Best Wet Cat Food For Senior Cats
Senior cats need a different nutritional mix than kittens and adults due to their decreased level of activity and the effects of the aging process. Royal Canin Aging 12+ Thin Slices in Gravy Canned Cat Food is recommended for senior cats that are age 12 or older. It includes glucosamine for your older cat’s joints and phosphorous for the kidneys. It’s also designed to be easier to eat for senior cats that may have dental problems or missing teeth.
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Guaranteed analysis: 9% protein, 2.5% crude fat, 1.8% crude fiber, and 82% moisture
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First five ingredients: water sufficient for processing, pork by-products, and pork liver, chicken, chicken liver
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A case of 24 3-ounce cans is about $41
Weruva Paw Lickin Chicken Wet Cat Food
This Weruva recipe contains only 3% carbohydrates , so if your cat likes the taste, its a healthy choice. Speaking of choice, we like the option to buy it in 3-, 5.5-, or 10-ounce cans.
Weruva Paw Lickin Chicken
Tiki Cat is renowned for recipes high in animal protein. While many of the recipes are fish-based, you will find some poultry as well, like this shredded chicken variety with 77% protein.
Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken
Shredded chicken in chicken consommé is designed to engage even picky eaters.
What Are The Benefits Of Wet Food For Cats
There are many benefits of wet food for cats. For starters, wet food is an excellent , which is important for cats that don’t drink enough water. It’s also easy to digest, so it’s ideal for cats with sensitive stomachs.
Another big benefit of wet cat food is that it’s typically higher in protein than dry food. Protein is an essential nutrient for cats, helping to support their muscles, bones, and organs.
Wet food can also be a good choice for finicky eaters or cats that need to gain weight. If your cat is struggling to stay hydrated or maintain a healthy weight, talk to your veterinarian about switching to wet food.
Read Also: Can I Feed My Cat Wet And Dry Food
So How Much Carbohydrate Matter Does A Cat Need
None. Carbohydrate concentrations between 1 and 10% wont harm your cat, but anything more is a threat to your cats health. Excess carbohydrates can lead to problems like obesity and digestive issues.
Now, finding foods with low carbohydrate content is trickier than it sounds. Unlike a jar of peanut butter or a loaf of bread, cat food labels dont tell you how many grams of carbohydrates are in each serving. They dont tell you anything about the carbohydrate content.
The best way to avoid high-carbohydrate foods is by looking for products that dont contain anything starchy. Read the ingredient list and rule out anything that contains potatoes, wheat, soy, peas, or other high-carbohydrate products.
If you want more details, you can contact the company and ask about carbohydrate content. Alternatively, use a carbohydrate calculator like this one to get a rough estimate.
Best Wet Cat Food Formulas Of 2022
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When you bring a new cat home, one of the first decisions you have to make as a new pet parent is what type of cat food to feed your feline. And while there are hundreds of foods and cat food brands on the market, most cat owners will choose between two types of formulationswet cat food and dry cat food.
While there are benefits and drawbacks to both, wet cat food can offer a variety of benefits to our feline friends. In general, wet food tends to be higher in fat and protein and lower in carbohydrates compared to dry food, says Dr. Ericka Carroll, a San Francisco-based veterinarian who works for Hello Ralphie, a telehealth platform. Wet food also has significantly high moisture content compared to dry food.
Finding the best wet cat food for your four-legged companion will come down to your cats individual needs and preferences. But this guide will provide information about what to look for and consider when shopping for wet cat food and which brands and formulas you should consider for optimum nutrition.
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Healthiest Wet Cat Food For Weight Loss
Cats are carnivores. Unlike dogs, cats arent omnivores and dont eat meat just because its readily available, they need meat in their diet to survive and thrive.
Meat has two main components: protein and fat. While there are some essential nutrients in carbohydrates , cats can go without them as long as they have plenty of protein and fat in their diet.
Cats need more protein than dogs. Dogs can subsist on diets of 7-10% protein, but cats need double that: 14% is the minimum for a healthy cat, though 18% or higher should be the goal if your cat is on the hunt for weight loss. This is even more than humans require we only need 10-15%. *
Fat is an essential part of a cats diet. Though its tempting to put them on low-fat diets like we might do with ourselves or with our overweight pooches, most experts agree that restricting fat below 10% can cause serious health problems for your feline foodie. You see, fat isnt something that cats eat just because it tastes good . Rather, its their most important source of energy!
See also our comprehensive review of what to look for in diet cat food.
Is It Ok To Freeze Wet Cat Food
Yes. Its perfectly fine to freeze wet cat food. You can freeze opened cans and unopened cans of wet cat food, but we recommend freezing the opened cans since you dont want your cat to eat from an unopened can that has already gone bad. Keep in mind that unopened cans dont last very long in the fridge once they are thawed out. Make sure to label your frozen foods and check for any freezer burn before feeding it to your cat.
How do you thaw frozen wet cat food?
