Congratulations in your new kitten! Now comes the onerous half—selecting the most effective kitten meals to maintain them wholesome and robust 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 most effective meals on your kitty, we’re right here to assist.
We’ve put collectively fast opinions of the highest ten finest kitten meals in the marketplace, plus a purchaser’s information that may assist you determine what to search for in a meals. All of those are merely suggestions, although; if in case you have any health-related considerations about meals on your kitten, it’s best to converse along with your vet for the most effective 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 elements: | 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 opinions and offers your furry good friend with loads of protein through actual rooster. This meals presents your kitten fully balanced vitamin 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 may assist preserve your kitten wholesome as they develop. Best of all, this meals is kitten-approved, as most cat dad and mom raved that their kittens beloved the style.
However, all kitties are people, so there have been a couple of felines who didn’t get pleasure from this meals in any respect. The greatest criticism from cat dad and mom 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 elements. We additionally advocate transitioning diets step by step 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 ordinary.
Pros
- Most kittens love the style
- Contains added calcium, DHA, and antioxidants
- Protein comes from actual rooster
Cons
- Made some kittens have free stools
- Made poop odor a lot worse for some kitties
2. Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Turkey Feast Canned Cat Food– Best Value
| Main elements: | Turkey, Meat By-Products, Liver |
| Protein content material: | 11% |
| Fat content material: | 5% |
| Calories: | 92 kcal per can |
If you’re searching for the most effective 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 many who have problem chewing dry meals. This moist meals by Fancy Feast doesn’t solely give you the most effective worth but in addition lets your kitten get pleasure from actual turkey (together with liver and fish!) as a part of a nutritionally balanced weight loss 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 dad and mom 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. Just a few 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 elements: | 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, take a look at Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten meals! Made with actual rooster and different high-quality elements, like brown rice and complete grain oats, this meals offers 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 may 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 dad and mom commented that this meals left their pets’ coats tremendous shiny and appeared glorious for cognitive improvement. Several choosy eaters wouldn’t contact this meals, so if that seems like your kitten, this meals could should be averted.
Pros
- Contains high quality elements
- Has prebiotic fibers that may 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 elements: | 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 sturdy, wholesome felines. It does this by packing in protein through actual rooster 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 attainable immune system. One cat proprietor beloved that this meals had comparable protein ranges to dearer cat meals, whereas one other beloved the straightforward digestibility of it. And a number of cat dad and mom commented on how wholesome their kittens have 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 dad and mom additionally felt like the worth of this meals was an excessive amount of for what it was.
Pros
- Plenty of protein from actual rooster
- Cat dad and mom felt kittens who ate this have 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 elements: | 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 presents your pet loads of protein with deboned rooster, in addition to the standard mixture of important minerals, nutritional vitamins, and antioxidants. But this meals additionally offers your kitty with taurine, ARA, and DHA to assist preserve the eyes, the center, and the mind wholesome whereas growing. While cats beloved the style of this meals (even choosy eaters!), their dad and mom loved how fairly and glossy their kitties’ coats seemed.
Quite a couple 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 should be averted. There have been additionally a handful of allergic reactions to this meals, akin 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 elements: | 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 through the first yr of their life. Also that includes DHA, calcium, phosphorus, and dwell probiotics, this meals is designed to help within the improvement of the mind, assist preserve bones and tooth sturdy, and strengthen the immune system. Plus, with shreds of meat blended in among the many crunchy kibble, the style is bound to please any kitten! People who purchased this meals have been followers of how this meals helped clear up digestive points, akin to free 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 dwell 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 elements: | 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 essential, so why not feed them a meals that’s each scrumptious and wholesome? Hill’s Science Diet offers your kitten with the delectable style of roast rooster whereas giving all of them the vitamin 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 assist preserve kitties higher hydrated! Picky eaters, specifically, appeared to be massive followers of this one.
Some cat dad and mom felt that the cans have been too small and didn’t supply sufficient meals, although. Some additionally mentioned this canned meals was notably 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 get pleasure from
Cons
- Some thought the cans have been too small
- Food is perhaps a bit too chunky for smaller kittens
- Just a few folks discovered the meals further smelly
8. Diamond Naturals Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
| Main elements: | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice |
| Protein content material: | 34% |
| Fat content material: | 22% |
| Calories: | 460 kcal per cup |
This kitten-recipe meals offers kittens with lots of protein from actual rooster whereas additionally providing them DHA for wholesome imaginative and prescient and mind improvement. That isn’t all this meals presents your kitten, although! This meals by Diamond Naturals can also be wealthy in vitamins, like minerals and nutritional vitamins, attributable to all of the superfoods it accommodates. What kind of superfoods will you discover right here? Blueberries, kale, and coconut, to call a couple of. Plus, there are many omega-3 fatty acids on this meals to assist preserve the kitty’s coat trying unbelievable. Cat dad and mom felt the items of this meals have been the proper measurement for kittens and beloved the elements.
