Vet Recommended Dry Foods for Cats

Are you looking for the best dry food to feed your cat? Many food brands are available for your cat, that it may take you hours to find the best foods. Do not worry; we have spent the time to find the top 10 dry cat foods.

Dry cat food is great to feed your kitty. This food is hard and can help knock tartar off your kitty teeth. If your feline friend has any dental issues, it will not want to eat. By feeding dry food, you are also helping keep your cat’s teeth healthy.

Dry food is also easier for you to store for a longer period. Wet food is only good for just a few days after you open the can. This food can easily spoil if your cat does not eat it right away.

The Best Dry Cat Foods Recommended by Vet

When looking for good cat food, there are things that you will need to consider.

Common factors that we evaluated dry foods for are:

• High-quality protein.
• Free of fillers and dyes.
• A well-balanced diet that contains the needed vitamins and minerals.
• Meets AAFCO standards. ^[1]
• Palatability of the food.

All of these should be met in your cat’s diet.

There are many diets available for felines, but many contain fats and other fillers. Most cats love these diets, but they are not healthy and can cause them to become obese, leading to many other health issues. The diet that you feed is directly linked to your cat’s health. When picking out a diet to feed your kitty, you need to ensure that it will provide them with the correct nutrients and keep them healthy for many years.

How We Tested It?

When looking at diets, we looked for food that meets and exceeded these standards.

I also talked with many cat owners at my vet clinic to see what diets their cats actually liked to eat to help determine the palatability of the cat foods. While some cats can be very picky eaters, all these diets were favorited by cats from my clinic.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

These are the TOP-3 picks for dry foods that you can feed your cat:

*Ratings are formed by the author of the article based on own research and combined with customer reviews.

Our TOP-10 Dry Food for Cats Reviews

We have broken these foods into different categories through in-depth research to help you choose the greatest food brand for kitty’s specific needs.

1. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Chicken Recipe

Hill’s Science Diet is complete and balanced nutrition, made for indoor cats. This food is made with real chicken as the number one ingredient with high-quality protein to help to maintain lean muscle. It contains no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

This is the diet that I feed my personal cat. He is very picky and after trying many different diets this is the one that he loves the best. This diet contains all the needed vitamins and minerals that he needs to keep a healthy and shiny coat.  With this diet, he stays at a healthy weight and has not had any health issues his whole life.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

2. Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Adult Dry Cat Food with Probiotics

The first ingredient is a protein-packed chicken needed for strong muscular development in your cat. Purina Pro Plan’s Savor contains rice and lives probiotics to help support a healthy digestive system. It also contains vitamin A and fatty acids to give your pet beautiful skin and coat.

This is another great diet for cats. With chicken being the first ingredient and all the needed vitamins and minerals this makes this diet wonderful for your kitty. This is one diet that I do recommend for cats with gastrointestinal issues since it does contain a probiotic too. The probiotics will help keep your gastrointestinal flora balanced.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

3. Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend Adult Dry Cat Food

This food is made with real ingredients, including real carrots and peas. It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives. This formula uses real salmon as the first ingredient to provide your cat’s protein to support their strong muscles. Omega-6 fatty acids will help nourish and maintain healthy skin and a radiant coat. Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend Dry Cat Food has a great taste that your pet will love. It is the best supermarket dry cat food you can always count on.

This product contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition needed for all adult cats.

Also, it contains antioxidants that help supports a strong immune system, and the crunchy kibbles help decrease plaque build-up and help whiten teeth. This option contains no fillers.

This is my recommendation for people who have a limited budget for cat food. It is also a great diet to feed to stray cats that may be hanging out around your house. Even though it is a cheaper diet is still is completely balanced and contains all the needed nutrients without needing to give your cat extra vitamins.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

4. Rachael Ray Nutrish SuperFood Blends Dry Cat Food

This food is made from farm-raised chicken in the US as their first ingredient.

This means that it has more real chicken in their food than any other ingredient. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food does not contain ground corn, soy, wheat, or fillers. There are also no poultry by-product meals or artificial colors or preservatives in this formula. This would make this a great diet for cats with allergies.

