Kittens need nutritious food from the start. With a plethora of brands claiming to make the best food for kittens, it can be challenging to filter through the results.
Our top 6 picks for the best kitten food
- Nulo Freestyle Chicken and Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Food
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
- Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Kitten Food
- Wellness Complete Health Kitten Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
- Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Grain-Free Natural Canned Cat and Kitten Food
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Delights Flaked Chicken and Trout in Tasty Gravy
The best kitten foods:
1. Nulo Freestyle Chicken and Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Food
This is one of the best dry kitten food products out there. This grain-free kitten food uses 83% animal-based proteins, including real chicken. It’s made without tapioca or potatoes. As a result, it is an excellent source of bio-available protein to help kittens grow into a healthy adult cat.
Pros
- It helps with vision and a healthy heart.
- A grain-free formula.
- Regulates blood sugar levels.
- Makes a shiny, beautiful coat.
- Stays fresh for a long time.
Cons
- It might be too dry for some kittens.
- It can be an expensive option.
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It’s created with wholesome and natural ingredients. The first four are deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and deboned cod. The blend of meat, poultry, and fish provides plenty of nutrients and minerals.
The grain free formula makes it ideal for adult cats, too. We know how picky cats can be with food, so you won’t have to entice them with this good kitten food.
The disk-shaped texture makes it easy for kittens to swallow and limits choking.
Nulo designed this kitten food with an array of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. This supports a shiny, healthy coat.
It’s also a good option for cats with underlying health conditions. Nulo’s dry food includes a patented BC30 pure probiotic strain that supports gastrointestinal health.
Cats who need a low carbohydrate and glycemic food will be able to eat from this Nulo line. This food provides an array of antioxidants and vitamins, including Vitamins C and E, to support your cat’s vision and help it to develop a healthy heart.
Lentils and sweet potatoes regulate blood sugar levels. Giving your kitten energy without sudden crashes.
2. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Blue Buffalo makes this grain free dry kitten food with real chicken as the first ingredient. You won’t find any grains, wheat, or gluten in this product. It offers plenty of protein to support a kitten’s health. It satisfies their cravings and has a flavor cats love.
Pros
- Great for picky eaters
- It helps to develop a healthy immune system
- Made with healthy, natural ingredients
- Bursting with Omega-3 fatty acids
Cons
- May not be suitable for adult cats on a low-calorie diet
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Antioxidants can help your pet digest food. This formula is full of antioxidants. It provides plenty of vitamins and minerals to support a healthy immune system.
This Blue Buffalo kitten food formula contains healthy amounts of the following ingredients:
- Apples
- Spinach
- Blueberries
- Pumpkin
These ingredients provide an excellent source of fiber, Vitamins A and C, antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, iron, and potassium.
This dry kitten food has many benefits. It promotes healthy heart, eye, and brain development. It’s also rich in deboned protein to help develop strong, healthy muscles. Plus it’s tasty to kittens.
The combination of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids helps to develop good skin, a glossy coat, and a healthy immune system. Enriched with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it’s a winner.
3. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Kitten Food
One of the most reputable pet food brands, Royal Canin manufactures this food for kittens. It’s formulated for kittens up to 12 months.
Pros
- Uses delicious gravy for kittens who like wet food
- Easy to chew
- Low-calorie food
- Supports your kitten’s immune system
Cons
- Not grain-free
- Not gluten-free
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Royal Canin makes this canned kitten food with a balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It’s pre-sliced into small pieces to make it easier for kittens to digest and chew. Royal Canin created this food to promote healthy digestion and growth.
All the ingredients are natural and are low in preservatives. Only citric acid and rosemary extract help food stay fresh for longer.
If you’re searching for the best wet kitten food to support a healthy immune system, this is a great option. This food helps kittens fight illnesses and diseases as they grow by using a variety of antioxidants.
Kittens crave gravy in this wet food. It uses water, chicken, chicken liver, pork liver, wheat gluten, and egg product.
4. Wellness Complete Health Kitten Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Wellness kitten food helps nourish your kitten’s entire body from the inside out. The first ingredient is chicken. This makes it an excellent value for money compared to other foods that use more water.
Pros
- Features quality chicken protein
- Uses healthy, nutritious ingredients
- Omega fatty acids develop healthy skin and coat
- Supports a healthy immune system
- Free from artificial colors and flavors
Cons
- Some customers reported that their kittens don’t like the taste
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The chicken provides plenty of protein for your kitten to grow into a healthy, adult cat. This helps their muscles to grow and fuels them with energy for their daily adventures.
Wellness manufactured this grain free canned food with a range of essential omegas. This includes flax seeds and fish oil, so your cat develops a healthy coat and skin. Plus, the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants help to promote healthy growth spurts.
Wellness uses only fresh and natural ingredients in this kitten food. Ingredients include:
- Blueberries
- Ground flaxseed
- Sweet potatoes
- Cranberries
- Chicory root extract
When combined, these ingredients provide your cat with plenty of energy. The added Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids help develop a healthy coat and skin. There’s also plenty of calcium in the canned food for healthy teeth and gums. Vitamins A and E support a healthy immune system to fight off illnesses and infections.
5. Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Grain-Free Natural Canned Cat and Kitten Food
This natural grain-free canned kitten food will satisfy your kitty’s taste buds and provide all the nutrition they need. This high protein canned food will give your kitten all the energy they need to play and grow.
Pros
- Great for kittens and cats
- Excellent value for money
- Packed with marine-based protein
- Digestible
- Supports urinary health
- Suitable for kittens with allergies
- Free from artificial colors and flavors
Cons
- Some cats won’t like the fishy taste
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The first ingredients including tuna and mackerel. Your kitten will love the taste, while you’re receiving excellent value for money.
