It’s true what they say—there isn’t one dull moment when you’re with your feline buddies. Nothing can compare to the crazy adventures, the warm snuggles, and joyful companionship that they can bring. However, the fun of being a cat parent also comes with several responsibilities in keeping your pet healthy and safe. One of those tasks is choosing the best wet cat food that would benefit their health the most.
Deciding on what kind of food to purchase can come with difficulties, especially with the variety of choices available. Between dry food and wet cat food, the latter is better for cats with special needs in their diet. Wet cat food contains higher moisture than dry food, making them easier to chew and pass in the urinary and digestive tract. For most cats, especially picky eaters, wet foods are the more appealing choice.
Here in The Furry Companion, we’ll be helping you pick the wet cat food for your cat babies. We’ll look into the factors that you need to consider when looking through options for your little furries. Then, we’ll take you through our top choices for your pet.
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Things to Consider: Best Wet Cat Food
Before deciding on the best wet cat food for your feline, there are some things you should know. First, you should be aware of the dietary needs of your cat. You may want an opinion from your vet if your cat has medical conditions or allergies. You will probably be advised to get cat food with certain types of ingredients. Erika de Papp, DVM, DACVIM advises, “If your pet is a healthy weight and you are trying to figure out how much to feed, keep in mind that the feeding guidelines typically over-estimate what your pet needs.”
Second, make sure that the product you are buying is appropriate for your pet’s age. Kittens require a different diet from adult cats. For example, kittens need food that has more calories, while senior cats should receive more taurine.
Third, be sure you check the ingredients of the cat food. The wet cat food includes products that include quality protein. Those that have tuna, turkey, and chicken are the best types of proteins. Also, choose cat foods that contain healthy fats, essential vitamins, and added minerals. Avoid those with filler ingredients, preservatives, and artificial flavoring because they might have adverse effects. Julie A. Churchill, DVM, Ph.D. “It’s not the most prominent part of the label.” She adds, “It’s usually in small print.”
Lastly, be mindful of the portion sizes for each pack. Your cat should receive the proper amount of food, no more, no less. Adjust the portions for specific mealtimes according to your cat’s needs. Joseph Wakshlag, DVM points out that “Overeating is the number one problem we see in both cats and dogs.”
Top Picks for Best Wet Cat Food
1. Purina Fancy Feast Creamy Delights
Our first pick for wet cat food is Purina Fancy Feast Creamy Delights. This brand is a perfect choice for giving your furry babies a healthy, balanced diet while treating them with excellent seafood flavors. The pack can come in flaked or pate, with flavors such as tuna, salmon, chicken, and chicken with sauce.
All of these choices include real proteins that are friendly to your cat’s digestive system. This cat food contains the necessary minerals and vitamins A, E, K, and B-12, which can aid in your pet’s growth and nutrition. This brand is guaranteed to satisfy your cats even if they are picky eaters.
2. Nutro Max Adult Wet Canned Cat Food Chicken Supreme
Next on our list is the Nutro Max Canned Cat Food Chicken Supreme. This pick is suitable for cats who require more hydration and have sensitive stomachs. Nutro Max is made only with premium ingredients and beneficial additives to help in your cat’s holistic growth. It is made up of 4.5% crude fat and 8% crude protein, without any by-products. This product is considered one of the best wet cat food out there because it is a well-priced cat favorite.
3. Sheba Perfect Portions Pate
There is no way we’ll miss adding Sheba Perfect Portions Pate in our list of best wet cat food! It guarantees both the cat’s satisfaction and the owner’s convenience because of its two-portion trays. Feeding has never been this easy. Just snap the plate into two, remove the cover, let your cat eat, and then save the other half for the next mealtime.
The food comes in a pate texture, which is made of easily digestible and high-quality proteins. The meal is guaranteed to be free from fillers such as wheat, corn, and soy. Apart from its variety of flavors, this cat food also contains fish oil and vitamin D3. Add that to the vitamins and minerals that the meal has, and your cat will surely grow up healthy and active.
4. Halo Grain Free Natural Wet Cat Food
The best feature of Halo Grain Free Natural Wet Cat Food is that it is an excellent choice for cats of all ages. The meal contains a balance of healthy vegetables and meat. For proteins, the pack is full of chicken broth, chicken meat, and liver. Meanwhile, the choices for veggies are zucchini, sweet potatoes, and carrots. It is a popular choice for cat owners because it is rich in moisture and also has a great smell that will whet your pets’ appetite. You can avail Halo Grain Free Natural Wet Cat Food in Amazon here.
Kittens usually require twice as much as the recommended portion for adults so that they get enough protein and calories. Halo cat food is grain-free and contains moisture for added hydration. Each meal is formulated to enhance the energy levels and aid muscle growth of the cats. With all these benefits, Halo is one of the best wet cat food out there!
5. Nature’s Valley Instinct Grain-Free Wet Cat Food
Nature’s Valley Instinct Grain-Free Wet Cat Food is one of the top choices of cat owners in the best wet cat food list. This cat food is an excellent pick for cats who have skin and gastrointestinal issues or grain allergies. This grain-free product is made up of 6.5% fat, 10% protein, and Omega fatty acids. Its main ingredients are turkey, chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver. As a substitute for grains and rice, it has ground flaxseeds and peas.
6. Blue Wilderness Wild Delights High Protein Meaty Morsels
Our next tasty meal on the best wet cat food list is the Blue Wilderness Wild Delights High Protein Meaty Morsels. This choice is guaranteed to satisfy your cat’s meat cravings because it comes with flaky salmon and real chicken.
