1. Purina Fancy Feast Grilled Feast in Gravy Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 70 to 71 kcal/can
Crude protein: 11%
Crude fat: 2%
Crude fiber: 1.5%
Maximum moisture: 80%
With vitamins and minerals, taurine
Main ingredients depending on the variety: fish broth and ocean fish, fish broth and tuna, fish broth and salmon
Treat your kitty with delicious, slow-cooked cuts with seafood in gravy. Made with real grilled seafood and meat, including tuna, salmon, ocean fish, shrimp and chicken, Purina Fancy Feast Seafood pack is as nutritious as it is flavorful. There are three different selections of flavors to keep your cat interested and happy: Seafood, Tuna Feast and Salmon Feast, all in savory gravy. Each can is supplemented with important minerals and vitamins, so diet is 100% complete and balanced. The soft, flaky texture and savory taste are guaranteed to please even the pickiest of eaters out there!
2. Sheba Perfect Portions Paté Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 41 to 45 kcal/serving
Crude protein: 9%
Crude fat: 5%
Crude fiber: 1.5%
Maximum moisture: 80%
With essential vitamins and minerals, taurine
Main ingredients depending on the variety: chicken and water, turkey and chicken, beef and chicken
Soft, delicate and delicious, Sheba Perfect Portions multipack combines three delectable flavors: savory chicken, roasted turkey and tender beef. All three recipes are grain-free and rich in healthy fat thanks to fish oil, which is a fantastic source of omega-3 fatty acids needed for healthy skin and coat. Besides chicken, turkey and beef, the portions contain all the necessary minerals and vitamins, including taurine for a healthy heart and eye function. Because they’re complete and balanced, you can serve the portions on their own or mix them with your cat’s favorite dry kibble.
3. Instinct Original Grain Free Recipe Natural Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 1,239 kcal/kg, 193 kcal/can
Crude protein: 10%
Crude fat: 7.5%
Crude fiber: 3%
Maximum moisture: 78%
With minerals, vitamins, taurine
First three ingredients: chicken, turkey, chicken liver
Made with high-quality ingredients, including cage-free chicken as the star component plus wholesome vegetables and fruits, Instinct Original Pate is one of the healthiest wet cat food recipes out there. This is a high-protein, low-carb formula that contains 95% chicken, turkey and chicken liver, and only 5% plants such as peas, carrots, artichokes, cranberries and more. There are no grains, soy, potato or artificial additives here, so even sensitive felines can enjoy this tasty, soft cat food with no issues. Of course, the recipe is fortified with all necessary minerals and vitamins, so it’s complete and balanced.
4. Purina Friskies Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 128 to 135 kcal/can
Crude protein: 11%
Crude fat: 2%
Crude fiber: 1%
Maximum moisture: 80%
With essential vitamins and minerals, taurine
Main ingredients depending on the variety: water and chicken, water and liver, water and salmon
Affordable and tasty, Purina Friskies variety pack is a good wet cat food to purchase if you’re on a tight budget. The multipack comes with four different recipes – chicken in gravy, ocean whitefish and tuna in sauce, salmon and beef in sauce, and chicken and tuna in gravy – and there are 10 cans of each flavor, so it should last quite a while. Shredded chunks of meat and fish create a tender, delicious texture that is bound to tempt even the pickiest of eaters out there. Importantly, each recipe contains all essential nutrients that support the health of adult cats, including taurine for healthy vision.
5. Meow Mix Savory Morsels Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 60 to 70 kcals per cup
Crude protein: 8 to 12%
Crude fat: 1.8 to 2%
Crude fiber: 1.5%
Maximum moisture: 82%
With added minerals, vitamins, taurine
Main ingredients depending on the variety: tuna and fish broth, fish broth and chicken, fish broth and fish
Packed with delicious flavor and aroma, Meow Mix Seafood Selections multipack is a great affordable moist cat food that will have your kitty meowing for more. The pack comes with 24 cups of three different flavors (eight of each) – Tender Favorites with Real Tuna and & Whole Shrimp in Sauce, Savory Morsels with Real Salmon & Ocean Fish in Gravy, Savory Morsels with Real Tuna & Crab in Gravy – so there’s plenty of variety to keep the finicky eaters interested. Besides tuna, salmon, ocean fish and shrimp, the recipes also contain sardines, chicken and chicken liver, dried egg product, soy protein and grains like wheat, as well as added supplements for a complete diet. Probably the best canned cat food if you’re on a budget!
