1. Purina Fancy Feast Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 1064 kcal/kg, 90 kcal/can
Crude protein: 12%
Crude fat: 4%
Crude fiber: 1.5%
Maximum moisture: 78%
Added minerals, vitamins, taurine
First three ingredients: ocean whitefish, liver, meat by-products
If your kitten is a picky eater, Fancy Feast Paté canned kitten food is a fantastic choice. Made with real ocean whitefish, as well as a few other protein sources like chicken, meat byproducts and liver, this is high-protein canned cat food. The recipe also contains milk which is an excellent source of calcium, helping support healthy bone growth. To provide complete nutrition, this wet cat food for kittens is fortified with all essential vitamins, minerals and other supplements, including taurine for healthy heart and eye function. Tasty and balanced nutrition tailor-made for fussy kittens!
2. Iams Proactive Health Dry Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 4,043 kcal/kg, 512 kcal/cup
Crude protein: 33%
Crude fat: 21%
Crude fiber: 3%
Maximum moisture: 10%
With added vitamins, minerals, taurine
First three ingredients: chicken, chicken by-product meal, ground whole grain corn
Looking for an affordable good kitten food? Check out Iams Proactive Health Dry Kitten Food. Specifically formulated to nourish developing feline bodies, this kibble features real chicken as the first ingredient, as well as a couple of other protein sources, including chicken by-product meal and salmon. The formula also contains nutritious grains, eggs and dried beet pulp, so it offers a nice balance of macronutrients. Besides being a nice protein source, salmon is also rich in essential fatty acids, which are necessary for proper brain development and healthy skin and coat. The recipe is also enriched with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E for a strong immune system. Overall, this is one of the best dry kitten food formulas if you’re on a tight budget.
3. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 4152 kcal/kg, 565 kcal/cup
Crude protein: 33%
Crude fat: 19%
Crude fiber: 3.5%
Maximum moisture: 8%
Supplemented with vitamins, minerals, taurine, DHA
First three ingredients: chicken, brown rice, wheat gluten
Carefully formulated to satisfy all developmental needs of growing kittens, this dry kitten food from Hill’s Science Diet is the best kitty food around. It’s rich in protein for building lean muscles, as well as fat for healthy skin and soft coat. It’s particularly high in DHA, a specific form of omega 3-fatty acid, which is crucial for proper brain development. Main protein sources include chicken and eggs, while fat sources include chicken fat, flaxseed and fish oil. There are also whole grains, which are a good source of fiber, as well as some antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies, including apples, carrots, broccoli and cranberries. One of the best dry kitten food recipes, hands down!
4. Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3885 kcal/kg, 426 kcal/cup
Crude protein: 40%
Crude fat: 18%
Crude fiber: 2.5%
Maximum moisture: 12%
Added minerals, vitamins, taurine, DHA
First three ingredients: chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal
Super-rich in protein for strong muscles plus enhanced with an array of minerals and vitamins for healthy immunity, Purina One Healthy Kitten Formula is a great choice for growing kittens. The recipe is made with real chicken as the very first ingredient, plus wholesome grains, legumes and veggies. Besides chicken, the ingredients include soybean meal, whole grain corn, carrots and peas. There is also fish oil that contains DHA, which is an essential fatty acid necessary for vision and brain development. Free from artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, this high-quality kibble is suitable even for sensitive kittens.
5. Wellness Natural Pet Food Canned Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 101 kcal/3 oz an
Crude protein: 10.5%
Crude fat: 7%
Crude fiber: 1%
Maximum moisture: 78%
With essential vitamins, minerals, taurine
First three ingredients: chicken, chicken liver, turkey
Soft, delicious and highly nutritious, Wellness Complete Health Kitten canned food is the ideal choice for all growing felines. This healthy kitten food is packed with nourishing natural ingredients, including real chicken and turkey as the main protein sources, and several antioxidant-rich veggies and fruits like carrots, cranberries and flaxseed. There are no grains or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, so the recipe is suitable even for sensitive kittens. Simple, yet super-nutritious, this is a high-quality wet food that can be served on its own or mixed with kibble.
