The Best Cat Food for Indoor Cats: Reviewed and Ranked

Written by Kristin Hitchcock
Updated: May 27, 2024
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Experts recommend that most cats stay indoors. This is safest for local wildlife, but it also helps ensure the safety of your cat. There are many dangers in the outside world that can harm your cat, such as cars and predators, including dogs, other cats, coyotes, and birds of prey.

However, indoor cats don’t always get the exercise they need. Plus, indoor cats may be more likely to graze, since their food is always available. For these reasons, you may want to consider purchasing food that’s especially formulated for indoor cats.

Not all indoor cat foods meet the nutritional profile that’s right for your cat. Our expertly researched review of the best cat foods for indoor cats below can help you choose the one that’s best for your indoor cat.

  1. Purina Beyond Simply Indoor Wild-Caught Salmon
    • Includes high protein levels.
    • Salmon, which includes omega-fatty acids that contribute to skin and fur health, is the first ingredient.
    • Salmon is better for some cats with food sensitivities.
    • Grain-free
    • Includes fewer calories and fat, making it optimal for indoor cats that get little exercise.

    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  2. Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Canned Cat Food
    • Wet food contains high moisture levels, which can help prevent UTIs and other health issues
    • Wet food keeps cats feeling fuller longer, so they snack less and eat fewer calories
    • The first two ingredients are chicken and chicken liver, for the lean protein your cat needs
    • This company uses chicken broth instead of water for a higher nutritional content
    • Grain-free
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  3. Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Kitten Chicken Grain-Free
    • Formulated to meet indoor kittens' unique nutritional needs
    • Contains high levels of essential nutrients, including DHA
    • Made with high levels of protein, including chicken and chicken liver
    • Free from grain, gluten, corn, wheat, and soy
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  4. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Senior Dry Cat Food
    • Combat hairballs
    • Fiber comes from natural sources
    • Grain-free
    • Primary protein is from animal sources
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  5. Blue Buffalo Hairball & Weight Control
    • Ideal for cats who struggle with hairballs
    • Made from natural fiber sources and protein blends
    • Contains only natural ingredients, plus antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
    • Contains no byproducts, artificial flavors or preservatives
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  6. ACANA Indoor Entrée Adult Dry Cat Food
    • Includes high levels of meat, starting with deboned chicken and chicken meal
    • Also includes herring, chicken fat, and deboned rabbit
    • Contains L-carnitine, which may help your cat maintain a healthy weight
    • EPA, DHA, taurine, and omega-fatty acids round out the nutritional profile
    • The only downside is the price, but you are paying for higher-quality ingredients
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  7. Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Adult Dry Cat Food
    • Includes relatively high levels of protein and nutrients despite its low price
    • Formulated specifically for indoor cats
    • Turkey is the first ingredient
    • Features a lower fat content, which helps felines maintain a healthy weight
    • Also includes high levels of fiber to prevent hairballs and promote healthy digestion
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  8. Solid Gold Let's Stay In Chicken, Lentil & Apple Grain-Free Indoor Cat
    • Formulated for active indoor cats
    • The recipe does not feature decreased fat or calories like many other foods for indoor cats
    • Includes high levels of fiber to prevent hairballs
    • Probiotic support regulates your cat's digestive system
    • Does not include soy, wheat, or corn
    Check Chewy Check Amazon

Top Picks: The Best Cat Food for Indoor Cats

#1 Best Overall: Purina Beyond Simply Indoor Wild-Caught Salmon

Purina Beyond Simply Indoor Wild-Caught Salmon is our choice for the #1 Best Overall dry cat food for indoor cats. For most cats, this formula by Purina is by far the best option available. It features incredibly high protein levels and salmon, which includes many omega fatty acids that are vital for your cat’s skin and coat, as the first ingredient.

Plus, many cats with food sensitivities do better on salmon than other animal proteins. This recipe also includes no grain and features only limited ingredients. For this reason, it is excellent for cats with sensitivities.

Because this formula is specifically designed for indoor cats, it includes fewer calories and fat than other recipes out there. In other words, this formula works best for cats who just lie around all day.

The majority of reviewers (94% of nearly 3,100) gave this product a positive rating. Negative reviews included comments from pet parents whose cats didn’t like this food and some from buyers whose cats experienced digestive issues after eating it.

