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Best Cat Food for Indoor Cats 2024
Written by a Labrador Retriever lover Tim Falk
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 02/25/2024, edited: 05/08/2024
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.
If you’ve just welcomed a new furry family member into your heart, you’ll no doubt want to give them nothing but the best. That includes the best nutrition, giving your cat all the goodness they need for a long and healthy life. But with so many products on the market, how do you choose the best food for your indoor cat?
If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the cat food choices available to you, we’re here to help. We’ve put together this guide to the best cat food for indoor cats, so keep reading to find high-quality nutrition for your fur-baby.
Overview
- Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Adult Indoor Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
- Acana Indoor Entree with Free-Run Chicken and Turkey
- Merrick Purrfect Bistro Real Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe
- American Journey Indoor Pate Chicken Recipe
- Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Salmon, Lentil and Apple Recipe
- Wellness CORE Indoor: Deboned Chicken, Turkey and Chicken Meals Recipe
- FAQ
Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Adult Indoor Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
5
Best vet recommended overall
If you’re searching for the best food for an indoor cat, it’s hard to go past this Tastefuls recipe from Blue Buffalo. Featuring deboned chicken as the first ingredient, this recipe features a mix of wholegrains and vegetables to promote optimal wellbeing. It’s high in fiber for healthy digestion, a good source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, and includes LifeSource Bits to provide important antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Even better, Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, recommends Blue Buffalo cat food to her clients. “Blue Buffalo provides wet and dry recipes tailored to various life stages, including high-protein and grain-free choices,” she says.
“Catering to special dietary needs, they offer limited ingredient varieties such as Blue Basics without common allergens such as chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy and eggs. With real meat, omega fatty acids and plenty of antioxidants, Blue Buffalo recipes are a good option for felines with delicate digestive tracts. Be mindful of the higher carbohydrate and low moisture content with some formulas if your cat has specific medical conditions.”
If you’re searching for the best indoor cat food for your feline pal, add Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Adult Indoor Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe to your shopping list.
Blue Buffalo Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- No artificial flavors or preservatives.
- Made in the USA.
- Available in 15lb bags if you want to buy in bulk.
Considerations & concerns
- Some buyers report that their cat refused to eat this food.
- Some complaints of upset stomachs.
- Some complaints about changes in kibble size.
What pet parents say about Blue Buffalo Tastefuls Adult Indoor Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
“I switched my cats to this food and an auto feeder at the same time after I was told my boys needed to lose weight. I took them back to the vet a year later and they were so impressed! The auto feeder definitely helped the weight loss, but this food has helped them keep their energy up and the vet was blown away by how soft and silky their coats are now. My cats love it too!”
“With three indoor adult cats there can be a lot of hairballs and puking. Since I started feeding Blue Buffalo Indoor there has been almost no puking at all. I'm thrilled.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.
Acana Indoor Entree with Free-Run Chicken and Turkey
5
Vet recommended
Made with 65% animal ingredients, this indoor cat recipe from Acana offers high-protein nutrition for your fur-baby. It’s low in calories, includes L-carnitine to help your cat stay in a healthy weight range, and features a blend of probiotics for digestive health. Fiber from sources such as oat groats also helps with hairball control.
“Acana offers both wet and dry recipes and prioritizes human-grade fresh or raw animal ingredients,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “These protein-rich diets are available in grain-free varieties and are enriched with an omega fatty acid and probiotic blend to promote a healthy digestive tract, skin and coat. For cats struggling with hairballs, the Acana Entrée diet offers an increased fiber content utilizing miscanthus grass and oat groats to aid digestibility and limit symptoms.”
Check out Acana Indoor Entree with Free-Run Chicken and Turkey if you’re in the market for a high-quality indoor cat food.
Acana Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Made in the USA.
- Features high-quality protein sources.
- Includes liver to increase palatability.
Considerations & concerns
- There are cheaper options available.
- Not popular with some picky eaters.
- Some complaints about upset stomachs.
What pet parents say about Acana Indoor Entree with Free-Run Chicken and Turkey
“The ingredient list meets my standards, but that doesn't always mean the cats will like it. The first time we poured Acana food in their bowls, they gobbled it up! And better yet, after the third bag, they still like it. None of our five snub their bowl! So it's a product the cats love and I feel good about the nutrition they are getting.”
“I'm an older cat who likes to stay indoors and sleep. This food prevents me from gaining unhealthy weight, it's tasty, and super healthy for my digestion. I get satisfied when eating it, so I don't scarf it down fast and the bag lasts longer. Great brand that cares about what's in my food. No allergic fillers, more natural kinds of ingredients, simple daily cat food done right! It's a little more in price for my mom, but she agrees it's totally worth it! Meow, Miranda”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Mars Incorporated.
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Real Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe
5
Vet recommended
There are lots of good reasons why you should check out the Merrick Purrfect Bistro Real Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe for your indoor cat. This formula is high in protein, easily digestible, and a good source of antioxidants to support a healthy immune system.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah also recommends Merrick cat food to her clients. “Merrick offers high-protein diets with meat as the primary ingredient,” she says. “Recipes are free from corn, wheat, soy, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives and rich in omega fatty acids and include probiotics for overall feline well-being.”
And because it’s made in the USA, you can enjoy peace of mind when feeding it to your pet.
Merrick Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Deboned salmon is the first ingredient.
- Features probiotics for healthy digestion.
- Good source of omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.
Considerations & concerns
- Some cats might prefer larger kibble pieces.
- Some complaints about the amount of food dust in each bag.
- Some pet parents report that their cat refused to eat this food.
