One of the essential aspects of a cat’s health is its diet.
Food gives your cat energy, a soft and fluffy coat, healthy bowel habits, and of course that adorable 5 AM harassment that you love oh so much.
Owners often choose wet cat food instead of dry cat food because wet cat food is thought to perhaps be more enjoyable for the cat to eat. Cats may also gain from the water content of the wet food. This is because dry cat food could potentially pose more of a risk for bladder issues with certain cats.
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Last update on 2023-12-05 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
The problem you have as a cat owner is that not all cat food is created equal. Marketing images and branding can be very confusing, making it hard to know which food is in fact the best option for your pet.
You want the best for your very feline but how can you tell the wheat from the chaff?
To help you ensure your cat gets the very best wet cat food for their needs we’ve got a ton of tips and information to help you.
This includes a rundown of the best wet cat food for you to buy and an overview of what they have to offer.
First, here are some handy tips to help you know how to buy wet cat food for your little gorgeous kitty cat:
How To Choose The Best Wet Cat Food
Let’s Not Forget That Kitty Is An Individual With Individual Needs
One of the primary things that you should be considering when browsing wet cat food for your cat is their unique needs.
Do they have a medical issue? Do they have long or short hair? Do they have a sensitive tummy?
Your cat is a complete individual when it comes to their nutritional needs and what you feed them should reflect that.
Follow Guidelines So You Understand What Is Really In The Food
The AAFCO, which is the Association of American Feed Control Officials, created guidelines that cat food manufacturers have to follow when it comes to pet food labelling.
For example: one rule is that if a food says it contains a single ingredient, it must contain at the minimum 95% of that ingredient without including added water. Understand the rules to understand pet food labelling properly.
Avoid Vegan Or Vegetarian Cat Food
Veterinary governing bodies and associations generally agree that cats cannot thrive on a vegan or vegetarian diet. Whereas dogs may be able to consume a vegetarian diet in some instances because they are omnivores like us, cats are obligate carnivores and therefore must have meat in their diet.
Protein Number 1
Protein is the most important ingredient in cat food. Beef, chicken fish, and other protein sources should be listed at the top
Grains Are Generally Not A Great Ingredient
Some cat foods do include grains, which provide cats with a source of carbohydrates to be used as energy.
Cats do not need these grains and cereals as they generally wouldn’t naturally have those in their diet.
In general, grains and carbs should not be the highest ingredients in any pet food, and protein should be the priority. You can also look for grain-free and low carb options.
Buy The Right Age Group Food For Your Cat
The age of your cat is really important when it comes to choosing the right wet cat food for them. Kitten food and senior cat food is readily available, usually at the same price point as general cat food. The best wet cat food for kittens or for senior cats will be designed specifically to suit those age groups.
Remember The Cats Scientific Nutritional Needs
Your cat has specific nutritional needs and requires a wide range of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other nutrients to be healthy. Understanding the basics of those needs is helpful to help you understand pet food labeling a little bit better. This guide to your cat’s scientific nutritional needs is a great start.
Best Wet Cat Food
Purina Fancy Feast Adult Canned Wet Cat Food
The Best Affordable Wet Cat Food for Fancy Kitties
Karina fancy feast offers caring cat owners the opportunity to treat their cat to wet food that’s a little bit special. It contains 100% complete and balanced nutrition, lots of essential vitamins and minerals, and there are a wide range of flavours to choose from, to keep your kitty tempted.
Owners with finicky cats will love that there are so many different flavors to try, and different textures within a multipack to entice your cat to eat.
Why We Like It:
- Lots of different flavours
- Complete nutritional profile
- Each can nutrient profile measured for easy calorie counting
- A range of textures to entice fussy kitties
What We Don’t Like:
- Texture of different flavors may vary between packs
- Some flavours may contain a higher carbohydrate content than some owners prefer
Tiki Cat Grill Grain-Free Wet Food
The Best High Protein Wet Cat Food for Finicky Cats
Tiki cat comes in with adorable packaging art, but its contents are high-quality far beyond the cute illustrations.
