The best cat food, recommended by a vet – including new online cat food delivery services

Recommended Home Pet care The best cat food, recommended by a vet – including new online cat food delivery services Our experienced vet shows how to choose the best cat food for peak feline fitness at any age, from Royal Canin to Republic of Cats Save Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Pete Wedderburn Show biography Dr Pete Wedderburn is a veterinary surgeon who splits his time between work in his companion animal clinic and work in the media. He has been the Telegraph's resident vet since 2007 and is the author of "Pet Subjects: Animal Tales from the Telegraph's Resident Vet" (2017). He has an active Facebook page as "Pete the Vet", Tweets as @petethevet and he is one of the top three online veterinary influencers in the UK. Published 21 July 2026 3:41pm BST Save Share article Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Gift this article free Gift article Give full access to this article, free time. You have 15 articles left to gift, this month. Log in or Subscribe Copy link X Icon twitter Facebook Icon facebook WhatsApp Icon whatsapp email Add us as preferred source Pete Wedderburn Show biography Dr Pete Wedderburn is a veterinary surgeon who splits his time between work in his companion animal clinic and work in the media. He has been the Telegraph's resident vet since 2007 and is the author of "Pet Subjects: Animal Tales from the Telegraph's Resident Vet" (2017). He has an active Facebook page as "Pete the Vet", Tweets as @petethevet and he is one of the top three online veterinary influencers in the UK. Published 21 July 2026 3:41pm BST This article contains affiliate links. The products or services listed have been selected independently by journalists after hands-on testing or sourcing expert opinions. We may earn a commission when you click a link, buy a product or subscribe to a service. As a cat carer for over 50 years and a vet for nearly 40, I understand the importance of finding the best cat food. It isn’t always easy to get it right. Cats need a complete and balanced diet providing protein, carbohydrate, fats, minerals, vitamins and fibre, as well as some specific nutrients such as taurine and essential fatty acids. With such a huge range of products available, selecting the right one can be a real challenge. The aim of this article is to offer guidance on how to select the optimal diet for your feline friend. You can read my full reviews of the current best cat foods further down, followed by a comprehensive guide to cat nutrition, where you’ll learn how much and how often to feed your cat, among other things. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at my top five: The best cat foods: At a glanceBest Buy cat food: Royal CaninBest Value cat food: WhiskasBest wet cat food: Purina GourmetBest kitten food: Hill’s Science Plan Kitten FoodBest senior cat food: Republic of CatsAre cat food delivery services better than shopping in pet stores?There are pros and cons to both. Online cat food delivery services such as Untamed, Republic of Cats and Katkin are new options and have the advantages of a wide variety of choice, combined with the convenience of delivery to your door. I write about some of them below. However, pet stores may have a wider choice and, in a physical store, you can pick and choose from products in front of you with expert advice. How I chose the best cat foodsThere are hundreds of different types and brands of cat food on the market: the following recommendations are based on my own experiences as a vet, plus feedback from the many cat owners to whom I talk. Most brands tailor to different life stages – kitten, adult and senior – but only a few tailor to specific breeds, which is where my top choice Royal Canin really shines. Not all cat foods cater for special conditions, such as sensitive stomachs, so that was a factor in my choices too. I don’t need to tell you how fussy cats can be about their food. If you’re investing in your pets, we also have guides to the best cat toys, the best vacuums for pet hair and the best dog food. The best cat foods of 2026  1. Best Buy Cat Food: Royal Canin Fit 32 Score: 9/10 We like: Huge range of specific formulations, which cats seem to find unusually tasty We don’t like: Product information is difficult to find and read £28.91Buy nowPrice atAmazon£32.99 | Buy now from Zooplus £37.42 | Buy now from Electrical World Royal Canin has a wide range of high quality dry cat products, with breed-specific options for pedigree cats, as well as choices aimed at sub-categories for pets, including neutered cats, indoor or outdoor cats and fussy cats, plus the usual life stage choices. The products are well accepted by most cats, with most cat owners appreciating the fact that their pets enjoy tucking into their