Pros and Cons of Purina Beyond Simply Indoor Wild-Caught Salmon

ProsCons
This indoor cat food features high protein levels, including salmon as the first ingredient.Some cats didn’t like this food.
Salmon is rich in omega fatty acids that are vital for skin and coat health.Some cats experienced digestive issues after eating this food.
Many cats with food sensitivities do better on salmon than other protein sources.
This recipe is grain-free and features limited ingredients, so it’s ideal for cats with sensitivities.
It’s formulated with less calories and fat, so it’s perfect for cats that just lie around all day.
Best Overall
Purina Beyond Simply Indoor Wild-Caught Salmon
  • Includes high protein levels.
  • Salmon, which includes omega-fatty acids that contribute to skin and fur health, is the first ingredient.
  • Salmon is better for some cats with food sensitivities.
  • Grain-free
  • Includes fewer calories and fat, making it optimal for indoor cats that get little exercise.

Check Chewy Check Amazon

2. Best Wet Food: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Canned Cat Food

If your indoor cat prefers — or requires — wet food, we recommend Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Canned Cat Food.

Wet food works best for many cats. It includes high moisture levels, which can prevent UTIs and other common feline health issues. Plus, wet food helps keep cats fuller for longer, leading to less snacking and lower calorie consumption.

Chicken and chicken liver make up the first two ingredients in this food. These ingredients provide lean protein that your feline needs to thrive. This company uses chicken broth instead of water, with higher nutritional content. Plus, turkey and turkey broth are also included.

Despite having no grains, this food includes high amounts of peas. These veggies are high in protein, which is something to keep in mind when looking at the protein content of this food.

Eighty-five percent of Amazon reviewers gave this product a positive rating. Negative reviews came from pet parents who said their cats didn’t like this food or that it gave them diarrhea.

Pros and Cons of Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Canned Cat Food

ProsCons
The first two ingredients in this wet food are chicken and chicken liver for lean protein.Some cats didn’t like this food.
The formula includes chicken broth instead of water for a higher nutritional content.Some cats got diarrhea after eating this food.
Turkey and turkey broth are also included.
This food is grain-free.
It includes a high quantity of peas, which are high in protein.
Best Wet Food
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Indoor Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Canned Cat Food
  • Wet food contains high moisture levels, which can help prevent UTIs and other health issues
  • Wet food keeps cats feeling fuller longer, so they snack less and eat fewer calories
  • The first two ingredients are chicken and chicken liver, for the lean protein your cat needs
  • This company uses chicken broth instead of water for a higher nutritional content
  • Grain-free
Check Chewy Check Amazon

3. Best for Kittens: Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Kitten Chicken Recipe

Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Kitten Chicken Grain-Free Kittens provides the specialized nutrition indoor kittens require because they’re growing and developing. This recipe includes high levels of vital nutrients, including DHA and ARA, fatty acids that appear in mother’s milk, which support the development of cognitive and retinal function.

This grain-free food contains delicious deboned chicken and chicken meal, which contain high amounts of protein that your kitten needs to thrive, as the first two ingredients. The recipe also contains wholesome, natural sweet potatoes and carrots, blueberries, and cranberries. It’s enriched with BLUE’s exclusive LifeSource Bits, a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals your indoor kitten needs to thrive.

Furthermore, this food doesn’t contain grains, chicken (or poultry) by-products, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. Therefore, this food works for cats that have sensitivities to these problems.

The majority of reviewers (88%) left positive reviews. Some reviewers reported that their kittens got sick after eating this food. Others said that their kittens didn’t enjoy this food.

Pros and Cons of Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Kitten Chicken Recipe

ProsCons
This grain-free dry food for indoor kittens includes DHA and ARA, fatty acids that are found in mother’s milk, which support cognitive and retinal function development.Some kittens got sick after eating this food.
Deboned chicken and chicken meal are the first ingredients for the protein your kitten needs to grow and develop.Some kittens didn’t enjoy this food.
It also includes natural sweet potatoes and carrots, blueberries, and cranberries and LifeSource Bits, BLUE’s proprietary blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
It’s free from grains, chicken (or poultry) by-products, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Best for Kittens
Blue Buffalo Freedom Indoor Kitten Chicken Grain-Free
  • Formulated to meet indoor kittens' unique nutritional needs
  • Contains high levels of essential nutrients, including DHA
  • Made with high levels of protein, including chicken and chicken liver
  • Free from grain, gluten, corn, wheat, and soy
Check Chewy Check Amazon

4. Best for Seniors: Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Senior Dry Cat Food

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Senior Dry Cat Food is our choice for the best dry cat food for aging indoor cats. It contains high levels of taurine and antioxidants, which may help prevent some more common age-related diseases. For instance, taurine is vital for heart health, but many felines don’t get enough of it as they age.