Tiki cat prides itself on giving your cat complete nutrition with high moisture pet food that has real fish, real meat, and real protein at the top of the ingredients list.
Cat owners who prefer to avoid giving their cats carbs and grains will love that the product places an emphasis on limiting those ingredients. Even better, there are no byproducts or fillers and there are plenty of extra vitamins and minerals to enhance your cat’s health.
Why We Like It:
- Looks and smells like human food
- High protein content
- Appetising for finicky cats
- Low-carb and grain free
What We Don’t Like:
- Some owners may feel that there could be more variety aside from fish
Royal Canin Digest Sensitive Thin Slices in Gravy
The Best Wet Cat Food for Sensitive Stomach
Trusted pet food brand Royal Canin have formulated a feline health sensitive tummy food for cats who struggle with digestion. Made for cats over a year old, the tins contain a mixture of vitamins, minerals and easy to digest proteins.
Royal Canin could be a good choice if you are looking to avoid prescription pet foods for a cat with stomach issues.
Why We Like It:
- A great choice for cats with tummy problems
- Easy to read calorie and nutritional information
- An alternative to prescription diets
- Helps with better stool habits and minimising throw up episodes
What We Don’t Like:
- On the high-end with price
- Ingredients are more towards lower quality sources
Wellness Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food
The Best Wet Cat Food for Older Cats Who Love to Lick Gravy
Some cats just love their food swimming in rich delicious gravy. If that is your cat then perhaps Wellness natural grain-free is a great choice.
The product is designed to include a range of healthy protein and fat, fruits and vegetables, but without any additional nasties.
Owners with their cats’ health in mind will appreciate the lack of corn, soy, wheat, carrageenan, preservatives, or artificial colors and flavorings.
Why We Like It:
- Helps boost hydration in cats prone to avoiding water
- Free from nasties
- Full of vitamins and minerals
- Available in a range of textures indicated by clever images on the pack
What We Don’t Like:
- Owners may struggle with the scent
- May not be suitable for cats with sensitive tummies
Purina Friskies Canned Wet Cat Food
The Best Quality Affordable Wet Cat Food for Cats Who Love Variety
If you like to offer your cat a wide range of variety in their food without having to change brands, then Friskies multipack canned wet food might just be right for you.
The pack contains a wide range of wet cat food in a variety of textures and flavours so there is likely to be something in there that your cat will love. Owners will also like that each can is made to be nutritionally balanced, providing optimum health benefits to cats.
Why We Like It:
- A huge range of flavours and textures
- Balanced recipes for complete nutrition
- Economical price point
- Handy can size
What We Don’t Like:
- Strong odor could be off putting for owners
- Some flavors could be considered too watery
Hill’s Science Diet Wet Cat Food
The Best Wet Cat Food for Urinary Health
If you’re the kind of owner who likes to make a purchase based on science, then the Hill Science diet wet cat food could be a great option for you.
It is designed to deal with a wide range of issues including; kitty obesity, urinary problems and hairball problems. Each tin is perfectly balanced and includes minerals and vitamins containing high quality protein for healthy skin and coat, and muscle mass maintenance.
Why We Like It:
- Helps with digestion health
- Vet recommended
- Helps with hairball control
- Supports urinary health
What We Don’t Like:
- The smell and texture can be a bit of a struggle for owners to handle
- Consistency may differ depending on batch
Sheba Perfect Portions Paté Wet Cat Food
The Best Canned Cat Food for Indoor Cats
Sheba perfect portions are designed not only with the cat’s nutrition in mind, but with ease and convenience for the owner too.
The food itself is a delicious protein-rich meal for cats to enjoy in either beef, turkey or chicken flavor.
For your convenience and to avoid food wastage, the pack is designed to be snapped peeled open and served with one complete meal served per tray. No messy leftovers, or need to store smelly food packs between meals.
