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The Best Wet And Dry Kitten Food Of 2025, According To Veterinarians

Ensuring your kitten grows into a healthy adult cat starts with deciding what to feed them. The best kitten food supports their development throughout their first year of life and makes them look forward to mealtime. But with dozens of options on the market, how do pet parents decide what dry and wet food to buy?

Below, veterinarians break down what to consider while picking a kitten food, including options from Purina, Fancy Feast and Hill's Science Diet. Experts also shared insights about how much and how often to feed your kitten, plus when to transition them to adult cat food.

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While shopping for kitten food, veterinarians recommend thinking about the following factors.

AAFCO nutrition standards: Ensure you buy kitten food that meets AAFCO nutrition standards. You can determine this by looking at the nutritional adequacy statement printed on the label. It should note that the food is either "complete and balanced for growth" or "complete and balanced for all life stages." This ensures that the food you buy is formulated to address kittens' nutritional needs and has been tested for efficacy and safety.

Ingredients: According to the AAFCO, ingredients on a food label are listed by weight from highest to lowest, which means the first three are the most important to consider. The first ingredient should be meat (including fish) that contains some source of DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, like fish oil, says Dr. John Loftus, an assistant professor of small animal internal medicine and nutrition at Cornell University College of Veterinary Science. Kitten food should also have appropriate levels of nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, vitamin E, taurine (an amino acid) and fiber, says Dr. Hannah Hart, a veterinarian at Chewy.

Food type: You'll see wet and dry food while shopping, and cats of all ages should eat both daily if possible, says Dr. Abel Gonzalez, a veterinarian and the clinical director at a Dutch pet telehealth company. Wet food is high in water content and helps with hydration, while dry food is crunchy and supports kittens' dental health.

Availability: Kittens sometimes eat up to four times a day, so you'll need a constant supply of food at home. Can you get it at a store in a pinch, or is it only available online? And if it's only available online, how long does delivery from your preferred retailer typically take? Kittens can get an upset stomach if you suddenly change their food, so make sure you always have access to whatever you feed them. Some retailers offer cat food subscription services if you want to set up scheduled deliveries regularly.

Price: The price and quality of kitten food are not always correlated, according to our experts. It's better to focus on finding one within your budget that your kitten enjoys eating, is made of healthy ingredients and meets AAFCO nutrition standards.

The food I recommend below is specifically formulated for kittens, meets AAFCO nutrition standards and has a meat source as the first ingredient, per expert recommendations. I included kitten food NBC Select pet parents recommend and highly rated options.

Best overall: Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food

What we like

Small kibble size

Filler-free

Vitamin E

Iams' kibble is small in size, so it's easy for kittens to chew. It's made without fillers, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives. It contains nutrients similar to those in kittens' mother's milk, like vitamin E, which supports the immune system. The food also has omega-3 DHA, as well as fiber and prebiotics for healthy digestion. 

Size: 3.5 lb., 7 lb. Or 16 lb. BagFirst ingredient: chickenOther flavors: none

Editor's pick: Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Kitten Food

What we like

Small kibble size

Prebiotics and probiotics

Vitamins A, E and zinc

Something to note

One flavor available

One size available

My cat Lucy ate Wellness Complete Health's dry kitten food before I adopted her, so I continued feeding it to her at home. The small, pellet-shaped kibble is made with natural ingredients and does not contain meat by-products, fillers or artificial preservatives. It's formulated with vitamins A, E and zinc to support immune health; calcium and phosphorus to support the bones and muscles; and prebiotics, probiotics and fiber to support digestive health.

Size: 5 lb. BagFirst ingredient: deboned chickenOther flavors: none

Best for digestive health: Purina Pro Plan Kitten Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Cat Food

What we like

Two-texture formula

Probiotics

Antioxidants

Purina's Pro Plan line offers some of our favorite cat food, and this specific formula is made for growing kittens. It's a mix of crunchy kibble and shredded, meaty chicken pieces. In addition to essential nutrients like DHA, calcium and phosphorus, the dry food contains probiotics to support kittens' digestive health and antioxidants to help them develop immune systems.

Size: 3 lb., 5lb. Or 12 lb. BagFirst ingredient: chickenOther flavors: none

Best natural kitten food: Hill's Science Diet Kitten Healthy Development Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food

What we like

Two flavors available

Small kibble size

Prebiotics

Something to note

Nothing to note at this time

Hill's Science Diet's dry kitten food is made with all-natural ingredients, and it's free from chicken by-product meal, artificial flavors, synthetic colors and artificial preservatives. The kibble is small and pellet-shaped, making it easy for kittens to chew. It's formulated with DHA from fish oil, an antioxidant blend of vitamins C and E to support the immune system, and prebiotics to support the gut microbiome and digestive system. You can also purchase a version of this dry kitten food that does not contain corn, wheat or soy if your cat is sensitive to those ingredients.

