Do you feed your cat canned food, or strictly dry food? Many cat owners choose to give their cat a diet mixed with both. That gives them variety, and also ensures that they get all of the required nutrients to stay healthy. Cats are instinctively carnivorous, meaning they eat primarily meat to ensure their health and wellness. Instinctively, they go after foods such as birds, insects, lizards, and rodents. Only about 10% of their diet should be made up of carbohydrates.
Dry foods, however, are typically made up of about 20-40% carbohydrates. This makes them dehydrating when they are given on their own. Dry food does, however, have some benefits. It is easy to feed, and it also helps to keep their teeth and gums clean and healthy. This is why we don’t recommend you give your cat strictly canned food, but a mix of both.
The Benefits Of Canned Foods for Cats
Water Content
A cat’s diet also has a good amount of water content, and dry food has been dehydrated. This is not very natural to a cat. Canned food has much more water content, and is a lot more natural for them. Some people just choose to add water to the dry food, but that is really not safe. It can actually cause bacteria growth, which will not only make it smell bad but will also cause your cat to have an upset stomach.
Variety
Cats naturally enjoy a variety when it comes to their diet. How would you feel if you had to eat the same foods day in and day out? Giving your cat a variety of different types of food to eat will help to keep them from getting bored with their diet. It will also help them from being too picky about the type of food that they eat. You can switch up the flavors and sources of protein to give them added variety in canned cat food.
Taste
We haven’t tasted it here ourselves or anything, but studies find that canned cat food, or wet food, is more palatable for pets. It has a better flavor. Cats are attracted to foods that have a meat flavor. If you have a picky cat, try topping off their dry kibble with a small portion of canned food at meal time. Their taste buds will thank you later.
Introducing Canned Food
If your cat has never had canned food, you don’t just want to switch them to it cold turkey. In fact, we don’t even recommend that you switch entirely to canned food since the dry kibble is so much better for their teeth and gums. To get them used to it, you need to introduce it to them slowly. If you give them a lot of it the first time, it is likely to upset their stomach. You can simply add it to the top of the dry food, or it can be served stand alone.
Quality
When it comes to the quality of your cat’s food, canned cat food quality is just as important as it is with dry cat food. Make sure that you check out the label and look for quality ingredients. Premium pet foods are definitely going to offer your pet the most when it comes to nutrients. Don’t skimp on the quality of the ingredients of the food just to save a few bucks! Invest in a food that is going to offer your cat everything that they need nutritionally.
Now, let’s take a closer look at a few of our favorite canned foods for cats.
Our Picks for the Top 10 Best Canned Cat Food
#1 – Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food
If you are looking for a canned formula that offers your pet 100% natural grain free complete balanced nutrition, look no further than Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Canned cat food. It is high in quality protein, minerals and vitamins. It has added fresh fruits that are high in antioxidants, such as cranberries and blueberries, to improve urinary health. It is also packed with moisture giving your cat additional hydration that they require.
There are no meat by products, no corn, soy or wheat, and no artificial flavors, preservatives or colors in this formula. It is available in a variety of flavors, including salmon, shrimp & crab, chicken & lobster, beef & chicken, and turkey, just to name a few.
#2 – Weruva Best Feline Friend OMG Variety Pack Canned Cat Food
The Weruva Best Feline Friend OMG Variety Pack has a few varieties of flavors. It is a grain free formula that not only offers your pet the best nutrition possible, but also is safe for dolphins. It’s true! It has wild caught protein sources, and comes sealed with 12 3oz pouches of wet food. For taste and nutrition that your pet can count on, consider Weruva brand.
#3 – Purina Pro Plan Wet Cat Food
Purina Pro Plan’s wet cat food has a great taste that your cat is sure to love. It offers them the variety that they desire naturally, and gives them outstanding nutritional content. There are way too many flavor varieties to name them all, but you can choose from tuna, beef, chicken and salmon mixes that every cat’s taste buds will enjoy.
The formula is made up of real tuna for added taste and texture, and it is also rich in protein, fat and omega fatty acids. Oh, and don’t forget that the Purina name is a name that is well known and trusted in the pet food industry, and has been for decades.
