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Best Cat Food Brands 2025
Written by Emily Bayne
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 08/29/2024, edited: 01/14/2025
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Deciding what food your kitty will eat is one of the most important decisions we make for our furbabies. Afterall all, diet heavily influences health, and an unhealthy diet can predispose cats to conditions like diabetes, obesity, and heart conditions. Most experts agree that a complete and balanced commercial pet food is the best choice for our pets since they are formulated to meet their specific nutritional needs for their life stage.
But picking the best cat food brand is tough since there are hundreds on the market (and more brands crop up every year!) Plus, every cat has different flavor preferences, dietary needs, and health factors to consider. That's why we created this list to find the best cat foods on the market.
We reviewed foods based on ingredient quality, company history, and factors like eco-friendliness and humane practices to find the best of the best. We know every feline is different, so we broke this list down into several categories, like best fresh food, raw food, and dry food, to name a few! Keep reading to find out our reigning champions for the best cat food brands around.
Overview
Open Farm
5
Best cat food overall
Choosing the best cat food on this list was not an easy feat, and a LOT of consideration went into this choice.
We knew we wanted to pick a veterinary-approved, all-natural, human-grade food that prioritized animal protein above all other ingredients, and Open Farm checks all those boxes. But there were several other factors that made Open Farm stand out above the rest.
Every ingredient in every bag of Open Farm cat food can be sourced to the farm where it was produced; this ensures transparent manufacturing practices and helps with quality control and food safety.
What's more, Open Farm abides by strict rules of ethics and only sources from farmers who use ethical and sustainable agricultural practices.
Open Farm exclusively uses products from humanely raised livestock in their recipes, and even the bags that Open Farms foods come in are recyclable through tetracycle — but Open Farm still strives to do better! They have pledged to become a zero waste company, stating they are "Committed to Zero Waste to Landfill for our direct operations, products, and packaging by 2025."
Needless to say, we are big fans of Open Farm cat food.
Wag! Veterinary consultant Dr. Georgia sums it up best: "Open Farm offers grain-free, high-quality protein diets using human-grade wet ingredients. Their sourcing emphasizes ethical practices and humanely raised meats, whilst their non-GMO, antibiotic and hormone-free recipes with freeze-dried raw and wet options provide a tasty and nutritious alternative to most commercial diets."
Open Farm Dry Cat Food flavors
Open Farm has 22 different cat food recipes that are divided across 3 lines. Their Raw Mix dry food line has two flavors: Open Prairie (a chicken and turkey-based recipe) and Wild Ocean (which contains cod, white fish, salmon, and rockfish).
There are 4 recipes in the freeze-dried raw line with flavors like chicken, salmon, and surf and turf (a blend of fish, beef, and liver). The freeze-dried raw line differs from the semi-raw Raw Mix line, as it contains over 92% freeze-dried raw meat, whereas the Raw Mix line is a blend of raw and cooked products.
The Good Bowl line has two recipes: a salmon-based formula and a chicken-based formula, both of which include fiber-rich whole grains like brown rice.
Rustic Blends is the third and final line that is currently available. This line contains 6 recipes, including their newest wet food recipe designed just for kittens, Kitten Chicken & Salmon Pâté.
Open Farm Cat Food
Why Wag! loves Open Farm
- All-natural, non-GMO recipes that prioritize real meat
- Ethical, sustainable, and humane ingredient sourcing
- Committed to becoming a zero-waste company
- Has a wide variety of offerings, including raw, dry, and wet foods and recipes for all life stages
Considerations & concerns
- Pricey
What pet parents say about Open Farm
"Cranberry (my Main Coon/Ragdoll mix) is a picky eater and has some health issues so I have been trying to find something that she likes that is actually good for her. My vet tech told me about Open Farm! Her coat is so soft and shiny and she has more energy than she has since she was a kitten! I am excited that we finally found something she loves!"
Read more reviews on Open Farm.
Image sourced from the Open Farm website. Copyright Open Farm.
