Congratulations in your new kitten! Now comes the exhausting half—selecting the perfect kitten meals to maintain them wholesome and powerful as they develop. Picking simply the proper meals on your kitten is a problem just because there are such a lot of meals to select from. If you’re uncertain the place to begin discovering the perfect meals on your kitty, we’re right here to assist.
We’ve put collectively fast critiques of the highest ten finest kitten meals in the marketplace, plus a purchaser’s information that can assist you determine what to search for in a meals. All of those are merely suggestions, although; you probably have any health-related issues about meals on your kitten, you must converse together with your vet for the perfect recommendation!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
The 10 Best Kitten Foods
1. Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula Natural Dry Cat Food – Best Overall
| Main components: | Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal |
| Protein content material: | 40% |
| Fat content material: | 18% |
| Calories: | 514 kcal per cup |
The finest general kitten meals seems to be Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula, because it has tons of rave critiques and supplies your furry good friend with loads of protein by way of actual hen. This meals provides your kitten utterly balanced diet that features added calcium to assist preserve bones and tooth wholesome. Plus, you’ll discover DHA (which is present in momma cat’s milk) included on this meals, together with important antioxidants that can assist preserve your kitten wholesome as they develop. Best of all, this meals is kitten-approved, as most cat mother and father raved that their kittens beloved the style.
However, all kitties are people, so there have been a number of felines who didn’t take pleasure in this meals in any respect. The greatest criticism from cat mother and father was that this meals made some kittens vomit or have a lot looser stools than regular. This can occur with any meals in case your kitten is illiberal of one of many components. We additionally suggest transitioning diets regularly to permit their system to get used to the brand new meals. The subsequent most typical criticism about this meals was that it made poop odor a lot worse than standard.
Pros
- Most kittens love the style
- Contains added calcium, DHA, and antioxidants
- Protein comes from actual hen
Cons
- Made some kittens have unfastened stools
- Made poop odor a lot worse for some kitties
2. Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Turkey Feast Canned Cat Food– Best Value
| Main components: | Turkey, Meat By-Products, Liver |
| Protein content material: | 11% |
| Fat content material: | 5% |
| Calories: | 92 kcal per can |
If you’re on the lookout for the perfect kitten meals for the money, look no additional than Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Turkey Feast canned meals. Sometimes, moist meals is preferable to a feline, as moist meals has a stronger scent and is extra appetizing. Plus, it’s softer for individuals who have issue chewing dry meals. This moist meals by Fancy Feast doesn’t solely give you the perfect worth but additionally lets your kitten take pleasure in actual turkey (together with liver and fish!) as a part of a nutritionally balanced food plan that features vitamin B1, B3, and B5, plus important minerals. This was one other meals kitties appeared to like, as most wolfed it down!
One factor some cat mother and father disliked about this meals was that it accommodates milk; as most cats are lactose illiberal, the addition of milk meant some kittens skilled minor abdomen points. A couple of folks additionally felt this canned meals was drier than it ought to be, making it unappetizing to some.
Pros
- Best worth
- Contains actual turkey, liver, and fish
- Most cats beloved the style
Cons
- Contains milk, which may upset stomachs
- May be drier than different canned meals
3. Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food – Premium Choice
| Main components: | Chicken, Brown Rice, Wheat Gluten |
| Protein content material: | 33% |
| Fat content material: | 15% |
| Calories: | 3903 kcal/kg |
Want a premium choice on your kitten? Then, try Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten meals! Made with actual hen and different high-quality components, like brown rice and complete grain oats, this meals supplies your kitty with a tasty meals that gives a considerable amount of protein for rising our bodies. Along with that protein, this meals accommodates prebiotic fibers that can enhance intestine well being! It additionally accommodates DHA for wholesome eyes and brains, plus important antioxidants, nutritional vitamins, and minerals that help immune well being. Cat mother and father commented that this meals left their pets’ coats tremendous shiny and appeared wonderful for cognitive improvement. Several choosy eaters wouldn’t contact this meals, so if that feels like your kitten, this meals could have to be averted.