This formula includes chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients. Therefore, this food mainly contains lean chicken, contributing to its high protein content. And it’s rich in omega-6 fatty acids to help your aging cat maintain skin and coat health.

We love that this food doesn’t contain any GMO ingredients. It’s also free from corn, wheat, soy protein, chicken by-product meal, artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors.

Over 3,000 Amazon customers reviewed this product, and 93% of those were positive. Several reviewers reported that their cats got sick after eating this food. Issues included vomiting, hairballs, and possible allergic reactions. A few pet parents said that their cats didn’t like this food.

Pros and Cons of Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Senior Dry Cat Food

ProsCons
This cat food for aging indoor cats contains high levels of taurine and antioxidants to help prevent some common age-related diseases.Some cats got sick after eating this food.
Chicken and chicken meal are the first two ingredients in this high-protein food.Some cats didn’t enjoy this food.
Omega-6 fatty acids help maintain skin and coat health.
It’s free from GMO ingredients, corn, wheat, soy protein, chicken by-product meal, artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors.
Best for Seniors
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Senior Dry Cat Food
  • Contains high levels of taurine and antioxidants, which may help prevent some age-related illnesses
  • The first two ingredients are chicken and chicken meal
  • This high-protein formula does not include any GMO ingredients
  • Nutro sources ingredients only from trusted suppliers, which reduces the chance of recalls
Check Chewy Check Amazon

5. Best for Hairballs: Blue Buffalo Hairball & Weight Control

Blue Buffalo Hairball & Weight Control is one of the best dry cat foods for indoor cats. It can help get rid of felines’ hairballs, whether they’re indoor or cats. Plus, it helps cats attain and maintain their optimal body weight.

It features deboned chicken as the first ingredient, providing high levels of lean protein. To prevent hairballs and promote weight loss, this formula features high quantities of fiber, including psyllium seed husks and cellulose. Omega fatty acids are included as well, to improve skin and coat health.

Like all Blue Buffalo recipes, this formula includes LifeSource Bits. These small kibbles include a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to help your feline stay healthy.

Out of 8,000+ Amazon customer reviews, 93% were positive. Negative reviews included cats that wouldn’t eat this food, some that continued to have hairballs, and others that vomited after eating this food.

Pros and Cons of Blue Buffalo Hairball & Weight Control

ProsCons
This recipe is formulated to promote weight loss and control hairballs.Some cats didn’t like this food.
It features high quantities of fiber from psyllium seed husks and cellulose.Some felines continued to develop hairballs.
Omega fatty acids are included to improve skin and coat health.Others vomited after eating this food.
The recipe includes BLUE’s proprietary LifeSource Bits, small kibbles that include a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Best for Hairballs
Blue Buffalo Hairball & Weight Control
  • Ideal for cats who struggle with hairballs
  • Made from natural fiber sources and protein blends
  • Contains only natural ingredients, plus antioxidants, vitamins and minerals
  • Contains no byproducts, artificial flavors or preservatives
Check Chewy Check Amazon

6. Best Premium Choice: ACANA Indoor Entrée Adult Dry Cat Food

ACANA Indoor Entrée Adult Dry Cat Food is our choice for the best premium dry food for indoor cats. It includes high levels of meat, starting with deboned chicken and chicken meal. Herring and deboned rabbit are also included, which raise the protein content even higher. You’ll find far more meat in this recipe than in others, which is largely why it is so expensive.

This food contains high levels of nutrients that may improve your cat’s health. For instance, this formula includes L-carnitine, which may help your feline maintain a healthy weight. EPA, DHA, and taurine are also included.

We love the inclusion of omega fatty acids. These fatty acids help maintain skin and coat health.

The only major downside of this food is the price. However, this food contains high levels of protein and animal meats. You’re paying for the higher quality ingredients.

Eighty-nine percent of 2,300 Amazon reviewers gave this product a high rating. Negative reviews were left by pet parents who said that their cats wouldn’t eat this recipe or that they vomited after eating it.