Raised Right
5
Best fresh cat food
Raised Right is the top dog when it comes to fresh cat food, and we are certain your kitty will agree. "Raised Right cat food offers a whole-food diet with real meat as the initial ingredient, ensuring a high-protein meal. Including organ meats for vital nutrients and antioxidants, their recipes often feature limited ingredients for simplicity and digestibility." says Dr. Georgia.
Since their products are free of low-quality fillers and have a straightforward and easy-to-scan ingredients list, Raised Right is great for pet parents who have to be wary of hidden allergens.
If the quality of ingredients wasn't enough of a selling point, they use traceable ingredients and make a point to test every batch of food they make before it leaves the factory. This ensures the safety of their fluffy consumers (and is probably a big reason why they've never experienced a recall!)
Raised Right Cat Food flavors
Raised Right has just 4 recipe flavors currently, all of which are formulated for adult cats. The two original recipes are a chunky-style, fresh food that comes in two flavors: Turkey and Chicken. They also have 2 pate-style recipes that are ground smooth and come in Turkey and pumpkin and chicken and pumpkin flavors.
Raised Right Cat Food
Why Wag! loves Raised Right
- Human-grade recipes that are batch-tested to ensure safety
- Awarded the 2019 Innovation Award for Nutrition
- Has been featured in numerous different pet nutrition publications and even made it on the "Truth About Pet Food" list of foods they would feed their pets
Considerations & concerns
- Little variety
- There are no recipes explicitly tailored to dietary needs (like weight control) or recipes for kitten or senior life stages
What pet parents say about Raised Right
"Ever since she has been eating Raised Right my baby is back to normal and I can safely say that Raised Right saved her life and my other dog is also eating this AMAZING FOOD. I cannot say enough about this amazing product and how it helped me save her life and have her back to the way she used to be."
"I have 2 rescues. Since l've been giving them Raised Right, they are now at a healthy wait & the intermittent Gl problems that they were experiencing have completely disappeared. As stated, best dog food ever!!!"
Read more reviews on Raised Right.
Image sourced from the Raised Right website. Copyright Raised Right Pets LP.
Orijen
5
Best dry cat food
Orijen is arguably the best high-protein dry cat food option on the market, as it each recipe is comprised of at least 80 to 90% animal products. This is a far cry from most of the budget cat food brands on the market, which are primarily grain or corn-based and have meat byproducts and meals in lieu of real meat.
This brand promises that the first 5 ingredients in all of their recipes are real animal products, usually a combination of meat, poultry, organ meats, and fish.
We appreciate the labeling transparency since ingredient splitting is rampant in the pet food industry, and it is clear that Orijen prioritizes ingredient quality and animal protein sources in their products.
What's more, "Recipes are made with fresh ingredients and avoids fillers, artificial additives, and grains. Additionally, they include a probiotic blend for digestive health." There is a downside to be expected with these recipes, though, "One potential drawback is that these diets are expensive, however, overall this is a high-quality, convenient diet option." explains Dr. Georgia.
Orijen Cat Food Flavors
The Orijen cat food line has 10 total recipes, 5 wet and 5 dry. The dry line includes a weight management recipe called "Fit and Trim" and 4 other recipes with names like Six Fish and Guardian 8, all of which contain at least 90% animal products.
The wet food line has a single kitten recipe, which is chicken & salmon flavored, as well as other recipes like Regional Red Entree and Duck & Chicken Entree.
Orijen Cat Food
Why Wag! loves Orijen
- Orijen recipes use hardly any fillers, with 90% real animal products (which is exactly where your kitty should be getting most of their calories from!)
- The first 5 ingredients are animal-based (many foods have only one in the first 5 ingredients!)
- Recipes use free-range chicken and wild-caught fish
Considerations & concerns
- Pricier than most dry cat foods
- Limited recipe variety
What pet parents say about Orijen
"I learned about this food from someone in the pet store, who is buying food for his cat. I let him know my male cat really doesn't like wet food, but that the vet always pressured me to make and eat wet food. I was even buying $30 packets of Fordyce Laura to sprinkle on two dollar cans of food because I thought that's what he needed. This guy told me about this brand, and what quality it is. I know it's very expensive but lo and behold the brother and sister both love it and as long as they drink enough water, I think this is great for a cat who doesn't go for the wet food. He has tons of energy and a lean, muscular body well his sister, who still prefers wet food is unfortunately very overweight at this point. It is interesting that she refuses to eat dry food except for this brand."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Mars Petcare US, Inc.