Pros
- Contains high quality components
- Has prebiotic fibers that can assist stool high quality
- Left most kitties’ coats tremendous shiny
Cons
- Picky eaters weren’t followers
4. IAMS ProLively Health Kitten Dry Cat Food
| Main components: | Chicken, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Corn |
| Protein content material: | 33% |
| Fat content material: | 21% |
| Calories: | 484 kcal per cup |
This kitten meals by IAMS is designed to assist kittens develop into robust, wholesome felines. It does this by packing in protein by way of actual hen whereas additionally together with DHA from omega-3s to help within the improvement of the mind. Plus, this meals accommodates loads of vitamin E to assist your kitten develop the strongest doable immune system. One cat proprietor beloved that this meals had comparable protein ranges to costlier cat meals, whereas one other beloved the simple digestibility of it. And a number of cat mother and father commented on how wholesome their kittens had been.
However, this was one other meals the place many choosy kitties disliked the style and wouldn’t contact it once more after attempting it. Some cat mother and father additionally felt like the worth of this meals was an excessive amount of for what it was.
Pros
- Plenty of protein from actual hen
- Cat mother and father felt kittens who ate this had been fairly wholesome
- Easy digestibility
Cons
- Many choosy kittens wouldn’t eat this
- Some felt the worth was an excessive amount of for this meals
5. Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Natural Chicken Dry Kitten Food
| Main components: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal |
| Protein content material: | 36% |
| Fat content material: | 20% |
| Calories: | 439 kcal per cup |
You need your kitten to have a wholesome head begin on their life, so why not feed them a meals created to do exactly that? Blue Buffalo Tastefuls provides your pet loads of protein with deboned hen, in addition to the standard mixture of important minerals, nutritional vitamins, and antioxidants. But this meals additionally supplies your kitty with taurine, ARA, and DHA to assist preserve the eyes, the center, and the mind wholesome whereas creating. While cats beloved the style of this meals (even choosy eaters!), their mother and father loved how fairly and glossy their kitties’ coats seemed.
Quite a number of felines developed digestive points on this meals, although, together with bloating, vomiting, and diarrhea, so in case your kitten’s abdomen is especially delicate, this meals may have to be averted. There had been additionally a handful of allergic reactions to this meals, similar to itchy bumps that developed on the physique which, as talked about beforehand, can occur with any meals in case your cat is allergic to an ingredient.
Pros
- Tasty and high-protein
- Contains ARA, taurine, and DHA
- Left coats shiny
Cons
- Several kittens had digestive points with this meals
- A handful of kitties had allergic reactions
6. Purina Pro Plan Kitten Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food
| Main components: | Chicken, Corn Gluten Meal, Rice |
| Protein content material: | 42% |
| Fat content material: | 19% |
| Calories: | 409 kcal per cup |
This kitten meals is exceptionally excessive in protein to assist your kitten develop as they need to throughout the first yr of their life. Also that includes DHA, calcium, phosphorus, and stay probiotics, this meals is designed to help within the improvement of the mind, assist preserve bones and tooth robust, and strengthen the immune system. Plus, with shreds of meat blended in among the many crunchy kibble, the style is certain to thrill any kitten! People who purchased this meals had been followers of how this meals helped clear up digestive points, similar to unfastened stools.
Though this meals appeared to clear up digestive points for a lot of, it additionally made some kitties’ poop a lot stinkier, so look ahead to that. The solely different vital criticism about this meals was that some felines didn’t appear to love the odor of it and wouldn’t eat it.
Pros
- Tons of protein
- Contains stay probiotics
- Seems to assist clear up digestive issues
Cons
- Might make poop smellier
- Some kitties didn’t like how this meals smelled
7. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Healthy Cuisine Tender Chicken & Rice Medley Canned Cat Food
| Main components: | Chicken Broth, Chicken, Pork Liver |
| Protein content material: | 6.54% |
| Fat content material: | 2.5% |
| Calories: | 71 kcal per can |
What you feed your kitty throughout their first yr of life is vital, so why not feed them a meals that’s each scrumptious and wholesome? Hill’s Science Diet supplies your kitten with the delectable style of roast hen whereas giving all of them the diet they want throughout their first yr. With taurine to maintain eyes wholesome and important vitamins that help your kitty’s urinary tract system, this canned cat meals by Hill’s has rather a lot to supply. Plus, as a result of it’s moist meals, it could possibly assist preserve kitties higher hydrated! Picky eaters, particularly, appeared to be large followers of this one.
