Best Cat Food for Kittens 2024

Made with humanely sourced ingredients and the highest quality cuts of meat, Open Farm Kitten Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is one of the best dry kitten foods available.

One of Wag! 's pet nutrition experts and veterinary consultants, Dr. Georgia Jeremiah recommends Open Farm to her clients:

“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 Kitten Grain-Free Dry Cat Food isn't human-grade as it contains ingredients like herring meal. That said, herring meal is beneficial as it’s high in DHA fatty acids essential for development. The top two ingredients in Open Farm Kitten Grain-Free Dry Cat Food are high-quality, named meat sources.

Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Wet Food is a high-protein wet cat food with a paté-like consistency, ideal for teething kittens and sensitive stomachs. 

Each recipe lists a high-quality, named meat source as the number one ingredient, with no meat meals or animal by-products included. Ingredients like salmon oil, taurine, and flaxseed add nutritional value.

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah believes Blue Buffalo produces some of the best pet foods on the market: “Blue Buffalo provides wet and dry recipes tailored to various life stages, including high-protein and grain-free choices.

"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.”

Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Wet Food contains high protein and fat levels for wet food, with over 75% moisture to ensure your feline fur-baby stays hydrated.

Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Wet Food recipes:

• Chicken
• Salmon

The Honest Kitchen was the first-ever commercial human-grade cat food brand, producing some of the best dry, wet, and freeze-dried cat foods available. 

From its free-range chicken to non-GMO produce, The Honest Kitchen's Grain-Free Dehydrated Cat Food contains no feed-grade ingredients. With high protein and fat levels, it's an excellent choice of cat food for kittens. 

Dr. Georgia Jeremiah also recommends The Honest Kitchen to clients searching for the best quality cat foods:

“The Honest Kitchen offers high-protein, human-grade cat food that's grain-free and devoid of artificial preservatives, GMOs, corn, wheat, and soy. Prioritizing meat as the first ingredient, their range includes both wet and dry varieties in multiple flavors to satisfy picky eaters - all with a money-back guarantee.”

The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Cat Food is the pawfect choice if you're looking for an alternative to wet or dry cat foods. It's nutrient-rich, shelf-stable, and easy to prepare — just add water and wait three minutes!

The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Dehydrated Cat Food recipes:

• Chicken & fish
• Chicken
• Turkey

Freeze-dried cat foods are a nutritionally rich alternative to kibble and Instinct Raw Meals Grain-Free Chicken Freeze-Dried Kitten Food is one of the best options for feline fur-babies. 

Instinct Raw Meals Freeze-Dried Kitten Food is marketed as being 3x more nutritious than kibbles. It's also far better quality, as it's made without meat meals — chicken, beef liver, and beef spleen are the top three ingredients. 

Specially formulated for kittens, this recipe contains high protein and fat levels. It's also rich in DHA fatty acids and Omega 6 due to ingredients like butternut squash, flaxseed, and salmon oil. 

Instinct Raw Meals Freeze-Dried Kitten Food boasts high nutrient levels as it's never cooked and minimally processed.

“Instinct cat food offers a species-appropriate diet with high protein content and real meat as the primary ingredient. With grain-free recipes and those free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors, Instinct provides options that are suitable for cats with digestive sensitivities. However, some recipes may have higher fat or carbohydrate levels and are relatively more expensive than comparable brands," notes Dr. Jeremiah.

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food Recipes are great if you're looking for affordable cat food for your kitten. 

Despite being around half the cost per pound of Open Farm, these dry foods for kittens lists a named quality meat source as the top ingredient. It's formulated with over 80% animal protein but does contain several meat meals. 

One standout feature of Nulo Freestyle Turkey & Duck Recipe is its high fat and protein content, which is perfect for growing kittens. It also contains several nutrient-rich secondary ingredients, like whole peas, dried kelp, and dried cranberries. 

Even Dr. Jeremiah agrees! “Nulo is known for its high-quality, animal-based protein recipes and offers low-carb, grain-free options that are free from artificial additives and fillers. Rich in essential amino acids, it supports lean muscle development and is specially formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of cats.”

While Nulo may not be the best quality and most minimally processed cat food for kittens available, it's a solid choice if many of the highest quality foods don't fit your budget.

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food recipes:

• Chicken & Cod
  
• Turkey & Duck