Solid Gold
4.5
Best cat food for sensitive stomachs
If your cat is no stranger to tummy troubles, the Solid Gold brand will be a lifesaver.
Wag Vet Consultant Dr. Georgia Jeremiah says, "Solid Gold cat food offers high-protein options with superfoods, antioxidants, and added probiotics for optimal feline nutrition. It is affordably priced, providing grain-free and tailored recipes to cater to various dietary preferences and needs."
All Solid Gold products are made with quality ingredients, but the real shining star of their cat food line is Solid Gold Winged Tiger Sensitive Stomach with Quail & Pumpkin.
Solid Gold Cat Food flavors
Solid Gold has 8 different dry cat food flavors and 16 different wet food recipes, including sensitive stomach, weight control, and kitten formulas.
These recipes primarily center around a high-quality protein like chicken, wild fish, quail, or lamb combined with fruits and veggies like lentils, sweet potatoes, or apples, or whole grains like barley and brown rice (depending on whether the recipe is whole grain or grain-free.)
We especially like the Solid Gold Winged Tiger with Quail & Pumpkin Grain-Free Sensitive Stomach Adult Dry Cat Food recipe because it uses novel protein quail, which is less likely to cause stomach upset in cats with protein allergies. Plus, pumpkin is known to be soothing to sensitive tummies and is rich in fiber to help form healthy stools and prevent constipation and diarrhea.
Solid Gold Cat Food
Why Wag! loves Solid Gold
- Their sensitive formula utilizes novel proteins like quail and doesn't include common allergens like gluten, grains, etc.
- Uses all-natural preservatives and doesn't allow carrageenan in their recipes
- This brand has a huge variety of flavors, specialty diets, and treats to suit the taste and dietary needs of almost every cat.
- Reasonably priced
Considerations & concerns
- Their wet food line is made in Thailand, which may be a concern for some pet parents
- We would like to see the sensitive stomach expand to have more flavors
What pet parents say about Solid Gold
"I have 1 kitty who vomits all the time from eating too fast. He likes this flavor and seems to be eating slower. My other kitty has an allergy to food. We have been using this grain free food and he seems to tolerate it pretty well. It has been 2 months, and he is doing good. I have [tried multiple foods] for him and he has gone through maybe 2 bags and starts to get sick again. I am happy to say it is working. Don't tell him. Thank you Chewy!!!"
"I have 3 cats over 10+ with the oldest 16. She is starting to throw up her food a lot, so I decided to try a switch to something, not chicken or beef like suggested. I do have to admit I have 3 cats, so sometimes I'm not always sure who is eating the right food. I can say all 3 are eating the food, and I have not seen any throw up, which is a good thing. Also smaller portions fill them up quicker. Will purchase again. It is hard to find food without chicken, beef, dairy, or fish."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Solid Gold Pet, LLC.
Stella and Chewy's
4.5
Best raw cat food
If you're in search of a quality raw diet for your little tiger, you can't get much better than Stella & Chewy's. From organic, humanely sourced ingredients to their safety standards and quality control measures to make sure your cat gets the best food paw-sible.
Feeding raw diets can be scary since raw foods are at higher risk for carrying food-borne pathogens. However, Stella & Chewys uses high-pressure processing for each batch of freeze-dried and frozen raw foods to kill harmful bacteria and keep your furbaby safe.
This revolutionary process can successfully eliminate E.coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, which are three of the main culprits of food-borne illnesses. For this reason, Stella & Chewy's is paws down our favorite raw food on the market.
Stella and Chewy's Cat Food flavors
Stella & Chewy's has 52 different cat food offerings to choose from, 34 of these recipes being wet formulations.
Wet foods come in three different textures, pates, shreds, and morsels, and have flavors like tuna & mackerel and cage-free chicken pate.
