Cats need the right food for them to grow into happier felines. Choosing the best nutrition is imperative for any pet parent. When choosing cat foods for your furry friend, consider dry cat food with high-quality proteins, and keep off low-quality food. Choose foods from credible manufacturers as they are more credible.
If you are wondering where to start, these best dry cat foods will set you on the right path. Before looking at our top selection let’s highlight the nutrients that should be present in cat food.
What to Look for in the Best Dry Cat Foods
As a pet parent, you need to get the right foot for your feline. Having a nutritious and balanced diet for your furry friend will go a long way in maintaining optimal health and good behavior.
Any quality cat food should have all the nutrients to ensure nutritional balance. When buying food for your kitty, you should know what to look for. Here are the pointers of what to look for:
- The first ingredient should be real meat. Look for foods that list meat as the first ingredient. Unless your cat is on a special diet for medical reasons, the protein source should be listed first and the other ingredients should follow.
- If there are fillers in the food, like corn and wheat, they should appear low in the ingredient list.
- If the food has protein by-products, be on the lookout for general terms such as by-product meal as their quality is low.
- Look for cat food with high-fat content. Quality food for a cat should be rich in proteins and fats. Felines require more fat in their diet and if they lack enough fat, they overeat in an attempt to meet their nutritional needs. Ensure the food you choose has a named fat source like chicken fat. Do not buy low-fat food for your cat because of fear of the cat becoming obese.
Here is our top Selection for Best Dry Cat Foods. Let’s have a look!
#1) Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Dry Cat Food
This mouth-watering and protein-rich food tops our list of the best dry cat food. The food has all the essential nutrients needed by your kitty and in the right proportions. You can rest easy knowing your best friend is fed a balanced diet.
To ensure the ingredients do not lose their nutritional value, Blue’s dry cat food is prepared using the cold-forming process. Keep your indoor cat well nourished by feeding her this food. Your cat will love the Blue dry cat food.
The other reason why Blue’s dry food stands out among contenders of the best dry cat foods is the source of protein. The food is made of real chicken and not any other protein source. More so, the food contains no artificial flavors or colors.
This appetizing dry cat food is also grain-free alleviating any allergic concerns any pet parent may have. All the ingredients used in this cat food are of high quality to ensure your indoor cat takes a perfect blend for a healthy life.
Key Benefits
- Blue’s dry cat food is uniquely made for indoor felines. It is a perfect blend of ingredients that help your cat maintain a healthy weight.
- The food is highly palatable so your kitty maintains good digestion
- The high-protein content helps quench the cat’s natural desire for meat
- This meow-worthy food stimulates the formation of lean and sturdy muscles
- It packs a blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants needed to boost the immunity of the cat
- Has no artificial coloring, flavors and is completely grain-free making it safe for all cats.
#2) Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Dry Cat Food
Whenever the words ‘best dry cat foods’ are mentioned, they would mean nothing if the Hills Science Diet Indoor Dry cat food is missing from the list. This dry food is specially designed for the indoor feline but the outdoor cats can also partake.
The main reason why vets, pet nutritionists, and other pundits recommend this food to pet owns is well-balanced nutrition. The ingredient mixed when making the food are of top quality. Your kitty will love this nourishing recipe and its great taste will make her want more.
The dry food is made with wholesome ingredients such as savory chicken and is well-balanced to enhance palatability. Additionally, the food meets your cat’s nutritional requirements and promotes healthy and proper digestion. When it comes to muscle development, Hill’s Science dry cat food encourages the development of lean and strong muscles.
The food does an excellent job of maintaining the cat’s coat. Dry food is the perfect solution to help your indoor cat maintain an ideal weight. To meet the needs of different cats, the food is available in several formulas tailored for cats of different ages.
Key Benefits
- Hill’s Science dry cat food uses high-quality ingredients to promote healthy digestion
- The dry food uses natural fiber to minimize the formation of hairballs
- Vitamins and antioxidants are key ingredients that support a robust immune system
- The food has no artificial coloring, flavors, or preservatives
- Features a complete and balanced recipe that is great for adult cats
- Although designed for indoor cats, the food is also suitable for outdoor cats
#3) Purina Cat Chow Naturals Dry Cat Food
Purina is a household name in the pet community. When it comes to the best dry cat foods, Purina recipes exceed the pet owners’ expectations. No wonder Purina Cat Chow Naturals Dry Cat Food is the world’s best-selling dry food. This dry food has enough fiber to mitigate the formation of hairballs.
The recipe is specially formulated to encourage a healthy weight. Additionally, the dry food is mouth-watering and cats love it. In terms of the ingredients, the food provides all the nutrients needed to promote a healthy lifestyle for indoor cats.