The small-sized kibble is created to be easy for your pet to chew, no matter their size. Most cats love the crunch they get with this food when eating. This crunch also helps keep your cat’s teeth clean. The option is all-natural and contains many added minerals, vitamins, and taurine needed to help keep your pet healthy. This product will keep your family friend full and happy as it uses all-natural ingredients that you will love to feed your pet. It is specially formulated for your cat’s demanding taste. This is one of the greatest choices where your cat will need a natural diet with complete nutrition.

Some cats have food allergies and I find that this diet does help decrease the allergic response. I love that this diet uses chicken that is farm-raised in the USA. It also contains the needed vitamins and minerals for your cat to stay healthy and happy.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

Key benefits:

• No corn, soy, wheat, or fillers.
• All natural food.
• Has added vitamins and minerals.
• Great for indoor cats.

5. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food

Your indoor cat will require more nutrients and extra care. This formula has been made to fit the specific needs of an indoor cat and their nutritional requirement. This is a great recipe that helps decrease the odor of a stool. Since your pet will not be exercise as much as a pet that lives outside, your cats will have a slower intestinal process, which will cause a smelly poop.

This brand is known for and offers a highly digestible protein diet and comes with the appropriate fiber content. It also comes with special nutrients that can promote good digestion and help reduce the odor and quantity of a stool. This is formulated to have a moderate fat content that can adapt to the activity level of indoor cats. This is important to maintain and reach an ideal weight.

Because of the added fibers, this can also avoid the formation of hairballs. Aside from that, this meal can also help your cats develop stronger teeth and help them easily avoid different dental issues.

The is one of the more expensive diets on the list but does help decrease hairball formation. For cats with longer hair or indoor cats, this diet will help keep them full. The one great thing about this diet is that it helps decrease the odor in litter box. This is great for cats in small apartments where hiding a litter box can be very difficult.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

Key benefits:

• Helps reduce to odor from a stool.
• Promotes stronger teeth and bones.
• Decrease the risk of hairballs.
• Help keep your pet at an ideal body weight.
• Great for indoor and longhair cats.

6. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Cat Food

Blue Buffalo’s line will always include deboned chicken as the main ingredient. It also contains a protein source of chicken meal and fish meal for extra protein for your pet. It has antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables like carrots, cranberries, and blueberries. This product contains many healthy, complex carbohydrates such as peas, sweet potatoes, and potatoes.

This food never has any fillers, such as chicken by-products meals, corn, soy or wheat or artificial preservatives, and artificial flavors. All Blue Buffalo Wilderness foods contain their exclusive Life Source Bits. This is a precise blend of minerals, vitamins, and other antioxidants needed for a completely balanced diet.

For cats needing to gain weight, I recommend this diet. It is higher in protein than some of the other diets. This diet contains both chicken and fish and is great to feed your older cat who may need help gaining weight.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

Key benefits:

• Has deboned chicken as the first ingredient.
• Contains antioxidant rich fruits.
• Has additional protein from chicken meal and fish meal.
• Does not contain fillers, preservative or artificial flavors.
• Best for cats who need to gain weight.

7. Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food

Meow Mix Tender Centers has a hard, crunchy exterior and a soft interior in each food piece. The textured kibble is made from salmon and white meat flavors that include essential nutrients to support overall health. It is complete and balanced nutrition needed for your adult cats. 

This diet is great for cats who have dental disease. The crunchy outside will help decrease the tartar and plaque buildup and the soft centers will help keep the gums from becoming inflamed from the harder pieces.  This does contain a lower quality protein so it would not be my first recommendation for healthy cats.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

Key benefits:

• Soft and crunch kibble.
• Made with salmon and white meat flavors.
• Includes nutrients essential for health.
• Complete and balanced dry diet.

8. Instinct Raw Boost Healthy Weight Grain Free Recipe Natural Dry Cat Food

For cats that are eating a raw diet, a good choice is this product. This product comes in many varieties, including chicken, duck, and rabbit. This diet has high-protein kibble mixed with raw, freeze-dried meat. With this diet, your pet will also be eating prebiotics that helps them have healthy digestion, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids needed for a smooth coat, and antioxidants for a healthy immune system. There is no grain, potatoes, corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, or preservatives, making this a great choice for cats with food allergies.

