| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe |
| Best Affordable | Kitten Chow Nurture Muscle & Brain Development Dry Cat Food |
| Best Premium | Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Cat Food for Young Kittens |
| Best Large Kibble | Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food |
| Best for Nutrient Balance | Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food |
Key Points
- The #1 Best Overall dry food for your kitten is Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe.
- When you’re shopping for dry food for your kitten, consider the three major types: those that contain meat by-products, grain-free, and those that contain DHA.
- There are pros and cons to each of these types of dry kitten food. We’ve listed them in easy-to-read tables for your convenience.
- High-quality kitten food is available in a wide variety of formulas and price points. So even if you’re on a budget, you can afford to feed your kitty food that promotes optimal growth and development.
Your furry friend gave birth to a new kitten, and you’re excited. Perhaps you adopted some new stray kittens, and you want to provide them with all the love they deserve. Whatever category you belong to, getting their nutrition right is essential. Like human babies, kittens require a lot of essential nutrients to grow into healthy cats. You can provide your little furballs with some of these essential nutrients by giving them the best affordable dry kitten food.
In order to avoid visiting the vet a lot, you need to place your kittens on a high-protein diet. However, the protein source in their diet should be mainly meat (since cats are obligate carnivores). Asides from protein, they also require other nutrients, which you must include when formulating a nutrition plan for your kittens.
With all the variations of nutrient composition different kitten food brands offer, you could quickly get overwhelmed picking the right one. There are two major types of kitten food: wet and dry. Dry kitten food is the better of the duo due to its stability after opening and its ease of use. If you’ve decided to purchase dry kitten food, we at A-Z animals have got you covered. We’ll be reviewing the best dry kitten food you can find on the market today.
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe
- Contain real chicken
- Help with healthy muscle development
- Contains taurine and fatty acids (DHA and ARA)
- Added minerals and antioxidants
- Kitten Chow Nurture Muscle & Brain Development Dry Cat Food
- Budget-friendly option
- Contains real farm-raised chicken
- Totally balanced nutrition for kittens
- Contains DHA for brain and eye development
- Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Cat Food for Young Kittens
- Easily digestible
- Especially for young kittens
- Contains antioxidants and vitamins
- Easy to chew
- Hill's Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food
- Best for older kittens
- Very good for dental health
- Contains DHA, vitamins, and antioxidants
- Starts with real chicken
- Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
- Nutrient balanced
- Contains real chicken
- Delicious crunchy bites that kittens love
- No fillers
A-Z-Animals Top Picks for Dry Food for Your Kitten
#1 Best Overall: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe
Our overall best dry kitten food on the market is the Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe. This product is packed with real chicken to help your kitten get enough of that high-protein diet they require. Blue Buffalo’s chicken recipe encourages healthy muscle development in kittens. Apart from proteins, the formula also contains fatty acids that would have been present in their mother’s milk. Together with taurine, these fatty acids (DHA and ARA) help support their cognitive and visual health.
Blue Buffalo’s chicken recipe also contains their proprietary mix of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins collectively referred to as “LifeSource Bits.” This precise blend of nutrients helps develop kittens’ immune systems and to develop into healthy adult cats. Finally, the recipe is free from artificial flavors, synthetic preservatives, grains, and poultry by-product meals.
Most of reviewers reported that their kittens love the formula, but a few said that their kittens didn’t like this food.
Pros and Cons of Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This kitten food is packed with real chicken to provide the protein they require. | Some reviewers reported that their kittens didn’t like this food. |
| It also contains fatty acids DHA and ARA, together with taurine, to support cognitive and visual health. | |
| The recipe contains BLUE’s proprietary blend of minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins known as “LifeSource Bits” that help strengthen kittens’ immune systems and help them develop into healthy adult cats. | |
| It’s free from artificial flavors, synthetic preservatives, grains, and poultry by-product meals. |
- Contain real chicken
- Help with healthy muscle development
- Contains taurine and fatty acids (DHA and ARA)
- Added minerals and antioxidants
2. Best Affordable: Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Dry Cat Food
If you’re on a budget and can’t afford to splurge for your kitten’s meal, the best kitten dry food is Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Dry Cat Food. If you also own a large litter of kittens, this is an excellent nutritional choice for them. With a 14-pound bag of this going for $25 (compared to Blue Buffalo’s 5-pound bag for $25), this is definitely one of the best bargains you can get on dry kitten food. But the price is not the only good factor about Purina’s Kitten Chow. With the recipe containing real farm-raised chicken, your kittens’ requirements will be completely met with this recipe.
