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Best Cat Food for Pregnant Cats 2025
Written by Wag! Staff
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 04/16/2024, edited: 04/25/2025
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.
When your mama cat is pregnant with kittens, her nutritional needs change. A high-quality kitten formula will provide all the nutrition your cat needs to stay happy and healthy, and deliver a happy and healthy litter, so search for a food that meets the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profile for growth. It’s also important that you take care not to overfeed your pregnant cat, and you should be aware that your cat may cope better with several smaller meals a day rather than just 1 or 2 big meals.
And if you’re searching for the best cat food for pregnant cats, check out these 6 “pawsome” options.
Overview
Orijen Kitten Formula
5
Best vet recommended overall
Orijen Kitten Formula is our top pick as the best overall cat food for pregnant cats. This protein-rich recipe is made with 90% animal ingredients and is designed to support healthy muscle development.
Orijen cat food is also one of the brands that Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, recommends to her clients. “Orijen is known for its high protein content, incorporating meat, organs, and bones from multiple animal sources,” she says.
“Recipes are made with fresh ingredients and avoid fillers, artificial additives, and grains. Additionally, they include a probiotic blend for digestive health. One potential drawback is that these diets are expensive; however, overall this is a high-quality, convenient diet option.”
While there are cheaper options available, it’s hard to go past Orijen’s Kitten Formula if you want to provide your pregnant cat with the best nutrition and help give their kittens a healthy start to life.
Orijen Kitten Food
Why Wag! loves it
- High in protein for muscle development
- Features DHA and EPA for brain development.
- Made in the USA
Considerations & concerns
- Not cheap
- Some complaints about this food causing an upset stomach
- The use of multiple protein sources won’t suit all cats
What pet parents say about Orijen Kitten Formula
“My twin 6-month-old Siamese kittens can’t get enough of this. We’ve tried other types of kibble and wet food but they just wouldn’t finish their bowl. After switching to Orijen, anytime they hear the bag move they run up to us and meow like crazy and try to stick their heads in it.”
“Great ingredients, which are very hard to find for kitten food. She eats it up every time. Very pleased with this product.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Mars Petcare US, Inc.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Salmon Recipe
4.5
Best vet recommended wet food
If your cat is crazy about wet food, this Wilderness Kitten Salmon Recipe from Blue Buffalo is sure to have them licking their lips. This high-protein recipe features real salmon and chicken as its first 2 ingredients, while its smooth texture will ensure that your cat is excited about every meal.
“Blue Buffalo provides wet and dry recipes tailored to various life stages, including high-protein and grain-free choices,” says Dr. Georgia Jeremiah.
“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.”
This Blue Buffalo recipe also doesn’t feature any artificial flavors or preservatives, so it’s a good choice for your pregnant cat.
Blue Buffalo Kitten Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Salmon provides protein for muscle development and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.
- Good source of protein.
- Features taurinehttps://wagwalking.com/wellness/taurine-for-catsfor vision and heart health.
Considerations & concerns
- Only available in 3 oz cans.
- Some pet parents report this food was not a good match for their cat’s sensitive stomach.
- Not popular with some picky eaters.
What pet parents say about Blue Buffalo Wilderness Kitten Salmon Recipe
“I love Blue Wilderness products! This food for kittens has everything needed to support healthy kitten growth. My furbaby loves this wet food an I can rest easy knowing that it is packed with everything she needs!”
“My cat loves this type of food and I think it is priced fairly for the quality of the ingredients in each can. I would recommend for any cat owner.”
Read more reviews on Petco.
Image sourced from Petco. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company Ltd.
Wellness Complete Health Grain Free Kitten Formula
4
Vet recommended
Wellness Complete Health Grain Free Kitten Formula is a high-quality dry food that provides wholesome nutrition for your mama cat. It features deboned chicken and chicken meal as its first 2 ingredients, and it includes taurine for eye and heart health along with DHA for brain development.
Dr. Jeremiah also recommends Wellness cat food to her clients. “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,” she says, but also points out that Wellness products have been subject to recalls in recent years.
But if you’re searching for an affordable cat food that can provide high-quality nutrition for your fur-baby, Wellness Complete Health Grain Free Kitten Formula is well worth a closer look.
If you'd like to find out more about the product lines Wellness offers, check out our full Wellness cat food review.
Wellness Kitten Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Includes vitamins A and E to support a strong immune system
- High-quality protein source
- No corn, wheat, or soy
Considerations & concerns
- Not popular with some picky eaters
- Some complaints that this food has a strong odor
- Wellness’ recall history
What pet parents say about Wellness Complete Health Grain Free Kitten Formula
“My cat loves her wellness! She loves the crunchiness. She's been eating the same brand ever since I adopted her. Her fur is really bunny soft too!”