Once your frozen can of wet cat food is ready to be used, place it in the refrigerator overnight or try one of the following: running warm water over the can, placing it in a bowl of warm water, or leaving it on a counter at room temperature until thawed out completely.
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Instinct Raw Boost Grain
Petco
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Contains omega fatty acids and antioxidants
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Uses game bird and fish meal
While cats are capable of digesting raw foods, the risk of cross-contamination suggests against adopting a raw food diet for your cat in most cases. But if you have decided on a raw food approach after consultation with your veterinarian consider Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free, which enables a grain-free, raw diet with dry cat food, rather than the typical wet food most associated with the raw food approach.
The meaty offerings from Instinct Raw are rich in omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics. This cat food is made with cage-free chicken as the first ingredient. The food is minimally processed and always comes in a resealable bag.
Instinct Raw Boost Grain-Free Cat Food is also available in real duck and real salmon flavors, and can be found in two, four and a half, five, and 10-pound bags.
Price at time of publish:$42.74
Weight: 10 pounds| Form: Dry | Flavors: Chicken, Duck, Salmon | Life Stage: Adult
The best overall premium dry cat food is the Crave Grain Free High Protein Indoor Adult Cat Food. It boasts a protein-rich blend of high-quality meat, carbs, vitamins, and minerals. Plus, it comes in multiple feline-approved poultry and fish recipes. However, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food is another great choice. The vet-approved formula is packed with meat, whole grains, animal fat, fish oil, and veggie fibers.
The Spruce Pets / Jordan Provost
Tiki Cat Luau Wet Food
Reviewers love that this food contains no fish, making it a good option for cats with allergies. It also has a high protein content, as well as B vitamins to support a healthy coat. Tiki Cat uses human-grade ingredients, and the formula includes taurine to help your cats eyes and heart stay healthy. Each can has between two and three servings in it, but because of the quality of the ingredients used, you can feed half a can per day instead of one whole oneso keep in mind that a 12-pack will actually last for up to 24 days.
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Verified Review: User Experience
Many feline parents were satisfied with Blue Buffalo True Solutions Fit & Healthy Weight Control Formula. They were impressed by how quickly their cats lost weight and noted that they also enjoyed the flavor. One user commented:
My cat Dexter is a bit overweight and Ive tried him on some other brands of weight management food and he snubs it all, except this one. This one he loves.
Users were very pleased that their picky eaters loved the different flavors of Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Canned Wet Cat Food. Also appealing was the fact this option is suitable for all life stages so kittens, adults, and senior cats alike can enjoy this nutrition.
My cats LOVE Merrick Purrfect Bistro and thrive on it too. Chicken pate and turkey pate are the only product I feed them since they were 8-week-old kittens. Now they are both 3 1/2 years old and incredibly healthy, fit, and active. I credit it largely to Merrick Purrfect Bistro.
Many cat owners were thrilled they found a healthier option for their feline companions. Whether they were picky eaters or have sensitive stomachs, users commented their cats thoroughly enjoyed Purina Beyond Natural Wet Cat Food. A satisfied user had this to say:
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Indoor Dry Cat Food
Amazon
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More carbs than other formulas
Hill’s Science Diet is another option Dr. Singleton often recommends. It’s also the number one veterinarian-recommended dry cat food for its special formula of energy-support and digestible ingredients to fuel an indoor lifestyle. With high-quality meat, whole grains, fish oil, animal fat, vegetable fibers, and amino acids, it’ll satisfy your cat’s cravings and keep them full between meals.
Price at time of publish: $67.32
Weight: 15.5 pounds| Form: Dry | Flavor: Chicken | Life Stage: Adult
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Best For Weight Management: Royal Canin Adult Instinctive
- Only one recipe currently available
Just Cats is the top vet-recommended fresh pet food on the market, and two independent universities conducted year-long trials proving their recipes boost the immune system of pets in a healthy way. The Fish & Chicken recipe is a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet for cats thats perfect for adult cats of all breeds. This fresh recipe contains yuca root to absorb and retain moisture, to help ensure your cat is always fully hydrated and chicken liver for cats to obtain the nutrients they need.
Just Cats recipe includes USDA inspected and approved meats, as well as quality ingredients intended for human consumption. These ingredients are even supplied by the same farms that provide the food humans eat at home and sold at restaurants.
The 6 Best Canned Cat Foods Of 2022
Wellness Complete Health Canned Cat Food is our top pick
Nandini Balial is a writer and fact checker specializing in a variety of lifestyle topics, including film/TV, literature, and feminism, with work appearing in Slate, Wired, Pacific Standard, and more prestigious outlets.
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Spruce Pets / Peter Ardito
Our top pick, Wellness Complete Health Turkey & Salmon Formula Grain-Free Canned Cat Food, is made with whole ingredients in addition to antioxidants and vitamins for a balanced diet. If you’re hoping to feed your cat a natural canned food, check out Weruva BFF OMG Rainbow Á Gogo Variety Pack Wet Cat Food Pouches.
