Is your cat a die-hard semi moist cat food fan? We found that Purina’s Fancy Feast Broths is a favorite of cats that love semi moist cat food.
Because traditional semi moist cat food is hard to find, we’ve put together a list of great options that are chock full of the nutrients your cats need and fulfil that craving for a firm yet moist and easy to chew meal.
Our top 5 picks for the best semi moist cat food
- Purina Fancy Feast Broths Wet Cat Food Complement
- Hill’s Science Diet Minced Wet Canned Food
- Wellness Healthy Indulgence Natural Grain Free Wet Cat Food Morsels
- Castor & Pollux Pristine Grain Free Wet Cat Food Morsels in Gravy
- Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Natural Wild Cuts
Semi moist food options
Semi moist cat foods are ideally used as toppers or treats. We’ll walk you through a variety of the best semi moist cat food options available today. After researching dozens of brands, the following are our top five picks.
#1. Purina Fancy Feast Broths Cat Food Complement – Our Top Pick!
Made with real chicken or fish pieces, these broths are one of the best semi moist cat foods on the market. Picky cats will enjoy the varied textures of shredded protein with a silky, rich broth. Since this is a soft cat food kitties with missing teeth will also appreciate it. Fancy Feast Broths are an easy to serve pouch food.
Pros
- Omega 3 fatty acids (in the seafood varieties)
- Senior and adult cat options
- Extra moisture to boost your cat’s hydration
- No fillers
Cons
- Complimentary topper, not a meal replacement
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2. Hill’s Science Diet Minced Wet Cat Food
If you’re looking for one of the best semi moist foods that are backed by veterinarians, Hill’s Science Diet minced wet canned food is worth a try. This food option contains savory minced morsels that might fool your cat into thinking they’re eating dry food packed with a little extra moisture. Hill’s is a veterinary brand so it’s slightly more expensive than the other food options. But can be used in place of your cat’s current food as it’s a complete and balanced food according to AAFCO.
Pros
- Fish oil with omega-three fatty acids (all varieties)
- Veterinary-backed nutrition formulas
- High-quality protein options
- Tastes specially formulated to attract picky eaters
Cons
- Closer to canned food texture than the other options
- Premium price
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3. Wellness Morsels Healthy Indulgence
Wellness is a top-rated premium brand boasting natural ingredients that can provide the energy your cat needs to stay active and healthy. This is one of the best semi moist food options thanks to the irresistible morsels and savory gravy sauce that 9 out of 10 cats agree is downright delicious. This semi moist option also comes in shreds to satisfy your cat’s texture preference. Use it as a food topper.
Pros
- Omega 3 fatty acids (all varieties)
- Essential vitamins and additional antioxidants
- Meat as the first ingredients
- Extra moisture to boost your cat’s hydration
Cons
- Not a full meal replacement option
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4. Castor & Pollux Pristine Grain Free Morsels
This line of soft cat food promises responsibly sourced protein options, grain free, and no artificial ingredients. You’ll find this is one of the best semi moist food options to complement your cat’s diet thanks to the decadent flavors and textures.
Pros
- Free of fillers, grains, or soy
- Extra moisture to boost your cat’s hydration
- Organic produce
- Essential vitamins
Cons
- Not a full meal replacement option
- Omega 3 fatty acids not listed as an ingredient
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5. Blue Wilderness Tasty Toppers Wild Cuts
Blue Buffalo Wilderness is known for its high-quality pet food, and these high protein grain free toppers are some of the best semi moist food options. These morsels are not in as much of a gravy sauce and resemble the old semi moist cat foods from the past. Use as a topper and not a replacement for your cat’s usual food, especially since it does not contain taurine, which cats need to retain heart health.
Pros
- High amounts of natural protein options
- Grain free
- Free of meat by-products
- Extra moisture to boost your cat’s hydration
Cons
- Not a full meal replacement option
- Taurine not listed as an ingredient
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Semi moist cat food: An overview
In the 1970s, semi moist cat food became a popular option for picky eaters and cats who weren’t interested in wet food but needed a low-carb solution that contained higher amounts of water. Semi moist cat food is exactly what it sounds like, soft dry food for cats. This type of moist cat food looked like dry kibble for cats but contained more water than traditional dry foods.
