The healthiest dry cat foods from top brands

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A healthy, nutritious barren nutrient tin meet your cat's macromolecule needs while besides being much convenient and affordable than canned food. The champion barren feline foods are rich | successful animal proteins because cats are obligate carnivores, which intends they chiefly eat nutrient and must get basal amino acids, for illustration taurine, from animal macromolecule sources. That said, nan sheer number of kibble formulas tin make it reliable to prime a circumstantial marque and look for your pet.

To urge nan champion barren nutrient for kittens, big cats, and seniors, we evaluated hundreds of recipes to find foods that meet respective nutritional standards that veterinarians recommend. One of our apical picks for big cats is Wellness Complete Health Salmon and Salmon Meal Recipe. It has a patient equilibrium of macromolecule and fat, positive omega fatty acids to trim inflammation and support skin, coat, and encephalon health.

In summation to making our selections based connected master advice, we made judge each look meets nan Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards for complete and balanced feline nutrient and nan Global Nutrition Guidelines from nan World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).

Highlights for nan champion barren feline foods

Best overall: Wellness Complete Health Salmon and Salmon Meal - See astatine Chewy

Best budget: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Salmon and Brown Rice - See astatine Chewy

Best for indoor cats: Farmina Natural and Delicious Adult Chicken and Pomegranate - See astatine Chewy

Best for delicate stomachs: Purina One +Plus Sensitive Skin and Stomach - See astatine Chewy

Best for elder cats: Hill's Science Diet Adult 11+ Chicken - See astatine Chewy

Best for kittens: Wellness Complete Health Kitten Chicken and Chicken Meal - See astatine Chewy

Best for hairball control: Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care - See astatine Chewy

Best overall

Merrick, Wellness, and Purina make nutritionally complete and balanced barren nutrient for cats. Chewy; Purina/Business Insider

The best feline foods meet nan AAFCO minimum nutrient standards for maturation (kittens), attraction (adult cats), aliases both. This ensures nan nutrient contains capable animal macromolecule and different nutrients for your cat's life stage. 

According to nan AAFCO standards, nutrient meant for kittens aliases cats astatine each life stages must person a minimum of 30% macromolecule and 9% fat. Food meant for big cats is branded "maintenance" aliases "for each life stages" and must person a minimum of 26% macromolecule and 9% fat connected a dry matter basis, which is calculated aft moisture is removed. The biggest quality betwixt barren and bedewed nutrient comes down to moisture content. The best bedewed feline food recipes typically incorporate 75% to 78% moisture, while barren nutrient contains only 10% to 12% moisture.  

Our picks beneath for nan champion barren feline foods meet our criteria for value nutrient for big cats. While they costs somewhat much than our fund picks, they're packed pinch ingredients for illustration deboned chicken, salmon, and beef fat. 

Best budget

Affordable barren foods from Blue Buffalo, Nutro, and Rachael Ray Nutrish are awesome options for your cat. Chewy; Rachael Ray Nutrish/Business Insider

The value of a pet nutrient doesn't needfully bespeak its nutritional worth aliases quality, says Dr. Korinn Saker, a board-certified veterinarian and subordinate professor of objective nutrition astatine the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

To put it simply, value nutrient doesn't person to costs a bundle. Any pet nutrient pinch a nutritional adequacy connection connected nan explanation aliases packaging will meet nan minimum nutritional requirements of your pet. When it comes to cats, Saker says value intends that macromolecule is nan number 1 ingredient, particularly for increasing kittens and progressive adults. When animal macromolecule is nan first ingredient, that macromolecule root will meet astir of a cat's basal amino acerb needs.

Our picks for nan champion barren feline foods connected a fund person an animal-based macromolecule arsenic nan first ingredient. Plus, they're supplemented pinch vitamins and minerals for illustration omega fatty acids and antioxidants to beforehand amended wide wellness for your cat.

Best for indoor cats

Merrick, Farmina, and Natural Balance barren foods tin thief indoor cats support a patient weight. Chewy; Amazon/Business Insider

Indoor cats love to sleep. Even erstwhile they person feline trees, perches, and workout wheels, they thin to beryllium little progressive and whitethorn person a slower metabolism than their outdoor counterparts, which could time off them much apt to summation excess weight complete time. In fact, investigation suggests up to 63% of pet cats whitethorn beryllium overweight aliases obese. 

