The Top IAMS Cat Foods: Read This First

IAMS is a brand that is trusted when it comes to pet food. This brand has been in existence for over 70 years, providing pets with great formulas. They carry out extensive research and quality assurance when it comes to their pet food.

IAMS is a trusted brand for cat food, too. They have many wonderful formulas that cover a wide range of cat issues. Some of them include hairball care, urinary care, grain-free options, and weight control. They also have food for kittens, adults, and senior cats.

One thing people love about IAMS is that each of their recipes starts with real meat as the first ingredient. This is then supported by many important nutrients. These formulas also meet AAFCO nutrient profile specifications for the cat they are intended for.

This review takes an in-depth look into IAMS cat food and their top recipes. We also discuss the pros, cons, and other vital info about this cat food.

The Top Picks for IAMS Cat Food

#1 Best Overall: IAMS ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

Our selection as the best overall is the IAMS ProActive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care Dry Cat Food.

This delicious cat food has chicken as a first ingredient which is great for your cat’s energy and provides muscle support. It also provides your cat with the right amount of nutrients that it needs.  This is a low-calorie, high-fiber meal designed for indoor cats. These characteristics help to control indoor cats’ propensity to become obese and generate hairballs.

Following the meat, ingredients are a mix of grains, including corn grits, corn gluten meal, and ground whole grain sorghum. Fiber comes from dried beet pulp and is designed to help prevent hairballs from forming. Fish oil is used as an omega-3 fatty acid source in the meal and promotes a healthy skin and coat, while the food also contains L-carnitine to promote a healthy metabolism. The only issue that we could find with this food is that some cats do not like it.

Pros and Cons of the IAMS ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

Best Overall

IAMS ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food

• Formulated for indoor cats
• Helps to control obesity and hairballs
• The first two ingredients and chicken and chicken by-product meal
• Contains fish oil for omega-3 fatty acid
• Each cup contains 332 calories

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2. Best on a Budget: IAMS Perfect Portions Healthy Adult Chicken & Tuna Recipe Grain-Free Pate

Our selection as the best on a budget is the IAMS Perfect Portions Healthy Adult Chicken and Tuna Recipe Grain-Free Pate.

This food comes in two delicious recipes — tuna and chicken. Both of these are an excellent source of protein and aid the development of lean muscles. This food is enhanced with vitamin E and antioxidants to promote a healthy immune system. The addition of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from fish oil also help to keep your feline’s coat and skin healthy. Plus, this food is grain-free and contains absolutely no fillers or artificial preservatives, although it’s important to remember that a grain-free option may not be suitable for all cats. Not only that, but the delicious pate is sure to be appetizing to even the fussiest eaters.

The only complaint that customers had with this food is that the lids are difficult to peel off the trays.

Pros and Cons of the

Best on a Budget

IAMS Perfect Portions Healthy Adult Chicken & Tuna Recipe Grain-Free Pate

• Grain-free recipe
• Contains vitamin E for immune system health, fish oils for omegas 3 and 6, and taurine for vision health
• Individual servings of chicken and tuna for variety that cats love
• Does not include artificial preservatives
• Perfect serving size avoids waste

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3. Best Premium Option: IAMS ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food

The best premium option is the IAMS ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food.

This food contains chicken as he first ingredient and your cat will enjoy how this food supports its digestion with fiber and prebiotics. It also contains calcium and potassium, which are great for your cat’s heart. There are also omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that are helpful for healthy skin.

This food is balanced nutritionally and effectively meets the health needs of adult cats. With this food, your cat has the healthy body and energy for play that it needs.

The only drawback to this food is that some cats do not like it.

Pros and Cons of the IAMS ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food

Best Premium Option

Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original with Chicken Dry Cat Food

• Made in the U.S. from premium ingredients
• Chicken is the first ingredient in this recipe
• Includes fiber and prebiotics for digestive support
• This dry kibble helps to remove tartar and prevent plaque buildup
• Contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which will nourish your cat's skin and coat

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4. Best for Adults: IAMS ProActive Health Salmon Recipe Dry Cat Food

Our selection as the best for adults (as an alternative to the best overall) is the IAMS ProActive Health Salmon Recipe Dry Cat Food.

Salmon is the first ingredient, and the food’s high animal protein content, along with L-carnitine, aids in the development of lean muscles in cats.

The unique blend of fibers aids hairball-prone cats by ensuring that eaten hair travels smoothly through the digestive tract. It also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which promote a healthy skin and coat. Plus, this food is high in important vitamins and minerals. These are essential in maintaining a healthy immune system, heart, eyesight, and other vital organs. The recipe, as a whole, helps to keep the pH of your urine at a healthy level, which assists in preventing urinary tract infections.

Unfortunately, this food is a more expensive option than some of the others. Also, some customers have reported that some cats do not like this food.

Pros and Cons of the IAMS ProActive Health Salmon Recipe Dry Cat Food

Best for Adults

IAMS ProActive Health Salmon Recipe Dry Cat Food

• Formulated for kittens and cats of all ages
• Complete and balanced dry cat food
• Provides nutrients to maintain a healthy weight
• Particularly convenient for multi-cat households
• Contains L-carnitine to maintain strong, lean muscle

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5. Best for Kittens: Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food

Are you looking for the best IAMS food to help your kitten grow into a strong and healthy cat? Then the Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food is your answer.

This food is specially formulated for a kitten’s first year of feline adventures. Chicken is the main ingredient in this high-protein kitten kibble, which comes in bite-sized pieces that are easy to swallow. 

This dry kitten food helps young cats develop strong immune systems by providing nutrients similar to those found in their mother’s milk. This mix also contains omega-3 DHA for brain growth. Plus, it features prebiotics and beet pulp to aid digestion in your kitten. It also contains taurine, which is great for heart health. Taurine is also known to help kittens with healthy vision.

The only drawback to this food is that some customers reported that their kittens did not like it.

Pros and Cons of the Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food

Best for Kittens

Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food

• Specially formulated for a kitten's first year of life
• Chicken is the main ingredient
• This high-protein kibble is kitten-sized
• Features ingredients that help kittens develop strong immune systems
• Includes omega-3 DHA for brain growth and prebiotics and beet pulp for healthy digestion

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

When choosing which IAMS cat food to go for, there are some essential factors to consider. Some of them include the life stage of your cat and even the price. We discuss how these factors affect your cat’s food choices below.

Life Stage

IAMS produces food for kittens, adults, and senior cats. The stage your cat belongs to is important because it determines the nutrients they need. Kittens, for example, can greatly benefit from omega-3 for brain development. On the other hand, your senior cat will need something tailored for joint and bone support.

Flavor

Cats can be picky eaters. Sometimes, this is because they do not like a particular flavor. IAMS has many varieties like chicken and tuna. You want to be sure which your cat likes, so you do not end up with a full bag of cat food that has been refused.

Price

As much as we want to give our cats the best, prices sometimes restrict us. The key is finding the best possible option at a price you can afford. IAMS is one brand that offers great ingredients at a great price. This is why many vets recommend this brand.

Up Next

• The #1 Grain-Free Cat Food for a Healthier Pet — Does your cat need grin-free food? Look no further!
• The Top IAMS Wet Cat Foods: Reviewed and Ranked — Check out the very best IAMS wet cat food here.
• The Best Cat Food for Indoor Cats: Reviewed and Ranked — Find the perfect food for your indoor kitty here.