Unfortunately, a couple of kittens’ stomachs didn’t fairly agree with this meals, so there have been some cases of diarrhea after consuming; which may very well be attributable to an intolerance of an ingredient or altering meals quickly. Just a few 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 measurement is ideal for kittens
Cons
- Kittens with delicate stomachs could not do properly on this
- May make poop smelly
9. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Loaf in Sauce Canned Cat Food
| Main elements: | 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 offer a kitten the whole lot 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 power 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, they usually developed diarrhea consequently; we advocate a gradual transition to make sure your cat will tolerate it. Just a few cat dad and mom additionally had points with the can measurement; they felt it was a bit too giant, as their cats usually left meals on their plates, so dad and mom needed to refrigerate what was left within the can.
Pros
- Helps preserve the kitty’s power 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 elements: | Turkey, Chicken Liver, Turkey Broth |
| Protein content material: | 12% |
| Fat content material: | 7.5% |
| Calories: | 205 kcal per can |
You is perhaps keen on attempting out a grain-free weight loss plan on your kitten. While grain-free diets don’t sometimes pose a well being danger for felines, it’s nonetheless advisable to verify along with your vet earlier than inserting your kitty on a grain-free meals. If you do resolve to go grain-free, you may wish to do this meals by Wellness CORE. This kitten meals is targeted on protein (which you’ll see as the primary three elements are all meat-based), nevertheless it additionally offers your kitty with different wholesome, healthful elements, akin to cranberries and fish oil. The fish oil presents your kitty omega-3 fatty acids to maintain their coat shiny and DHA for eye and mind improvement. This meals appears notably good for serving to underweight felines acquire a couple of kilos.
There have been a couple of complaints concerning the cans being lower than full and a handful concerning the texture of the meals being inconsistent.
Pros
- Has wholesome elements
- Is good for serving to underweight kitties acquire weight
Cons
- Cans is probably not stuffed to the brim
- Texture of meals appears to be inconsistent
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Food for Kittens
Choosing the most effective meals on your kitten may be difficult. After all, you need the healthiest meals with the most effective elements attainable and one which helps your kitten develop as they need to whereas being simply digestible. However, there are specific issues to think about when selecting kitten meals that may make the method a bit less complicated.
Ingredients
What elements a kitten meals accommodates is essential to picking the correct of meals on your kitty. Kitten meals ought to comprise high quality elements that may 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 the rest. And as a result of felines are obligate carnivores, they require meat to outlive. Also, ideally, meals shouldn’t have lots of 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 possible observed we included moist and dry meals on this checklist. But which is best on your kitten? Well, moist cat meals offers your kitty with further moisture that helps them to remain hydrated, which is essential, as cats usually don’t drink sufficient water. However, moist cat meals tends to be dearer than dry meals. Kibble will cost much less and comprise all of the vitamins your pet wants, nevertheless it received’t present further moisture. It may also have extra carbs than moist meals, so if carbs are a priority, you could 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 observed that we talked about DHA fairly a bit in our opinions. 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 have to be met for a kitten moreover 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 gasoline their our bodies as they develop and assist them keep all that power they’ll have! If your kitten meals is Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) authorized for feline development, then it’s a nutritionally balanced kitten weight loss plan.
Cost
There is lots of variation in kitten meals prices. Wet meals can cost greater than dry, and sure manufacturers are simply downright expensive. However, it’s best to have the ability to discover a kitten meals that matches into your finances; it simply could require a go searching. If you discover a meals you want nevertheless it’s on the expensive aspect, store round for a meals that has the identical or comparable elements however prices a bit much less.
Reviews
Reading opinions from kitten dad and mom who’ve tried the meals you’re contemplating is likely one of the finest methods to get an correct learn on how good a meals is. These opinions provides you with a extra trustworthy take a look at how kittens do on a meals, so you have got a greater concept of whether or not it will likely be appropriate on your kitty or not.
Conclusion
Here’s a fast look again at our prime 5 picks! If you need our suggestion for the most effective general kitten meals, select Purina ONE +Plus Healthy Kitten Formula, because it has tons of protein from actual rooster, and most kittens love the style. For the most effective worth, think about Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Turkey Feast Canned Cat Food, because it’s reasonably priced and presents the kitty loads of actual meat. If you’re searching for a premium choice, Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food has high quality elements 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
