12 Best wet cat foods of 2021
Top 12 wet cat foods of 2021
Purina has gained a positive reputation among pet owners, thanks to high-quality products and care about our four-legged friends. Their True Nature formula offers 100% complete nutrition, grain-free, and with multiple protein sources. In this wet cat food, turkey and chicken meal promote strength and energy; omega-6 fatty acids support healthy skin and a shiny coat; antioxidants hold up a cat’s immune system.
- Type: high-protein, grain-free
- Protein: 11% min
- Weight: 3-oz, 5.5-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Turkey, Chicken, Liver, Water, Meat By-Products
- Calories: 109 kcal/ 3-oz can
This one is all-natural wet cat food for felines of all breeds and ages. Feline Natural contains meat from free-range, grass-fed chicken; green-lipped mussels are here to provide omega-3 fatty acids for a cat’s health. The formula is grain-free and, therefore, OK to feed felines with sensitive stomachs or food allergies.
Further reading:
- Type: high-protein, grain-free
- Protein: 9.5% min
- Weight: 3-oz, 6-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Chicken, Water, Chicken Liver, New Zealand Green Mussel, Fish Oil
- Calories: 86 kcal/3-oz can
Natural Balance is known as the best high protein wet cat food, thanks to their limited-ingredient and grain-free formulas. Chicken is the primary source of animal proteins here, with limited carbs for more comfortable digestion. It’s perfect for cats with sensitive stomachs, and it’s packed with all the essential fatty acids (omega-3, -6, and taurine) to maintain a cat’s healthy eyes, heart, skin, and overall condition.
- Type: sensitive digestion, grain-free
- Protein: 8.5% min
- Weight: 3-oz, 5.5.-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Ground Peas, Pea Protein
- Calories: 180 kcal/5.5-oz can
This best quality wet cat food provides healthy, 100% balanced nutrition for cats with sensitive stomachs and food allergies. Thanks to its structure (thin slices in gravy), the formula is highly palatable, promoting comfortable digestion. At the same time, it’s low in calories to support weight maintenance with no risk of obesity.
- Type: sensitive digestion
- Protein: 7.5% min
- Weight: 3-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Water, Chicken By-Products, Pork By-Products, Pork Liver, Salmon
- Calories: 66 kcal/can
Most canned cat food reviews call this option the healthiest wet cat food because it’s vet-designed and requires a vet clinic authorization to purchase it. It’s a limited-ingredient diet for cats with food sensitivities. Selected Protein Adult contains EPA and DHA (fatty acids) and essential nutrients that reduce skin irritation in cats.
- Type: sensitive digestion, limited-ingredient diet
- Protein: 9.4% min
- Weight: 5.1-oz, 5.9-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Water, Rabbit, Rabbit Liver, Pea Flour, Vegetable Oil
- Calories: 145 kcal/5.1-oz can
The list of wet cat food brands won’t be complete without a kitten recipe. This formula from Wellness has everything a young feline needs to thrive: animal proteins for growing muscles, antioxidants for immune health, vitamins and essential fatty acids (omega and taurine) for strong teeth, healthy eye, and energy.
- Type: kitten food, grain-free
- Protein: 3-oz cans
- Weight: 3-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Carrots, Natural Flavor
- Calories: 97 kcal/can
When getting old, cats need a more specific diet to stay healthy and active. This best rated wet cat food from Dr. Elsey’s serves to provide complete and balanced nutrition for seniors: turkey – for a healthy body mass, low carbs and no oxalate – to prevent bladder stones, and no grains or gluten in a smooth pate formula – more comfortable and palatable to eat.
- Type: grain-free, smooth pate
- Protein: 11% min
- Weight: 5.5-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Broth, Turkey Liver, Dried Egg Product, Natural Flavor
- Calories: 202 kcal/5.5-oz can
Another wet cat food formula from Wellness in our list, it’s grain- and poultry-free to serve for felines with allergies or intolerances to complementary products. All-natural fish ingredients make this flavor super-rich in omega fatty acids to promote healthy bones, skin, and shiny coats of our furry friends.