daily meals. Dry cat food – or “kibble” – generally tends to be the most convenient and cost-effective way to feed healthy cats. The quality of dry food varies, with cheaper foods tending to have less carefully chosen ingredients, which can make them less palatable for fussy cats, as well as having a poorer long term impact on body condition and overall health. Other popular and tasty kibble options include James Wellbeloved and Purina One, which both offer chicken, turkey and fish varieties of dry food that cats enjoy. Purina One includes a proprietary mix of probiotics and a beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria to optimise your cat’s gut microbiome, too. Key specifications Food type: DryFlavours: 130, including 22 for special conditions and 8 for specific breedsPack sizes: Available in 400g - 10kg2. Best Value Cat Food: Whiskas Score: 7/10 We like: If your cat likes it, it’s a perfectly good option We don’t like: At full price, Whiskas is not cheap, so it’s worth stocking up £38.95Buy nowPrice atAmazon£32.29 | Buy now from Zooplus £42.79 | Buy now from Tesco Whiskas is a popular grocery brand and if you shop carefully to take advantage of in-store promotions, it can be exceptionally good value, as well as offering tasty food that your cat will enjoy. Similarly, Felix can be a good choice if you take care to buy good-value multi packs from the right shop at the right time. Own-brand supermarket cat foods (such as Tesco, Aldi, Sainsbury’s or Waitrose) can be excellent value, providing highly affordable cat food, with the proviso that cats can be fussy eaters and the worst value of all happens when a cat refuses to eat a product. It can be a case of trial and error to work out your own pets’ preferences. Key specifications Food type: Wet and dry food for kitten, 1+ and 7+ yearsFlavours: Poultry, meat, fish and mixed varietiesPack sizes: Available in 400g tin, 800g kibble box, 85g pouch3. Best Cat Food For Sensitive Stomachs: Royal Canin Digestive Care Score: 9/10 We like: Better for your cat and fewer stains on the carpet We don’t like: There’s only one flavour which isn’t ideal for fussy cats £79.49Buy nowPrice atAmazon£75.72 | from Pets at Home £71.54 | from Zooplus Royal Canin Digestive Care (both wet and dry versions) features specially chosen ingredients and kibble designed to reduce irritation to the digestive tract, as well as containing a blend of prebiotics and fibres to support healthy intestinal flora and to regulate the transit of food through the digestive tract. For cats that are prone to upset digestive systems (vomiting and loose faeces are common consequences), it can be worth seeking a diet like this, that’s less likely to cause gastrointestinal upsets. As an alternative, the Purina Pro Plan Delicate Digestion range is also highly esteemed, with proprietary blends of helpful bacteria and probiotics to promote optimal digestive tract health. Key specifications Food type: Wet and dry food for adult cats (1-7 years)Flavours: No specific flavours: blend contains fish, poultry and other proteinsPack sizes: Available in 85g pouches and 2kg, 4kg and 10kg kibble bags4. Best Dry Cat Food For Senior Cats: Royal Canin Ageing 12 Plus Score: 9/10 We like: Texture is designed to suit fussy senior cats We don’t like: Only one flavour available £23.75Buy nowPrice atAmazon£21.79 | Buy now from Zooplus £24.88 | Buy now from Electrical World This food is highly palatable kibble with a double texture (crunchy outside, soft inside) that helps stimulate a senior cat’s slightly fussy appetite. There is only one variety, though, so if you have a fussy cat who prefers different flavours, this may not suit. James Wellbeloved Senior Cat Food is also worth considering. It’s designed for cats over the age of seven and comes in three different flavours (fish, chicken and turkey). Hill’s Science Plan Senior is also one of the longest-established cat foods for elderly cats, giving it a proven track record. Key specifications Food type: DryFlavours: 1Pack sizes: Available in 2kg and 4kg5. Best Wet Cat Food: Purina Gourmet Score: 8/10 We like: Biggest selection of different flavours We don’t like: Sachet shrinkflation means it’s worth checking you’re getting good value for money £23Buy nowPrice atAmazon£5.75 | Buy now from Sainsbury's £5 | Buy now from Waitrose Purina Gourmet includes a wide range of over 60 options in a variety of flavours including fish (salmon or tuna), meat (beef or game), poultry (turkey, duck or chicken) as well as a variety of textures (gravy, jelly, mousse, pate, terrine, flakes or cake) to give your cat as much of a selection of choices as a human diner might have in a fine restaurant. Wet (or moist) food tends to be more palatable than dry food and a wet diet increases a cat’s fluid intake, which is recommended by vets for cats with a number of health