Some cat mother and father felt that the cans had been too small and didn’t provide sufficient meals, although. Some additionally mentioned this canned meals was significantly odorous, which was disagreeable, and some folks felt the meals was a bit too chunky for kittens.
Pros
- Has taurine to maintain eyes wholesome
- Contains vitamins that help the urinary tract system
- Picky eaters appeared to take pleasure in
Cons
- Some thought the cans had been too small
- Food is likely to be a bit too chunky for smaller kittens
- A couple of folks discovered the meals further smelly
8. Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
| Main components: | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice |
| Protein content material: | 34% |
| Fat content material: | 22% |
| Calories: | 460 kcal per cup |
This kitten-recipe meals supplies kittens with numerous protein from actual hen whereas additionally providing them DHA for wholesome imaginative and prescient and mind improvement. That isn’t all this meals provides your kitten, although! This meals by Diamond Naturals can be wealthy in vitamins, like minerals and nutritional vitamins, attributable to all of the superfoods it accommodates. What form of superfoods will you discover right here? Blueberries, kale, and coconut, to call a number of. Plus, there are many omega-3 fatty acids on this meals to assist preserve the kitty’s coat trying implausible. Cat mother and father felt the items of this meals had been the right dimension for kittens and beloved the components.
Unfortunately, a number of kittens’ stomachs didn’t fairly agree with this meals, so there have been some cases of diarrhea after consuming; which might be attributable to an intolerance of an ingredient or altering meals quickly. A couple of felines additionally developed stinkier poop after consuming this.
Pros
- Contains DHA for wholesome imaginative and prescient and mind
- Has plenty of superfoods in it
- Kibble dimension is ideal for kittens
Cons
- Kittens with delicate stomachs could not do nicely on this
- May make poop smelly
9. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Loaf in Sauce Canned Cat Food
| Main components: | Pork By-Products, Chicken By-Products, Chicken Liver |
| Protein content material: | 10.8% |
| Fat content material: | 3.2% |
| Calories: | 76 kcal per can |
Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Loaf is specifically crafted to provide a kitten every part they want for the primary 12 months of their life. With an ideal ratio of carbs to fats to protein, this meals will simply assist your kitty sustain their vitality as they play and play. A particular antioxidant mix helps a kitten’s immune system, whereas fiber and prebiotics make this meals extra simply digestible. This meals is especially good for kittens who’ve delicate stomachs attributable to its straightforward digestibility, and nearly all of kittens (together with choosy eaters) beloved this meals!
However, this meals was too wealthy for some kittens, and so they developed diarrhea consequently; we suggest a gradual transition to make sure your cat will tolerate it. A couple of cat mother and father additionally had points with the can dimension; they felt it was a bit too giant, as their cats usually left meals on their plates, so mother and father needed to refrigerate what was left within the can.
Pros
- Helps preserve the kitty’s vitality up
- Easily digestible
- Most cats loved the style
Cons
- Was too wealthy for some kittens
- Cans could also be too giant
10. Wellness CORE Natural Grain-Free Turkey & Chicken Liver Pate Canned Kitten Food
| Main components: | Turkey, Chicken Liver, Turkey Broth |
| Protein content material: | 12% |
| Fat content material: | 7.5% |
| Calories: | 205 kcal per can |
You is likely to be occupied with attempting out a grain-free food plan on your kitten. While grain-free diets don’t usually pose a well being danger for felines, it’s nonetheless advisable to examine together with your vet earlier than putting your kitty on a grain-free meals. If you do determine to go grain-free, you may wish to do that meals by Wellness CORE. This kitten meals is targeted on protein (which you’ll be able to see as the primary three components are all meat-based), but it surely additionally supplies your kitty with different wholesome, healthful components, similar to cranberries and fish oil. The fish oil provides your kitty omega-3 fatty acids to maintain their coat shiny and DHA for eye and mind improvement. This meals appears significantly good for serving to underweight felines achieve a number of kilos.