- Type: grain-free
- Protein: 10% min
- Weight: 3-oz, 5.5-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Whitefish, Salmon Broth, Salmon, Tuna, Herring
- Calories: 144 kcal/can
Designed in association with professional vets, this top wet cat food formula serves as a prescribed diet for cats with illnesses, wounds, or after surgery. It features highly digestible ingredients and extra calories to help wound healing, avoid depletion, and promote a healthy immune system.
- Type: veterinary diet
- Protein: 8.5% min
- Weight: 5.5-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Water, Turkey Liver, Pork Liver, Chicken, Turkey Heart
- Calories: 180 kcal/5.5 oz can
It’s a pack of three different flavors (turkey, chicken, and beef) to satisfy even the fussiest eaters. The ingredients are all-natural, with no corn, soy, or added artificial colors/flavors./p>
- Protein: 9% min
- Weight: 2.8-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Turkey Broth, Turkey, Chicken, Dried Egg Product, Tapioca Starch
- Calories: 81-100 kcal/can
Made in Canada, this palatable pate promotes a healthy diet with real chicken as a primary protein source. It’s grain-free, with no added artificial colors or flavors.
- Protein: 9% min
- Weight: 3-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Poultry Giblets, Carrots, Potatoes
- Calories: 105 kcal/can
Yummy, 100% grain-free pate for adult cats. Not only does it provide a feline with all the essential nutrients, but it also helps keep her hydrated and supports urinary health.
- Protein: 10.5% min
- Weight: 3-oz, 5.5-oz, 12.5-oz cans
- Top 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Liver, Turkey, Chicken Broth, Carrots
- Calories: 182 kcal/can
How to choose wet cat food (9 steps):
My colleagues and I have spent around 5,000 hours researching and comparing the cat products. We’ve developed the below step-by-step method to pick the best wet food for cats. Please use it when choosing high-quality wet cat food for your furry friend, or feel free to consider the food formulas from our analysis results.
So, that’s what we do to choose the best quality wet cat food:
Step 1: Check the brand reputation
All the reputable wet cat food reviews consider this when deciding on the formulas to include in their lists—brand longevity and reputation on the market matter. Pet owners read brand reviews online, listen to friends’ recommendations, and ask a vet to recommend the best wet cat food brands. As a rule, older manufacturers produce better products because they’ve perfected their methods already.
Step 2: Consider your cat’s life stage
The all-natural wet cat food to choose for your feline will depend on her life stage. It stands to reason that you can’t feed a kitten who’s under six months of age with formulas for seniors. The same is with recipes designed for pregnant cats, felines with food allergies, cats who struggle with obesity, and so on. It’s not enough to choose the best canned cat food for indoor cats. Please optimize your four-legged friend’s diet based on her age, lifestyle, and health conditions.
Step 3: Check the first five ingredients
The next step is to read the list of ingredients on a food label and pay precise attention to the first five. They form the core of the formula, specifying what your cat will eat in particular. Make sure there are no by-products or artificial preservatives in the first place. The best rated wet cat food will have real meat (chicken, fish, beef, rabbit, or any other animal protein source) first. Rice, peas, or potatoes may be present too, but they should go after the meat ingredients in the list.
Step 4: Check the animal protein
Cats are obligate carnivores, so they require animal proteins to thrive. It doesn’t mean that your feline won’t survive without meat, but her health, energy, and overall condition will suffer by far. Good wet food for cats has high-quality animal protein sources such as real poultry (chicken, turkey, duck) or meat (beef, rabbit, or lamb). Fish, specifically salmon, is excellent to have in a diet too. Please minimize plant-based proteins (corn, wheat, peas, etc.) in a cat’s diet: they are less digestible, lacking essential nutrients. And always check if your cat gets enough proteins per day.