The dry food lines are divided into two subranges: Raw Coated Kibble and Raw Coated Kibble + Raw Bits, which account for 6 recipes.
They also offer 8 freeze-dried raw recipes and 4 frozen raw dinner morsels for cats that prefer their meals as fresh as paws-ible.
Stella & Chewy's Cat Food
Why Wag! loves Stella and Chewy's
- Only uses organic produce and ethically raised animal products in their recipes
- Uses a revolutionary process called high-pressure processing, which uses pressurized water to rid raw recipes of harmful food-borne pathogens like E.coli, Salmonella, and Listeria
- Offers a variety of food flavors and textures to suit every feline
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents are unhappy with the size and texture of the freeze-dried morsels, complaining that they are too hard for their cats
What pet parents say about Stella and Chewy's
"I tested this out after my cat began to regurgitate canned pate. This sits much better with her. Our pet sitter was amazed! The cat is now at her food bowl when the sitter comes to feed our pets. She used to just hide! It is pretty easy to reconstitute. I use a mortar and pestle to break it up and just tap water to moisten. The cat eats pieces that are dry, too, but water added ensures she gets enough water in her diet."
"My cat's health took a nosedive and I couldn't pinpoint what was causing it for the longest time. The vet couldn't figure it out either. It turned out that the kibble I was feeding her (Nulo brand) was upsetting her GI system, causing her to vomit frequently and have the worst smelling bowel movements I've ever smelled in my life. I don't know why it took me so long to figure it out but I'm glad I did because she turned into skin and bones from losing so much weight. I quit feeding the Nulo kibble, and she is now eating this and a a different brand of kibble but she will hardly touch kibble these days, so she's eating this almost exclusively. She is doing SO much better! I have my old kitty back."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy and Stella & Chewy's websites. Copyright Stella & Chewy's.
Weruva
4.5
Best wet cat food
Weruva wins the top spot as our favorite wet cat food thanks to their thoughtful formulations, which omit common allergens and inflammatory ingredients like grains, gluten, and carrageenan.
We also love their huge selection of recipes, which cater to a variety of health conditions and life stages. One of our favorite offerings from this brand is their Wx Phos Focused Cat Food Recipes, which is geared toward cats with renal disease.
In the words of Dr. Georgia, "Weruva cat food [ensures] high-protein, real-meat ingredients [and] their formulations exclude antibiotics, hormones, and artificial additives, while also providing a low-phosphorus, high-protein prescription diet option with high moisture content to cater to specific medical needs."
Although it doesn't add to the nutritional value of these recipes, we have to shout out the adorable packaging and fun recipe names like "Funky Chunky Chicken Soup" and "Meow Luau." It is clear this brand truly appreciates its customers and really goes the extra mile to put out premium cat food.
Weruva Cat Food flavors
Weruva has a TON of recipes, as in over 150 different types! These recipes are spread across 12 different cat food lines and have fun names like Paw Lickin' Chicken and Green Eggs & Chicken.
These lines have foods for just every diet imaginable, including high protein diets, kitten foods, hearty stews, pates, and even prescription and premium products.
Weruva Cat Food
Why Wag! loves Weruva
- Offers low phosphorous foods
- A huge variety of food types and formulations for cats of every life stage and most health concerns
- Doesn't include carrageenan in their wet food recipes
- Affordably priced for the quality
- They source seafood from companies that use dolphin- and sea turtle-safe fishing measures
Considerations & Concerns
- Weruva often uses "natural flavors" in their recipes. We would prefer to see these specific ingredients on the ingredients list for transparency and potential allergen identification
What pet parents say about Weruva
"I have 2 beautiful, loving Siberian Forest Cats who never seem to enjoy their food very much. I have tried many brands and flavors of both dry and wet food. They either reject food outright or eat a little bit then walk away sadly. BUT I finally found something they love, Weruva chicken & beef pate!"
"We've been having to put drops into our Maine Coon's food to get him to urinate. He could smell it in other foods but not this one. He's urinating just like he used to again."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Weruva.
FAQ
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