6. Blue Buffalo Healthy Growth Natural Dry Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3,926 kcal/kg 439 kcal/cup
Crude protein: 36%
Crude fat: 20%
Crude fiber: 3.5%
Maximum moisture: 9%
Fortified with minerals, vitamins, taurine, DHA
First three ingredients: deboned chicken, chicken meal, menhaden fish meal
Crafted to support the health and well-being of kittens, Blue Buffalo Healthy Growth dry kitten food features deboned chicken as the first ingredient and a host of carefully picked nutritious ingredients for growth and development support. Besides chicken, the recipe also contains menhaden fish meal and oil, a combo that is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and specifically DHA, which is crucial for brain development. Other ingredients include wholesome grains like brown rice and oatmeal, fiber-rich flaxseed and dried chicory root, and antioxidant-packed sweet potatoes, blueberries, cranberries and carrots. The formula is also fortified with all important supplements, so it’s 100% complete.
7. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3847 kcal/kg, 369 kcal/cup
Crude protein: 34%
Crude fat: 16%
Crude fiber: 4%
Maximum moisture: 8%
With essential vitamins, minerals, taurine
First three ingredients: chicken by-product meal, brown rice, brewers rice
Crafted for the developmental needs of kittens aged between 4 and 12 months, Royal Canin dry kitten food is ideal for all cats in their second stage of kittenhood. This vet-recommended kibble boasts an innovative mix of easily digestible proteins, fat and essential minerals and vitamins that support your growing kitten’s body and needs. The recipe includes simple but highly digestible ingredients such as chicken byproduct meal, brown rice, eggs and several fiber-rich veggies and seeds, including dried beet pulp, powdered cellulose and psyllium seed husk. Fat sources include chicken fat and fish oil, so there is an optimal ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids.
8. Instinct Original Grain Free Natural Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 1,216 kcal/kg, 190 kcal/5.5 oz can
Crude protein: 12%
Crude fat: 6%
Crude fiber: 1%
Maximum moisture: 78%
Contains essential vitamins, taurine, DHA, minerals
First three ingredients: CHICKEN, BEEF LIVER, CHICKEN BROTH
Tasty, healthy and easy to digest, Instinct Original Kitten Pate is perhaps the best kitten wet food on the market. The recipe is simple but highly nutritious, so it fuels a growing kitten’s body without upsetting their tummy. Thanks to three protein sources – chicken, beef liver and salmon – the formula has a high protein content which is perfect for growing felines. Other ingredients include dried kelp, artichokes, pumpkin, blueberries, broccoli and a few other antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies. Of course, the formula is also enriched with supplements, so it’s complete and balanced. Overall, a fantastic wet food for kittens!
9. Blue Buffalo Natural Kitten Dry Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 3,954 Kcals/kg, 457 Kcals/cup
Crude protein: 40%
Crude fat: 20%
Crude fiber: 3.5%
Maximum moisture: 9%
Supplemented with essential vitamins, minerals, taurine, DHA
First three ingredients: deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein
Rich in protein and grain-free, Blue Buffalo Dry Kitten Food is one of the best, if not the best kitten food for sensitive felines. The recipe is inspired by the diet of lynx, so it’s packed with animal protein, healthy fat and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables. Besides real chicken, the formula also contains chicken meal and fat, and menhaden fish meal and oil, which makes for a fantastic content of both protein and healthy fat. Other ingredients include peas, sweet potatoes, cranberries, blueberries, carrots and more, making this recipe one healthy kitten food.
10. Iams Perfect Portions Kitten Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 1200 kcal/kg, 45 kcal/tray
Crude protein: 9.5%
Crude fat: 5%
Crude fiber: 1%
Maximum moisture: 78%
Fortified with minerals, vitamins, taurine
First three ingredients: chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver
Packed with flavor and nutritious ingredients, the always-fresh Iams Perfect Portions Pate is ideal for tiny finicky eaters. The pack comes with 24 twin trays, so it’s convenient and easy to serve. Each twin pack comes with the same tasty recipe featuring high quality chicken as the first ingredient. The formula is quite simple yet nourishing, as it’s packed with easy-to-digest ingredients such as poultry liver, egg product and chicken broth. There are added vitamins and minerals too, so the food is complete and balanced. Check out our guide on the best vitamins for cats for more info.