Size: 3.5 lb.,  7 lb. And 15.5 lb. BagFirst ingredient: chickenOther flavors: seafood

Best grain-free: Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe Dry Food

What we like

Grain-free

Small kibble size

Omega-6 & omega-3 fatty acids

I fed my cat Wanda Merrick's grain-free kitten food when I first adopted her at two months old. She only had a few teeth since she was young, but she happily ate this small, pellet-shaped kibble. The dry food has natural ingredients like deboned chicken, salmon oil, potatoes, and cranberries. It has probiotics that support digestion, antioxidants that support the immune system and omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids that support the skin and fur. The dry food is made without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Size: 4 lb. Or 7 lb. BagFirst ingredient: deboned chickenOther flavors: none

Best overall: Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feast Canned Cat Food

What we like

Pate texture

Rich in vitamins

Multiple flavors available

Both of my cats were picky about their wet food as kittens, but they always ate this Fancy Feast formula without hesitation. It's made with real milk and vitamins like E, B-12 and D-3. The wet food has a pate texture and does not contain artificial preservatives or colors.

Size: 24 3 oz. CansFirst ingredient: ocean whitefishOther flavors: chicken, turkey, salmon

Best pate: Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Natural Kitten Wet Cat Food

What we like

Free from corn, wheat and soy

Natural ingredients

Fish oil

Blue Buffalo's wet kitten food is made with real chicken and does not contain poultry by-products. It's also free from corn, wheat and soy, as well as artificial flavors and preservatives. The wet food, which has a pate texture, is formulated with fish oil as a source of DHA and natural ingredients like brown rice, flaxseeds, sweet potatoes and carrots.

Size: 6 or 24 3 oz. CansFirst ingredient: chickenOther flavors: none

Best grain-free: Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Whitefish & Tuna Entrée Wet Canned Kitten Food

What we like

Grain-free

Multiple flavors

Multiple can sizes

Something to note

Nothing to note at this time

I've also fed my kittens Wellness Complete Health's wet food, which is free from grains, corn, wheat and soy. It has a smooth pate texture and contains natural ingredients like carrots, pumpkin, flaxseeds and cranberries. The food's formula has fish oil as a source of DHA and prebiotics for digestion support. You can purchase the wet kitten food in a multipack of flavors or individually.

Size: 12 or 24 3 oz. Or 5.5 oz. CansFirst ingredient: whitefishOther flavors: chicken

Best in gravy: Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Kitten Food

What we like

Two textures available

Antioxidants

Fish oil

Royal Canin's wet food for kittens is made from thin slices of meat in a gravy sauce, giving it a soft texture that's easy for baby teeth to chew. The food contains antioxidants like vitamins E and C and fish oil, a source of omega-3 fatty acids. You can also purchase the food as a pate loaf in sauce.

Size: 6, 12 or 18 or 24 3 oz. CansFirst ingredient: chickenOther flavors: none

Best for picky eaters: Hill's Science Diet Kitten Liver & Chicken Entree Canned Cat Food

What we like

Multiple flavors available

Multiple sizes available

Natural ingredients

Something to note

Nothing to note at this time

This wet food is available in five protein-rich flavors, so you can experiment with different options until you find the one your kitten likes best. It is made with easily digestible ingredients, as well as vitamins C and E, to support young cats' immune systems. It also has DHA from fish oil in its formula, plus prebiotic fibers to keep the gut microbiome and digestive system healthy.

Size: 24 2.9 oz. Or 5.5 oz. CansFirst ingredient: pork liverOther flavors: chicken, roasted chicken and rice, salmon, savory turkey

AAFCO nutrition standards

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a non-profit organization that establishes nutrition standards for pet food and labeling standards for different life stages. Pet food companies formulate and test their products against these standards to ensure they're "complete and balanced" — this means the food contains necessary nutrients in the correct ratios, according to the AAFCO. The nutrient quantities and ratios necessary for each life stage vary, so the AAFCO's nutrition standards differ accordingly. For example, growing pets, meaning puppies and kittens, need more calorie-rich food that may cause less active adult animals to become overweight.

That said, make sure the kitten food you buy meets AAFCO nutrition standards. You can determine this by looking at the nutritional adequacy statement on the label. It's usually in small print on the back or sides of the package. The label should note that the food is "complete and balanced for growth," meaning designed for kittens only, or "complete and balanced for all life stages," meaning designed for cats of all ages.

Ingredients

Experts told us that as long as you buy kitten food that meets AAFCO standards, all the ingredients are safe and each serving offers a complete, balanced meal. But if you want to know more about exactly what the food is made from, read the nutrition label with the following in mind. 

