The 10 Best Cat Food Brands in 2020

Want to do the very best you can for your cat’s health? Then start by feeding them the very best food you can. Brands vary hugely in terms of quality, with some offering the kind of high quality, nutrient-rich formula that’s guaranteed to put the swing in your cat’s steps, and others scraping the factory floor for anything and everything they can find to pad out their nutrient-poor recipes. Keep your cat in prime condition and save yourself a fortune in future vets bills by checking out our round-up of the 10 very best cat foods for 2020.

10. Instinct

Anyone with their ear to the ground will know there’s a growing trend for pet owners to eschew traditional kibble and wet foods in favor of a raw diet. While raw food unquestionably comes with a whole host of health claims, some pet owners are too wary of the connected health risks to take the risk. Instinct occupies an ideal middle ground, delivering a minimally processed, protein-packed range of dry food that’s blended with little chunks of freeze-dried raw goodness – a great way of preserving the health benefits of raw while also killing any lurking nasties. Expect a great range of formulas and treats to choose from, all based around the same pure, all-natural approach to nutrition.

9. Nutro

Where Nutro shines is in the breadth of options it offers. Whether you care for a cat with allergens that would benefit from a grain-free, limited ingredient diet, a fat cat that needs to watch their calorie intake, or an energetic growing kitten, you’ll find an option to suit their requirements. Better still, any option you choose is guaranteed to be based on a whole health approach to nutrition that eschews artificial flavorings and ingredients in favor of all-natural, wholesome ingredients.

8. Rachel Ray Nutrish

Any brand that markets itself under the tagline “Real Recipes. Real ingredients. Real Good” has a lot to live up to. Fortunately, Rachel Ray Nutrish more than delivers. The breathtaking range of formulas and recipes on offer means you’re guaranteed to find something your cat will love, even if they typically take pickiness to the extreme. Whichever option you choose, you can be assured the recipe is packed with everything your cat needs for optimal health and fitness.

7. Wellness

Wellness delivers exactly what it says on the tin- great health and all-round well-being. Each of its formulas come with the kind of well-balanced, well-thought-out recipe that’s primed and ready to send your cat’s health skyrocketing. Whether you opt for a grain-free option, a limited ingredient formula, wet food or kibble, you can confidently fill your cat’s bowl to the brim knowing you’re delivering everything they need for optimal wellness and happiness.

6. Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo products come packed with all the protein your cat needs for healthy growth and aging, not to mention the kind of sleek, strong muscles that will be the envy of all the felines of the neighborhood. All of Blue Buffalo’s line of foods are designed with the exact nutritional needs of cats in minds, with an expertly balanced ratio of proteins, fats and carbs, and a zero-tolerance approach to chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

5. Orijen

Pretty much every pet owner has heard the name Orijen, and for very good reason. Although credited as one of the most expensive premium brands available, it’s also one of the best, offering a superb array of foods based around the idea of a biologically appropriate diet (i.e. one that comes as close as possible to what they would naturally eat in the wild). The end result is a food packed with all the meats, organs, bones and cartilage your cat needs for strong, sleek muscles and healthy teeth, and all the antioxidant-rich fruit and veggies they need for all-round health.

4. Acana

As obligate carnivores, cats need a hefty dose of protein to thrive. Acana’s approach to nutrition revolves around evolutionary appropriate ingredients and absolutely no grains, fillers or additivities. Expect a line packed with free-range chicken, wild-caught fish, cage-free eggs, and wholesome, Kentucky grown fruits and vegetables. Although the range of formulas on offer is restricted to 4 key recipes (Wild Prairie, Pacifica, Meadowlands, and Grasslands- each of which carries a different set of protein), the quality of ingredients on offer more than make-up for the limitations.

3. Stella & Chewys

Stella & Chewy may be relatively new to the pet food market, but they’ve already done enough to put the fear up their competitors. Based around raw, ecologically appropriate, wholesome foods, the brand’s holistic take on nutrition is a breath of fresh air. Buy a pack of food from their line (which includes oven-baked raw coated kibble, wet food, freeze-dried raw food, frozen raw food, and treats), and you can rest assured your cat will be getting an intensely healthy blend of organic, free-run animal protein and wholesome, antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies- with absolutely no corn, wheat, grain, or artificial ingredients insight.

2. NomNomNow

If you’re looking for a new approach to your cat’s diet, NomNomNow may be just what you need. Formulated by animal nutritionist Dr. Justin Shmalberg, the brand’s revolutionary take on nutrition allows pet owners to choose highly individual, personalized diet plans based on their cat’s exact needs. Once they’ve received all the information they need to decide on the best meal plan, Dr. Shmalberg’s team of San Francisco experts will then cook up the recipes in made to order, pre-portioned quantities. The end result of this superbly personalized approach is the promise of both short- and long-term improvements in health and happiness- plus a licked clean bowl at the end of the day.

1. The Honest Kitchen

The Honest Kitchen delivers a range of first-class formulas made from human-grade ingredients (which basically means no byproducts or unsavory nasties, just clean, wholesome tucker that, push comes to shove, would probably do you just as much good as it does as your cat). Protein is the number one ingredient in each of the recipes, with supplementary fruits and veggies for immune-boosting vitamins and antioxidants. The super-convenient format, meanwhile, delivers all the convenience of dry food (easy to store, etc.) with all the palatability and aroma of wet food- simply add water to the dehydrated formula, and voila, the dry ingredients are magically transformed into a dish of tantalizing, moist goodness.