This is another great diet that you can feed to your cat if they have food allergies. Many cats love this diet because it contained freeze-dried raw pieces of food. This diet is completely balanced and a great choice to feed your cat. This diet is also great for cats that are overweight as they have a lower fat content than some of the other diets on this list.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

Key benefits:

• No artificial colors or preservatives.
• Different varieties.
• Contains supplements to help with skin and digestion.
• Grain Free.
• Best for overweigh cats.

9. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult & Senior Dry Cat Food, Chicken

NUTRO Indoor Dry Cat Food is developed to help keep your senior kitty happy and healthy. It has a nutritious list of essential ingredients, such as farm-raised chicken and brown rice. The chicken provides your cat with the protein needed for strong muscles and a great taste that your pet will love. It also is a healthy weight formula that will prevent from becoming overweight. This formula also contains fatty acids needed for healthy skin and coat.

Senior cats need a diet that is higher in protein than other cats to help keep muscle mass and stay healthy. This is a great brand of cat food to feed older senior cat’s who are having a hard time maintaining their weight. This diet contains all the extra vitamins and minerals to support a healthy coat and supplements to help with heart and joint issues.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

Key benefits:

• Contains farm-raised chicken and brown rice.
• Has added proteins that are needed for strong muscles.
• It is a healthy weight formula to prevent obesity.
• Contains fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
• Best for senior cats.

10. ORIJEN High-Protein, Grain-Free, Premium Quality Meat, Dry Kitten Food

Orijen’s main ingredients are not just meats that your cats love but only the finest quality meat they can find from local sources to guarantee that their food is fresh. Every one of their products contains the needed nutrients to help in your kitten’s growth and development.

Each recipe is made to ensure that your cat gets the correct amount of nourishment they need. This means that they will have a lot of meat and protein in their diet.

The most major con seems to be the high price. This is very understandable since Orijen does not compromise on its quality. The meat is always high-quality and sourced responsibly, which may contribute to the expensive pricing.

Kittens need high-quality protein for their fast-growing bones and muscles. This diet provides kittens with all the vitamins and nutrients that they need without the need of adding any vitamins. I love that this diet also contains a large serving of vegetables for your cat too.

Dr. Sara Ochoa

Key benefits:

• Made from high-quality protein.
• Grain-Free.
• Contains fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Best for kittens.

11. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free with Real Rabbit

This food formula is ideal for pets with food sensitivities. Easily digestible granules containing rabbit or turkey meat. Formulated with essential amino acids and antioxidants for healthy skin, coat and immune system. Ingredients: Rabbit flour, peas, tapioca, canola oil, rabbit, flavoring, coconut oil, etc.

12. Purina Beyond Simply Grain-Free

This grain-free food is made to your exacting standards and contains absolutely no corn, wheat, soy, or by-products. Natural chicken meat is the first ingredient in this cat food. The formula also contains probiotics, vitamins, and minerals that are beneficial to your pet’s digestive system. Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, pea starch, cassava root flour, dried egg product, beef tallow.

13. Open Prairie Grain-Free RawMix for Cats

Not only high quality but also delicious. RuwMix are protein granules. This recipe consists of a mixture of 100% chicken and turkey. The formula does not contain grains or any by-products. Healthy ingredients blended into a delicious daily meal. The shape and size of the pellets are optimally adapted to the preferences and needs of your pets. Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas, Chickpeas, Sea White Meal, Lentils, Coconut Oil, Pumpkin, Natural Flavor, Cranberries, Apples, Sunflower Oil, Dandelion Greens, Chicken Liver, Chicken Neck, Vitamins.

14. Dr. Elsey’s Cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

Feed Dr. Elsey’s with this superior quality and nutritional value. Contains no legumes, very low starch content, and high protein content. The adult cat food formula does not contain potatoes or other ingredients of plant origin. The energy value is approximately 115 calories per ounce. Ingredients: Chicken, dried egg product, pork isolate, gelatin, chicken fat, flaxseed, natural flavor, salmon oil and more.

15. CRAVE Grain Free Indoor Adult High Protein

Crave Indoor cat food brand comes in a variety of flavors. You can choose chicken, salmon, turkey or duck. The formula of any of these feeds contains a high concentration of protein. Also, in the composition, there are vitamins, minerals, pea protein, flaxseed, and potato protein. Vitamin E supports the immune system of cats. Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, split peas, chicken fat, tapioca, dried beet pulp, potato protein, salmon meal, natural flavor, flaxseed, and more.