Protein (ideally 35% to 50%): On a food label, ingredients are listed by weight from highest to lowest. When it comes to kitten food, protein should always be the first ingredient, meaning it makes up the bulk of the recipe, says Hart. Protein is important for kittens to eat at high volumes because it helps ensure proper bone and lean muscle growth.

Fats (ideally 18% to 35%): The kitten food you buy should contain some fat, like DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid.

Calcium (ideally 0.8% to 1.6%) and phosphorus: Hart says kitten food with sufficient calcium and phosphorus ensures proper bone development. The calcium level is usually higher than the phosphorus level.

Other important nutrients: Other important nutrients are vitamin A, which helps with growth, muscle and neurological development, and vitamin E, which supports the immune system, says Hart. Kitten food also needs to have taurine, an amino acid that strengthens the heart and supports healthy blood flow, among other benefits. Fiber, which supports digestive health, is crucial too.

Hart says the protein and fat content in wet kitten food might be falsely low because moisture is accounted for. Your vet can help you determine if a kitten's food meets the appropriate protein and fat percentages on a dry matter basis, meaning the percentage without accounting for moisture.

Food type

Should kittens eat dry food, wet food or both? This is a common question among cat parents. Ideally, cats, regardless of their age, should eat wet and dry food daily because each type offers different benefits. Loftus says that exposing kittens to wet and dry food early in life can also help reduce food aversions later on.

Wet food is high in water content and helps cats get extra moisture into their diet. This is important since cats don't naturally drink a lot of water but need it to maintain proper kidney function, says Hart.

Dry food typically has more carbohydrates than wet food, and it's beneficial for cats' dental health. Its abrasive texture helps scrape plaque and tartar off cats' teeth as they chew, says Hart. You can also use dry food as cat treats or put it inside puzzle toys, which keeps kittens mentally engaged as they work for food.

Once you've picked out wet and dry food, you should determine how much and how often you should feed your kitten. Below, experts share their tips.

How much food do you feed your kitten?

How much food you need to feed your kitten changes as they grow and age, and factors like their breed, growth rate and overall health status contribute. That means there's no hard-and-fast rule for how much food to feed your kitten, so talk to your vet about what they recommend. The nutrition label on cat food packaging offers serving size guidelines based on cats' size and weight, a great reference point, says Gonzalez.

How often should you feed your kitten?

Regarding feeding frequency for kittens, you have three options: meal feeding, free feeding and combination feeding.

Meal feeding

Meal feeding involves feeding your kitten a few small meals daily, giving them wet and dry food at specific times to create a consistent schedule. You can experiment with the exact time of feedings to figure out when they tend to get hungry. Kittens ages zero to six months typically need to eat two to three meals a day, but some may require meals every six to eight hours, which could end up being three to four meals a day, says Hart. Starting at six months old, you can just feed your kitten twice a day, says Loftus.

Free feeding 

Free feeding involves making food available to your kitten at all times. You can only free-feed dry food, however. You should not leave wet food out for more than four hours because it can grow bacteria and dry out, which may make it less appetizing to your kitten and can deter them from eating it again in the future, says Hart. If you're free-feeding dry food, discard anything that hasn't been eaten every 24 hours and replace it with fresh kibble.

The main downside to free-feeding kittens is that it can cause them to gain unhealthy weight early in life, potentially predisposing them to health conditions later on, says Hart. Kitten food is higher in fat and calorie count than adult cat food, so serving them limited portions prevents overeating. But as long as you monitor their body condition to ensure they're gaining weight appropriately and have an ideal muscle-to-body fat ratio as they reach maturity, free feeding can be a great option for some kittens, experts told us.

Combination feeding

Some kittens are grazers, meaning they don't like to eat all their food at once and prefer to nibble a little bit at a time, says Loftus. If that's the case, combination feeding might be their best option. You can free-feed dry food, leaving a measured portion out all day so your kitten can eat whenever they want, and meal-feed wet food, giving your kitten a small portion twice a day at specific times. I've always fed my cats this way, and it's worked very well for both of them. But every cat is different, so pay attention to their eating habits and feed them accordingly.

What's the difference between cat food and kitten food?

The main difference between cat food and kitten food is the proportion of nutrients each is made with. Kitten food has higher levels of protein, fat, calcium, and phosphorus compared to adult cat food to support young cats' growth and development, says Loftus. Adult cat food also lacks DHA and other fatty acids that are essential to kittens' brain and eye development. Because of this, experts told us kittens should not routinely eat adult cat food.

Some cat food is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of kittens and adult cats — it's labeled cat food for "all life stages." However, one serving of cat food for all life stages tends to be less calorically dense than one serving of kitten food, which may mean you'll need to feed your kitten more often.

When should you transition a kitten to adult cat food?

