As cat owners, we understand the struggle of finding the perfect dry cat food that pleases our feline companions. It's not just about taste, but also ensuring that the food is healthy and beneficial for our furry friends. That's why we've gathered reviews on the 10 best dry cat foods available in 2024, most of which have received the seal of approval from even the pickiest eaters. With this list, you can provide your cat with wholesome nutrition that they will love, and you'll both enjoy the peace of mind knowing they're getting the best. So, let's dive into our best dry cat food reviews!
A Quick Comparison of the Winners in 2024
Before we delve into the details of each product, let's take a quick look at the top dry cat foods of 2024.
The 10 Best Dry Cat Foods
1. American Journey Grain-Free Dry Cat Food - Best Overall
Our top choice is American Journey Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. This recipe is packed with mouth-watering chicken and turkey, and it's completely grain-free. The deboned turkey is the first ingredient, ensuring a wholesome and protein-rich meal for your cat. With 395 calories per cup, 40% crude protein, 15% crude fat, 4% crude fiber, and 10% moisture, this dry cat food provides the essential nutrients your cat needs. It's also grain-free, meaning it doesn't contain any wheat, corn, or soy that can upset your cat's digestion. Instead, it offers antioxidants, fatty acids, and amino acids to keep your feline friend active and strong. The kibble is also small and easy to chew, making it suitable for cats of all ages. Overall, we believe this is the best dry cat food of the year.
2. Wysong Epigen Starch-Free Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food - Best Value
For those looking for the best value, we recommend Wysong Epigen Starch-Free Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food. This nutritious recipe offers organic chicken as the first ingredient and an impressive 60% protein content. With 15% crude fat, 4% crude fiber, and 10% moisture, this formula provides a balanced diet for your cat. It's also free of starches, grains, and other gluten-filled additives that can irritate a cat's digestive tract. Packed with probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, this dry cat food supports various body functions. However, keep in mind that it may not be suitable for all cats, especially those with kidney disease. Introduce this formula gradually to prevent digestive upset.
3. Dr Elsey’s Clean Protein Rabbit Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food - Premium Choice
For those willing to splurge on a premium dry cat food, we recommend Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein Rabbit Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. This formula is packed with 58% protein and 18% fat, ensuring your cat maintains muscle mass and feels satisfied. It's made with natural whole meat rabbit, chicken, and pork, providing essential nutrients for your cat's overall health. This grain-free recipe is also low in carbohydrates, with only 4% content, making it ideal for cats' nutritional requirements. It's enriched with taurine, vitamins, minerals, and Omega 3 fatty acids. While it may be on the pricier side, you can rest assured knowing you're paying for high-quality ingredients.
4. Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Chicken & Egg Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
If you're looking for an excellent choice for your furry friend, consider Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Chicken & Egg Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. This recipe contains 43% crude protein, 19% crude fat, and 10% moisture. With a protein source that mimics a carnivore's prey and no animal by-products, this low-carb recipe is free from GMO ingredients, artificial colors, and flavors. It offers great quality ingredients without rice, corn, or soy, all at an affordable price. It even appeals to picky eaters. However, some senior cats may have difficulty chewing the hard kibbles, so pre-hydrating the food can be a good option.
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
For those who prefer a natural diet for their cats, we recommend Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. It's tailored to help your feline maintain lean muscle mass for optimal agility. With deboned chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, this recipe offers 40% crude protein, 18% crude fat, 4% crude fiber, and 9% moisture. It replaces grains like wheat, corn, and soy with sweet potatoes and peas, providing necessary carbohydrates without irritating your cat's GI tract. It also contains Blue's LifeSource Bits, packed with vitamins, minerals, and superfoods. This best-rated dry cat food is a nutritious choice for your cat's overall health.
6. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is a biologically appropriate diet for carnivorous animals. With 40% protein and 20% fat, this formula is based on 90% premium meat and fish ingredients. It features chicken, turkey, and whole mackerel as the first ingredients and is coated with freeze-dried liver for added palatability. While not all cats may accept this food immediately, transitioning slowly can help.
7. Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is an exceptional choice for imitating a cat's natural diet. It includes scrumptious venison and salmon, considered novel proteins. With 42% crude protein, 18% crude fat, 3% crude fiber, and 10% moisture, this recipe provides the necessary nutrients for your cat's health. It uses sweet potatoes and pea protein instead of grains, along with real fruits and vegetables. With over 80 million live probiotics and prebiotics for gut health, this dry cat food is a healthy choice for your cat.
8. ACANA Meadowlands Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
ACANA Meadowlands Grain-Free Dry Cat Food contains fresh or raw chicken and turkey as its first three ingredients, providing 70% animal-based ingredients. With 33% crude protein, 17% crude fat, and 12% moisture, this formula offers a balanced diet for your cat. It's enriched with vitamins, minerals, natural preservatives, and probiotics. While it does contain some vegetable-origin ingredients, it's free from corn, soy, and wheat. The formula helps keep your cat's coat soft and joints healthy.
9. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food
For those who prefer leaving it to the chef, Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food is an excellent choice. This recipe features chicken and brown rice, with chicken as the number one ingredient. With 34% crude protein, 14% crude fat, 4% crude fiber, and 9% moisture, this dry cat food offers essential nutrients for your cat's overall health. It's free from wheat, soy, and artificial flavors, and it's packed with vitamins and minerals. This best-rated dry cat food recipe ensures your cat receives the necessary nutrients to thrive.
10. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food is loaded with high-quality ingredients to provide the nutrition your cat needs. With farm-raised chicken as the number one ingredient, this formula offers 33% crude protein, 16% crude fat, 7% crude fiber, and 10% moisture. It's free from GMO ingredients, soy, wheat, corn, and animal by-products. This dry cat food supports your cat's overall health with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. The natural fiber in the formula helps indoor cats stay regulated. However, keep in mind that the kibble may be larger than other brands, making it harder for cats with chewing difficulties.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Dry Cat Food
Selecting the best dry cat food for your furry friend can be a challenging task. To help you make an informed decision, here are some factors to consider:
Cats Are Carnivores & Why It Matters
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their diet should consist of at least 70% meat. It's crucial to choose dry cat food with a high-quality protein source as the first ingredient. Avoid products with fillers, by-products, and artificial additives.
What Factors Make Dry Kibble Top-Notch?
Look for dry kibble with a minimum of 26% protein for adult cats. The first ingredient should be a protein source, and the food should be free from fillers, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
Active vs. Inactive Cats
Consider your cat's activity level when selecting dry cat food. Active cats may require more calories, carbohydrates, and protein, while sedentary cats need less caloric intake and more fiber.
Cats Don't Get Enough Moisture in Their Diet
Dry kibble doesn't provide sufficient moisture for cats. Ensure your cat has access to clean, fresh water at all times.
Wet Food: The Good and the Bad
Wet cat food is not necessarily bad for your cat. It offers hydration and can be a tasty addition to their diet. You can choose to feed your cat wet food, dry kibble, or a combination of both based on their preferences and your vet's advice.
Sensitive Cats: How to Choose
Some cats have food allergies or sensitivities. Pay attention to the ingredients and avoid common allergens such as beef, chicken, fish, dairy, artificial dyes, and preservatives.
Food-Related Allergy Signs in Cats
Allergies in cats can manifest as various symptoms. If you suspect a food allergy, work closely with your veterinarian to identify the trigger and tailor a suitable diet for your cat.
Conclusion: What Is the Best Dry Cat Food?
Choosing the best dry cat food doesn't have to be overwhelming. We believe that American Journey Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is the best overall choice, considering its nutritional content and availability. However, Wysong Epigen Starch-Free Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog & Cat Food offers the best value for budget-conscious cat owners. Regardless of your choice, ensure that the dry cat food you select meets your cat's dietary needs and preferences. Happy feeding!
Related Read: 9 Lives Cat Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Featured Image Credit: Okssi, Shutterstock