#4 – IAMS Purrfect Delights Flaked in Sauce Variety Pack Wet Canned Cat Food
IAMS Purrfect Delights Flaked in Sauce Variety pack is a great choice if you want your cat to have a variety of options at meal time. If flaked isn’t the texture that they prefer, they also have the pate variety pack that may be preferable to some cats. Both formulas are nutritionally balanced, offering your cat high quality protein sources in a complete and balanced formula. There is no gluten, corn, soy or artificial flavors.
Each can is easy to open and unique, making it easier than ever for you to feed your cat wet food. The variety pack comes with flavors such as Tempt Me Tuna & Mackerel, Sardines, and Tuna-Topia, all of which are packed with real tuna, sardines and mackerel in each bite.
#5 – Royal Canin Canned Cat Food
The Royal Canin difference is not only seen in their kibble, but also in their canned cat food. The Adult Instinctive formula is formulated to ensure that your adult cat gets all of the nutrients that they require each time they eat. It also helps to promote an ideal weight, and gives them a moderate level of energy.
Royal Canin uses Macro Nutrient Profile Science to ensure that their food is instinctively preferred by cats, based on their instinctive dietary needs in the wild. While it may be a bit more expensive, your cat is sure to love it and it will offer them a healthy option.
#6 – Fancy Feast Wet Cat Food
Fancy Feast Wet cat food is good for those that are on a tighter budget. It is probably one of the least expensive formulas that still offers your cat the nutrients that they require. 100% complete and balanced, you can rest assured that this formula will give your cat everything they need to have a healthy life. Choose from various different formulas, such as classic, grilled, marinated morsels, sliced, chunky, roasted, flaked, minced and kitten formulas.
The cans are small, making it easier for you to feed single servings without having to store leftovers in the fridge and worrying about how you will get them a comfortable temperature for your cat to eat later on.
#7 – Tiki Cat Gourmet Whole Food Canned Cat Food
When quality is really important to you, consider Tiki Cat Gourmet Whole Food canned cat food. It is made up of USDA foods that are certified as human grain, and it is really well known for its excellent flavor. This food is naturally comparable to what your cat would eat in the wild, when it comes to natural moisture, protein and fat contents, with less than 1 percent of carbs.
It is gently cooked to lock in flavor, so your cat’s taste buds will thank you later. Many vets recommend this food for those that have diabetes, IBS, UTIs and other health conditions, but it isn’t a prescription diet. It is safe for all cats.
#8 – Holistic Select Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food
If you are looking for a 100% natural, grain free formula, Holistic Select is a great choice. It is made up of the highest quality protein sources, and has all of the vitamins and minerals that your cat needs. It is also packed with herbs, botanicals and prebiotics that help support healthy digestion.
Whether you want a food to use as a solo meal or just a topper to kibble, this is a great choice. It has no meat by products, wheat, corn, grain, or soy, and is also free of artificial preservatives, flavors and colors. That means just nutrients, nothing more.
#9 – Canidae All Life Stages Can Formula for Cats
No matter what life stage your cat is in, Canidae All Life Stages Canned formula is a great option. It is made up of quality protein sources, including chicken, ocean whitefish and lamb for optimal nutrition. It is great for cats of all ages, even kittens, which makes it easy to feed all of the cats in your home without having to make it difficult.
This formula has a great taste that cats are sure to love, and it is free of wheat, soy, corn, fillers, hormones, antibiotics, and artificial colors, preservatives and flavors. This is just another one of the top picks when it comes to quality nutrition.
#10 – Friskies Wet Cat Food
Finally, we have Friskies wet cat food. Friskies is another name in the pet food industry that people have grown to love and trust. They have palatable flavor options for you to choose from, and various different forms as well- including classic pate, flaked, gravy sensations, indoor, meaty bits, prime filets, saucesations, savory shreds, tasty treasures and a variety pack for those that like their cats to have options and variety at meal time.
The formula is 100% complete and balanced nutritionally for cats in all life stages, including kitten growth and adult maintenance stages.