You can usually transition your kitten to adult food when they're about one year old or when they've reached maturity and stopped growing, says Loftus. Some cats reach maturity later than one year old, like Maine Coon cats, which is a large breed. Talk to your vet about what they recommend for your kitten before transitioning.

Loftus recommends changing your cat's food over a five- to seven-day period or even slower if they have a particularly sensitive stomach. He recommends transitioning a cat's diet from kitten to adult food in quarters. On day one, feed them 1/4 of the new food and 3/4 of their old food, gradually increasing to 100% of the new food over time.

What should you do if your kitten is a picky eater?

Just like kids, kittens can be picky about their food. While this can certainly be due to general pickiness, it could also be an indicator of illness, says Loftus. So before you try anything else, be sure to have your kitten examined by their vet to rule out parasites or infections that could affect their appetite. If the vet gives your kitten a clean bill of health, you can try a few different strategies to make eating more pleasurable for them.

Ask whoever was taking care of your kitten before you what type of food they were eating when they were weaned from their mother. If a kitten was exposed to a specific flavor, texture or shape of food early in life, they may have formed a preference for it, says Hart. If you can get this information, you can try to find that exact food or something close to it.

Offer them different options until you find something they like, and then stick to it, says Gonzalez. Wet and dry kitten food comes in various flavors and textures, so consider experimenting with a few. He says you can also try warming up wet food, which some cats find more appealing.

Hart suggests mixing kittens' food with toppers to entice them, such as low-sodium unseasoned chicken broth, plain scrambled eggs or egg whites.

Adjust your kitten's feeding schedule. Some kittens may prefer to eat multiple small meals throughout the day instead of larger meals in the morning and evening. As long as they eat an appropriate amount of food daily, you can break up servings however they prefer.

Change where you're feeding your kitten in your home. When one of my kittens would not eat, I realized it might be because of a noisy air conditioner near her food bowl. I moved her bowl further away and she ate her food immediately.

Are grain-free diets safe for kittens?

Yes, grain-free diets can be safe for kittens or cats of any age, so long as they're still eating sufficient levels of carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, experts told us. "Grain-free" is a claim some brands add to their foods' labels when made without wheat, barley, rye, corn, millet, rice or oats. Some people think a grain-free diet is healthier for cats because wild cats don't eat these types of grains, so they believe domestic cats don't need them either, says Hart. However, grains are an important source of carbohydrates for energy, as well as vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium and vitamin B, which are essential for proper organ function.

Experts told us that if you work with your vet to find a complete and balanced grain-free food, it's safe for your kitten to eat. "The FDA is still investigating the link between feeding grain-free diets and heart disease in dogs, but no such link appears to exist in cats," says Hart. "Thus, there does not appear to be a risk in feeding grain-free foods to kittens at this time."

Are raw food diets safe for kittens?

No, raw food diets are not safe for kittens or cats of any age. All the experts we spoke to recommend against feeding your cat a raw food diet, as does the American Veterinary Medical Association. A raw food diet is centered around ingredients that are not cooked or otherwise heat treated, which some people believe is healthier to feed cats because ingredients are closer to their natural forms, closely mimicking the diet of wild cats, says Hart. But because raw food diets contain uncooked eggs and meat, there's a high risk of foodborne illness for the cat eating it and the person serving it, says Loftus.

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

Dr. Hannah Hart is a veterinarian at Chewy.

Dr. John Loftus, a board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist and veterinary nutritionist, is an assistant professor of small animal internal medicine and nutrition at Cornell University College of Veterinary Science.

Dr. Abel Gonzalez is a veterinarian and the clinical director at Dutch, a pet telehealth company.

I am a reporter at NBC Select who writes about pets, including articles on cat carriers, vacuums for pet hair, how to get rid of fleas and dog beds. For this article, I interviewed three veterinarians about how to shop for the best kitten food and rounded up options that meet experts' guidance. I also have two cats, and raised a total of six cats throughout my lifetime. I have volunteered at animal shelters for over a decade as well.

Catch up on NBC Select's in-depth coverage of tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

The 16 Best Kitten Foods Of 2025, Recommended With Advice From Vets

The best kitten foods are rich in protein and essential nutrients. These ingredients support a kitten's growth and development and are found in recipes that come in many wet food textures as well as crunchy dry foods.

We consulted veterinarians and animal nutritionists to learn what makes a nutritious kitten food. Based on their insights, we researched dozens of recipes to select our top picks. One of the best overall wet kitten foods is Purina Pro Plan Kitten Salmon and Ocean Fish Entree. The main proteins in this food contain omega fatty acids, which support a kitten's cognitive development. We also recommend Wellness Complete Health Kitten Chicken and Chicken Meal Recipe, a dry food with omega fatty acids from salmon oil.

