Just like your kitten, the best kitten food packs a lot of power into a small package. It’s high in calories, high in protein, and loaded with omega-3s to support brain and eye development. but not all foods marketed for kittens are worthy of your baby’s plate.
in this article, we’ll look at the unique nutritional needs of kittens and help you determine which diet is best for your little baby.
At a Glance: The Best Kitten Foods of 2023
In the comparison table below, we highlight some of the most important features of each product. you will find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
top picks explained
why should you trust us?
To write this guide, we began by identifying the basic nutritional needs of kittens, reviewing more than 195 different brands of cat food, reading customer reviews, speaking with market experts, and hands-on testing foods.
We also consulted 7 vets to get their professional opinion on what constitutes a great cat food.
our veterinary advisors
- dr. sarah wooten, dvm, cvj
- dr. chris vanderhoof, dvm, mph
- dr. sarah reidenbach, dvm
- dr. chyrle bonk, dvm
- dr. jamie whittenburg, dvm
- dr. albert ahn, dvm
- dr. elizabeth youens, dvm
- How to Care for a Kitten: The Complete Guide
- How to Kitten-Proof Your Home: 6 Essential Tips
- What to Know When Raising Kittens: 6 Essential Tips
At the top of that list is wellness core & Chicken Liver Pate. This canned food has everything your kitty needs without excess carbohydrates, dyes, and other additives. receives positive customer reviews and comes from a trusted company.
Keep reading to learn more about your kitten’s nutritional requirements and how we choose the best kitten foods on the market.
this is what we look for in the best kitten food
When asked about his recommendations for the best kitten food, dr. chris vanderhoof, dvm, mph emphasized that “choosing a food formulated for kittens is very important because they require different nutrients to grow. kittens require more calories per day than adult cats. these calories go toward growth as well as the increased level of activity the kittens have. kittens generally have twice the caloric needs per day compared to an adult cat. kitten food also has a different ratio of minerals compared to adult food to help with bone growth.”
In addition to looking for foods that were properly formulated for kittens, we looked for products with certain key qualities, including high protein and fat content, appropriate dha levels, and more.
this is according to vet dr. Chyrle Bonk’s recommendations. explained that “you’ll want to make sure any kitten food is fortified with dha for healthy brain development,” adding that “kitten food should also be higher in protein and fat than the adult version to fuel their growing bodies.” , and choose one with smaller-sized kibble so they can easily encircle it with their little mouths.”
we look for species-appropriate food
We searched for foods that would meet the nutritional needs of kittens, emphasizing meat ingredients over vegetables. All of the foods on the following list are high in animal protein while keeping the carbohydrate content low. we looked for foods that were at least 50% protein and less than 10% carbohydrate, measured on a dry matter basis.
we disqualify foods that contain potentially harmful ingredients
in the meantime, we avoided products that contained unnecessary or potentially harmful ingredients. these include fillers, starches, artificial colors, chemical preservatives, and sweeteners.
and we gave preference to foods with a lot of moisture
Because hydration is so important to kittens and cats of all ages, we pay special attention to foods that are high in moisture. the moisture content is much higher in wet kitten food than in dry kitten food.
hydration is essential, but it is not enough to put a bowl of water next to your kitten’s kibble.
Like all cats, kittens aren’t exactly eager to drink a lot of water. they may not want to drink from the bowl. even if they do drink water, they rarely drink enough water to keep their systems in top condition. this makes a moisture-rich diet for kittens almost essential. canned, wet, and other moisture-rich foods help prevent urinary tract problems and promote overall good health.
In addition to conducting our own qualitative analysis of the brands reviewed here, we submit samples for analysis at an iso 17025 certified food testing and analysis laboratory.
we purchased the products at retail price and the entire testing process was funded by allabout cats with no direct input or influence from the companies involved.
Analytical testing in a food chemistry lab gives us the exact macronutrient and micronutrient content of each recipe. the tests also look for microbial content, yeast, mold, and heavy metals, helping you make sure you’re putting only the best in your cat’s bowl.
To access the lab reports for each food reviewed here, click the “view lab report” link in the product review.
Best Healthy Kitten Foods Review: Our Top 9 Recommendations
Now that we know what to look for in kitten food, let’s explore our top eight picks to find the best kitten food on the market.
How do the nutritional needs of kittens differ from those of adult cats?
From a nutritional point of view, the biggest difference between kittens and adults is the need for nutrient-dense foods that will feed the early stages of growth.