6. Wellness Natural Pet Food Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 101 kcal/ 3 oz can
Crude protein: 10.5%
Crude fat: 7%
Crude fiber: 1%
Maximum moisture: 78%
With added vitamins, minerals, taurine
First three ingredients: chicken, chicken liver, turkey
Looking for grain-free, high protein wet cat food? Wellness Chicken Pate is an excellent choice. Made with natural, healthy ingredients such as real chicken, turkey, carrots and cranberries, this canned cat food is not only rich in quality protein but also healthy fat, which is essential for healthy skin and coat. While fairly simple, the formula provides everything an adult cat needs to be healthy and fit thanks to chicken and turkey (protein), flaxseed (essential fatty acids) and cranberries and carrots (antioxidants and fiber). Of course, the food is also fortified with chelated minerals and vitamins, so it’s 100% complete.
7. Weruva Best Feline Friend Rainbow Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 53 to 71 kcal per pouch
Crude protein: 9%
Crude fat: 1.4 to 2%
Crude fiber: 1%
Maximum moisture: 85%
With essential vitamins and minerals, taurine
Main ingredients depending on the variety: tuna broth and tuna
If your cat has a low thirst drive or is older and has trouble with solids, Weruva Rainbow a Gogo pack may be exactly what they need. Formulated to provide quality protein with lots of hydration, this is one of the best wet cat food brands for kitties with kidney problems. The multipack comes with whopping six different flavors but all made with tuna as the main ingredient – there’s chicken, beef, salmon, lamb, turkey, and duck, so plenty of variety to keep the picky kitties interested. Each recipe is simple, without grains and with limited carbs – perfect for feline health and longevity!
8. Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 78 to 93 kcal/can
Crude protein: 10%
Crude fat: 2 to 4%
Crude fiber: 1.25%
Maximum moisture: 82%
With taurine, minerals and vitamins
Main ingredients depending on the variety: tuna and fish broth, ocean fish and fish broth, chicken and chicken broth
Healthy, delicious and reasonably priced, Blue Buffalo’s Healthy Gourmet Flaked Variety Pack is a no-brainer buy. Made with natural, wholesome ingredients such as real fish and meat, vegetables and fruits, but no artificial additives, this wet cat food is supremely nourishing and healthy. And the tender, juicy pieces of flaked meat in gravy ensure even the fussy eaters are happy. The pack comes with three different flavors – Flaked Tuna, Fish and Shrimp and Chicken – and there are four of each recipe, so the pack should last quite a while.
9. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 777 kcal/kg; 66 kcal/can
Crude protein: 10.5%
Crude fat: 1.9%
Crude fiber: 1.58%
Maximum moisture: 81.5%
With added vitamins and minerals, taurine
First three ingredients: water sufficient for processing, pork by-products, chicken by-products
If you’re dealing with a fussy eater, Royal Canin’s Thin Slices in Gravy wet cat food is a fantastic choice as it’s specifically formulated to be instinctively preferred by cats. It comes with a balanced ratio of protein, fat and carbohydrates and a precise blend of vitamins and minerals to support the health and ideal weight of adult cats, especially those living an indoor lifestyle. The ingredients are easy to digest as well, so the formula is suitable even for cats with digestive issues.
10. Tiki Cat Low-Carbohydrate Wet Cat Food
Key Features
Calorie content: 863 kcal/kg, 147 kcal/6 oz can
Crude protein: 16%
Crude fat: 2.6%
Crude fiber: 0%
Maximum moisture: 80%
With added minerals, vitamins, omegas, taurine
First three ingredients: chicken, chicken broth, sunflower seed oil
Is your cat a picky eater? The Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau consomme-based formula is sure to pique their interest and appetite. Made from the succulent chicken breast which comes as the first ingredient, plus added vitamins, minerals, omegas and taurine, this low-carb, grain-free, high-protein recipe will not only tempt your kitty’s appetite, but also hydrate their body and support their digestive and urinary health. Because it’s made with only a handful of simple ingredients, the Tiki Cat is perfect for cats with food sensitivities and those struggling with tummy issues. Naturally, it’s free from all artificial additives, and the chicken is of top-quality – hormone and antibiotic-free. For more options, check out our detailed review of cat food for sensitive stomachs.
