Ranking The 20 Best Cat Foods of 2021

We all want our cats to be as healthy and happy as possible. One of the best ways to support their health is to feed them a nutritionally complete, balanced diet. When it comes to felines, that means protein, protein, and more protein, As obligate carnivores, cats don’t get to flirt with vegetarianism – if they don’t get enough animal-based protein to meet their needs, they’ll be sure to let you know sooner rather than later. Other essential aspects of a good diet include taurine, a balanced mineral and vitamin profile, minimal carbohydrates, and no fillers, colors, or artificial flavorings. If you want to fill your cat’s bowl with the best of the best, check out our pick of the 20 best cat foods of 2021.

20. Purina Pro Plan Senior Canned Wet Cat Food

Nutritional needs change with time, so it’s important to look for a food that meets the needs of your cat’s current life stage. Purina Pro Plan Senior Canned Wet Cat Food has been specifically formulated to meet older cats’ needs. Made in the US to a grain-free recipe, it contains a hefty whack of protein to support lean muscle mass, antioxidants for healthy immunity, prebiotic fibers for easy digestion, and a balanced profile of vitamins and minerals for overall health.

19. Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Natural Dry Cat Food

With a careful blend of antioxidant-rich superfoods to boost immunity, natural fibers to encourage healthy stool formation, prebiotics for gut health, a high protein content for growth and development, and absolutely no fillers, additives, GMO ingredients, flavorings, or grains, Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Complete Natural Dry Cat Food offers complete, balanced nutrition in a highly palatable form.

18. Purina Pro Plan Critical Nutrition Cat Food

Most weight-related problems in cats are caused by too little exercise and too many calories, but while obesity is the most common weight problem, underweight cats can also experience multiple issues. If your cat has lost weight as a result of being ill, or if you’ve adopted a rescue cat who’s gone for months without a good meal, Purina Pro Plan Critical Nutrition Cat Food can help put them on the path to recovery. Each 5.5 oz can contains 208 kcal, making it easy for cats with even the tiniest of appetites to meet their daily calorie needs. Thanks to its smooth consistency, it can also be used for syringe feeding if required.

17. Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse in Sauce Wet Cat Food

Kittens and nursing mothers have very different nutritional needs to other cats, which makes choosing an appropriate age and life stage formula vital. While they’re growing, kittens require extra calories to keep up with their energy needs, as do lactating cats. Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse in Sauce Wet Cat Food is packed with enough calories to support your cat’s development, along with all the vitamins and minerals they need to thrive.

16. Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Response

If your cat has a delicate digestion or a sensitive tummy, filling their bowl with Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Fiber Response could be their ticket to better health. Its easy-to-digest, fiber-rich formula has been carefully balanced to promote good gut health and normal stools. It also includes cat-friendly prebiotics to promote good gut bacteria. Bear in mind that the food requires veterinary authorization, so be sure to speak to your vet if your cat has been struggling with digestive issues.

15. Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

As nymag.com notes, the high protein and low carbohydrate content of Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food makes it an excellent choice for kitties. The single-source protein recipe is great for cats with tricky digestions. Suitable for all life stages, it offers a complete, balanced diet in a highly palatable formula designed to tempt the appetites of even the pickiest eaters.

14. Tiny Tiger Pate Beef & Poultry Recipes Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

The jury’s still out on the role of grains in a cat’s diet, but if you’d rather avoid them, Tiny Tiger Pate Beef & Poultry Recipes Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Cat Food is a solid option. Low in carbohydrates and high in protein, the recipe has been formulated with a minimum of 10 to 11 percent crude protein to support lean muscle mass, along with flavor-packed broth for added moisture and a healthy balance of taurine, vitamins, and minerals.

13. Hills Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Cat Food

Dental problems are common among cats, and unfortunately, can cause a lot more than just stinky breath. Poor oral health has been linked to a host of problems, including heart and kidney complications. If you want to reduce plague and avoid tartar build-up, Hills Prescription Diet t/d Dental Care Cat Food makes an excellent choice. Like all of Hills’ products, it’s veterinary-approved for quality. The shape, size, and texture of the kibble had been specially formulated to help clean your cat’s teeth, making it ideal for cats who hate having their teeth brushed. It’s a little more expensive than standard pet foods, but worth the price.

12. Purina Fancy Feast Grain-Free Pate Wet Kitten Food

When it comes to feeding a kitten, look for a formula that’s specifically labeled for kittens. This will ensure they get the optimal amount of protein and calories to support healthy growth and development, along with the perfect balance of vitamins and minerals. Purina Fancy Feast Grain-Free Pate Wet Kitten Food comes in kitten-sized 3-ounce cans that are perfect for small tummies and big energy needs. The pate is easy to chew, comfortable to digest, and available in four highly palatable flavors to test out.

11. Wellness CORE Original Formula

Recommended by felineliving.net as one of the best cat foods for 2021, Wellness CORE Original Formula is an excellent option for cat owners who want to feed their cats exclusively (or even partially) on dry food. A grain-free, nutrient-dense, balanced kibble made from real ingredients and absolutely no fillers, it’s been carefully formulated to ensure an optimal balance of essential vitamins and minerals; probiotics and prebiotics; fiber; fatty acids; and healthy proteins and carbohydrates.

10. Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management Cat Food

If your cat’s started to pack on the pounds, Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Weight Management Cat Food could be just the ticket to help them shed the weight. Recommended as one of the best cat foods for weight loss by excitedcats.com, it’s an excellent, highly affordable alternative to pricey clinical and prescription diets. Each tasty, protein-packed can comes with just 79 calories, making it easy to keep track of daily calories. The high protein count will keep your cats nicely sated.

9. Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Cat Food

While raw food carries all kinds of nutritional benefits, many vets caution owners against preparing it themselves due to the potential bacterial dangers it can bring. Grinding up bones and meat on a daily basis can also get pretty tedious, making Instinct Freeze-Dried Raw Meals Grain-Free Cage-Free Chicken Recipe Cat Food an excellent choice for owners who want their cats to benefit from the advantages of a raw diet without having to worry about the associated risks. Nutritious, balanced, and biologically appropriate, the formula is designed to mimic the diet your cat would naturally eat in the wild, with none of the inconvenience.

8. Open Farm Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food

You’re probably already familiar with the concept of farm-to-table eating, but now it’s time to start thinking about farm-to-bowl eating too. All of the proteins used in Open Farm Rustic Blend Wet Cat Food are ethically sourced from high welfare family farms that employ humane farming practices without the use of antibiotics and growth hormones. The fish is sourced via sustainable fishing practices in line with Ocean Wise Standards. Additional ingredients (which include superfoods such as non-GMO cranberries, pumpkin, dandelion greens, and turmeric intended to support healthy immunity and urinary health) are all sustainably sourced. The end result is a sustainable, ethically-sourced, premium holistic pet food that also happens to be whisker-lickin’ tasty.

7. Hill’s Science Diet Urinary & Hairball Control Cat Food

Urinary health problems are common in cats, especially males. Indoor and overweight cats are also prone to developing issues. If your cat needs a helping hand in that department, Hill’s Science Diet Urinary & Hairball Control Cat Food makes an excellent choice. The vet-approved formula has the perfect balance of minerals to minimize the risk of crystals and stones forming in the urinary tract. As it’s a wet formula, the high moisture content can also help prevent urinary issues, particularly in cats who tend to avoid water.

6. Wellness Complete Health Turkey & Salmon Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food

As The Spruce advises, when choosing a canned food for your cat, always look for one that has been certified “Complete and Balanced” by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This will ensure the formula has been made with the right balance of ingredients (which include taurine, animal-based proteins, and water) to meet your cat’s basic nutritional needs. Wellness Complete Health Turkey & Salmon Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food has been made to meet the standards of the AAFCO, boasting a highly palatable, whole food recipe that includes real turkey, chicken liver, whitefish, chicken broth, and salmon, along with supplemental taurine, vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, and antioxidant-rich cranberries.

5. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Dry Cat Food

Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Dry Cat Food is super-premium cat food with a complete, nutritionally balanced profile designed to help your cat thrive. Its ingredient list is top-notch, featuring farm-raised chicken as the primary ingredient and no by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, corn, wheat, soy protein, artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors of any kind. To help support your cat’s coat and skin, it contains a healthy quantity of omega-6 fatty acids, while the addition of omega-3s is a great way to keep their heart healthy.

4. Tiki Cat Luau Wet Food

Named as one of the best wet cat foods on the market by greatpetcare.com, Tiki Cat Luau Wet Food is a highly nutritious premium cat food with no potatoes, no grains, no GMO ingredients, and no nasties of any kind. it comes packed in broth for added moisture (making it great for reluctant drinkers) and contains a whopping 80 percent protein. It’s available in a range of tasty recipes to tempt even the pickiest eater.

3. Diamond Naturals Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food

Recommended by catlifetoday.com as one of the best dry options for indoor cats, Diamond Naturals Indoor Formula Dry Cat Food is a complete, balanced formula packed with high-quality protein from cage-free chicken; feline-appropriate prebiotic fibers for a healthy gut; a perfectly balanced amino acid profile to promote lean body mass, and zero fillers, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. As it’s been formulated specifically for indoor cats (who usually have reduced calorie needs compared to outdoor cats), it’s ideal for felines prone to weight gain.

2. Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Wet Cat Food

If you want your cat to ditch the sugar, ditch the junk and start eating clean, it’s time to introduce yourself to the subscription-based Smalls Human-Grade Fresh Wet Cat Food. The brand was born out of founders Matt Michaelson and Calvin Bohn’s desire to completely reimagine cat food from the ground up by putting cats first. The result is a line of incredibly nutritious, biologically appropriate recipes with a flavor that even the pickiest pet can’t resist. In addition to offering human-grade fresh cat food, they also offer freeze-dried raw cat food, and high-protein cat kibble for variety. Recipes, which are made in the USA and have been AAFCO certified, come in a choice of three proteins and two textures.

1. Nom Nom Cat Food

If you’re looking for a subscription-based cat food that offers convenience, a balanced nutritional profile, and a great range of recipes your cat is sure to love, look no further than Nom Nom. Their high-protein, high-moisture meals are made exclusively from whole, fresh ingredients with absolutely no fillers, added flavorings, sweeteners, or other undesirable ingredients. Each recipe has been specially formulated by a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist to ensure it meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO. All meals are delivered fresh, with weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly options available.