This delicious meal is complete and balanced. The meal is protein-packed and the proteins are sourced from real chicken and turkey. Cat Chow dry food, therefore, satisfies the desire of your kitty to eat meat. The protein furnished the cats with the amino acids they need in the building of muscles and other proteins needed for a healthy life.
To meet the needs of various cats, the Cat Chow dry cat food is available in several flavors and formulas tailored to cater to different ages and weights. The Purina Cat Chow Naturals Dry Cat Food is the best bet for indoor cats. Its low-calorie density makes it great for weight control.
Key Benefits
- Protein sourced from chicken and turkey. Supplemented with taurine to ensure your cat enjoys a protein-packed meal
- Contains natural fiber that is easy to digest and keeps the pup happy by controlling hairballs
- The food has a low caloric density making it ideal for weight control for a healthy lifestyle
- Has no added flavors or preservatives so you have peace of mind when feeding your pet.
- Complete and balanced formula for healthy and energetic cats.
#4) Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food
Are you looking for nutritious dry cat food? Look no further than the Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food. Rachel Ray uses real ingredients so your cat enjoys mouth-watering recipes.
Proteins are sourced from the highest quality seafood and poultry to ensure your cat takes protein-rich meals. As one of the best dry cat foods, Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food is uniquely formulated for indoor kitties.
Salmon and chicken combo provide the needed proteins for an energetic cat. A blend of cranberries, blueberries, and pumpkin furnishes the food with vitamins and antioxidants for healthy immunity. To promote proper digestion and good metabolism Rachael Ray uses lentils rich in fiber and natural prebiotics.
Minerals and other micronutrients needed for a healthy lifestyle are in plenty in this dry food. You are assured of nutritious and well-balanced nutrition for your best friend. The other notable trait of this dry food is the grain-free recipe. There is no ground corn, wheat, or soy in the regimen.
More so, their food has no poultry by-products, fillers, preservatives, or artificial flavors. As a pet parent, you have peace of mind as what you are feeding your pup is completely natural and full of benefits to your cat. Look no further for the best dry cat foods for your cats, Rachel Ray Nutrish is the best bet.
Key Benefits
- Loaded with highly digestible proteins for the development of lean muscles and healthy organs
- Grain-free and has no additives so pet owners can rest assured the food their cats are eating is of excellent quality
- Enriched with minerals and vitamins to support healthy skin and coat. The micronutrients also minimize shedding greatly,
- The fiber and prebiotics ensure proper digestion and enhanced metabolism
- Protein-rich and taurine amino acids for a healthy heart and good eyesight.
#5) Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Adult Formula Dry Cat Food
Feed your feline a nutritious meal that will promote a healthy urinary tract. Purina One dry cat food is specially designed for adult cats. The recipe includes the essential fatty acid Omega-6 which is important in maintaining a healthy coat and skin. The food aids in urinary tract health by lowering the urinary pH levels and by providing a low content of magnesium.
Purina is a reputable brand so pet parents should have faith in the food they are feeding their pups is of the highest quality. The protein added in the recipe is sourced from real poultry or fish.
The recipe is devoid of fillers and every bit your cat takes plays a role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The food is protein-packed to provide the building blocks essential for strong muscles needed for enhancing an active lifestyle.
Being one of the best dry cat foods, Purina One promotes the holistic growth of your best friend. The food is enriched with vitamins and minerals that are key to maintaining proper metabolism. Moreover, the food has antioxidants that support the cat’s immune system.
The yummy food is 100% complete and balanced to deliver proper nutrition. Feeding your feline Purina One dry cat food encourages proper digestion, a healthy heart, and a wholesome coat and skin.
Read about Diet And Urinary Health.
Key Benefits
- The dry cat food provides balanced nutrition to promote the well-being of your feline
- Protein sources include real chicken and fish to encourage robust growth and strong muscles
- The protein is easily digested and hence better nutrition
- Contains vitamins and antioxidants that promote a strong immune system
- Enriched with essential fatty acids that promote a healthy coat and radiant skin
- Purina ONE is vet recommended for controlling urinary tract infection
- Uses a blend of fiber sources to mitigate hairballs problem
- Purina ONE is an excellent solution for maintaining a healthy cat weight
#6) Blue Freedom Grain-Free Adult Dry Food
Does your cat have a sensitive system and you are wondering which dry food to feed her? It’s your lucky day as you found the right food for sensitive stomachs. Blue’s Freedom dry food is tasteful and loaded with purposeful ingredients that play important roles in keeping your best friend healthy and full of life.
The food is highly digestible and 100% free of grains and gluten that causes sensitivity problems. The food is also very nutritious and Oh-so-appetizing. To promote a healthy lifestyle, the recipe features balanced calories to maintain an ideal body weight.
When it comes to nutrients, this flavorsome food uses proteins sourced from real chicken. Added to the recipe is a blend of natural fiber that enhances the digestion process. The other vital additions to the recipe are antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that augment the overall health and wellness of your kitty.
