Dried food is great for cats. Not only does it keep their teeth in good condition, but it is easier for you to control the portions and stays a bit fresher for longer.
It is also cheaper than wet, and can still be moistened if necessary. Usually, most cats will benefit from a mixture of both. But you still have to account for things such as their particular tastes, any health issues, and how much they eat.
Below are the best dry cat foods for everyday normal use.
| Image | Product | Details | |
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| Best Senior  | Best Senior |
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| Best Kitten  | Best Kitten |
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| Best Overall  | Best Overall |
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Senior cat food needs to be catered towards those cats who are getting a bit older and maybe aren’t as active as they once were.
This food is tasty, so also helps with waning appetites. The crispy pockets are filled with a soft chicken flavoured centre, so they are more akin to treats than dried biscuits.
The controlled minerals help support urinary tract health, and added vitamins and omega 3 help to maintain a healthy skin and coat. The taurine also promotes a healthy heart and eyesight.
Thanks to the gentle abrasive effect, they are also able to clean teeth and Whiskas is a brand which you can trust, with wet food to match if you want to switch it up.
Kittens are growing and learning, so they need food which supports this.
It is 100% balanced, created by nutritionists to give your kitten everything they need without any extras. Containing 91% animal protein (out of total protein), it will support healthy active kittens and ensure they can be a real whirlwind around your home.
Vitamin D gives them healthy bones and strong growth, and the taurine will promote healthy brain and sight development. Dried food is also easy to adapt the portion size as they grow, so they can still be used to their favourite food throughout this stage.
IAMS also have similar foods for when they need to make the switch without too much change.
Royal Canin is a brand more used to making speciality food for health issues, but this one is perfectly balanced for normal everyday use and ideal for indoor cats who are boundless balls of energy (ring a bell?).
It’s targeted for adult cats that spend the majority of their time inside, and it’s designed to combat indoor stresses by maintaining a balanced weight, urinary tract health, immunity support, hairball regulation and balanced energy.
Orijen knows that cats are carnivores, so need high meat content in their food. In response, you will find unrivalled amounts of free-range Cobb chicken and turkey, nest-laid eggs and wild northern walleye and Pacific herring in this food.
The ingredients are sourced locally, and fresh produce is used every day so this is what goes into the food. It is award-winning, low-glycemic and low-carbohydrate and also supports healthy blood sugars to provide peak health and optimum body weight in all ages of cats.
There is a good food guide on the pack, but as it is in American cups, just be aware one cup equates to 120g.
Being grain-free and organic, Yarrow’s Dry Cat Food is easily digestible, which is great for cats who have a sensitive stomachs. There are no hidden ingredients, no chemical fragrances, colourants or flavours, just pure quality nutrition with a protein content of 31% as well as being rich in omega 3 and 6.
With it being grain-free, the food is stocked up with organic peas that are rich in fibre for a healthy gut.
Yarrow has been trusted for organic quality pet food since it began in the 90s, and sources all of its own ingredients from trusted farmers, so you can rest assured that your cat is getting pure, quality meat.
It may be chicken flavoured, but this food also has fish and dried vegetables in the recipe, with enough animal protein to keep them healthy.
There is a matching wet food available which is great if you want to give them 50/50 or a switch occasionally. Natural ingredients like tomato and seaweed keep it healthy, and the added oils are perfect for healthy skin and coat.
A very popular food, it is tasty and natural, and provides the mix of nutrients they need for a healthy life.
Turkey is the source of protein, which is white so easy to digest. It is also succulent, so the food will be easy to chew. There is a good portion guide based on weight, and the biscuits are small too so are easy to eat.
One of the most famous cat food brands, this food is 100% complete and balanced. The high quality meat means your cat is only eating the best, but in a way which is convenient for you.
There are added vegetables, vitamins and minerals to boost your cat’s immune system and keep them full of life, and it also acidifies the urine to prevent common urinary problems such as cystitis.
Each kibble is soaked in gravy before being baked and roasted, so it is packed with flavour – perfect for fussy kitties. There are also various flavours to pick from.
Specifically designed for weaning kittens up to 12 months, and lactating or pregnant cats, these biscuits contain all of the nutrition your growing cat needs – no matter how they are doing that.
It is formulated with yeast, prebiotics and antioxidants to help support your kitten’s natural defences. So not only will they grow strong, but they will also grow their immune system.
There is also DHA, a functional nutrient also found in mother’s milk, proven to stimulate kittens’ brain and vision development, so everything they need is in here.
Lily’s Kitchen always uses fresh, sustainable and natural ingredients in their food to give your pet the best they can have.
It both smells and tastes good, and has loads of health benefits. Shiny coats and skin from the added oils and vitamins, taurine for healthy eyes and heart development, and plant fibres to help with hairballs.
It’s available in fish or chicken flavours, and the former would be good for any cats with an aversion of meat.
Cats are natural carnivores, so you will find that all cat food is flavoured like meat or fish.
Think about if your cat has any preferences. If they usually only eat fish flavoured food and turn their nose up at chicken, opt for salmon or similar.
Look for a high meat content. Because eating a meat-only diet provides certain vitamins and fatty acids, cats and other obligate carnivores have lost the ability to make these amino acids and vitamins themselves the way herbivores or omnivores do
You should also look for additions such as taurine and oils too. These will keep their body and coat healthy.
If you are slowly introducing some new food to your cat, it is best to buy a small bag which won’t be wasted if they don’t like it.
If they do like it, buying a generous bag of 2kg+ will save you money and ensure you’re stocked up, especially if you have several cats.
There will be a feeding guide on every packet, based on weight. One cup of one food does not mean one cup of another is the ideal amount, and you will also have to take into account whether they also have any wet food, meat or treats throughout the day.