Dry Cat Foods Buying Guide

One of the most common mistakes made by cat owners is feeding either the incorrect amount or the wrong type of food altogether. You might think just because there is food in their bowl that you are feeding correctly. ^[2] This is not the case. There are many things to consider when providing for the health and well-being of your feline friend, such as:

• The correct food, 
• The right amount, 
• The necessary nutrients to help your kitty grow and stay healthy. 

1. Wet vs. Dry food, what is Better?

Dry food is easier for you to store for longer periods of time, and it is more beneficial for aiding in dental health because as a cat chews, the dry food scrapes along with the tooth, helping knock off any plaque or tartar build-up.

Wet food will tend to have more water content, which can be very important in cats with kidney disease or who are prone to urinary tract disease. Kitties are known for not drinking water very frequently, so wet food can help supplement their water intake. Also, another thing to consider is canned food is a little more expensive than dry. Still, a can of wet food will typically provide the same number of calories per feeding as the usual recommended daily amount. Furthermore, if your pet is a finicky eater, they may be more receptive to wet food because of the moisture, and it does tend to smell more appealing. 

There really is no right or wrong answer as to which is better. Both quality wet and dry foods will provide all your fluffy friend’s necessary nutrients to stay healthy. Dry food tends to be what most people feed their cats as it is much easier to feed. 

READ MORE: Wet vs. Dry Cat Food — Which is Beter?

2. Risk of feeding too much

Overfeeding can be very unhealthy. In this case, the side effects of obesity can be life-threatening. When a pet becomes obese from overfeeding health, you can see issues such as:

• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Difficulty breathing
• Arthritis
• Joint pain
• Liver disease

If your cat can develop all of these symptoms at the same time, the consequences may be irreversible and lead to life-long illness and even death. Most packages contain a chart showing how much to feed your pet and how often, depending on the weight and size. ^[3] If your pet is obese, it is important to feed for the weight they ideally should be, not the weight they already are.

3. Risk of Feeding Too Little

There are many issues that your pet could face if they do not eat enough food. These are two of the most common issues veterinarians see if cats do not eat enough:

Abnormal Bone Growth 

Feeding too little an amount of food, especially in the case of a growing kitten, can be exceedingly dangerous and life-threatening. When a kitten does not receive the proper number of calories, it simply will not have to energy to move around or the appropriate amount of calcium needed for its bones to grow. Sometimes, even if the diet is changed to the appropriate amount, bone damage can be permanent, resulting in the kitten never reaching full size. They will usually remain underdeveloped and be stunted in both organ and bone growth. This sometimes results in life-long health issues. 

Fatty Liver Disease or Hepatic Lipidosis

If your cat does go without the proper number of calories for too long, then things like fatty liver disease can result in extreme illness and death if not given veterinary treatment immediately. Fatty liver disease is when the body is forced to convert fat into energy because there are not enough calories present for the cat to function. The problem with this is cats rely on a high protein diet to function, so fat doesn’t convert well in the liver and starts to build up greatly, reducing the liver’s ability to function, resulting in severe illness and death if untreated. Hepatic lipidosis can occur very quickly, usually within just 2 to 3 days without food. 

4. Getting the appropriate amount of nutrients

Felines, by nature, are carnivores. This means they will rely on a very high protein level in their diets for their bodies to function and maintain their health. Cats will need a moderate amount of proteins and carbs, and fats to have a healthy diet. As stated before, if the appropriate protein level is not met, then their bodies try to convert fat, which doesn’t bode well for them. Kittens are susceptible to this as they need more calories than the typical adult cat to develop strong, healthy bones and muscles.

A 10-pound feline should eat about 200 calories each day. If your kitty is very active, they will need to eat a little more to keep up with this energy need. ^[4] As your kitty starts to get older, you will need to decrease the amount of food they eat each day to help keep them from gaining weight. After they are 2 to 3 years old, most cats tend to spend most of their time each day sleeping; during this time, it is best to decrease the amount of food you give to your feline friend each day.

Once your cat becomes 7 years old, they are considered a senior, and you may have to adjust your pet’s diet based on their weight and other health issues that they have.