Pros and Cons of ACANA Indoor Entrée Adult Dry Cat Food

ProsCons
This premium dry food for indoor cats includes high levels of protein from chicken, chicken meal, herring, and deboned rabbit.This recipe is costly.
L-carnitine may help your cat maintain a healthy weight.Some cats won’t eat this food.
EPA, DHA, and taurine are also included.Some cats vomited after eating this food.
Omega fatty acids help maintain skin and coat health.
Best Premium Choice
ACANA Indoor Entrée Adult Dry Cat Food
  • Includes high levels of meat, starting with deboned chicken and chicken meal
  • Also includes herring, chicken fat, and deboned rabbit
  • Contains L-carnitine, which may help your cat maintain a healthy weight
  • EPA, DHA, taurine, and omega-fatty acids round out the nutritional profile
  • The only downside is the price, but you are paying for higher-quality ingredients
Check Chewy Check Amazon

7. Best Budget Option: Purina ONE Indoor Advantage

Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Adult Dry Cat Food is our choice for the best budget option for indoor cats. Even though it’s low-cost, it includes relatively high levels of protein and nutrients. Therefore, while this food does cost less, it remains high-quality and is a suitable option for most cats.

Purina created this formula specifically for indoor cats. With turkey as the first ingredient, it features high levels of lean protein. It features a lower fat content, which helps felines maintain a healthy weight. Plus, this formula includes high levels of fiber, preventing hairballs, and regulating your cat’s digestion. And it’s free from artificial flavors and preservatives.

Out of almost 20,000 Amazon customer reviews, a whopping 95% were positive. Customers who left negative reviews said that their cats wouldn’t eat this food or that they vomited after eating it.

Pros and Cons of Purina ONE Indoor Advantage

ProsCons
This budget dry food for indoor cats features relatively high levels of protein and nutrients.Some cats didn’t like this food.
Turkey is the first ingredient for high levels of lean protein.Some cats vomited after eating this food.
It includes a lower fat content to help cats maintain a healthy weight.
High levels of fiber help prevent hairballs and regulate digestion.
It’s free from artificial flavors and preservatives.
Best Budget
Purina ONE Indoor Advantage Adult Dry Cat Food
  • Includes relatively high levels of protein and nutrients despite its low price
  • Formulated specifically for indoor cats
  • Turkey is the first ingredient
  • Features a lower fat content, which helps felines maintain a healthy weight
  • Also includes high levels of fiber to prevent hairballs and promote healthy digestion
Check Chewy Check Amazon

8. Best for High-Energy Cats: Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Chicken Dry Cat Food

Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Chicken Dry Cat Food is the purr-fect food for indoor cats that are active and playful. While it is specifically designed for indoor cats, it does not feature decreased fat or calories as other indoor formulas do.

It includes high levels of fiber, preventing hairballs. Plus, probiotic support regulates your cat’s digestive system and may help cats with mild digestion problems. Many cats do very well on probiotics, though it is difficult to find a food that contains them.

This food doesn’t contain any controversial ingredients, like soy, wheat, and corn. Instead, the formula relies heavily on chicken and turkey meal. Quick sources of energy like lentils and peas are also included.

Out of nearly 2,100 Amazon customer reviews, 90% were positive. Negative reviews indicated that some cats didn’t like it and that some got sick after eating it (vomiting).

Pros and Cons of Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Chicken Dry Cat Food

ProsCons
This recipe was created for indoor cats that are active and playful.Some cats wouldn’t eat it.
Unlike other indoor cat recipes, it doesn’t feature decreased fat or calories.Some cats vomited after eating it.
High levels of fiber help prevent hairballs.
Probiotics help cats with mild digestive issues.
It’s free from soy, wheat, and corn.
Chicken and turkey meal provide protein while lentils and peas provide quick energy.
Best for High-Energy Cats
Solid Gold Let's Stay In Chicken, Lentil & Apple Grain-Free Indoor Cat
  • Formulated for active indoor cats
  • The recipe does not feature decreased fat or calories like many other foods for indoor cats
  • Includes high levels of fiber to prevent hairballs
  • Probiotic support regulates your cat's digestive system
  • Does not include soy, wheat, or corn
Check Chewy Check Amazon

Choosing the Best: What to Look For

You need to consider many things when choosing indoor cat food. None of these formulas are made the same, so not all of them will work for your cat. Nutrition, calorie content, life stage, price, and brand are vital components to consider.