issues. Cats can be finicky eaters and every cat has their own favourite type of food. It can take trial and error to discover which your own cat prefers. There are two recent additions to the market that deserve special mentions: Katkin is a fresh frozen product, created from human-quality ingredients and a kitchen-type cooking process, then delivered in individual plastic sachets to be stored in your deep freeze and thawed out as needed. Untamed offers top-end ingredients, formulated to your cat’s needs, derived after completion of a questionnaire, then steam cooked, packaged in small tins and delivered to your doorstep. Key specifications Food type: Wet food for 1+ and 7+ years; available as mousse, paté, terrine, gravy and jelly - plus sauces and savoury cakesFlavours: 60 varieties of fish, poultry, game and meatPack sizes: Available in 85g pouches and 85g tins6. Best Kitten Food: Hill’s Science Plan Kitten Food Score: 8/10 We like: Specially formulated for kittens’ developmental needs We don’t like: Choice may be restricted in physical stores compared with what’s available online £56.40Buy nowPrice atAmazon£50.79 | Buy now from Zooplus £44.50 | Buy now from Animed Hill’s offers a choice of both dry and wet for kittens. Most kittens benefit from a mix of dry and moist food, so that they learn to enjoy eating both types of formulation. Although Hill’s Science Plan Dry Kitten Food is only available in two flavours, it has been specially formulated from quality ingredients as a high protein cat food to provide for the developmental needs of kittens, giving them the best start in life and allowing them to grow to maturity with optimal nutritional support. Hill’s moist kitten food has chicken and turkey options, in sachets and small tins. Other good options for kittens include Royal Canin, James Wellbeloved and Purina One – all high quality kitten foods that are also available as dry and moist products. Key specifications Food type: Wet and dry food for kittens (also available in adult and senior formulations)Flavours: Chicken and tunaPack sizes: Available in 85g pouches and 300g, 1.5kg, 3kg and 7kg kibble bags7. Best Food For Elderly Cats: Republic of Cats Score: 8/10 We like: Ingredients tailored to your individual pet We don’t like: Only available online £4.99Buy nowPrice atRepublic of Cats The Republic of Cats (from the creators of Tails.com personalised dog food) asks you to complete a short questionnaire about your cat before recommending a detailed formulation of dry or wet food, or a combination, to fit your pet’s needs. The changing metabolism of older cats means that they have some specific nutritional requirements. Personalisation can be particularly helpful for older cats, who may suffer from a number of underlying health issues such as obesity, arthritis or kidney disease. Several other manufacturers offer high quality diets specially formulated for older cats, notably Iams whose range includes dry and moist food in various flavours. Key specifications Food type: Wet and dry optionsFlavours: A mix of poultry-flavoured dry food and eight flavours of poultry, meat and fish wet foodPack sizes: Each delivery includes 420g of dry food and 30 cans of wet food and lasts two weeks8. Best Wet Cat Food For Kittens: Felix Kitten Sachets Score: 8/10 We like: Widely available We don’t like: Can be pricey if you don’t avail of in-store promotions. £11Buy nowPrice atAmazon£11 | Buy now from Morrisons £11.95 | Buy now from Sainsbury's This product comes in a range of flavours which are widely available at grocery stores and kittens find them highly palatable. The nutrition is custom designed for growing kittens, so you can be sure that they are getting everything they need. Other good alternatives for your growing kitten include Iams Kitten Food Sachets, Purina Proplan Kitten Sachets and Hills Science Kitten Sachets are all high quality products, but they are less widely available. Key specifications Food type: WetFlavours: White fish, salmon, lamb, chickenPack sizes: 3.4kg9. Best Food For Fussy Pets: Lily’s Kitchen Score: 7/10 We like: With over 20 types, surely your cat will find one they like We don’t like: Not as many options as Purina Gourmet £16Buy nowPrice atAmazon£18 | from Pets at Home Cats can be exceptionally finicky, so brands with a wide variety of choice are your friend here. Moist food tends to be more palatable than dry kibble and the Purina Gourmet range mentioned above has over fifty options – covering different ingredients and textures – to give your fussy feline as many subtle variations as possible. But Lily’s Kitchen’s 25 wet and dry varieties are extremely popular for good reason: they’re created with carefully chosen natural ingredients designed to appeal to cats. Once you’ve found one they like, shop directly and you can set up a convenient subscription. Sheba