Best Wet Cat Food Buying Guide & FAQ
For some lucky pet parents, shopping for cat food is a simple and quick affair; for others, it’s a challenging task that involves finding a reasonably priced food that is both healthy and tasty enough for their picky eater. If you find yourself struggling to decide between different wet cat foods every time you shop for pet food, this guide is for you. Here, we cover everything you need to know about wet formulas, including the things you should take into consideration when looking for best wet cat food, ingredients you may want to avoid, how to store opened cans, and more.
Things to Consider When Buying Wet Cat Food
What makes wet cat food the best? To make things simple, just four things:
- High protein content
- Low carbohydrate content
- High moisture content
- No artificial additives.
Pretty straightforward, right? Except, there is no such thing as the best wet cat food for all cats. Every cat is different, so to purchase the right wet food for your kitty, it’s important to consider their unique traits and preferences. Here are some things to take into account when shopping for wet food.
- Your Cat’s Age
All cats should be fed a diet that is appropriate for their life stage: kittens should eat food specifically formulated for feline growth and development, adult cats should eat balanced adult cat food, while older cats will benefit from eating food crafted for senior cats. Why should you stick to the life stage-specific diets you ask? Because cats require different nutrients at different stages in their life. For example, kittens need more omega-3 essential fatty acids, specifically DHA for proper brain development, so the best kitten wet food should be (at least slightly) different from adult cat food. Likewise, senior cats could use more taurine and antioxidants in their diet. For more options head over to our guide on kitten food for your cat.
- Your Cat’s Lifestyle
Whether your cat leads an indoor or outdoor lifestyle should also play a role in your food selection process. Generally, because most indoor kitties are less physically active than their outdoor counterparts, they should eat a diet that’s lower in calories and slightly higher in fiber. Outdoor cats could benefit from a diet that is higher in protein and fat than typical. Consider your own lifestyle as well: do you spend most of the day outside of your home? If so, dry food is a better choice as it can stay safely in the bowl for hours. However, once you're home, it's a good idea to serve wet food to increase your cat's water intake. Alternatively, you can mix it with dry cat food to enhance its palatability.
You may also like our guide on High Fiber Cat Food.
- Your Cat’s Health
While high-protein low-carb wet cat foods are considered to be the healthiest for most cats, they’re not suitable for all kits. If your kitty suffers from kidney disease, you’ll probably want to avoid high-protein and high phosphorus formulas and choose instead low-protein high-moisture recipes. If, on the other hand, your cat struggles with diabetes, you’ll definitely want to stick to high-protein low-carb wet cat foods.
Check out our guide on Cat Food for Kidney Disease for more info.
Ingredients to Avoid in Wet Cat Food
If your kitty is of sensitive health or has poor digestion, it’s best to avoid the following ingredients:
- Artificial preservatives like BHA, BHT and Ethoxyquin
- Food dyes like Red 40, Blue 2 and Yellow 5
- Moistening agents like Propylene Glycol
While many pet parents opt for grain-free cat food, there’s no need to avoid grains unless your pet is sensitive or allergic to them. This said, if your kitty needs to be on a low-carb diet, grain-free recipes may indeed be a better choice. When it comes to meat by-products, they too need not be avoided as they're good sources of protein and are easily digestible; however, it is best to avoid unidentified meat by-products and meats. This all being said, if your cat has very sensitive health, it's a good idea to simply stick to natural cat food brands.
How to Store Wet Cat Food
To keep your kitty’s wet food safe and fresh for as long as possible, it’s important to store it properly.
- Unopened cans should be kept in cool, dry places, ideally where the temperature is between 50-100°F.
- Once opened, wet food should be stored in an airtight container and kept it in a refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
- Opened and served wet cat food should be discarded after 4 to 6 hours.
Also, don’t forget to check the “best before” date stamped on all canned foods!
Take a look at our review of Food Bowls For Cats for more options.
Our Top Pick
While all wet cat foods on our Top List are excellent recipes, our top pick has to be Purina Fancy Feast Seafood Grilled Collection. It’s high in protein, incredibly flavorful and tasty plus reasonably priced – truly one of the best wet cat food multipacks out there! To top it all, the pack comes with three different varieties and 24 cans in total, so it should last a long while!