Best Kitten Food for Your Cat Buying Guide & FAQ
Growing kitties require quality, nutritious cat food to develop properly. Ideally, they should be fed kitten food because this diet is specifically formulated to meet the needs of developing cats. But which food to choose? From premium kitten food, to grain-free recipes, to probiotic-enriched formulas, what is the best kitten food one can feed their furry companion? To help you find the right product both for your kitty and budget, we've created this buying guide. Here, we talk about all things proper kitten nutrition, including the difference between dry and wet food, how often you should feed your pet, what to avoid feeding them, and so much more.
Important Features to Consider When Buying Kitten Food
To purchase the best kitten food for your cat, consider the following features:
- Nutritional Profile
Kitten food differs slightly from adult cat food, and the product’s nutritional profile should reflect that. High quality kitten food should be rich in three things: protein, fat and calories. Food formulated for kittens should contain a higher fat percentage than adult cat food because kittens require more essential fatty acids to thrive and properly develop. Finally, good kitten food should provide complete and balanced nutrition, so always look for the AAFCO endorsement. In general, the best kitten foods will contain plenty of quality protein, some complex carbs, and lots of healthy fat for those growing brains.
- Quality of Ingredients
Besides macronutrients, micronutrients matter too, however less so. Generally speaking, the most important thing is that kitten food has a good nutritional profile and is AAFCO approved, so if you don’t want to bother checking every single ingredient on the list, you don’t have to. That said, if you do, look for quality protein sources such as real chicken, fish or beef and named meat byproducts as they are easy to digest, as well as wholesome grains (if your kitty is not grain-sensitive) and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables.
- Palatability
No matter how healthy your kitten food is, if it’s not tasty, your feline friend will not want to eat it. So, besides a good nutritional profile, try to find a highly palatable food that your kitten can't resist. If you’re dealing with a particularly fussy eater, some added natural or even artificial flavors may actually be beneficial in a recipe. Worried about artificial flavors? Simply feed the highly palatable food that contains them in small amounts, mixed with high quality natural dry kitten food. This said, if your cat has a sensitive stomach, stick to formulas that contain natural ingredients (no artificial additives of any kind) and quality protein, plus some fiber. You may also like our articles on cat food for sensitive stomachs and high fiber cat food.
Dry vs. Wet Kitten Food
Confused about the dry vs wet cat food debate? Don’t be – here, we simplify what a healthy diet for kittens looks like, regardless of the type of food you’re feeding.
- Dry Cat Food: the most popular type of pet food, kibble is conveniently packed, easy to feed, as well as simple to clean after your kitten has had its meal. But since it is dry, it lacks in moisture that cats need to thrive. Thankfully, this is not a problem if your kitten drinks enough water. Generally speaking though, it’s best to feed dry kitten food in combination or mixed with wet food.
- Wet Cat Food: pricier, bulkier, and messier than dry food, wet kitten food may seem like too much trouble to feed. However, canned cat food typically offers a better balance of nutrients, as it has a slightly higher protein content and much higher moisture content. If wet kitten food is too much for your budget, don’t fret – you can buy it in small quantities and feed it mixed with kibble.
Ingredients You Should Never Give Your Kitty
To keep your kitten in top shape, never feed them the following ingredients:
- Onions, garlic and chives
- Grapes and raisins
- Caffeine and chocolate
- Fat trimmings and bones
- Raw meat and fish
- Artificial preservatives like BHA and BHT
- Food dyes like Red 40, Blue 2 and Yellow 5 and 6.
Our Top Pick
For pet parents dealing with picky eaters, Purina Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Paté is the best choice. Made with real ocean whitefish, chicken, milk and eggs, this wet kitten food is as nutritious as it is delicious – ideal for mixing with dry kibble. Importantly, the recipe is complete and balanced, enriched with vitamins and minerals to support growing cats, so it provides everything your kitten needs to thrive. As a bonus, the pack is more than reasonably priced. All in all, one of the best, if not the best kitten food on the market!
