.

Give your cat irresistible mealtime variety with the protein-packed flakes and rich gravy of Blue Buffalo Tastefuls. Your kitty will be licking their bowl clean in no time!

2. Hill’s Science Diet Savory Salmon Wet Cat Food

If you want a delicious, nutrition-packed wet food, Hill’s Science Diet Savory Salmon is a fantastic choice. Made with high-quality salmon, it provides great taste and lean protein.

This canned cat food features tender cuts of salmon in a savory sauce cats love. The salmon delivers key amino acids to help maintain your adult cat’s muscles and activeness.

Benefits of Hill’s Science Diet Savory Salmon include:

Made with premium salmon as the first ingredient
Provides lean proteins for maintaining muscle
Sauce for enhanced taste and moisture
Supports immunity with vitamins C, E, and antioxidants
Formulated with highly digestible ingredients
Minced texture easy for cats to enjoy
Veterinarian recommended nutrition
Made in the USA with trusted ingredients

In addition to the salmon variety, Hill’s Science Diet wet foods come in recipes like Chicken & Beef, Tuna & Vegetable, and Chicken. All offer balanced nutrition in a mouthwatering format cats love.

With close to 4,000 happy customer reviews, Hill’s Science Diet Savory Salmon gets rave reviews for its great taste and high-quality nutrition. Cat owners say even picky eaters devour this food.

Give your grown cat a tasty meal that supports their health with Hill’s Science Diet Savory Salmon wet cat food. They’ll savor every bite while getting great protein!

3. Reveal Natural Limited Ingredient Wet Cat Food

Reveal Natural offers grain-free wet cat food made with a limited number of natural ingredients. It’s a great option for cats with food sensitivities.

Reveal Natural wet recipes feature real protein sources like chicken, trout, tuna, and turkey in delicious broths. They are crafted with just 7-9 key ingredients to reduce the risk of allergies.

Details on Reveal Natural Limited Ingredient Wet Cat Food:

Contains only natural ingredients, no artificial additives
Grain-free recipes with real meat first
No fillers, wheat, corn, soy, by-products
Made without artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Offered in a variety of textures and gravies
Flavors include Chicken, Trout, Tuna, and Turkey
Complementary food to mix with dry kibble
Comes in 2.47 oz convenient cans
Provides hydration along with nutrition

With simple recipes made from all-natural ingredients, Reveal Natural delivers quality nutrition in a format gentle for cats with sensitive digestion. The absence of common allergens like grain, by-products, and artificial additives makes it a good choice when switching foods or troubleshooting dietary issues.

Give your cat the benefits of grain-free, limited ingredient cat food with Reveal Natural. Your kitty will enjoy the delicious taste and easily digestible nutrition.

4. Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers Wet Cat Food

Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers offers a wide selection of flavorful, gravy-packed wet foods cats love. The recipes feature tender meat chunks in thick, mouthwatering gravy.

Gravy Lovers includes dozens of recipes in flavors like chicken, beef, turkey, salmon, and ocean fish. The recipes have a maximum 80% moisture content to provide hydration and prevent urinary tract issues.

Key details about Purina Fancy Feast Gravy Lovers:

Features real meat as first ingredient including chicken, beef, turkey, and fish
Thick, free-flowing gravy with irresistible taste
Chunky, shredded, or flaked meat textures
80% maximum moisture content
Comes in 3 oz. convenient cans
Variety of recipes for flavor diversity
Made in the USA with globally-sourced ingredients
No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives

With real meat first and carrying the AMVA (American Veterinary Medical Association) seal, Gravy Lovers delivers great nutrition. And cats adore the saucy, succulent recipes.

Provide your cat endless mealtime variety with the dozens of recipes from the Gravy Lovers line. The scrumptious gravy makes this wet food hard to resist!

5. Wellness Complete Health Grain Free Canned Cat Food

Wellness Complete Health Grain Free canned cat food provides protein-packed nutrition free of grains and fillers. With savory flavors like chicken, it’s a healthy wet food cats love.

Made with premium chicken, liver, and broth, this grain-free recipe delivers natural flavors and textures cats crave. It’s packed with protein and completely smooth for irresistible taste.

Key benefits of Wellness Grain-Free Canned Cat Food:

Starts with real chicken, turkey, and liver
Grain-free recipe with no corn, wheat or soy
Contains guar gum for digestive health
Infused with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
Provides hydration for urinary tract health
Smooth, pâté style caters to feline preferences
No carrageenan, artificial colors, or preservatives
Crafted by animal nutrition experts
Available in broths, stews, morsels and gravies
Broad range of flavors including Chicken & Turkey

With high-quality ingredients and strict quality standards, Wellness exceeds pet food industry norms when it comes to quality and safety. This grain-free recipe nourishes your cat completely.