Why We Like It:
- Avoids pet food wastage
- Easy to open and serve
- No grains, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavourings or preservatives
- Good selection of tasty flavours
What We Don’t Like:
- Easy to open packaging design not perfect yet
- Requires calorie monitoring because of small pack size
Instinct Original Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food
The Best Grain-Free Wet Cat Food for Ethical Owners
If you’re looking for a pet food for your cat that keeps the welfare of other animals in mind, then Instinct wet canned food could be a good choice for you. The product uses only cage-free chicken, which gives you peace of mind as an ethical consumer.
The benefits don’t end there though. The food contains high protein and no grains, potato, corn, wheat, soy, carrageenan, byproducts, artificial colors or preservatives.
The owner who is looking for an ethical pet food that is wholesome and natural will love Instinct.
Why We Like It:
- 95% real animal ingredients
- Ethically sourced chicken
- Free from nasties
- Natural diet design
What We Don’t Like:
- The emphasis on natural ingredients means that there may be in animal parts in the food you or your cat not used to
- Your cat may need help transitioning to this kind of food
FAQ
If you’re still not sure which is the best wet cat food for your cat, we’ve answered some of the most common questions and answers on the topic to help you further:
Why is wet food better than dry food?
The best option for a cat is individual to their unique needs. However, there are benefits to wet food diets including the avoidance of urinary issues that can be common in cats on an all dry diet.
What’s the healthiest wet cat food?
To find out the answer to this it is a good idea to browse different review articles and videos. The chances are you’ll find a different answer wherever you look because every vet has their own personal opinion and every manufacturer wants you to think that their food is the best. Usually, the most successful approach is gaining as much information as you can about your cat’s nutritional needs then making a decision based on that information.
Should I only buy the cat food my vet recommends?
This is a decision that is entirely your choice. If you can’t afford the vet food your vet recommends you could research that brand and look for budget alternatives that may provide the same nutritional benefits to your cat.
Do be mindful that if you go against your vet’s advice this may cause issues with insurance. Do enquire about this before making any decisions.
Which ingredients should I avoid in cat food?
Preservatives and unnecessary chemicals like BHT, BHA, ethoxyquin and carrageen are usually best avoided.
Corn starch and soy are also additions that can be avoided or they should at least be very low on the ingredients list.
What’s the best food for my cat who has allergies?
The best wet food for cats with allergies usually has the fewest ingredients in it. However, if you cat has an extreme allergy do check with a vet before trying any new foods.
Is a raw food diet better for my cat?
This is something that you would need to discuss with your vet and research thoroughly before attempting. If you do decide to go down the raw route, here’s a helpful video on transitioning your pet.
What is the best cat food for diabetic cats?
This is something that you should discuss with your vet first and foremost. If you suspect your cat may have diabetes, take a look at this handy article and book an appointment with your vet ASAP.
Once your cat has a diabetes diagnosis and has been assessed and put on a course of treatment you may want to reconsider the food that you give them.
You may want to consider putting them on the best wet cat food for weight loss with guidance from your vet. You may also want to purchase low carbohydrate foods. You should always seek advice and guidance from your vet in regards to a diabetic cat.
Is the healthiest cat food always the most expensive?
There are actually some really good inexpensive pet food brands that contain healthy ingredients. The more you familiarise yourself with the ingredients that cats need, the more you will be able to identify these inexpensive but healthy brands.
What is the best wet cat food for an indoor cat?
This is the subject worth discussing with your vet. In general indoor cats may need fewer calories than outdoor, so it may be that you want to avoid higher-calorie foods for your pet. You may also want to limit the amount of treats you give an indoor pet, or opt for healthy cat treats.
Your Cat Can Have The Perfect Wet Food For His Needs
It can be quite a journey finding out what the best wet cat food is for your cat. Food is so important to your pet for their health and their happiness, so this is certainly something worth spending time researching and getting right. If in doubt always consult your vet for advice.