All of the recommendations throughout this guide meet the nutritional standards from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Guidelines.

Keep in mind that it's important to feed your kitten a well-rounded mix of wet and dry foods in a variety of flavors and textures to promote food flexibility, assuming your kitten can tolerate this rotation, says Dr. Deb Zoran, a veterinary nutritionist and professor of small animal clinical sciences at the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. If your cat's food is suddenly out of stock, recipes change, or they need a special prescription diet, food flexibility makes a big difference.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches pet products.

Highlights for the best kitten foods

Best overall wet: Purina Pro Plan Kitten Salmon and Ocean Fish - See at Chewy

Best budget wet: Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Chicken Recipe - See at Chewy

Best overall dry: Wellness Complete Health Kitten Chicken and Chicken Meal - See at Chewy

Best budget dry: Purina Kitten Chow Naturals Kitten - See at Chewy

Best variety pack: Purina Pro Plan Kitten Variety Pack - See at Chewy

Best for sensitive stomachs: Royal Canin Kitten Loaf in Sauce - See at Chewy

Best minced: Hill's Science Diet Kitten Liver and Chicken - See at Chewy

Best flaked: Blue Buffalo Wilderness Flaked Chicken and Trout - See at Chewy

Best chunks in gravy: Hill's Science Diet Kitten Tender Chicken - See at Chewy

Best wet food overall Wellness and Purina are two brands that make healthy wet food for kittens. Wellness; Purina/Business Insider

The most natural way to keep your little one hydrated while meeting their nutritional needs is by feeding them wet food. These foods contain 75% to 78% moisture, while dry foods contain 10% to 12%. "Cats prefer to get their water from their food," Zoran says. Like all of the best cat foods, canned food must meet nutrition requirements set by the AAFCO for the growth stage or all life stages. These foods contain a minimum of 30% protein and 9% fat on a "dry matter" or moisture-free basis.

You may notice that many cat foods are labeled grain-free, but Zoran says grain is a small but natural part of a cat's diet. "The amount of grain in a cat's diet in the wild is the amount of grain that would be in the gastrointestinal tract of whatever [animal] they just ate," she says. The most biologically appropriate diet for a kitten consists of foods high in protein and moisture and low in carbohydrates. Zoran says it's especially important to feed them food from a reputable company that employs a board-certified nutritionist and conducts quality control testing.

Our picks for the best and healthiest wet cat foods for kittens check all the boxes for the nutritional qualities needed for growth. A critical essential nutrient is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega fatty acid that's essential to a kitten's cognitive growth and development. Small, cold-water fish are the best source of DHA, and they may appear on the ingredient list in the form of fish oil, whole fish, or fish meal. Additionally, Purina's Salmon and Ocean Fish Entree has undergone AAFCO feeding trials, which are tests to ensure a food is palatable, digestible, and able to sustain a kitten over time.  

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Pate Chicken Entree

This kitten food is made up of protein from chicken, chicken liver, and chicken broth. Menhaden fish oil is an excellent source of DHA to support cognitive growth and development. Its nutrition profile is 46.7% protein, 37.2% fat, 1% fiber, and 105 kcal/3-ounce can.

Best budget wet food Budget wet food from Iams and Natural Balance will support your kitten's growth. Iams; Amazon/Business Insider

Wet kitten food can be on the pricier side compared to dry food, but our experts give it high marks. While he cannot recommend specific brands or foods, Dr. Bruce Kornreich, a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, says there are high-quality, affordable wet kitten foods.

The best budget-friendly cat foods may contain less expensive ingredients to keep costs down, but they don't sacrifice quality. For instance, byproducts and byproduct meals are often found in cheaper foods. These leftover ingredients from human food production meet the AAFCO nutritional requirements for cats and dogs. Although they often get a bad rap in pet food marketing, Kornreich says they are not inherently unhealthy for kittens or adult cats.

Regardless of a food's price, make sure it's from a reputable brand that ensures good quality control, like our budget wet picks for the best kitten foods.

Natural Balance Original Ultra for Kittens Chicken Formula

This wet food formulated for kittens includes protein from chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, and dried egg product. Omega-3 fatty acids from salmon oil support cognitive growth and development. The nutritional profile is 40% protein, 38.6% fat, 2.3% fiber, and 110 kcal/3-ounce can.

Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Chicken Recipe

Protein from chicken, poultry liver, chicken broth, and dried egg product are included in this kitten recipe. It contains fish oil as a source of DHA. The nutritional breakdown for this food is 44% protein, 41% fat, 0.4% fiber, and 90 kcal/2.6-ounce twin pack.

Best dry food overall Wellness and Hill's make the best specially formulated dry food for kittens. Hill's; Wellness/Business Insider

Dry food is popular for its affordability, feeding convenience, and ease of storage. It's made via a process called extrusion, which consists of pushing ground-up food materials through a small opening and cooking the extruded kibbles under high pressure.