The higher water content in this cat food created a dry food that is soft, which many cats found appealing. Cat owners were also happy to find a soft dry cat food their cats enjoyed finally.
Unfortunately, semi moist cat food is often not a healthy option for many cats. Not only is this wet food hybrid for cats packed full of preservatives, sugar, and salt that may not be healthy for every cat, it’s also been linked to diseases in cats.
It’s been shown that cats who regularly eat semi moist cat food have higher levels of Heinz bodies and lower masses of red cells within their bodies. This is due to the presence of propylene glycol. High amounts of Heinz bodies have been linked to anemia in many cats and are also associated with other serious diseases.
Semi moist cat food was mostly pulled from grocery store shelves after research indicated it could be harmful to your cat’s health. However, many cats enjoyed this diet, and cat owners were left feeling discouraged and looking for new options for their cats.
Semi moist cat food today
Today, cats have more variety than ever when it comes to food. Cats can enjoy dry, canned, raw, and every cat food in between in a large selection of flavors, styles, and sizes. There’s pet food specifically designed for indoor cats, cats with diseases and health problems, specific cat breeds, and stages of life.
Still, with all the variety, finding foods your cat likes can still be tricky. While some cats enjoy moist canned options, others encouraged to eat wet cat food still prefer individual kibbles to moist options.
Luckily, there are plenty of safe ways to find or make dry food that is softer without the unsafe side effects of semi moist food.
Here are some options to try if your cat is a picky eater:
- Mix wet and dry cat food together. You can create your own recipe by mixing together portions of canned and dry food. Start by mixing small amounts at a time to get your cat interested in the food. This is a good compromise that many cats are eager to accept since it still means they get to enjoy their dry food.
- Opt for canned cat food morsels. Although canned cat food with morsels is still technically moist food, the individual morsels can remind cats of kibble. It might be easier to convince your finicky eater to enjoy this moist cat food if it looks more like dry food.
- Try food toppers. Cat food toppers might be the trick needed to make your cat’s meal more appetizing.
- Talk to your vet. Sometimes cats prefer dry food for reasons you can’t identify on your own. Maybe your cat has an allergy to an ingredient in canned food, or perhaps you’ve chosen a lower calorie food that doesn’t satisfy your cat’s needs. If you’re struggling to get, your cat to eat canned options and do not feel comfortable serving them dry food, speak to your vet for further recommendations.
Is there a cat food like Tender Vittles?
Years ago, many of the semi-moist cat foods were made from poor quality ingredients. In 2007 Tender Vittles was discontinued, and other brands followed soon after or changed their recipes.
Tender Vittles was one of the leading brands of semi moist cat food in the 1970s and 1980s, and many cat lovers still remember how much their cats loved this food. Although Tender Vittles was discontinued by its parent company, Purina, in 2003, it was purchased by Retrobrands U.S.A. and relaunched in 2011.
Tender Vittles has semi moist cat food and canned options, so while the brand itself shouldn’t be avoided, make sure you use the semi moist cat food as a food topper only. Think of this as a special treat versus an entire meal.
What is good soft dry cat food?
Semi moist cat food was once a soft dry cat kibble alternative but is now hard to find and not recommended as a full meal replacement option. Using semi moist food toppers to mix with dry or wet food or mixing wet and dry together to soften kibble is recommended.
How can I make my cat’s food moist?
There are a few ways to moisten your cat’s food. No matter the food (wet or dry), the best and most affordable method is to add more water to their food to increase moisture intake. This can turn canned options into more of a gravy dish and will soften dry kibble. Alternatively, you can try mixing dry kibble into wet, canned foods.
Is semi moist food good for cats missing teeth?
Canned or soft cat food is what vets recommend for cats missing teeth or, in some cases, cats without teeth. If your cat insists on eating kibble by scooping up the pieces with his tongue, try adding broth or water to moisten the hard kibble.
Top takeaways
Semi moist cat foods are not the same as they used to be, and that’s a good thing! Pet owners can rest assured that today’s semi moist cat foods are much healthier and safer for cats. And while many semi moist options are only intended to be used as complimentary food toppers, they can help picky cats eat more of their regular diet.
If you’re looking for a semi moist pet food option for your cat to replace their existing wet or dry food, we recommend Purina’s Fancy Feast Broths. It’s made with pieces of real chicken or fish, and these broths are one of the best wet cat foods on the market.
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