A healthy heart and eyes are important for cats and Blue Freedom dry food is formulated with taurine which aids in promoting healthy eyes and heart. Added to the formula are the essential fatty acids that keep the coat and skin radiant. Without a doubt, Blue Freedom Adult food is one of the best dry cat foods.
Key Benefits
- The kibble has a high protein content from real chicken
- The food provides a balanced calories balance to enhance a healthy body weight
- Formulated with natural fiber for improved digestion
- Antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins are added to the recipe to boost your kitty’s immune system
- Grain and gluten-free, no preservative or flavors to cater for cats with sensitive systems
#7) Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets Dry Cat Food
This toothsome will leave your kitty purring because of satisfaction. Hence its reputation as one of the best dry cat foods. The dry food is formulated with high-quality ingredients to provide a balanced and nutritious diet to your best friend. The food is uniquely designed for indoor cats as it contains just a few ingredients to support the wellness of your cat.
Added to the recipe are prebiotics that enhances digestion and makes litter box duties less tedious. This meal is just right for indoor kitties as its lean formula help maintain an ideal body weight considering indoor cats exercise less.
Although this cat food has limited ingredients, it doesn’t compromise the quality of the protein used. Natural Balance uses proteins obtained from salmon, chicken, turkey, or duck.
The food has a high protein content so your carnivorous friend gets the right dose of proteins. Also included in the formula are plant proteins to supplement the animal proteins.
Vitamins and minerals are added in the right proportions to support a robust immune system. The formulation has omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that play important roles in keeping the skin and coat healthy.
This dry cat food is grain-free and can be fed to cats with sensitive systems. The balanced nutrition and well-formulated recipe cement Natural Balance L.I.D in the list of the best dry cat foods.
Key Benefits
- The food is formulated with limited ingredients to cater to the needs of indoor cats
- This dry food has a lean formula to help with weight control
- Digestion is seamless courtesy of the prebiotic fiber
- Essential fatty acids promote healthy skin and a radiant coat
- Contain no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors so pet parents can rest assured the food is of the highest quality
#8) Merrick Before Grain Dry Cat Food
Merrick Before Grain Meat Food is undoubtedly one of the best dry cat foods. The food is protein-packed and uses proteins sourced from either real chicken or real salmon. We recommend that pet parents stick to the salmon variant since its allergenic potential is lower than that of the chicken formula.
The other notable advantage of this dry cat food is the grain-free formulation. This is particularly beneficial to pet owners whose cats have sensitive systems. Additionally, the formulation has probiotics that greatly improve the digestion of the food.
The protein used in the formula is obtained from quality protein sources so your carnivore’s needs are taken care of. The food has no fillers or by-products which are inferior ingredients.
Pet parents can have peace of mind knowing that their pets are eating top-quality food. The food has ample moisture to meet the nutrition requirements for your cat.
Key Benefits
- High protein content so your cat gets the needed amino acids for strong muscles
- Digestion is improved by the fiber
- No fillers or by-products making it a high-quality dry cat food
- Suitable for kittens, adult, and senior cats
#9) Nutro MAX Dry Cat Food
As one of the best dry cat foods, Nutro Max Dry cat food is formulated with protein sourced from real chicken so it is rich in crude protein. To ensure the cat food is well balanced and nutritious other ingredients key for a healthy lifestyle are added to the formula in the right amounts.
As a pet parent, you should hesitate to buy this dry cat food for your kitty. To enhance proper digestion, natural fiber is added to this food recipe. In addition to having lean muscles, a cat needs a robust immune system. Essential antioxidants are included to support a healthy immune system.
When you feed your feline this kibble she will have healthy skin and a shiny coat as it is enriched with omega-6 fatty acids. By feeding your cat this wholesome food, you have the confidence that your cat is getting all the nutrients needed for a healthy and active lifestyle.
Key Benefits
- High-quality protein is used in this food recipe. You cat get a daily dose of amino acids needed to make lean and strong muscles
- The kibble has vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote a healthy immune system and proper metabolism
- Nutro Max Dry cat food is formulated without wheat, soy, and other grains. More so, it is free of chicken by-products, food coloring, and artificial flavors
- Balanced and sumptuous for adult cats
#10) IAMS ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food
There is no better way to keep your cats at their best than with IAMS ProActive dry cat food. This kibble is specially formulated to cater to the nutritional needs of indoor cats. The food recipe uses high-quality real animal proteins obtained from chicken and turkey.
IAMS Dry cat food is balanced and 100% free of filler products. You get to feed you’re most nutritious food. The formula also includes Omega-6 fatty acids that are essential for your kitty. These oils help promote healthy skin and a soft and radiant coat.