During wellness exams, your veterinarian uses a 9-point standard called nan Body Condition Score (BCS) to measure your cat's assemblage fat based connected observations of their ribs, belly, and hips. The standard ranges from emaciated (1) to obese (9), pinch a people of 5 representing an perfect weight, aliases assemblage score. Knowing your cat's BCS tin thief you and your veterinarian find their perfect weight and nan number of calories they request to execute aliases support it.

When purchasing nutrient for your pet, see nan calorie magnitude per cup and only service your feline nan correct magnitude for their individual needs. Your vet tin ever connection much guidance connected regular feeding if you're unsure. Our low-calorie picks for nan best indoor feline foods are packed pinch beneficial ingredients for indoor cats, specified arsenic soluble and insoluble fibre sources which support your feline emotion fuller for longer.

Best for delicate stomachs

Cats pinch delicate stomachs whitethorn find alleviation pinch these recipes from Blue Buffalo, Hill's, and Purina. Chewy; Hill's; Purina/Business Insider

Sensitive tummy feline nutrient formulas whitethorn beryllium a bully prime if your feline friend shows signs of a nutrient intolerance, including diarrhea and vomiting aliases gas. The best delicate tummy feline food typically contains highly digestible protein, omega fatty acids to trim inflammation, and digestive immunodeficiency for illustration prebiotics and probiotics. 

Just support successful mind it's ever champion to talk to your vet earlier switching to a caller food. Also statement that a nutrient intolerance is different from a nutrient allergy. A feline pinch a nutrient allergy whitethorn show different signs, for illustration itchy tegument and receptor infections, successful summation to vomiting aliases diarrhea. The quality betwixt a nutrient allergy and intolerance lies successful this immune strategy response, Saker says. 

If you fishy your feline whitethorn person an allergy, fto your vet know. They'll apt urge starting a medicine diet.

Best for elder cats

Nutro, Purina, and Hill's elder diets are fantabulous choices for older cats. Chewy; Purina; Hill's/Business Insider

When cats statesman to show signs of aging (beginning astatine 7 years old) and scope their senior years astir property 12, their activity level and metabolism statesman to slow. So, you mightiness see offering 1 of our picks for nan best nutrient for elder cats pinch less calories and little fat. This move tin use your cat's health, since high-fat diets could lead to weight summation and obesity-related diseases successful elder cats pinch debased activity levels, Saker says. 

When choosing 1 of nan champion barren feline foods for seniors, it's important to support successful mind that nan AAFCO doesn't group immoderate circumstantial nutritional recommendations for elder feline foods, says Dr. Jennifer Larsen, a board-certified veterinarian and professor of objective nutrition astatine the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Senior feline foods pinch an AAFCO nutritional adequacy connection will meet nan minimum nutrient, vitamin, and mineral requirements for big and elder cats. However, nan calories, fats, proteins, and fibers successful senior-specific formulas whitethorn alteration from marque to brand. That's why it's a bully thought to cheque each formula's calorie contented and inquire your vet for much guidance astir your cat's regular calorie needs. 

Dr. Deb Zoran, a board-certified mini animal internist, nutritionist, and professor of mini animal objective sciences astatine nan Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, says she likes to rotate Nutro into her cats' nutrient lineup, arsenic their elder fare nutrient has less calories than astir big formulas but doesn't skimp connected protein. As portion of our elder fare picks, we've included nutrient pinch antioxidants, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and beta-carotene. These ingredients whitethorn thief trim inflammation, boost your cat's cognitive function, and support their immune system.

Best for kittens

Iams, Hill's, and Purina make enticing, nutritious nutrient for kittens. Chewy; Hill's/Business Insider

If your feline is little than a twelvemonth old, opt for 1 of nan best kitten foods aliases nutrient branded "for each life stages." Foods branded for each life stages are formulated to meet nan minimum requirements for nutrients needed for growth, for illustration protein, calcium, phosphorus, and fat. These foods will transcend nan minimum requirements for an big cat's nutritional needs, Saker says.

But foods specially formulated for increasing kittens whitethorn beryllium a amended choice. Not only is nan smaller kibble amended suited to mini mouths, kitten nutrient has higher minimum percentages of these basal nutrients. It besides has docosahexaenoic acerb (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acerb that helps support nan maturation of your kitten's brain. Good sources of DHA see fish, food oil, and food meal.

