The Best Cat Foods (Kitten, Adult, Senior)

As a cat parent, you probably know that your cat’s nutritional requirements will change as your cat moves from one life stage to the next: kitten, adult, and senior. As a result, finding the best food for your cat could be a bit challenging.

One important thing to keep in mind is that cats are obligate carnivores. This means that they cannot survive without protein. Your cat must have protein in its diet. That’s why some of the best cat foods have a high protein content.

There are also some important nutrients that a cat needs that it cannot produce in its body. These nutrients also have to be a part of their food. Some of these include certain amino acids like taurine and arginine and vitamins, including A, B, and D3 .

In order to make your search for the best cat food, we conducted extensive research and reviewed the best foods for cats at every stage of their life. So, without further ado, let’s help you find the right food for your feline friend!

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Cat Foods (Kitten, Adult, Senior)

#1 Best Overall: CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food

CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Cat Food is our best overall cat food in this review. This high-protein(40%) formula is specially formulated for indoor cats and features protein from chicken and salmon. The first ingredient is real chicken for the flavor your cat loves and the protein they need to develop and maintain muscle.

This grain-free recipe includes quality carbohydrate sources from non-grain sources for energy. It also includes essential nutrients to aid digestion and support your cat’s immune system health.

CRAVE dry cat foods contain no grain, corn, wheat, or soy protein.

Some pet parents reported that their cats didn’t like this food. Others said that the kibble was too large.

Pros and Cons of CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food

Best Overall

Crave with Protein from Chicken Adult Grain-Free

• Features high-quality protein from chicken and salmon
• Meat is the #1 ingredient
• Grain-free
• Includes essential nutrients for building muscle, aiding healthy digestion, and immune system support
• Does not include chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy

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2. Best Budget: Purina Complete Dry Cat Food

We love how Purina Complete Cat Food manages to stay inexpensive while providing your cat with the best ingredients. This high-protein cat food delivers 100% complete, balanced nutrition starting with chicken by-product meal to support strong muscles. This recipe also includes healthy carbs that your cat requires for energy and omega-6 fatty acids to keep your cat looking and feeling its best.

The recipe is enhanced with 25 essential vitamins and minerals to support your feline friend’s overall health.

This formula includes several grains, including corn, whole grain wheat, and rice, so if your cat requires a grain-free option, please select a different one from our list.

Reviews for this product were overwhelmingly positive, but a couple of reviewers said that their cats got sick after eating it.

Pros and Cons of Purina Complete Dry Cat Food

Best Budget

Purina Cat Chow Complete Dry Cat Food

• This high-quality cat food is budget-friendly
• Rich in protein from chicken and fish sources
• It contains 25 vitamins and minerals, plus essential nutrients, including fatty acids and taurine
• It helps to build strong muscles
• Features healthy carbs for energy

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3. Best Premium: American Journey Grain-Free Cat Food

While it’s a bit more pricey than other recipes in our review, American Journey Grain-Free Cat Food (a Chewy brand) is packed full of the protein your cat needs. Boasting about 40% protein content, the first three ingredients of this food are deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. This premium cat food also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and a glossy coat. Other nutrients include calcium to support strong bones and taurine to support eye and heart health.

This recipe provides a precise blend of antioxidants and nutrient-rich veggies and fruits such as carrots and pumpkin. And what it doesn’t include is just as important as what it does; it’s completely free from wheat, corn, soy, poultry by-product meals, artificial colors, artificial flavors, and artificial preservatives. It was, however, processed in a facility that processes grains, so trace amounts may be present. If your cat is sensitive or allergic to grains, you may want to choose another recipe from our list.

According to reviews, while most cats liked this food, some did not. And some felines experienced health issues, most commonly vomiting, after eating it.

Pros and Cons of American Journey Grain-Free Cat Food

Best Premium

American Journey Turkey & Chicken Grain-Free

• This food is pricier than some others, but it's packed with protein that cats need
• The protein content is 40%
• The first three ingredient are turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal
• Fortified with essential fatty acids, calcium, taurine, and phosphorus.
• Also includes wholesome fruits and vegetables

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4. Best for Seniors: Sheba Perfect Portions Cat Food

Sheba Perfect Portions Cat Food features paté-style wet food in twin-pack trays. This variety pack includes three flavors that cat adore: chicken, turkey, and beef. The food trays are easy to use: just snap, peel, and serve. You don’t even need a food bowl!

These delicious recipes are made without grains, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives. And they’re appropriate for cats in every stage of life: kitten, adult, and senior. The first ingredient is chicken for the protein your cat needs at every age. Water is the second ingredient to provide essential hydration, which senior cats often don’t get from drinking water.

A few reviewers said that the trays were difficult to open and were messy.

Pros and Cons of Sheba Perfect Portions Cat Food

Best for Seniors

Sheba Perfect Portions Grain-Free Multipack

• This wet formula in convenient single-serving portions
• Contains chicken and poultry liver
• Includes fewer carbohydrates, which makes it perfect for adult cats
• High moisture content helps keep your kitty hydrated
• Does not contain grains, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives

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5. Best for Kittens: Royal Canin Kitten Slices in Gravy

This veterinarian-recommended food is specially formulated for kittens up to 12 months old. It provides complete and balanced nutrition for kittens in a gravy food featuring small, thin slices that are tailor-made for tiny kitten mouths.

It provides immune system support with a blend of antioxidants, including vitamin E. High-quality protein and prebiotics support digestive health and helps balance intestinal flora for optimal stool quality. And the formula supports the high-energy needs of kittens during their intense one-year growth period.

The main complaint from customers was that this kitten food is too expensive.

Pros and Cons of Royal Canin Kitten Slices in Gravy

Best for Kittens

Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food, 3-oz, case of 24

• Contains thin slices of meat in gravy
• Best for kittens between 4 to 12 months
• Added fish oil for omega fatty acids
• Good for healthy digestion

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Choosing the Best Cat Foods: What to Look For

When selecting the best food for your cat, there are many factors you have to consider. Some of them include your cat’s age, any flavor preferences your cat might have, and what nutrients the food contains.

Life Stage

Your cat’s nutritional requirements will change throughout its life. For example, a kitten requires nutrients in specific amounts to facilitate its brief-but-intensive growth period. Seniors require less of some nutrients and more of others as their bodies age. You should keep this in account when choosing the best food for them. This is also why our list contains great food options for kittens, adults, and senior cats.

Flavor Preferences

It should come as no surprise that some cats are picky eaters. This could make finding the best food for them a bit of a challenge. One way to work around this is to try different protein sources to see which your cat enjoys. Your cat could also have a preference to wet food over dry food.

Essential Nutrients

The important nutrients your cat needs to survive include protein, vitamins, amino acids, and minerals. Some of these, like the amino acid taurine, your cat does not naturally produce. The perfect diet should contain these ingredients and more.

The Different Types of Cat Foods: Pros and Cons Compared

There are many different kinds of cat food in the market. We have two main variations on this list: wet cat food and dry cat food. Knowing the pros and cons of each type can help you better decide which is best for your cat.

Wet Cat Food

Dry Cat Food

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