5. Appropriate water intake

Your cat will need anywhere from 3 to 5 ounces (0.19 kg) of water daily to maintain a healthy body. Remember, though, that just because you do not see your cat drinking from the water bowl does not mean they are not getting any water. If you feed your furry friend wet food, then your cat may be getting enough moisture, so they may not need to drink from the water bowl as often. 

If you see your family friend drinking excessively, though, it is recommended to have them looked at by your local vet, as this can be a sign of specific diseases. Diabetes and hyperthyroidism may both present with excessive drinking and are prevalent among cats. Both of these diseases can easily be diagnosed by your vet. 

READ MORE: Signs of nutritional deficiency in Cats

Image by Deedee86 from Pixabay

Frequently Asked Questions about Dry Cat Foods

How much dry food should I feed my cat?

The amount of food you should feed is greatly influenced by your cat’s size and age. It is very important to feed your kitten 3-4 times daily until they are six months old. During this time, it is important to feed a food specially formulated for kittens to provide all the necessary nutrients, calories, and a high level of protein growing kittens need to thrive.  From six months to a year-old feeding can be decreased to twice daily but should still be kept to the kitten specific diets. After one year of age, your cat will be considered an adult. At this time, it is very important to switch their food to an adult diet. This contains better protein and fewer calories, which are not needed for growth. Kitten diets that contain more calories can rapidly cause obesity in an adult cat, which will result in all the diseases discussed earlier. It is always great to read the food manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations to make sure you are not over or underfeeding your cat. 

How long does dry cat food last?

Dry food can last for a year as long as it is stored properly. Best way to store dry cat food is in a cool and dry place. The longer you leave dry food out to the open air, the more likely mold and bacteria are going to be able to grow. 

 

Bugs are another factor that we have to consider when storing dry food. Make sure that your cat’s food is not open and attracting bugs.  

How to soften dry cat food?

If your cat needs to eat soft products because they have dental issues or recently had a dental procedure, this can easily be done with dry food. Add a few tablespoons of water. Mix the water around with the food until all the pieces are coated with water. These pieces will slowly start to absorb water and will become soft. You can feed this to your cat while they are recovering from any issues with their mouth.

What to do when your cat will not eat their regular dry food?

If your family friend does not eat their regular dry food, you can add a scoop of wet food to their food. This may entice them to want to eat their food. Some cats do not like to eat their food cold, either. Put a small amount of wet food on their dry food and put it in the microwave for just a few seconds. This helps the flavors and smell come out of the food and entice your cat to want to eat more. If your cat continues to not want to eat, it would be great to see your vet. A cat not eating for a few days can get fatty liver disease.

How to keep dry cat food fresh?

It is great to keep your cat’s food in a tightly sealed container. This helps keep it fresh the longest. While many people like to purchase their pet’s food in bulk, this may not be the best. It is great to only buy 1 to 2 months’ worth of food at a time. This ensures that your kitty’s food is always fresh.

READ MORE: Can cats be vegan?

Final Thoughts on Best Dry Cat Foods

So, when it comes to feeding your kitty with dry food, many things can be considered. These 10 dry cat foods are great to feed to your pet. 

Our number one recommendation is Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food. This diet meets all nutritional needs and our standards. It is our choice for the best dry cat food made in USA. This diet contains a great source of protein and contains all the vitamins and minerals for your kitty to stay healthy and happy. Having a very picky eater, he loves this diet and has been very healthy and happy with our food choice. This makes this our number one choice of dry foods for adult cats.

Feeding a quality diet that contains quality ingredients to ensure your cat receives all its necessary nutrients is always recommended. Always talking to your vet about what diet is best for your cat. Especially if your pet is being treated for things like kidney or liver disease that require special diets, by feeding a good diet, you can help keep them around for years to come.

Article Sources:

1. “The Association of American Feed Control Officials > Consumers.” AAFCO, aafco.org/Consumers.
2. “Feeding Your Cat.” Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 20 July 2018, vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feeding-your-cat.
3. “How Often Should You Feed Your Cat?” Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, 10 Feb. 2020, vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/how-often-should-you-feed-your-cat.
4. “How to Get Your Cat to Exercise.” WebMD, pets.webmd.com/cats/cat-exercise#1.