You tin thief your kitten research a assortment of foods by rotating your action of brands, flavors, and textures. According to Zoran, this encourages kittens to beryllium much food-flexible passim their lives. Zoran says this doesn't mean your kitten should eat brand-new nutrient each day. Instead, rotate foods each 2 weeks aliases so. You tin gradually modulation to a caller nutrient by adding a small much of nan caller nutrient each day. If your kitten doesn't look to for illustration nan caller nutrient aliases shows signs of an upset stomach, you tin slow nan modulation aliases move backmost to nan erstwhile food.

Best for hairball control

High-fiber foods from Nutro, Royal Canin, and Iams are nan champion barren feline foods for preventing hairballs. Amazon; Chewy/Business Insider

Hairballs shape erstwhile cats groom themselves aliases each other, 2 earthy and patient behaviors. Small amounts of hairsbreadth tin walk done your cat's strategy and time off their assemblage arsenic waste. But if cats devour excessively overmuch hair, this excess could extremity up connected your carpet arsenic a hairball — aliases worse, go stuck wrong your cat's digestive tract and origin an obstruction.

A alteration successful fare and nan best hairball remedies for cats shouldn't switch brushing your cat, but high-fiber feline nutrient tin thief hairsbreadth move done nan digestive system, says Larsen. "The extremity is to usage fibre to propulsion nan hairsbreadth on nan gastrointestinal tract truthful it's defecated alternatively than balling up successful nan stomach," she says. Some cardinal ingredients that thief beforehand this activity see atom hull, pea fiber, and cellulose. 

Plus, Larsen says there's different use to fiber-rich diets for cats. High-fiber recipes tin support cats emotion fuller for longer while reducing their calorie intake. So, you mightiness see a fare pinch much fibre if your vet recommends weight nonaccomplishment for your cat. Our picks for nan best hairball feline food incorporate other fibre arsenic good arsenic omega fatty acids. 

What to look for successful barren feline foods

When choosing 1 of nan champion barren feline foods for your kitten, adult, aliases elder cat, you'll want to see nan pursuing criteria:

AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement: The astir basal measurement of nutritionally complete feline nutrient is an AAFCO connection connected nan label. AAFCO is simply a nonprofit statement that defines nan modular nutritional requirements for pet nutrient and animal feed. Food pinch an AAFCO connection for maturation aliases each life stages is guaranteed to beryllium complete and balanced for kittens, while nutrient pinch an AAFCO connection for attraction aliases each life stages is guaranteed to beryllium complete and balanced for big cats.

Guaranteed study and nutrient profiles: The guaranteed study consists of nan percentages of protein, fat, and different important nutrients successful a food. Food for kittens should person a minimum of 30% macromolecule and 9% fat, and nutrient for big cats should person a minimum of 26% macromolecule and 9% fat. Food for cats of immoderate property should besides incorporate different basal nutrients, including amino acids for illustration taurine, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins.

To comparison nan nutrients successful bedewed nutrient to those successful barren food, person nan percentages of fat, protein, and fibre successful bedewed nutrient to a "dry matter basis." You tin usage these directions from nan Tufts University Cummings Veterinary Medical Center, telephone nan nutrient manufacturer, aliases inquire your vet for help.

Key ingredients: The ingredients connected a pet nutrient explanation look successful bid of weight. Because cats are obligate carnivores, proteins successful nan shape of full nutrient aliases nutrient repast should travel first connected nan ingredients list.

Expert formulations: For this guide, we prioritized brands pinch a dedicated nutrition master connected staff, which aligns pinch nan World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines and our experts' guidance. We besides opted for brands progressive successful investigation connected mini animal nutrition, arsenic good arsenic brands that collaborate pinch universities and colleges.  

Manufacturing standards: When selecting a feline nutrient brand, see a manufacturer's value power measures and nan types of accommodation they use. For instance, manufacturers that ain their plants person much power complete nan ingredients successful nan look and nan nutrient your feline consumes. Just support successful mind that it's not capable for a marque to opportunity they behaviour value control. Pet nutrient companies should besides supply accusation astir their value power practices connected their website aliases upon request. 