Give your cat natural grain-free nutrition they’ll love with Wellness Complete Health canned cat food. The smooth pâté and real chicken will make it a favorite!

The 5 Best Dry Cat Foods

Dry cat food provides balanced nutrition in a budget-friendly, low-mess form that’s great for dental health. In this section, we’ll recommend the top 5 best dry cat foods tailored to different life stages and needs. Whether you have a senior cat, a kitten, or an adult feline, you’ll find the perfect dry food to nourish your cat.

1. Purina ONE Chicken and Rice Adult Dry Cat Food

Purina ONE Chicken and Rice is a protein-rich, flavorsome dry cat food that provides complete nutrition for adult cats. Made with real chicken as the number one ingredient, it delivers the taste and nutrition cats thrive on.

This recipe contains high-quality chicken and rice complemented by egg for a perfect protein blend. The crunchy kibble texture helps clean teeth and tartar while also satisfying cats’ instinct to crunch and bite.

Key benefits of Purina ONE Chicken and Rice include:

Features real chicken as the first ingredient
Contains egg and rice for additional protein
Crunchy kibble texture for dental health
Savory chicken and rice flavor cats love
Formulated with antioxidants for immunity
Omega fatty acids promote skin and coat health
Highly digestible recipe
Provides complete adult cat nutrition
Made in Purina-owned U.S. facilities

Purina ONE was created by expert pet nutritionists and veterinarians to provide tailored nutrition for a cat’s whole lifespan. The formulas are backed by over 1,700 science and nutrition studies.

This Chicken and Rice recipe is a top-seller with over 9,000 glowing customer reviews. Cat owners say it improves energy level, digestion, skin and coat condition. Even the pickiest cats seem to love mealtime with Purina ONE.

Give your adult cat a dry food that combines crunchy texture with delicious chicken flavor. The quality nutrition will help fuel their best energy and health.

2. Thrive PremiumPlus Chicken Adult Dry Cat Food

Thrive PremiumPlus Chicken dry cat food contains an exceptionally high amount of protein from fresh chicken to mirror a cat’s natural carnivorous diet. This grain-free recipe provides superb nutrition in a flavor cats adore.

With 90% chicken, thrive PremiumPlus Chicken boasts one of the highest meat contents of any dry cat food. Cats thrive on the taste and protein-packed nutrition.

Benefits of thrive PremiumPlus Chicken include:

Features 90% fresh chicken
One of the highest meat contents available
Grain-free recipe with no wheat or fillers
Contains pumpkin and sweet potato for fiber
Infused with salmon oil for omega fatty acids
Free of artificial additives, flavors, colors, and preservatives
Rich in natural antioxidants
Supports healthy skin, coat, muscles, and digestion
Suitable for adult cats of all breeds and sizes
Comes in convenient 1.5kg resealable bags

This revolutionary food mirrors a cat’s natural carnivorous tendencies. With simple wholesome ingredients and ultra-high chicken content, thrive PremiumPlus Chicken delivers nutrition cats crave and enjoy.

Feed your feline companion a protein-packed diet full of fresh chicken flavor. thrive PremiumPlus dry cat food will keep their muscles lean, skin lush, and coat shiny.

3. Go-Cat Chicken & Duck Adult Dry Cat Food

Go-Cat Chicken & Duck dry cat food provides a tasty combination of quality chicken and duck in a completely balanced diet. With dual animal proteins, it offers great nutrition and flavor.

Made with digestible chicken and duck protein, this recipe delivers essential amino acids to support your adult cat’s muscles and activity level. It also contains vitamins, minerals, and fiber for complete nutrition.

Key benefits of Go-Cat Chicken & Duck include:

Features real chicken and duck
Dual animal proteins for amino acids
Crunchy kibble texture for dental health
Supports healthy digestion with natural fiber
Fortified with vitamins and minerals
Contains DHA for brain and eye health
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Made in Go-Cat’s own manufacturing facilities
High customer satisfaction ratings
Available in 2kg and 12kg bags

Go-Cat procures all their quality ingredients from reputable sources to ensure safety and consistency. This Chicken & Duck recipe provides great nutrition and flavors cats naturally crave.

Give your adult cat a taste-tempting dry food that will nourish their complete health with Go-Cat Chicken & Duck. They’ll love the yummy chicken and duck flavors at every meal.

4. Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Tract Health

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Tract formula is a dry cat food designed to support urinary tract and kidney health. It contains nutrients to help manage various urinary conditions.

Formulated by veterinary nutritionists, this recipe contains controlled amounts of magnesium, protein, and phosphorus. It promotes a favorable urine pH and dissolves struvite stones.

Details on Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary include:

Helps prevent and dissolve struvite bladder stones
Supports urinary tract health
Reduces urinary pH
Contains fish oil for omega fatty acids
Antioxidant blend for immunity
Moderate calories to prevent obesity
Natural sources of glycosaminoglycans for bladder protection
Crunchy kibble for dental health
Available in 1.5kg and 5kg bags

While this food won’t replace prescription treatments, it can help maintain urinary tract health between vet visits. It’s not recommended for kittens, pregnant cats, or cats with kidney disease.

Give your cat specialized nutrition tailored for urinary health with Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR dry cat food. Your cat – and your vet – will thank you!

5. IAMS Pro-Active Health Senior Dry Cat Food

IAMS Pro-Active Health Senior is specifically formulated to meet the changing nutritional needs of mature cats aged 7 years and older. With chicken protein and tailored fiber, it provides energy and digestion support.

Made with real chicken, this senior cat food delivers high-quality protein to help maintain lean muscle mass. The recipe is enriched with antioxidants to nourish overall health and vitality.

Key benefits of IAMS Senior Chicken cat food include:

Features real chicken as first ingredient
Fortified with antioxidants
Taurine for heart and eye health
Natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin
Fibers to support digestion
Crunchy kibbles clean teeth
Low phosphorus and magnesium levels
Omega-3s nourish skin and coat
No artificial flavors or preservatives
Available in 3kg and 10kg bags

IAMS Senior formula is tailored for older cats’ changing nutritional requirements. Real chicken and thoughtfully selected nutrients provide daily health support.

Give your treasured senior cat specialized nutrition made for their needs with IAMS Proactive Health Senior. The right diet makes a huge difference in quality of life and longevity.

Choosing The Healthiest Cat Food

In case you do not want, can’t afford, or do not have access to any of the cat foods above here are some tis for selecting the healthiest cat food off the store shelves for your pet cat:

Check the Ingredients – Look for accurate protein sources like chicken, fish, or turkey as the first ingredients. Meat meals and by-products aren’t as nutritious. Also, ensure food contains enough taurine, an amino acid cats need. Avoid cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy.
Consider Your Cat’s Age – Kittens need extra calories and nutrients for growth and development. Senior cats do better with lower-calorie foods that are gentle on their digestive systems. Look for age-specific foods.
Compare Wet and Dry Foods- Wet food has more protein and moisture to help hydration. The canning process may remove some nutrients, though. Dry food is more affordable and better for dental health. Feeding some of each provides a much needed balance.
Look for Natural Formulas – Many cat foods contain artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. Natural and limited-ingredient foods are better options, especially for cats with sensitivities.
Ask Your Vet for Advice – They can help you select the right food for your cat based on health conditions, activity level, age, and more.

Reading labels and understanding your cat’s needs will guide you to better food choices. The proper diet fuels your cat’s best long-term health and happiness.

Transitioning Your Cat to a New Food

It is also important to know that switching your cat to a new food should be done gradually to avoid digestive upset (no matter the quality of the cat food). Here are some tips:

Mix a small amount of the new food in with your cat’s current food. Start with a 25/75 mix of new to old food.
Gradually increase the amount of new food over 2-3 weeks until you fully transition to 100% new food.
If your cat has any digestive issues like vomiting or diarrhea, slow the transition and consult your vet.
Try tempting your cat with extra-smelly wet food mixed in to increase acceptance.
Stick to a consistent feeding schedule rather than leaving food out all day.
If needed, skip a meal before switching foods to increase your cat’s appetite and acceptance.
Offer the same brand of wet and dry foods. This allows easy mixing during the transition.
Switch flavors within a brand more readily than switching brands entirely.

Going slowly, monitoring stool quality, and tempting with flavor will set your cat up for success. Be patient – your cat will transition to new food with time.

Conclusion

From high-protein natural recipes to veterinarian-formulated foods, there are many excellent wet and dry cat food options to suit your cat’s unique needs and preferences. Reading reviews, asking your vet, and understanding ingredients will guide you to make the best cat food choices.

The right diet fuels your cat’s health and happiness. By choosing quality wet and dry foods tailored for their age, activity level, and sensitivities, you can ensure your feline friend enjoys each and every meal to the fullest. Your cat brings you endless joy – give them the very best nutrition in return!