However, this recipe contains chicken by-products and grains in its top ingredients, which might be a red flag for some buyers.
Most reviewers’ kittens had no problems with this recipe, and they cleared up their plates every time. A few reviewers, however, reported that their kittens experienced digestive issues, including diarrhea and vomiting, after eating this food.
Pros and Cons of Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Dry Cat Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This food is extremely inexpensive, yet it contains real farm-raised chicken. | The recipe includes chicken by-products and grains near the top of the ingredient list, which may be a red flag for some pet owners. |
| Some pet parents said that their kittens experienced digestive issues, including diarrhea and vomiting, after eating this food.. |
- Budget-friendly option
- Contains real farm-raised chicken
- Totally balanced nutrition for kittens
- Contains DHA for brain and eye development
3. Best Premium Food: Royal Canin Feline Dry Food for Young Kittens
Royal Canin Feline Dry Food for Young Kittens is your best bet if you’re looking to buy the best dry kitten food. Formulated for young kittens between the age of four months and one year, the kibble size of this recipe is perfect for kittens to digest easily. It also contains a healthy mixture of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which aids the development of their immune system. The formula features a combination of prebiotics and highly digestible proteins to help promote a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria for your kitten’s optimal digestive health.
It’s important to note, however, that this formula also contains chicken by-products and doesn’t contain fatty acids like DHA.
One reviewer with two kittens noted that Royal Canin formula helped his kittens develop healthy, shiny fur. He also reported that the recipe makes their stool firmer, making it easier to clean up their litter box.
Pros and Cons of Royal Canin Feline Dry Food for Young Kittens
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This dry recipe is formulated for kittens four months to one year old. | This kitten food includes chicken by-products and it doesn’t contain fatty acids like DHA. |
| The kibble size is optimal for kittens in this age group and easy for them to digest. | |
| It contains antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that aid the development of their immune system. | |
| It features a combination of prebiotics and highly digestible proteins to balance your kitten’s intestinal bacteria. |
- Easily digestible
- Especially for young kittens
- Contains antioxidants and vitamins
- Easy to chew
4. Best Large Kibble Food: Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Dry Cat Food
If your kitten is close to a year and you want recipes with larger kibbles to help with dental health, then the Hill’s Science Kitten Dry Cat Food is the go-to choice. This recipe contains a good proportion of real chicken and has the right protein percentage to keep your kittens healthy. Containing other nutrients such as DHA, vitamins, and antioxidants, the development of your kitten’s immune system is also in perfect hands here.
However, it contains oats, so you should steer clear of this if you’re not comfortable with your kitten diet having grains.
One reviewer who decided to try this dry kitten food on her twin kittens enjoyed feeding them this formula. While she expected one of them to not enjoy the recipe due to their different constitution, they both loved this kitten food. She referred to this as the “one-for-all” kitten dry food.
Unfortunately, some kittens experienced digestive issues, including diarrhea and vomiting, after eating this food.
Pros and Cons of Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Dry Cat Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| If your kitten is nearly a year old, you may want to switch it to larger kibble to help with dental health. | The formula includes oats, so skip this formula if you’d prefer to feed your kitten a grain-free diet. |
| It includes a healthy proportion of real chicken as well as nutrients including DHA, vitamins, and antioxidants. | some kittens experienced digestive issues, including diarrhea and vomiting, after eating this food. |
- Best for older kittens
- Very good for dental health
- Contains DHA, vitamins, and antioxidants
- Starts with real chicken
5. Best Nutritional Balance: Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
In terms of nutritional balance, Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food takes the trophy. Purina has always been a giant in the pet food industry, and this is one of their finest deliveries for kittens. This product contains real chicken, four different antioxidants, peas, carrots, and rice; hence, has an outstanding balance to nourish kittens from three weeks to 12 months old.