Calorie content: The calorie contented of feline nutrient is listed successful kilocalories (kcals). Your feline will person different calorie needs, depending connected their property and activity level. Kittens turn quickly successful their first year, and each that maturation requires plentifulness of energy. Therefore, kittens should eat multiple meals per time without calorie restrictions. As your kitten approaches 9 to 12 months of age, talk to your vet astir their perfect assemblage condition, weight, and caloric needs.

Once cats scope their big years, nan magnitude of nutrient they should eat depends connected their weight, power level, breed, and wide health. Your vet tin connection much elaborate and personalized guidance astir really galore calories your feline requires per day.

How we selected nan champion barren feline foods

To make our recommendations for nan champion barren feline foods, we consulted 3 veterinary nutritionists.

Dr. Deb Zoran is simply a board-certified mini animal internist, nutritionist, and professor of mini animal objective sciences astatine nan School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Zoran's expertise helped america amended understand feline nutrition and value food. She besides shared her individual feeding preferences, which whitethorn not correspond circumstantial endorsements shared by Texas A&M University.

Dr. Jennifer Larsen is simply a board-certified veterinarian, distinguished personnel of nan American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and a professor of objective nutrition astatine nan School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Larsen's expertise helped america amended understand elder feline nutrition and nan domiciled of high-fiber diets successful feline nutrition and well-being.

Dr. Korinn Saker is simply a board-certified veterinarian, distinguished personnel of nan American College of Veterinary Nutrition, and a professor of objective nutrition astatine nan College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University. Saker's expertise helped amended our knowing of feline nutrient intolerance and sensitivities, arsenic good arsenic an indoor cat's metabolic needs.

We besides consulted guidelines and recommendations from different organizations, including AAFCO and nan WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines.

Dry feline nutrient FAQs

What are nan benefits of barren feline food?

Dry nutrient is simply a celebrated prime for its affordability, convenience, and easiness of storage. "There is simply a small magnitude of evidence that some, very fewer and specific barren feline foods may person immoderate oral wellness and dental benefits," says Dr. Bruce Kornreich, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and head of nan Cornell Feline Health Center astatine Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. "But nan astir important point that feline owners tin do to support their cat's oral wellness is to brushwood their cat's teeth," he says.

Which barren feline nutrient marque is nan healthiest?

To guarantee you're purchasing value nutrient for your cat, Zoran recommends first checking nan explanation for nan AAFCO statement. That way, you'll cognize nan look meets your cat's nutritional needs. Then, you mightiness see different marque attributes, including whether their nutrient has ever been recalled, if they employment board-certified nutritionists, and whether they participate successful investigation studies. If a institution is reputable, you tin mostly spot what they people connected nan label, according to Zoran. 

What is nan champion barren nutrient to springiness a cat?

There's not a cleanable barren nutrient prime that fits each feline aliases kitten. Instead, inquire your veterinarian for nutrient recommendations tailored to your pet. They whitethorn beryllium capable to propose immoderate options that meet your cat's circumstantial nutritional and calorie needs, based connected their age, assemblage condition, and wide health.  

Is it OK to provender cats barren nutrient only?

Zoran recommends feeding cats a operation of barren and bedewed nutrient from different brands starting astatine a young age. This encourages nutrient elasticity successful cats and tin forestall them from becoming picky eaters — which whitethorn beryllium peculiarly adjuvant erstwhile their preferred nutrient is unavailable, recipes change, aliases they require a medicine diet.

Do vets urge barren aliases bedewed nutrient for cats?

Both canned and barren nutrient choices tin meet nan nutritional needs of cats and kittens, arsenic agelong arsenic they're branded pinch nan AAFCO connection for your cat's circumstantial life stage. The perfect nutrient for your feline mostly depends connected your budget, on pinch their wide wellness and nutrient preferences. However, to forestall finicky tastes and nutrient inflexibility, Zoran recommends rotating textures, proteins, and brands from a young age.

Should I time off barren nutrient retired for my feline each day?

Zoran doesn't urge free-feeding cats. "It is exceptionally difficult to modulate a cat's weight and due magnitude of nutrient by free-choice feeding," she says. Instead, information their nutrient into 2 to 3 mini meals a day. If you're not judge really overmuch to provender your cat, you tin inquire your vet for much circumstantial guidance based connected your cat's age, perfect weight, and wide health.