There’s nothing artificial about the ingredients in this kitten wet food. So no need for concern that they’re eating grains or unhealthy fillers. This makes this choice suitable for cats with food allergies or food sensitivities and makes it one of the healthiest kitten food options on our list.
Every ingredient has a purpose for helping your kitten become as healthy as they can be. Along with marine proteins, there are blueberries, apples, cranberries, carrots, and spinach. All packed with essential vitamins and minerals.
Combined with gravy, soft skipjack tuna and mackerel are easily digestible for kittens. This food helps to support a healthy immune system, heart, and vision health.
With Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, your kitten’s fur will also shine.
6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Wild Delights Flaked Chicken and Trout in Tasty Gravy
Once your kitten has a taste of this Blue Buffalo food, they’ll come back for more. It’s natural grain-free and gluten-free ingredients ensure you’re stocking up on the healthiest kitten food possible.
Pros
- Grain-free
- Free from artificial flavors and preservatives
- Easy for kittens to digest
- Flaked texture for a delicious taste
- Real meat chunks
Cons
- Kittens may eat it all at once
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The tasty contents include chicken and trout for the high protein intake cats need. It’s also packed with vitamins and minerals to help your kitten grow into a healthy adult cat.
This nutritious food for kittens uses a special essential fatty acid found in mother’s milk to help with growth spurts and muscle development. Thanks to the gravy, this wet food is easy for young kittens to digest and contains pieces of high-quality, real meat for texture and flavor.
There’s no mention of fruits and vegetables but it still offers all the essential vitamins and minerals kittens need to support their and healthy heart and immune system.
How to choose the best kitten food
Before diving into the best kitten foods, consider these important factors before deciding on the most suitable food for your kitten.
Choosing kitten food
This might sound obvious, but make sure you choose food that’s formulated for cats up to 12 months. Adult cat food isn’t made for young kittens. It doesn’t contain all the essential vitamins, minerals, and proteins growing kittens need to become a healthy cat.
Avoid artificial ingredients
Some cat food brands use artificial flavors and artificial colors. This is because they’re cheaper than real bio-available ingredients like chicken and fish. Artificial ingredients are common and don’t provide nutritional value for your kitten.
Avoid ingredients like rendered fat or food dyes. As a general rule, if you can’t pronounce the ingredient, or don’t recognize it, avoid it. (2)
Choose healthy bio-available ingredients
Look for natural bio-available ingredients that help support your kitten’s immune system, heart, vision, and coat. Good kitten food should have a good source of protein, either from meat, real chicken, or fish.
It should contain amino acids (3), which are essential for growing into a healthy cat.
Like in humans, it’s vital that your kitten gets its daily dose of vitamins and minerals. Ingredients rich in vitamins include spinach, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and more.
TIP: Manufacturers list their ingredients by quantity. The first ingredient listed on the packaging is the most common in the food. For cats and kittens, this should always be an animal protein, like real chicken or chicken meal. If the first ingredient listed is water, you’re getting less nutrition for your money.
Wet or dry kitten food
Should you feed your new kitten dry or wet food? There are pros and cons to both.
Wet kitten food
Wet food comes in cans or pouches to keep the moisture locked in. It is pre-portioned so you can feed your growing kitten the right amount for their age and weight.
Vets often recommend feeding wet cat food if a cat is in poor health or has a medical condition. This reduces the risk of urinary tract infections, kidney infections, and dehydration. Because of its water content, eating wet food increases urination. This helps flush out urinary crystals and prevent dehydration.
But, the best wet food for your kitten is more expensive than dry food, making it a burden for pet owners on a budget. Once you’ve opened the can of wet food, your cat should eat it within a few hours, or it could spoil.
Wet food that has dried out in the bowl is hard to clean. If it’s left outside, there’s the possibility it may attract insects and other vermin.
Dry kitten food
Dry food (4) is available in a bigger package that you can feed your kitten specific sized portions.
This makes it ideal for kittens with an appetite that doesn’t match a pre-measured portion. You can reseal the bag tightly after opening it, helping to keep the food fresh longer.
Dry food is ideal for cats who like to eat their meals at different times throughout the day. It can sit in their bowl for hours without spoiling.
The biggest downside of dry food is that it’s dry. Cats are carnivores and get most of their daily water intake from their food. Feeding your kitten a dry kitten food diet is not recommended. This can lead to dehydration and bladder obstructions. On top of that, dry food is harder to digest which can be challenging for young kittens who are still teething.
Can you mix wet and dry food?
Try feeding your kitten both wet and dry food to see if they have a preference. It’s common for cat owners to mix wet and dry food.
When you mix dry and wet food, try feeding your cat one meal of wet food and let them nibble on dry food throughout the day. Or, you might incorporate both types into one bowl. If so, try to mix them well to keep your cat from eating all of one and not the other. (5)
So which is the best cat food for kittens?
If you are looking for a clear winner, Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Kitten Food is it.
This is the best wet food for kittens because it has the perfect balance of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. As a result, your kitty won’t be hungry before their next meal, and they’ll have heaps of energy to run around all day.
This kitten food supports healthy digestion and growth. Plus it doesn’t use any artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. It helps your kitten to grow into a strong and healthy cat. You’ll feel comfortable knowing that your kitten is eating a healthy nutritious diet.
Sources:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3F3nzkzRnE
- https://www.petmd.com/blogs/nutritionnuggets/cat/dr-coates/2015/april/everything-you-need-know-about-cat-food-and-protein-32590
- https://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/feeding-your-adult-cat-what-you-need-to-know
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDBwX5NjMSs
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