moist food is another option, with a range of ingredients (from fish to meat) in formulations including gravy, jelly, flakes, loaf, slices and soup, allowing you to present different options. Key specifications Food type: Wet and dry food for kitten, adult and senior catsFlavours: Beef, chicken, cod, duck, lamb, pork, prawn, salmon, trout, turkey and vegetable flavours in shredded, pate, chunks-in-gravy and dry varietiesPack sizes: Available in 70g tins, 85g trays, 800g bags and 2kg bags10. Best Cat Food For Weight Management: Purina One Light Dry Food Score: 7/10 We like: Specially formulated to contain 30 per cent less fat than its standard cat food We don’t like: Chicken is the only flavour available £21.39Buy nowPrice atAmazon£13 | Buy now from Pets at Home £15.49 | Buy now from Zooplus This product contains 30 per cent less fat than Purina’s standard adult version without reducing other key nutrients, for healthy weight management. The food includes beneficial functional bacteria to help protect a healthy gut microbiome. There’s just one flavour though (but perhaps you don’t want your overweight cat to be too tempted to keep eating in any case). As alternatives, Hill’s Science Plan Light is available in both wet and dry versions, as well as variations for adult and for older cats. James Wellbeloved also has an Adult Turkey and Rice Light Dry Cat Food. Key specifications Food type: DryFlavours: ChickenPack sizes: 700g, 3kgCat food FAQs Which is best, dry or wet cat food? Both are healthy cat food options. Moist cat food, in tins, sachets or aluminium-type cartons, tends to be the most palatable type of cat food, writes vet Pete Wedderburn. It contains far higher moisture levels (over 80 per cent, compared to less than 10 per cent in dry cat food) and this is important for some cats in particular (e.g cats suffering from urinary tract disease). The downside of moist food is that it tends to be more expensive and it’s messier, with more bowl-cleaning needed. There’s also the need to store opened containers in the fridge. Dry cat food, also known as kibble or biscuits, can also be highly palatable. One of the main reasons for obesity in cats is the fact that many carers leave a full bowl of cat kibble out continually, for a self-feeding routine. The lower moisture level makes dry food cheaper to transport and store and it’s more convenient and less messy for cat carers. What is the difference between kitten, adult and senior cat foods? Cats should be fed appropriately for their stage of life: nutritional needs change as pets grow older. A diet for a growing kitten is different to one formulated for a fifteen-year-old elderly cat. Food for cats up to one year of age should have higher levels of vitamins and proteins, designed to promote healthy growth. Food for cats in the prime of life, usually between one and seven years old, will be balanced and nutritionally complete, meeting all of an adult cat’s needs. Food for senior cats, usually defined as over seven years of age, should contain less protein, with high quality ingredients. There are also a number of specialised diets available for cats with specific medical issues such as urinary tract disease, kidney disease, allergic skin disease and others. These are usually used on the recommendation of the vet who is treating your pet. How much should I feed my cat? There are no definite rules, due to the variation in individual metabolisms between different animals. The best answer is to weigh your pet and start with the mid-range of the amount recommended on the label for that body weight. You should also pay attention to your pet’s behaviour: if they seem ravenously hungry, looking for more, then you should give them some more. Or if they leave uneaten food in the bowl, give them less the next time. A month later, weigh your pet again. If they have gained weight, feed a little less and if they have lost weight, feed a little more. As long as you are weighing them once a month, you can adjust quantities fed as needed to keep them at their optimal weight. If you are unsure about your cat’s optimal body weight, ask your local vet clinic to help you to assess their body condition. How long can a cat survive without food and water? Cats can technically survive up to three to four days without water, and up to two weeks without food (and with water). However, both pose serious health risks. The main concern is dehydration which will occur after 24 hours and can lead to further complications, such as organ failure.  While kittens and senior cats are more prone to the effects of starvation and dehydration, it is important to feed your cat regularly to avoid any health issues.  Can cats be vegetarian/vegan? No, cats cannot be vegetarian or vegan as they are carnivores and require meat in their diet in order to survive.  Advertisement More Stories