Although all kitten foods are different, they are generally high in calories and high in protein. They are rich in calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin A and certain amino acids.
If you do commit to buying commercially available food, read the label to determine whether or not it is appropriate for kittens. If the food is labeled Complete and Balanced for Growth and Reproduction or All Life Stages, it has been formulated in accordance with the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles for Kitten Health.
avoid diets labeled simply as adult maintenance. as the label suggests, adult cat food is intended to support a healthy adult weight and lacks the nutritional flavor to fuel your kitty’s growth spurt.
Although some insist that only commercially sold foods provide the nutrition a kitty needs, this is not exactly true.
If balanced correctly, a homemade diet can be an excellent choice for your growing kitty. these diets offer what a kitten needs, providing more bioavailable protein and caloric density than almost anything you buy in a bag or can.
Keep in mind, however, that preparing homemade pet food can be time consuming and achieving the proper nutrient balance can be difficult. consult a veterinary nutritionist if you are interested in preparing homemade food for your kitty.
a nutritionally complete diet is crucial during the kitten stage
remember that a nutritionally complete diet is crucial during the first 12 months of life. during these months, you are laying the foundation for a lifetime of good health. a nutritionally incomplete or unbalanced diet could lead to serious health problems for your kitty in the future.
A Mercola Healthy Pets article illustrates this fact with the story of a 5-month-old sphynx kitten who was fed exclusively raw chicken for the first few months of her life. as a result of this unbalanced diet, the kitten developed a limp and eye problems. When the kitten was adopted, she suffered from osteopenia, a condition that results from inadequate bone mineral density. inadequate taurine had caused central retinal degeneration and lesions in one of his eyes.
Four months of inadequate nutrition may not have had such an obvious impact on an adult cat, but for a growing kitten, every meal is essential.
Kitten food should be rich in high-quality protein from chicken, turkey, rabbit, or other animal-derived ingredients.
As obligate carnivores, cats of all ages need plenty of protein.
Compared to middle-aged adults, kittens are more sensitive to both the quantity and quality of that protein. While adult cats need at least 6.5 grams of protein per 100 calories according to the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles, kittens need 7.5 grams or more.
according to the merck veterinary manual, “growing kittens are more sensitive to dietary protein quality and amino acid balance than adult cats.”
what constitutes high-quality protein for a kitten?
As obligate carnivores, kittens require amino acids found in animal tissue. Animal bodies contain all the amino acids cats and kittens need to thrive. You can’t achieve that balance of amino acids with plant-based protein alone. instead, plant-based foods are a mosaic of protein sources. synthetic amino acids fill in the gaps.
Compared to animal-based protein, plant-based protein, such as that found in peas, beans, and corn gluten meal, ranks lower on that digestibility scale. high-quality muscle meat is closer to the top, which means your kitty uses almost all of its protein content, with minimal waste.
When shopping for kitten food, look for products that contain named meats as the first ingredients. Look up words like “chicken,” “turkey,” and “rabbit.” if these meats are followed by “pea protein,” “soy protein,” or “corn gluten meal,” consider trying something else.
the best food for kittens is high in calories
As she leaps and bounds during her first year of life, your kitten burns a lot of calories. choosing a high-calorie food made with natural ingredients will ensure that you have enough fuel to grow and get around the house with ease.
dr. Lizzie Youens clarifies that kitten food doesn’t just support physical growth, noting that “we need to feed not only physical growth, but also their immune system, nervous system, brain and other vital functions. they need high-quality nutrients in an easily digestible form.”
cat food should be rich in certain vitamins and minerals
Compared to adult cats, kittens have slightly different vitamin and mineral needs. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, kittens should eat foods with a calcium to phosphorous ratio of about 1.0 to 0.8, while adult cats should get a ratio of about 0.6 to 0.5. kittens also have slightly higher requirements for vitamin a and require slightly higher amounts of the amino acids lysine and tryptophan.
soft kitten food is easier for young kittens to eat
technically, you can feed your kitty dry or wet food. but when they’re very young and still have baby teeth, your kitty may find it easier to eat soft, moist foods. this could be a home-cooked or home-style meal or canned food.
after the first six months, introduce more challenging snacks. chewier pieces of cooked meat challenge your kitty’s jaws and can promote good dental health.
Since most cats suffer from periodontal disease by the time they reach middle age, establishing good dental hygiene in infancy is one of the most impactful health investments you can make.
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