What pet parents say about Merrick Purrfect Bistro Real Salmon and Sweet Potato Recipe
“Our 12-year-old kitty, Sam, started dealing with hairballs a few years ago and vomiting his dry food. We've tried MANY dry food options and nothing made a real difference...until now! He loves the food and it stays down. His hairball issue has also lessened.”
“I've been feeding this food to my two cats for 3 years now and their coats have never been better. They were picky [eaters] before I discovered Merrick's Purrfect Bistro Salmon recipe. Highly recommend for picky eaters or cats that have dry skin.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
American Journey Indoor Pate Chicken Recipe
4.5
Best vet recommended wet cat food
If your cat prefers the texture of wet food, they’ll love this American Journey Indoor Pate Chicken Recipe. This grain-free recipe features real chicken as the first ingredient and contains the right amounts of protein and fat to keep your kitty in a healthy weight range. It’s also a good source of fiber to promote healthy digestion, and features omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support skin and coat health.
“American Journey cat food features high-quality, real meat as the primary ingredient, ensuring balanced nutrition with essential vitamins and minerals,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “It offers grain-free options, free from artificial additives or preservatives, in various flavors to suit individual preferences. Additionally, it includes added probiotics for digestive health and is known for its affordability.”
For a nutritious and cost-effective wet cat food for your fur-baby, be sure to check out this Indoor Pate Chicken Recipe from American Journey.
American Journey Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Affordable option.
- No corn, wheat, soy, or artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
- Specially formulated for indoor cats.
Considerations & concerns
- The fact that it’s grain-free won’t please all pet parents.
- Some buyers report that their cats refuse to eat this food.
- Not an option if your cat is intolerant of chicken.
What pet parents say about American Journey Indoor Pate Chicken Recipe
“We have been trying several foods for our recently adopted cats. We wanted a quality food at a reasonable price, as brands we have used with past cats have increased in price dramatically. We also wanted foods without carrageenan as an ingredient. That's really hard to find, even in premium brands. This food we feel good about feeding our boys and it's at a really great price point and that they love eating. And no carrageenan! Thanks, Chewy, for producing such a great product.”
“My cat loves the taste. I love the price and that chicken is the first ingredient. It's a win-win!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Chewy, Inc.
Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Salmon, Lentil and Apple Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
Solid Gold's Let’s Stay In recipe is another top choice if you’re searching for the best indoor cat food. This recipe features salmon as a lean source of protein, fiber-rich lentils to help your pet feel satiated and keep hairballs to a minimum, and living probiotics to support good gut health.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah notes, “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.”
Solid Gold Let’s Stay in Salmon, Lentil and Apple Recipe is available in 3lb, 6lb, and 12lb bags, so keep an eye out for it wherever you buy your cat food.
Solid Gold Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Designed to maintain gut health to support a strong immune system.
- Contains foods like pumpkin and blueberries for fiber and antioxidants.
- Competitively priced.
Considerations & concerns
- Some cats might prefer larger kibble pieces.
- Grain-free recipes are controversial in the eyes of some pet parents.
- Some complaints about this food causing upset stomachs.
What pet parents say about Solid Gold Let’s Stay In Salmon, Lentil and Apple Recipe
“For months, my 16-year-old male cat had been having frequent bowel problems and throwing up several times a day. After one week of this food, he settled down and had normal functions just as if he was a young cat again. He feels and acts much better. He has been eating it for about a month now and acts like he has a new lease on life. I am quite honestly surprised, as I did not think that the food could make such a difference.”
“I have a very sensitive and picky cat. I've gone through so many brands and flavors all ending in failure. This food is a winner! Unique flavor so she's not tired of it. The kibbles are small which is perfect. Her fur is silky soft just over a week in and she is much more active and happy. My fur-baby approves!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Solid Gold Pet, LLC.
Wellness CORE Indoor: Deboned Chicken, Turkey and Chicken Meals Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
This indoor cat food recipe from Wellness offers high-protein nutrition for your furry friend. It’s also designed to suit the slightly less active lifestyle of indoor kitties, with 10% fewer calories than Wellness CORE Original. Features include probiotics for digestive support, plenty of natural fiber to help your cat stay fuller for longer, and flaxseed for omega fatty acids.
“Wellness cat food offers a protein-rich, grain-free option for those on a budget, featuring both wet and dry varieties complemented by toppers and treats,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah. “Their CORE line prioritizes gut health with prebiotics, probiotics, and digestive enzymes.”
However, she does offer a word of caution. “Wellness diets have been the center of several recalls in recent years and those seeking a safe wet-food alternative might consider the batch-tested Raised Right range,” she says.
Wellness Cat Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Good source of fiber to assist with weight control.
- Focus on gut health for a strong immune system and fewer hairballs.
- Features glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support.
Considerations & concerns
- Some Wellness products have been the subject of recalls in recent years.
- Some pet parents don’t like feeding grain-free diets.
- Some pet parents report that their cat would prefer larger kibble sizes.
What pet parents say about Wellness Core Indoor: Deboned Chicken, Turkey and Chicken Meals Recipe
“Very happy with their product as well as the rest of Wellness lineup of foods. My cats eat it with no problems and are happy with the choice of the CORE chicken. Their coats are sleek and soft, their litter box doesn’t smell. The food is quality ingredients and seems to be a good fit for them. Overall a plus for me and my cats.”
“I wasn’t sure my very picky kitty would like it, but after pouring some in her bowl, she took the biggest bites of food I’ve ever seen her take. Would definitely buy again. It’s a miracle.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Company.
FAQ
What is the best cat food for indoor cats?
Do indoor cats have different nutritional needs to outdoor cats?
When should I switch my indoor kitten to adult cat food?
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