10 Best Healthy Canned, Soft, & Wet Cat Food 2024 - Cats.com (original) (raw)
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
The best wet cat food is like a freshly killed mouse in a can. It’s soft, juicy, and delicious while providing all the protein, fat, and micronutrients your cat needs to stay fit and frisky—without excessive carbohydrates or unnecessary additives.
In this guide, you’ll discover the benefits of wet cat food and learn how to make a healthy choice for your cat. We’ve also included in-depth reviews of our favorite recipes.
At a Glance: Top 10 Best Wet Cat Foods to Buy
Best for Sensitive Digestion
Why Trust Cats.com
Kirsten McCarthy / Cats.com
When selecting wet cat foods for testing, I prioritized recipes made primarily with animal ingredients and chose a variety of flavors and textures. My selections were informed by in-depth research into the nutritional value of wet food for cats as well as my own experience having tested hundreds of products with my own cats.
I ordered these products at full price and tested them at home with my two cats, Wessie and Forest. While my cats provided their opinions on taste and general appeal, I performed an in-depth analysis of the product information and made my own observations. I also researched the brands, seeking information about their recall history, manufacturing practices, and general reputation within the cat-lover community. Here’s the full methodology behind our cat food ratings.
I also consulted our team of veterinary experts to determine what features to look for in a healthy wet cat food.
Finally, we consulted seven veterinarians to get their professional opinion on what makes great cat food.
Our Veterinary Advisors
- Sarah Wooten, DVM, CVJ
- Chris Vanderhoof, DVM, MPH
- Sarah Reidenbach, DVM
- Chyrle Bonk, DVM
- Jamie Whittenburg, DVM
- Albert Ahn, DVM
- Elizabeth Youens, DVM
Top Picks Explained
We’re constantly updating our recommendations, so the products in this video no longer match our top picks, but the video still offers an in-depth look at some of the brands on this list.
Is Wet Food Better for Cats Than Dry Food?
Veterinarian Dr. Lizzie Youens, BSc, VCSc, MRCVS states that “our domestic pet cats have not altered their physiology much from their wildcat ancestor. Cats are carnivores: they are nutritionally dependent on meat.”
Some types of food are more in line with your cat’s carnivorous needs than others. Across the price spectrum and all varieties, wet food is almost universally lower in plant ingredients, starches, and sugars than kibble.
The high carbohydrate content of dry cat food is hard to nutritionally justify. Some high-carb ingredients are necessary for the extrusion process to work but your cat’s ability to digest and utilize nutrients from plant ingredients is limited. Carnivorous animals like your cat are better physiologically adapted to processing animal products.
It’s also important to understand that cats don’t naturally drink a lot of water—they instinctively prefer to get moisture from their food. Though cats who eat dry food do drink more water than those on moist diets, they nevertheless get less hydration than a wet food-fed cat. Because they take in so much less water, these cats are prone to chronic dehydration and, consequently, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).
The 10 Best Canned, Soft, & Wet Cat Foods on the Market
Best Wet Cat Food: Comparison Table
| Product Name | Smalls Ground Bird Fresh Cat Food | Open Farm Harvest Chicken Rustic Blend | Dave’s Pet Food Naturally Healthy Grain-Free Turkey Formula Canned Food | RAWZ 96% Turkey & Turkey Liver Paté | Tiki Cat Succulent Chicken Recipe in Chicken Consommé | Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites Dinner | Koha Chicken Stew | Caru Classics Turkey Stew | Ziwi Peak Venison Recipe | Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Frick ‘A Zee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Protein | Chicken | Chicken | Turkey | Turkey | Chicken | Beef | Chicken Stew | Turkey | Venison | Chicken |
| Age Range | All Life Stages | All Life Stages | Adult | All Life Stages | Adult | Adult | Adult | All Life Stages | All Life Stages | Adult |
| Guaranteed Protein | 13% | 7% | 10% | 9% | 16% | 10% | 8% | 9% | 10% | 10% |
| Calories Per Ounce | 40 | 30 | 33 | 37 | 25 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 34 | 23 |
| Cost Per Day | 4.00perday∣4.00 per day | 4.00perday∣3.60 per day | 1.64perday∣1.64 per day | 1.64perday∣2.90 per day | 5.00perday∣5.00 per day | 5.00perday∣6.00 per day | 3.30perday∣3.30 per day | 3.30perday∣3.60 per day | 7.00perday∣7.00 per day | 7.00perday∣3.50 per day |
*Cost per day is calculated using the food’s average cost per ounce and the daily caloric requirement for a healthy adult cat (about 200 calories).
