Here’s a list of the best cat food brands of 2024, based on nutritional quality, ingredient transparency, and overall value — for both wet and dry food. These options are highly recommended by vets, pet nutritionists, and cat owners:
🥇 Best Overall Cat Foods (2024)
1. Smalls (Fresh Cat Food)
- Human-grade, fresh food made with real meat
- Customized for your cat’s needs
- Delivered to your door
- ✅ Best for picky eaters & sensitive stomachs
2. Tiki Cat
- High-protein, wet food made with whole shredded meats
- Grain-free, low-carb
- Excellent for cats with urinary or kidney concerns
3. Wellness CORE
- High-quality grain-free dry and wet food
- Packed with animal protein, probiotics, and omega fatty acids
- Good for active or long-haired cats
4. Nulo Freestyle
- High-protein, low-carb, with no fillers
- Great for weight management
- Available in both dry and wet
5. Instinct Raw Boost
- Combines high-protein kibble + freeze-dried raw meat
- Grain-free, great for coat and digestion
- ✅ Raw feeding made easy
🐟 Best Wet Food for Cats
- Weruva Cats in the Kitchen – Real meats in broth, highly palatable
- Fancy Feast Classic Pâté – Affordable, no fillers, easy on sensitive systems
- Royal Canin Veterinary Diet – Great for specific health issues (only via vet)
🥣 Best Dry Food (Kibble)
- Open Farm – Transparent sourcing, high meat content
- Orijen Cat & Kitten – Biologically appropriate with 90% animal ingredients
- Dr. Elsey’s CleanProtein – Vet-developed, minimal carb, focused on meat
🐾 Best Budget Cat Foods
- Purina ONE +Plus Indoor Advantage – Vet-recommended, good digestibility
- Iams ProActive Health – Well-balanced, very affordable
- Blue Buffalo Indoor Health – Decent mid-range with real meat and no by-products
✅ What to Look For in Cat Food:
- Meat as the first ingredient
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Grain-free or limited grains (like oats or rice) if tolerated
- Taurine (essential amino acid for cats)
- Omega-3s for coat and joint health
- Meets AAFCO standards