However, this product contains grains, which some pet owners like to avoid in their kitten diet. Apart from this, this is one of the best diets you could give to your kitten.
A reviewer fed this food to three rescued stray cats, and they couldn’t seem to get enough. They finished a bowl of this kitten food within an hour, and they apparently loved the nutrient balance just as much as we hoped.
Unfortunately, some reviewers said that their kittens didn’t like this food.
Pros and Cons of Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This nutritional powerhouse is formulated for kittens three weeks to 12 months old. | This recipe includes grains. |
| It includes real chicken, four different antioxidants, peas, carrots, and rice. | Some reviewers said that their kittens didn’t like this food. |
- Nutrient balanced
- Contains real chicken
- Delicious crunchy bites that kittens love
- No fillers
The Pros and Cons of Different Kitten Dry Food
Meat By-Product Kitten Dry Food Recipe
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Meat by-products could be a good source of protein depending on their quality. | They may be unsafe if they’re not processed correctly |
| It has environmental benefits as it helps to prevent meat wastage. | |
| Meat by-products could also be a source of other supplements such as vitamin A and zinc |
Grain-Free Kitten Dry Food Recipe
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Most recipes that are grain-free compensate well with their protein portions which are beneficial for the kitten. | Too much protein could lead to obesity and cause health problems for the kitten. |
| Kittens may find them easier to digest due to the absence of amylase in their saliva. | Carbs are also important in a kitten’s diet (albeit in minimal quantities) |
| Some kittens are intolerant to grains |
DHA-Containing Kitten Dry Food Recipe
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| It helps with central nervous system development | N/A |
| It supplements the development of good vision | |
| It aids the development of a kitten’s immune system |
Verified Review: User Experience
If you love your kittens, then our #1 Best Overall choice — Blue Buffalo Kitten Recipe — is a must. One excited reviewer shared his experience of feeding this food to his two seven-month-old kittens: “This kitten food actually smells so good that I’ve considered having a taste. The food has made our kittens more energetic and responsive to us than other cats we’ve had in the past.”
Purina One is a popular choice due to its low price and excellent nutritional balance. A user shared her experience: “When my vet recommended this brand, the first thing that popped up in my head was this would be expensive. However, $21 for a 16-pound bag was quite the bargain. My kitten likes it, and I like the price. Everyone’s happy!”
Conclusion
Getting the proper diet for your kitten can feel overwhelming. However, you should have no problems picking the best for your little furball with our comprehensive review of the best dry kitten food.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe |
| Best Affordable | Kitten Chow Nurture Muscle & Brain Development Dry Cat Food |
| Best Premium | Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Cat Food for Young Kittens |
| Best Large Kibble | Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food |
| Best for Nutrient Balance | Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food |
The Best Dry Food for Your Kitten: Reviewed FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Why are meat by-products considered bad in kitten food?
Initially, certain meat by-products are allowed to be part of the recipe for kitten food as it is also a good source of protein. Examples of meat by-products include the chicken spleen, liver, intestines cleaned of their contents, etc.
While conventional wisdom says that meat by-products are inferior, the new perspective is that these ingredients are safe. In addition, proponents claim that including meat by-products in pet food is ecologically sound because it reduces food waste.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of dry kitten food?
Dry food is generally considered the better choice because it’s easy to store and simple to prepare. However, it’s important to provide sufficient water for kittens that are on a dry food diet so they don’t become dehydrated, which could cause urinary tract problems.
Are grains bad for kittens?
Admittedly, grains are not proven to be harmful to our furred friends. However, due to their obligate carnivorous nature, they require a diet that contains a larger proportion of meat (protein) and just tiny portions of grains (carbohydrates). This is the ideal balance for a cat’s nutrition.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