Step 5: Check if it’s low in fats
The same is true for fats. As well as proteins, they are essential for cats’ health, so ensure the food formula contains omega fatty acids. But, as well as carbs, fats can be harmful when in excess. The best wet cat food brands understand that, balancing all the formula elements so that a feline could get maximum benefits from her diet.
Step 6: Check if it’s low in carbs
Cats will benefit from low-carbohydrate diets. Not only does low-carb food help prevent obesity, but it also decreases the risk of diabetes. It doesn’t mean that wet cat food shouldn’t contain any carbs at all. Just avoid too high carb diets, where about 50% of calories come from carbohydrates. The fewer carbs, the better.
Step 7: Check if it has enough vitamins
All the top-rated canned cat food will be vitamin- and mineral-rich for a feline to get all the essential nutrients with her diet. Check the label for vitamins A, B, C, and D; and ensure the formula contains taurine and minerals like calcium, iron, and zinc.
Step 8: Check if it’s AAFCO-approved
AAFCO is for the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and it’s the organization creating and regulating the manufacturing guidelines for pet food companies. If a canned cat food is AAFCO-approved, it means it meets at least the minimum nutritional requirements and is OK to serve as a complete and balanced diet for a feline.
Step 9: Consider your cat’s allergies
Some healthy wet food for cats is designed to help a feline with her physical condition. If your cat has food allergies or a sensitive stomach, please consult your vet before buying commercial food formulas. A hydrolyzed hypoallergenic diet might be the best option in your situation. There are also specific foods for cats with obesity, kidney disease, and other health problems on the market. When choosing the best option for your feline, you need to consider all the factors.
7 Best wet cat food brands
After our extensive research, we’ve selected the best wet cat food brands for pet owners to trust:
Also, consider formulas from Wag and WholeHearted, as they are among the best quality affordable wet cat foods.
How to get a cat to eat wet food
Step 1: Experiment with flavors
As well as people, cats have different food excesses. If yours doesn’t eat wet food, that’s maybe because she doesn’t like its flavor. Try different ones to see what your feline prefers.
Step 2: Don’t give any treats
Most cats are fussy eaters. If you often give them different treats, they get used to such products, refusing to consume traditional food consequently. Say no to treats when trying to get your furry friend to eat canned cat food.
Step 3: Keep wet cat food fresh
Unlike dry formulas, canned cat food has shorter expiration dates, especially after it’s been opened. So, please don’t serve more than a cat can eat. Also, keep open cans in a refrigerator for a maximum of 5-7 days.
An automatic feeder for wet food is a solid solution to keep your cat’s canned food fresh.
FAQ
As far as canned cat food doesn’t stay fresh for a long time, leaving it for a day or more in a bowl is not an option.
That’s what you can do: use an automatic feeder with a refrigerator, ask friends or relatives to feed a cat while you’re away, or you can hire a cat sitter who’d come and serve wet food to your feline.
Even the best wet food for cats won’t stay fresh for more than four hours in a bowl at room temperature. So please don’t serve more food than a cat can eat at a time. If something’s left, throw it out and wash the bowl properly before refilling it with fresh food again.
Please store opened cans with the best wet food for cats in the fridge for a maximum of 5-7 days. Don’t leave canned food in a bowl for more than four hours. If a cat doesn’t eat it all at a time, reduce a portion and make sure to throw out leftovers: You feline should eat fresh food only.
There are certain dos and don’ts of such mixing. First of all, both dry and wet cat food formulas should be of high quality and the same flavor group.
Second, you need to control the final portion’s nutrients and calories to ensure a cat gets a complete and balanced diet. Finally, use separate bowls for dry and wet food for cats.
At the end of the day
What is the best wet food for cats? I hope we’ve answered this question here, helping pet owners choose the healthiest canned cat food for their furry friends. Please share your thoughts on the best wet cat food in the comments:
Did we miss anything? Do you have other top wet cat food options to mention here?