Let’s take a look at each of these factors in turn.

Nutrition

Cats need precise nutrition to thrive. As obligate carnivores, they require quite a bit of meat that’s high in protein and amino acids to survive. Many nutrients they need are only available in meat, such as taurine. Therefore, high-meat cat foods are typically best.

Of course, the type of protein also matters. All protein sources should be named. “Chicken” and “beef” are great, but “meat” isn’t a meaningful label.

Calorie Content

Indoor cats typically move less than outdoor cats. For this reason, they usually have problems with excessive weight gain. Many indoor formulas contain fewer calories for this reason.

However, this is not true for all indoor cats. Some indoor cats remain very active and need higher amounts of calories. Therefore, you’ll need to choose an indoor formula without lower calories in this case.

Life Stage

Cats don’t need the same nutrition all the time. Kittens require different nutrients than adults simply because they’re growing. As you’d imagine, a cat’s nutritional needs change over time. Therefore, you may have to change their food as they age.

If your cat is still growing, choose a kitten formula. Adult cats need an adult formula, while older cats may benefit from senior cat food. However, not all cats require senior food, mainly depending on their current health.

Price

The price of different cat foods varies widely. You can find cat food for as little as $3 a pound and some that costs $20 a pound. Luckily, most cats do great with food that costs somewhere in the middle.

You don’t want the cheapest food out there (it’s cheap for a reason). However, you do need to keep your budget in mind. There are some quality budget options, like the one we mentioned in our reviews above.

Brand

Before purchasing any foods, be sure to research the brand. Most cat owners don’t know anything about different brands beyond their advertising. Don’t let this be you. A particular food may look perfect, but the brand itself may send up red flags.

For instance, some brands tend to use lower-quality ingredients or source from sketchy suppliers. Some even source their ingredients from countries like China. Furthermore, some brands experience more recalls, which makes them less safe.

The Different Types of Indoor Cat Food: Pros and Cons Compared

Before choosing food for your cat, you should decide on the best type of food for your cat. There are several options on the market, including dry food, wet food, raw food, veterinary diets, and freeze-fried foods. Since we only included the most popular choices, dry and wet, we’ll only present pros and cons for these two types.

  • Dry food — In many cases, dry food remains the most popular option for cats. When you purchase food, most of your options are usually dry food.
  • Wet food — While not as popular as dry food, wet food contains more moisture, making it a more suitable option for many cats.

Dry Food

ProsCons
AffordableLow water content
Allows for free-feedingOften contains less protein
Widely Available
Many different options are available.
Longer shelf life

Wet Food

ProsCons
Higher water contentMore expensive than dry food
Usually contains more proteinIt takes up more space in storage
Often low in fillersIt doesn’t allow for free-feeding
Long shelf life before opening
Appeases picky eaters
Suitable for cats with dental problems

Verified Review: User Experience

Indoor cat food typically corrects several problems that are common in indoor cats. For instance, indoor cats gain excessive weight and produce lots of hairballs.

For this reason, many indoor cat foods have high fiber to prevent hairballs and lower calories from preventing weight gain. Many customers reported that they worked great in these regards.

Customers mainly reported that Nutro seemed easiest on their cat’s stomachs. One reported that it was the only food their cats could keep down. Therefore, this option is an excellent option for cats with sensitive stomachs.

Many cat owners loved the Purina Beyond cat food, as it is high in nutrients. However, some reported that it was a bit too big for their cat’s mouth. If you have smaller cats, this may be something to consider.

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About the Author

Kristin is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering dogs, cats, fish, and other pets. She has been an animal writer for seven years, writing for top publications on everything from chinchilla cancer to the rise of designer dogs. She currently lives in Tennessee with her cat, dogs, and two children. When she isn't writing about pets, she enjoys hiking and crocheting.

The Best Cat Food for Indoor Cats: Reviewed and Ranked FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

How can I tell if a cat food has been recalled?

As of February 1, 2023, none of the foods featured in this review have been recalled according to the Food & Drug Administration’s Recalls & Withdrawals website.

What will happen if I feed regular cat food to my indoor cat?

Typically, indoor cats aren’t as active as those that go outdoors. This inactivity can lead to obesity. That’s why most indoor cat food contains less fat and calories.

 

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.