IAMS dry cat food is also uniquely formulated to meet the special needs of cats augmenting its position as one of the best dry cat foods. It is weight control, the low caloric density of this food will help maintain a healthy cat weight. If you are concerned about sensitive systems, the food recipe features a tailored fiber blend with beet pulp to ensure proper digestion.
IAMS ProActive dry cat food is also great at controlling hairballs. The immune system of your cat is also kept at its best thanks to the essential vitamins included in the formulation.
If you are looking for dry cat food that will help keep your kitty playful and healthy look no further than the Iams ProActive Health Indoor Weight & Hairball Care Dry Cat Food.
Key Benefits
- Protein ingredient is sourced from real poultry (Chicken and Turkey). Since cats are carnivores, they get a meal rich in proteins needed to form strong muscles for a playful life.
- L-carnitine is included in the formula. This chemical helps burn fat and maintain proper metabolism. The food is there great for controlling unhealthy weight in your cats.
- The food recipe incorporates a tailored fiber blend featuring beet pulp. The regimen aids in controlling hairballs.
- Balanced and nutritious for the wellness of your indoor cats.
- The dry cat food is nourished with Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids vital for keeping the skin healthy and glossy coat
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Best Dry Cat Foods Buying Guide & FAQs
Essential Nutrients that must be present in the Best Dry Cat Foods
Animal protein
Cats are carnivores and so the food must have animal protein. Protein provides all the amino acids needed for growth. Amino acids play crucial roles in forming tissues, tendons, hair, muscles, skin, and the heart.
Balanced cat food should include animal protein from sources like beef, chicken, fish, eggs, and turkey. Feeding your feline food rich in proteins results in a healthy life and proper tissue regeneration. Besides, it keeps the claws and fur healthy.
Fats
The main energy source for cats is animal fats. Lipids help in keeping the body temperature of the cats constant and also aids in proper absorption of essential vitamins such A, D, and E.
Fats are naturally present in meat and fish. It is however important to supplement the natural fats with cat food enriched with essential fats. Particularly food with Omega 3 and Omega 6.
Read: Best Cat Litter Box Furniture
Carbohydrates
Since cats are carnivores, carbohydrates are not considered an essential food for cats. Nonetheless, carbohydrates play important roles in the cat’s body. Carbs are highly palatable and so provide readily available energy to your feline. Carb sources include grains like rice and wheat. These grains are ingredients in most wet cat foods.
Water
Water is life and like other animals, cats need to consume water to stay healthy. The water aids in the distribution of nutrients, cat’s metabolism, removal of waste, and in maintain the body temperature. Feed your cat wet food to ensure they are well hydrated. Besides, leave a water bowl for your furry friend.
Read: Best Elevated Cat Bowls
Vitamins
Mammals need vitamins to keep their bodies working properly and stay healthy. Vitamins are micronutrients and so should be consumed in the right proportions. Choose a balanced and nutritious cat food to get the right proportions of vitamins.
Minerals
Minerals are key in having proper metabolism and healthy life for your feline. Important minerals needed by cats include iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and potassium.
Iron helps in oxygen transport and deficiency leads to anemia. Calcium is needed for bone formation and growth, muscle contraction, and transmission of nerve impulses just to mention a few of the functions.
Magnesium is another vital mineral for cats. It enhances the absorption of vitamins and minerals and so it keeps the cat’s health well-balanced. Sodium is the other important mineral needed by cats. Sodium supports proper growth and development.
Besides, sodium helps in the transfer of nutrients and the removal of metabolic waste. Chloride ions are needed to maintain proper alkali balance in the cat’s body. Additionally, chloride ions help in the production of stomach acid which helps in protein digestion.
Read: Best Cat Water Fountains
What to Avoid when Buying The Best Dry Cat Foods
The temptation of feeding your cat a low-quality diet should be avoided at all costs. Low-quality foods lack important nutrients so may lead to poor health and growth of your feline. Here some cat foods that you should avoid when in the pet’s food store.
- Foods with the term ‘with or flavor’ for example food with the statement with beef or beef flavored. These statements are indicators of a low percentage of real meat.
- Food with the same ingredient listed severally in different terms. For example, food with the ingredients corn syrup, sugar, sucrose is a sham.
- Forego cat foods with too many fillers as they are not necessary for your feline.
- Cat food with the name formula or recipe in it. The food will have a low protein content.
- Avoid feeding your cat scraps from the dinner table. First human food has a lot of calories that the cats don’t need. Secondly, human food lacks essential nutrients needed by the cats.
Conclusion
Cats need the right food for them to grow into happier felines. Choosing the best nutrition is imperative for any pet parent. When choosing the best dry cat foods for your furry friend, consider foods with high-quality proteins, and keep off low-quality food. Choose foods from credible manufacturers as they are more credible. If you are wondering where to start, the best dry cat foods will set you on the right path.