"Dry food is not the type of food cats would seek out to eat on their own," Zoran says. What makes it enticing to cats and kittens are the liquid fats and proteins that coat the outside of the kibble. Because each brand has its own alluring recipe, this coating could cause a kitten to become habituated to a food when brands, textures, and proteins aren't served in rotation. You can learn more about this and other differences between kibble and canned food in our explainer on wet vs. Dry cat food.

Like our wet picks for the best kitten foods, the best and healthiest dry cat food are AAFCO complete and balanced for kittens or all life stages. This ensures the food has the appropriate balance of protein, fat, essential vitamins, and minerals for growth, such as calcium and phosphorus. If a food says "for intermittent feeding," Kornreich says it's not a complete and balanced meal for a cat of any age.   

Hill's Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe

Animal protein sources in this dry kitten food are chicken, chicken fat, and egg product. Sources of fiber include brown rice and dried plain beet pulp and fish oil is added for DHA. Its nutritional adequacy has also been substantiated through feeding trials. It contains 33% protein, 19% fat, 4% fiber, and 555 kcal/cup.

Best budget dry food For budget-friendly dry kitten food, we recommend recipes from Purina and Iams. Amazon; Iams/Business Insider

Like our budget wet food picks, our recommendations for budget dry foods come from trusted for their quality ingredients and recipes. According to Zoran, reputable companies have been in business long enough to produce trustworthy information about their pet food nutrition and have a record of product quality. "The companies that have just come on the market might be fine, but you have no history to draw from," she says.

Kornreich adds that reputable pet food companies may own their manufacturing plant. "They'll have a tighter ability to control quality," he says. They'll employ a board-certified nutritionist, have an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy on their products, and their marketing doesn't disparage other companies.

"I feed a lot of Purina," Zoran says of her multi-cat household. Purina is a longtime leader in pet nutrition and a staple in many households. In addition to owning its manufacturing plants, Purina's on-staff veterinarians help formulate every recipe, all backed by research at the Purina Institute. This budget-friendly brand is conveniently available at your local grocery store along with similarly reputable brands like Iams.

Purina Kitten Chow Naturals Original

The main protein sources in this kitten food are chicken, chicken byproduct meal, and beef fat. It has undergone feeding trials to ensure nutritional adequacy. The food's nutrition breakdown is 40% protein, 15% fat, 2.5% fiber, and 406 kcal/cup.

Iams ProActive Health Healthy Kitten

Protein from chicken, chicken byproduct meal, chicken fat, and dried egg product are included in this kitten recipe. The food contains fish oil as a source of DHA and dried plain beet pulp for beneficial fiber. Its nutritional profile is 33% protein, 21% fat, 3% fiber, and 484 kcal/cup.

Best variety pack Purina and Wellness make convenient kitten food variety packs. Amazon; Chewy/Business Insider

Purina and Wellness make convenient kitten food variety packs. When kittens are introduced to new things at a young age, they are more likely to grow into confident, adventurous cats. Those new experiences can start with the tastes and textures in their bowl, and these complete and balanced kitten food variety packs are reliable options.

From chicken and pork to beef to fish, Zoran says there's no wrong choice of protein for a cat. "Find the variety of food your kitten loves, their gastrointestinal tract loves, and their skin loves — that's food," she says.

Purina Pro Plan Kitten Variety Pack

This variety pack consists of two pate recipes and one flaked food. All of the foods have undergone feeding trials. The Chicken and Liver Entree includes chicken, liver, and fish. It contains 53% protein, 30.2% fat, 0.5% fiber, and 99 kcal/3-ounce can. Proteins in the Salmon and Ocean Fish Entree are salmon, ocean fish, liver, and chicken. Its nutrition profile is 54.5% protein, 31.7% protein, 0.5% fiber, and 101 kcal/3-ounce can. The Ocean and Whitefish Tuna Entree flaked food proteins are ocean white fish, fish, liver, meat byproducts, chicken, and tuna. It contains 62.5% protein, 21.3% fat, 1% fiber, and 113 kcal/3-ounce can.

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Pate Favorites

This pack includes two pates. The Chicken Entree contains proteins from chicken, chicken liver, and chicken broth, plus menhaden fish oil. It consists of 46.7% protein, 37.2% fat, 1% fiber, and 105 kcal/3-ounce can. Animal proteins in the Whitefish and Tuna Entree are whitefish, chicken, fish broth, tuna, and chicken meal, and fish oil is a healthy extra. It contains 53.1% protein, 25.9% fat, 1.6% fiber, and 89 kcal/3-ounce can.