While cats do enjoy a varied selection of food and should be fed both dry and wet foods, canned cat food has the advantage of a high water content, which helps to keep your kitty hydrated.
Read on for the best canned cat foods.
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The Best High Protein: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Natural Adult Pate
The cat family is an obligate carnivore. This means that at least 70% of their diet consists of meat. Their distant relatives such as lions and tigers are also obligate carnivores. While your household cat is much smaller their needs are still the same. High-quality protein is essential for them to have the energy necessary to play, hunt, and explore.
Blue Wilderness provides a wonderful choice for high-quality protein. Their variety pack includes flavors of chicken, salmon, duck, and many more. The number one and first ingredient is always a protein, which is vital to support muscle development. Also added are amino acids which support heart health, and flaxseed, which is an omega-3 fatty acid that promotes healthy coat, skin, and digestion. As a high-quality product, excluded are any by-product meals, soy, corn, wheat, artificial preservatives, or flavors. This is an excellent choice that will provide superb quality nutrition for your furry feline.
Guaranteed Analysis : Crude Protein 10.0% min, Crude Fat8.0% min, Crude Fiber 1.5% max, Moisture 78.0% max, Taurine 0.10% min
Why Trust Great Pet Care
Our editorial and product teams have more than a decade of experience writing pet-focused content and providing product recommendations to pet parents. Weve worked for leading pet-industry brands including PetSmart, Petco, Chewy, and petMD.com. We pride ourselves on offering unbiased insight and this list of wet cat foods is based on extensive product knowledge and brand research.
Additionally, we consulted two veterinarians to narrow down our recommendations. These experts include:
- Dr. Sarah Wooten, a Colorado-based veterinarian and veterinary journalist
We also asked for wet cat food buying advice from three veterinarians. These experts include:
- Dr. Ericka Carroll, a San Francisco-based veterinarian who works for Hello Ralphie, a veterinary telehealth platform
- Dr. Shawna Garner, U.S. lead veterinarian at on-demand video consultation platform FirstVet
We also had this article reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr. Emily Swiniarski, medical director of the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, Illinois.
Besides consulting with veterinarians, Great Pet Care also compiled this list of best wet cat foods based on the following criteria:
AAFCO nutritional standards: The Association of American Feed Control Officials is a non-profit organization that sets nutritional standards for pet food. Cat foods that feature the AAFCO statement on the label are considered a complete and balanced diet.
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Go Sensitivity + Shine Grain
Packed with a blend of fruit, vegetables, and duck its lead ingredient Go! Sensitivity + Shine Grain-Free Duck Pate is formulated to make sure your cats skin and coat remain at the top of its game. But this wet cat food stands out for reasons beyond making your cat look pretty.
The blend theyve made here is loaded with antioxidants, which will provide your kitty with tip-top immune health. It is also cooked in duck broth, a tactic that provides the food with an abundance of moisture, ultimately helping your feline friend maintain optimal digestive and urinary health.
There are also zero grains to be found in the blend. There arent any by-products, growth hormones, or artificial preservatives contained in the mix, either.
This blend is also specifically formulated for cats that are prone to allergies, such as food sensitivities. This is not hyperbole, either a team of pet nutritionists created the formula to ensure top-shelf help to sensitive felines.
Pros:
- Blend cooked in duck broth for additional moisture
- Packed with omegas for shiny coat
- Loaded with antioxidants for immune health
- Zero grains or artificial by-products
- Specifically crafted for sensitive cats
Cons:
- Some cats may not like the flavor
- Some owners may object to the use of carrageenan/kelp in the blend
We Looked For Brands With Excellent Reputations
Remember that youre relying on the cat food company to provide your cat the nutrition they need to stay healthy and vibrant potentially for the rest of their life.
You need a company and a brand that you can trust. While it doesnt tell us everything about the brand, a companys recall history provides key insights into its ethics, safety standards, and the quality of its products.
If a company faces voluntary, or worsemandatoryrecalls every five years, purchasing from that company could subject your cat to three or more potentially harmful slip-ups during their lifetime.
A communicative, transparent company isnt afraid to share information with their customers. We gauged the quality of cat food companies by contacting their customer support lines and evaluating their customer service. We gave preference to companies that responded promptly and were willing to provide key information.
Additionally, we paid attention to what other customers were saying about the brand. Through social media, blogging, reviews on retail platforms, and sites like Consumer Reports, consumers can easily share their complaints or praises with the world.
We read these reviews and used them to assess the customer experience.
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Petguard Organic Chicken & Vegetable Formula
This organic canned food contains organic deboned chicken, carrots, celery, beets and sweet potatoes. There are no meat by-products, artificial preservatives, artificial flavors or artificial colors in this formula. There is also no corn, wheat or soy. The cans do not contain BPA and the food is made in the USA.