What to Look for When Buying Wet Cat Food
With its focus on animal ingredients and hydrating moisture, wet cat food is one of the most species-appropriate options for cats. But all wet cat foods are not created equal. It’s important to prioritize formulas that complement your cat’s biology as an obligate carnivore and avoid additives that could harm your cat.
Here are a few things to consider when shopping for wet cat food.
Choose Low-Carbohydrate Options
Dr. Youens reminds us that, as carnivores, cats “have quite unique needs from their diet, gaining most of their energy from protein rather than carbohydrate and using fats to process certain vitamins and essential nutrients.” An ideal diet for cats gets fewer than 10% of its calories from carbohydrates. When carbohydrates are included, whole grains and low-glycemic veggies are preferable to harder-to-digest ingredients like peas and legumes.
Prioritize Animal-Sourced Protein
Your cat’s body is designed to process whole prey, so animal-sourced ingredients are more biologically valuable than plants. Animal protein contains all the amino acids your cat needs, so it’s best to choose cat foods that list whole meat as the first ingredient. Plant proteins like corn gluten meal and pea protein aren’t carnivore-appropriate.
Dr. Albert Ahn, DVM recommends choosing whole proteins over meat by-products. While by-products are not necessarily problematic, there is some degree of uncertainty surrounding their quality. Dr. Ahn recommends cat foods “that are minimally-processed, using high quality, wholesome ingredients that can help provide excellent nutrition.”
Avoid Artificial Additives and Unsafe Ingredients
Synthetic flavors, colors, and preservatives can trigger inflammation or otherwise damage your cat’s health over time. It’s best to stick with wet cat foods that use natural alternatives. Canned foods tend to rely less heavily on preservatives than kibble but often make use of binders and thickeners. Though naturally derived, gum thickeners may contribute to loose stools while some ingredients, like carrageenan, have been called into question as a potential health risk.
Select Reputable Brands
Buy from companies with a reputation for quality control, safety, reliability, and good customer service. Avoid brands with an extensive history of recalls or poor customer service. There’s no need to dismiss a company based on a single minor recall, however, provided that they responded to it swiftly, honestly, and effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What wet food do vets recommend for cats?
Dr. Albert Ahn, DVM recommends that “pet owners look at the ingredient panel of the food they are purchasing for their kitten or adult cat. The more ingredients that are whole (e.g. chicken, beef, etc.), rather than heavily processed (e.g. chicken meal, fish meal, turkey meal, etc.), the better.”
What is the best wet cat food from the grocery store?
Product availability differs by location and store, so pet owners should evaluate individual products before making their selection. Choose a wet cat food that names a whole animal protein as the first ingredient. Foods with shorter ingredients lists tend to be more easily digestible, provided they do not contain artificial additives or a high concentration of plant ingredients.
What wet food is the healthiest for cats?
The healthiest option is one that honors your cat’s nutritional needs as an obligate carnivore. The food should contain a higher concentration of animal than plant ingredients, ideally with a carbohydrate content under 10% (measured as dry matter). It should be rich in moisture and free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
How many cans of wet cat food should a cat eat per day?
It depends on the recipe’s caloric density. A healthy 10-pound adult cat requires about 200 calories per day. To determine how many cans you’ll need to offer, divide 200 by the total number of calories per can. Alternatively, you can find the approximate per-ounce caloric density by dividing the calories per kilogram by 35.