Best for sensitive stomachs Royal Canin makes the best kitten foods for sensitive stomachs. Royal Canin/Business Insider

Cats are obligate carnivores because they require animal proteins for essential nutrients. Therefore, animal protein should always be the first ingredient in a cat food. While 30% is the minimum amount of protein required for growth, Zoran says a diet abundant in fat and protein can benefit a kitten's developing gastrointestinal tract and high-energy demands. Reach for foods with a crude protein of 40% on a dry matter basis.

Cats and kittens can be born with sensitivities and allergies to certain ingredients, so always talk to your veterinarian when digestive issues arise. They may recommend a limited ingredient diet (LID) or a prescription hypoallergenic or gastrointestinal recipe. 

Our picks for the best sensitive stomach cat food meet Zoran's nutritional recommendations and have passed feeding trials. Your vet will need to write a prescription for Royal Canin's Gastrointestinal Kitten food.

Royal Canin Kitten Loaf in Sauce

This sensitive stomach wet kitten food is high in protein, with sources such as pork byproducts, chicken byproducts, chicken liver, pork liver, and chicken. It includes fish oil, a source of DHA, and powdered cellulose for digestive support. Its nutritional adequacy has also been substantiated through feeding trials. The food contains 59.4% protein, 21.3% fat, 5.2% fiber, and 76 kcal/3-ounce can.

Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Kitten Ultra Soft Mousse in Sauce

This high-protein kitten food for sensitive stomachs contains chicken liver, chicken byproducts, and pork byproducts. It also includes fish oil as a source of DHA. The food has undergone feeding trials to ensure nutritional adequacy. It contains 53% protein, 25.3% fat, 6% fiber, and 137 kcal/5.1-ounce can.

Best minced Hill's and Wellness make enticing minced kitten food. Hill's; Wellness/Business Insider

Choosing one of the best kitten foods is individualistic, from a cat's preferred tastes to unique nutritional needs. For this reason, it's helpful to approach feline nutrition with guidance from your vet.

"There will be a difference in what your kitten wants to eat and what they don't want to eat," Zoran says. While a steady rotation of tastes, textures, and brands will keep your kitten food-flexible, they might prefer one texture of food over another. "It's a trial-and-error process," she adds.

Minced wet food is one of several canned food options that add new and enticing textures to a kitten's meal repertoire. Consisting of protein cut into tiny pieces and mixed with broth, minced food introduces kittens to more meaty bites.

Hill's Science Diet Kitten Liver and Chicken Entree

The main protein sources in this minced kitten food are pork liver, pork byproducts, chicken, chicken fat, and egg product. Added fish oil provides DHA to support cognitive development. The food's nutrition breakdown is 45.6% protein, 29.1% fat, 0.9% fiber, and 109 kcal/2.9-ounce can.

Wellness Core Tiny Tasters Chicken Recipe

This recipe for kittens contains sources of animal protein such as boneless chicken, chicken broth, duck, eggs, and chicken liver. DHA from salmon oil is included. The food contains 40% protein, 19% fat, 4% fiber, and 51 kcal/1.75-ounce pouch.

Best flaked Purina and Blue Buffalo make high-quality flaked wet food for kittens. Blue Buffalo; Purina/Business Insider

Flaked kitten foods are made with long, thin pieces of protein in gravy. Like other wet food picks, these flaked options for kittens are protein-heavy, loaded with moisture, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for cognitive development.

Kittens and cats are obligate carnivores because they rely on animal-based proteins to provide essential nutrients, including amino acids. Essential amino acids are amino acids that animals cannot synthesize, so they must obtain them through their diets. Taurine is one of 11 essential amino acids felines must get from their diet, and their only source of taurine is animal-based proteins. "If cats don't eat enough meat, they won't get enough taurine," Kornreich says. Along with other essential vitamins and minerals, taurine promotes normal heart function, vision, immune function, and digestion in cats. 

Typically, proteins in kitten foods are supplemented with plant-based ingredients, vitamins, and minerals to meet a kitten's complete nutritional needs. 

Purina Pro Plan Kitten Flaked Ocean Whitefish and Tuna Entree

In this flaked wet food for kittens, you'll find protein sources of ocean white fish, fish, liver, meat byproducts, chicken, and tuna. It has undergone feeding trials to establish nutritional adequacy. The food's nutritional profile consists of 62.5% protein, 21.3% fat, 1% fiber, and 113 kcal/3-ounce can.

Best chunks in gravy Hill's and Royal Canin chunks-in-gravy recipes are enticing to kittens. Hill's; Royal Canin/Business Insider

Kittens are born without teeth but grow a full set of baby (deciduous) teeth between 3 to 6 weeks of age. By 3 to 6 months, those baby teeth fall out and are replaced with adult teeth. Kittens have all the same types of teeth as humans do, just sharper for their carnivorous diet.