There had been a number of complaints concerning the cans being lower than full and a handful concerning the texture of the meals being inconsistent.
Pros
- Has wholesome components
- Is good for serving to underweight kitties achieve weight
Cons
- Cans might not be crammed to the brim
- Texture of meals appears to be inconsistent
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Food for Kittens
Choosing the perfect meals on your kitten will be difficult. After all, you need the healthiest meals with the perfect components doable and one which helps your kitten develop as they need to whereas being simply digestible. However, there are particular issues to think about when choosing kitten meals that can make the method a bit easier.
Ingredients
What components a kitten meals accommodates is vital to picking the proper of meals on your kitty. Kitten meals ought to comprise high quality components that can preserve your cat wholesome, and ideally, actual meat ought to be the primary ingredient on the ingredient checklist. The first ingredient on this checklist is the principle ingredient, so there’s extra of it within the meals than anything. And as a result of felines are obligate carnivores, they require meat to outlive. Also, ideally, meals shouldn’t have numerous carbs on the prime of the ingredient checklist; carbs ought to come after the meat. Fruits and veggies ought to come after that (although some meals will use vitamin dietary supplements as an alternative of fruits and veggies to chop prices).
Wet or Dry
You doubtless seen we included moist and dry meals on this checklist. But which is best on your kitten? Well, moist cat meals supplies your kitty with further moisture that helps them to remain hydrated, which is vital, as cats usually don’t drink sufficient water. However, moist cat meals tends to be costlier than dry meals. Kibble will cost much less and comprise all of the vitamins your pet wants, but it surely gained’t present further moisture. It will even have extra carbs than moist meals, so if carbs are a priority, you might wish to go together with moist meals.
You don’t have to decide on one or the opposite, although! Many kitties love a mix of dry and moist meals.
DHA
You additionally in all probability seen that we talked about DHA fairly a bit in our critiques. Any kitten meals you select ought to have DHA, which is an omega-3 fatty acid that aids in mind improvement. This is a crucial nutrient for kittens (and most kitten meals ought to have it).
Nutritional Needs Met
Other dietary wants should be met for a kitten in addition to having sufficient DHA in a meals. Kittens additionally require extra protein, energy, and fats of their diets than grownup cats. These greater quantities of protein, energy, and fats will assist gas their our bodies as they develop and assist them keep all that vitality they’ll have! If your kitten meals is Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) authorised for feline development, then it’s a nutritionally balanced kitten food plan.
Cost
There is numerous variation in kitten meals prices. Wet meals can cost greater than dry, and sure manufacturers are simply downright expensive. However, you must be capable of discover a kitten meals that matches into your finances; it simply could require a go searching. If you discover a meals you want but it surely’s on the expensive aspect, store round for a meals that has the identical or related components however prices a bit much less.
Reviews
Reading critiques from kitten mother and father who’ve tried the meals you’re contemplating is among the finest methods to get an correct learn on how good a meals is. These critiques will provide you with a extra sincere have a look at how kittens do on a meals, so you’ve gotten a greater concept of whether or not it will likely be appropriate on your kitty or not.
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Conclusion
Here’s a fast look again at our prime 5 picks! If you need our suggestion for the perfect general kitten meals, select Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula, because it has tons of protein from actual hen, and most kittens love the style. For the perfect worth, contemplate Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Turkey Feast Canned Cat Food, because it’s reasonably priced and provides the kitty loads of actual meat. If you’re on the lookout for a premium choice, Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food has high quality components and leaves coats shiny. Finally, IAMS ProLively Health Kitten Dry Cat Food is well digestible, and Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Natural Chicken Dry Kitten Food accommodates loads of protein and DHA for rising kittens.
Featured Image Credit: Gladskikh Tatiana, Shutterstock