“I find this dry kitten food to be the best I have tried. The nuggets are smaller in size which makes them perfect for small kitten to start on. The mom loves the taste so much that she is eating this too.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Company.
Weruva Kitten Chicken Breast Formula in a Hydrating Puree
4.5
Vet recommended
Weruva’s Kitten range is made with high moisture content and high-quality protein sources. This Chicken Breast Formula is designed with easy digestion in mind and is made using boneless, skinless chicken breast meat. It provides a taste and texture your cat will love, but there are 4 other flavors in the range if this particular recipe doesn’t tickle your cat’s fancy.
Dr. Jeremiah notes, “Weruva cat food offers a variety of recipes and flavors suitable for different life stages and palates, always ensuring high-protein, real-meat ingredients without grains, gluten, or non-nutritive thickeners such as carrageenan. They are committed to quality 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.”
Be sure to add Weruva to your shortlist when searching for the best pregnant cat food.
Weruva Kitten Food
Why Wag! loves it
- High moisture content
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Other flavors to choose from
Considerations & concerns
- Not made in the USA
- Some pet parents might prefer a larger can size
- Not popular with some picky eaters
What pet parents say about Weruva Kitten Chicken Breast Formula in a Hydrating Puree
“I have three kittens, and out of all the food I’ve tried, they really like Weruva. They are so healthy and I barely smell their litter box when I’m feeding exclusively Weruva. They eat it up so quick!”
“Simple, good ingredients, moist and appetizing to kittens and adult cats. This pate even looks and smells good. When served, my 5 kittens just sit quietly and lap the plate clean. Even mama cat cannot resist it. Good product. A little expensive but at least I know my kittens are getting the nutrients they need while really enjoying this food. No waste is better than buying something that gets thrown away. Buy it. No regrets.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Weruva.
Acana Highest Protein Kitten Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
Searching for a high-protein diet for your fur-baby? Look no further than this Acana Kitten Recipe. Made with 75% animal ingredients, this recipe boasts a minimum crude protein content of at least 38%.
Chicken, turkey, and salmon are its first 3 ingredients, while it includes taurine, EPA, and DHA to support brain development and eye health.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah says, “Acana offers both wet and dry recipes and prioritizes human-grade fresh or raw animal ingredients. 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.”
That’s why Acana Highest Protein Kitten Recipe is well worth checking out to meet the unique nutritional needs of your pregnant cat.
Check out our full Acana cat food review for more details of what this premium brand has to offer.
Acana Kitten Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Made from 75% animal ingredients
- Features a probiotic blend to support healthy digestion
- Features omega fatty acids for skin and coat health
Considerations & concerns
- Some complaints about the strong odor of this food
- The use of multiple animal protein sources may not suit all pets
- Expensive
What pet parents say about Acana Highest Protein Kitten Recipe
“My cats didn’t touch their original cat food when I added Acana to their bowl. They ate every bit offered.”
“My cat loved this food. I love that it has few ingredients and I actually know what I’m feeding my cat. My cat seemed to stay fuller longer. I’ve already bought more of the other flavors.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Mars Incorporated.
Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe
4.5
Vet recommended
Last but not least on our list of the best cat food for pregnant cats is this Healthy Kitten Recipe from Merrick. This recipe features deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal as its first 3 ingredients, and it has a crude protein content of at least 41%.
“Merrick offers high-protein diets with meat as the primary ingredient,” says Dr. Jeremiah. “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.”
This recipe also features DHA to support brain development and includes potatoes and peas to provide carbs for energy. So if your cat is expecting, you can expect this food to deliver all the nutrition they need for a healthy pregnancy.
Merrick Kitten Food
Why Wag! loves it
- Packed with antioxidants to support a healthy immune system
- Made in the USA
- Deboned chicken is the first ingredient
Considerations & concerns
- Some pet parents complain about this food causing smelly poop
- Some complaints about upset stomachs
- There are cheaper options available
What pet parents say about Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe
“I’ve tried a few other high-protein and organic or quality ingredients foods. This one has the highest protein, second highest in quality ingredients. Kitty’s stomach was not as happy with the other brands. She actually moves the kibble out of her dish or puts it in a separate no-eat pile. I’m sticking with this one. It smells good too.”
“I bought this kitten food because it is grain free and it's cheaper than others. My kitties like the taste, and I love that I can close the bag and sit it in the same room as their dish and they can't open it.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
FAQ
Do pregnant cats have special nutritional needs?
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