Chunks-in-gravy kitten food is a mix of tender bites of protein and nutritious liquid. Biting into soft chunks is no problem for a kitten with teeth, but smooth pate might be better suited for their very first bites.

Our recommendations for the best kitten foods below are made from real meat and healthy ingredients like omega fatty acids. Like all the other picks in this guide, they're also AAFCO complete and balanced. Plus, Hills and Royal Canin conduct clinical feeding trials to ensure the palatability and digestibility of their foods.

Hill's Science Kitten Tender Chicken Dinner

This kitten food counts its main protein sources as chicken, pork liver, and egg whites. It contains fish oil to support cognitive growth and development. Its nutritional profile is 44.2% protein, 21.6% fat, 1.3% fiber, and 77 kcal/2.8-ounce pouch.

Royal Canin Kitten Thin Slices in Gravy

This kitten wet food contains chicken, chicken byproducts, chicken liver, pork, and egg products as animal protein sources. Fish oil is a source of DHA. The nutritional breakdown is 52.8% protein, 19% fat, 2.5% fiber, and 78 kcal/3-ounce can.

What to look for in kitten food

When shopping for the best kitten foods, the following criteria are essential to consider. 

AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement: The most basic measure of nutritionally complete cat food is the presence of an AAFCO statement on the label. The AAFCO is a nonprofit organization that defines the standard nutritional requirements for pet food and animal feed. Food with an AAFCO statement for growth or all life stages is guaranteed to be complete and balanced for kittens.

Guaranteed analysis and nutrient profiles: The guaranteed analysis consists of the percentages of protein, fat, and essential nutrients in a food. Food for kittens should have a minimum of 30% protein, 9% fat, and the presence of essential nutrients, including amino acids like taurine, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins.

To compare the nutrients in wet food to those in dry food, convert the percentages of fat, protein, and fiber in wet food to a dry matter basis. To find the dry matter basis, use these directions from the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University, call the food manufacturer, or ask your veterinarian for help.

Ingredients list: Pet food labels list ingredients in order of weight. Because cats are obligate carnivores, proteins in the form of whole meat or meat meal should come first on the list.

Expert formulations: For this guide, we prioritized brands with a dedicated nutrition expert on staff, which aligns with WSAVA guidelines and our experts' guidance. We also looked for brands active in research or those that collaborate with universities and colleges.  

Manufacturing standards: Consider a manufacturer's quality control measures and the types of facilities they use. Pet food companies should provide this information on their website or upon request.

Calorie content: The calorie content of cat food is listed in kilocalories (kcal). According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, a kitten should be offered multiple meals daily and permitted to eat food as wanted to support their rapid growth since their energy needs are much higher. As your kitten approaches 9 to 12 months of age, talk to your veterinarian about their ideal body condition, weight, and caloric needs.

Product recommendations from veterinarians: Your veterinarian can help you select the ideal food for your kitten.

How we selected the best kitten foods

We consulted a veterinary nutritionist and a director of feline health to select the best kitten foods for this guide. 

Dr. Deb Zoran is a board-certified small animal internist and professor of small animal clinical sciences at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Zoran helped us understand kitten nutrition and the attributes of a quality food. She also shared her personal feeding preferences, which may not represent specific endorsements shared by Texas A&M University. 

Dr. Bruce Kornreich is a board-certified veterinary cardiologist and director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. While Cornell University does not endorse specific brands, Kornreich helped us understand what makes a high-quality kitten food and what to avoid. 

We also consulted guidelines and recommendations from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's (WSAVA) Global Nutrition Guidelines, among other publications and organizations noted in the article.

Kitten food FAQs What is the best recommended food for kittens?

There's no single best food for all kittens because individual kittens may have special dietary needs and specific taste and texture preferences. Zoran says the best nutritional profile for a healthy kitten is generally a food high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and high in moisture. Whatever food you buy should satisfy the AAFCO nutritional requirements for growth to be complete and balanced for a kitten. While there's nothing wrong with feeding a kitten kibble, Zoran highly encourages the rotation of different kitten food brands, textures, and proteins. Just remember that cats and kittens prefer to get most of their water from their food.

Is dry or wet food better for kittens?

Both wet and dry food can adequately meet your kitten's nutritional needs as long as the food is labeled with the AAFCO statement for kittens (growth) or all life stages. However, wet food contains significantly more moisture. Wet foods typically contain 75% to 80% moisture, while dry foods have only 10% to 12%. While there's nothing wrong with feeding a kitten kibble, Zoran recommends rotating between different textures, proteins, and food brands to help prevent your kitten from becoming picky or inflexible with their diet.

Do kittens need special wet food?

Kitten food must have an AAFCO statement for growth or all life stages on its label to guarant