The ingredients in this product contain protein and other essential nutrients without artificial flavors or preservatives. The pack comprises finely cut meaty chunks smothered in savory gravy. This cat food is not only a tasty treat, but it can also aid in the proper growth and overall health of your pet.
7. Hartz Delectables Cat Food
The next item on our list of best wet cat food for adult cats is the Hartz Delectables Cat Food. During this age, your cat’s body organs may undergo several complications. The good thing is, this meal specially caters to the needs of an aging cat.
Hartz Delectables has more moisture and contains less amount of fat, calories, and protein. Each serving is full of necessary nutrients like thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Check out Hartz Delectables Cat Food in Amazon here.
8. Crave Grain-Free High Protein Wet Trays
High-protein diets are a must for cats. For younger and more active felines, they need more protein because their amino acids break down faster. Geriatric cats also require this type of food choice because their metabolism slows down as they age.
Luckily, Crave Grain-Free High Protein Wet Trays provide 12% of protein, which is more than what traditional canned foods offer. As a contender for the best wet cat food, this product comes in a variety of flavors: trout, salmon, and chicken. Most cat owners recommend Crave as a rice topper or a complete meal for their furry babies. You can purchase Crave Grain-Free High Protein Wet Trays in Amazon here.
9. ZiwiPeak Canned Cat Cuisine New Zealand Beef Recipe
ZiwiPrak Canned Cat Cuisine is a part of our best wet cat food list because of its high-quality ingredients. You can be sure that the beef comes from grass-fed cattle, free from harmful hormones and antibiotics.
The meal has green-lipped New Zealand mussels that aid in your cat’s joint strength. Made with high levels of moisture and natural proteins, it is great for picky eaters. It is free from soy, grains, rice, fillers, and wheat.
10. Meow Mix Seafood Selections
If you’re a budget-conscious cat parent, this brand is the best wet cat food for you! Meow Mix Seafood Selections is one of the best wet cat food because of its affordable price. Don’t worry! This cat food brings numerous health benefits and tasty flavors. The packs come with salmon, crab, and tuna flavors, all of which have the necessary vitamins and minerals.
Each serving is portioned to 2.75 ounces to ensure that your cat gets the proper amount of food. This cat food is also high in moisture content to promote easy digestion and hydration of your pet. Most cat owners also appreciate the convenience of their easy-to-open containers.
11. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition
Royal Canine Feline Health Nutrition is one of the best wet cat food for senior cats, specifically for those over 12 years old. Choosing a product that is suited for older cats can drastically improve their health. At this age, their body requires food that can offer additional nutrition and support for their organs.
Royal Canin is a brand that can address those things. This wet food comprises tender slices that are gentle for the cat’s teeth and gums. Each bite contains fatty acids to strengthen their joints and reduced phosphorus to help their kidneys. This food is also formulated to reduce the effects or risks of arthritis.
12. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control Cat Food
Last but not least, we have Hill’s Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control Cat Food. This pick is the best wet cat food for pet owners who have felines that are elderly, long-haired, and have urinary issues. With this food, you can rid yourself of finding hairballs around your house. Hill’s Science Diet ensures smooth digestion through doses of fiber and magnesium to eliminate hairballs.
This cat food is a popular pick because of its savory chicken flavor. As long as your cat does not have any poultry allergies, they would thoroughly enjoy this meal.
There are numerous wet cat food brands, but you can trust The Furry Companion to pick only the best for you.
Best Wet Cat Food: Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the healthiest wet cat food?
Healthy cat foods provide the best nutrition that your cat needs to keep them healthy and energized. The healthiest wet cat foods are Newman’s Own Organic Grain-Free Turkey & Liver Dinner, Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Pate for Kittens, Sheba Perfect Portions Pate, and Purina Fancy Feast Creamy Delights.
Is Fancy Feast in the running for best wet cat food?
No, because it has by-products as part of its ingredients. These by-products also include corn, soy, and wheat, which are unhealthy for cats.
How long is opened wet canned cat food good for?
Wet canned food should be consumed within four hours if the ambient temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Further, opened cans should immediately be stored in the fridge for five to seven days at temperatures between 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Any wet canned food remaining after this period should be thrown out.
What are the greatest wet cat food brands?
There are several cat food brands that are well-trusted by pet owners for the quality they provide. The best wet cat food brands include Purina Friskies, Hartz Delectables, Purina Pro Plan, Hill’s Science, Weruva, Wellness Natural, and Instinct Natural.
What is the cat food recommended by vets?
Vet recommendations are easily trusted by pet owners because of their knowledge in taking care of pets. If you are looking into buying cat food recommended by vets, you can try the following: Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Purina Pro Plan, Royal Canin, and Iams.
Do cats need wet food every day?
It is safe to feed your cat wet food every day. For an average-sized adult cat, the food recommendation serving size is one 3 oz can for every 3-3.5 lbs of weight.
Is Wet food better for cats than dry?
Wet foods contain more protein, fewer carbohydrates, and better ingredients. But in general, both wet and dry food can provide for your cat’s nutritional needs.
Can cats live on dry food alone?
As long as the nutritional contents are balanced and complete, dry cat food can sustain your cat. Dry food is less expensive but contains less moisture, as opposed to wet cat food. For cats that feed on dry cat food, they need a lot of drinking water to prevent urinary tract infection.
Can I mix wet and dry cat food?
Yes, these two types of cat food can be mixed together as long as both options meet the nutritional needs of your cat. Always provide the best quality of food for your cats to keep them healthy.
How often should cats get wet food?