3 Best Dry Cat Foods in Australia

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I went out and bought over 15 dry cat foods in Australia.

Then I checked out the taste and nutrition quality of these products.

Ziwi Peak is the highest quality option of the lot, with no added carbs, peas or soy. It’s complete for cats of any age.

If price isn’t a barrier, it’s the stand-out choice for cats.

My 3 best dry cat foods in Australia:

Best Overall
Ziwi Peak air-dried cat food
Ziwi Peak

Air-dried meat and organs without any fillers.

Taste: 4/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Lifestage: All ages
Carbs: <5%
Protein: 41%
Best Price
affordable
Fussy Cat grain free cat food
Fussy Cat

Grain-free and affordable small bag sizing.

Taste: 5/5
Ingredients: 3/5
Lifestage: Adult
Carbs: 26%
Protein: 47%
Best Price
Indoor Cats
Wellness Core indoor dry cat food
Orijen Original

Grain-free and packed with meat.

Taste: 4.5/5
Ingredients: 3.5/5
Lifestage: All ages
Carbs: 29%
Protein: 43%
Best Price
Dry cat foods in Australia
A range of dry cat foods in Australia

Then I tested them with cats and looked at the ingredients to find out what’s best.

As carnivores, higher protein and lower carb dry cat food is best.

In the rest of this article I’ll run through my top picks and a buying guide on choosing high protein cat food.

Then I’ll go through frequently asked questions on this topic.

Why Trust This Article?

As a dietitian, I have a background in researching nutrition for humans, but am also a cat nutrition enthusiast.

I’ve picked and hand-tested these treats to find what’s best. And I’ve analysed the nutrition.

Whilst I am not a veterinarian, I have taken every effort to ensure I’ve picked out the best cat treats.

Please note that this article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.

>> Learn More on our About Page

3 Best Dry Cat Foods in Australia

I’ve chosen these 3 dry cat foods based on an unbiased scoring system which grades cat food on five criteria:

  • Value for Money:
  • Ingredient Quality
  • Nutrition
  • Flavor
  • Customer Rating

To learn more about how I calculate and grade food, check out our review guidelines.

Best Dry Cat Food in Australia

1. Ziwi Peak
Ziwi Peak air-dried cat food
Taste: 4/5
Nutrition: 5/5
Ingredients: 5/5
Customer Rating: 4/5
Value for Money: 1/5
Overall: 4/5
Why do I recommend this cat Treat?

Ziwi Peak is jam packed with grass-fed New Zealand meat. That makes it easy to digest and perfect for fussy cats.

It’s a complete meal for all life stages. Senior, adult or kitten…no worries, feed it to any.

The price is the main drawback of this one. But if health is your priority, there’s none better.

>> Our review of Ziwi Peak

Key FeaturesInformation
LifestageAll life stages
TextureHard air-dried pieces
Protein*41%
Carbs<5%
Kcal/kg5,600
Cost/100 grams (market ave)$7.51 ($1.19)
Key features for Ziwi Peak dry cat food *dry matter basis
Pros

Grain-free for easy digestion

Suitable for all ages

High protein for satiety

Cons

Pricey

Hard texture

Best Supermarket Dry Cat Food in Australia

2. Fussy Cat
Fussy Cat grain free cat food
Taste: 4.5/5
Nutrition: 2.5/5
Ingredients: 3/5
Customer Rating: 5/5
Value for Money: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Why do I recommend this cat Treat?

Found in many supermarkets in Australia, Fussy Cat stands out above the rest as an affordable quality choice.

It’s lower in carbs than other popular choices like Whiskas and Friskies, making it easier to digest. As the name suggests, fussy cats will enjoy it.

The supermarket bags are a tad smaller than other options, so might not offer the best value. Only for adult cats too.

>> Our review of Fussy Cat

Key FeaturesInformation
LifestageAdult cats (1-7 years)
TextureKibble
Protein*40%
Carbs26%
Kcal/kg3,700
Cost/100 grams (market ave)$0.83 ($1.19)
Key features for Fussy Cat *dry matter basis
Pros

Meat rich for picky cats

Grain and soy free

Affordable

Cons

Only suitable for adults

Could be lower carb

Best Indoor Dry Cat Food in Australia

3. Wellness Core Indoor
Wellness Core indoor dry cat food
Taste: 4.5/5
Nutrition: 3.5/5
Ingredients: 3.5/5
Customer Rating: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 1/5
Overall: 4/5
Why do I recommend this cat Treat?

Wellness Core Indoor cat food comes in at 3,561 kcal/kg which is the lowest I’ve found on the market. That’ll help indoor cats keep the weight off.

The first three ingredients are meat based which is good for picky eaters and to boost energy.

Carb content is a bit high at 29% though and it’s another pricier cat food.

Key FeaturesInformation
LifestageAdult cats (1-7 years)
TextureKibble
Protein*43%
Carbs29%
Kcal/kg3,561
Cost/100 grams (market ave)$2.00 ($1.19)
Key features for Wellness Core Indoor dry cat food *dry matter basis
Pros

Low calorie for weight control

Grain and soy free

High protein for picky cats

Cons

Pricey

Could be lower carb

How to Choose Dry Cat Food in Australia?

Not sure what to look for?

Cats are carnivores so the best cat food should be high in protein from animal based sources. Think chicken, beef, fish, and turkey.

That’s what cats use for energy, muscle strength and what they enjoy eating most.

But let’s delve deeper into what to look for:

Learn to Read a Cat Food Label

Start by looking at the back label.

The front label is often misleading. Many terms like ‘natural’ and ‘meaty’ don’t mean much.

You know the saying “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover”. The back label reveals the truth.

Start by checking the nutrition analysis.

As I’ve mentioned, cats need a high protein diet as carnivores. Protein gives cats the energy they need for the day and keeps muscles strong.

For adult cats (1-7 years) you’ll want a cat food with greater than 26% protein dry matter basis.

Kittens and seniors need more. Growing kittens need 30% protein and older cats (12+ years) benefit from intakes over 40%.

As a general rule of thumb for any cat aim for 40% protein. This means your cat is getting enough regardless of age.

The nutrition analysis shows what you need, but you’ll need to use a calculator to work out the dry matter basis.

Other names for nutrition analysis:

  • Guaranteed analysis
  • Typical analysis
  • Nutrition

Quick notes:

  • Cats are carnivores.
  • Aim for at least 40% protein (dry basis) in the bag for top health.
  • Use a calculator to find the dry basis protein content in cat food.
A nutrition analysis on a dry cat food bag
A nutrition analysis (called typical analysis on this cat food)

Check the Ingredients

Quality matters.

A wild cats diet includes prey like mice, insects, and birds.

Not only does meat taste great for cats, but it gives cats high quality protein. Meat is high in essential amino acids (a sign of quality).

On the other hand, grain based protein is lower quality.

Grain protein is:

  • Lower protein quality
  • Harder to digest
  • Less tasty

Some cat food brand load up on weaker protein sources, and then boost taste with meat flavors instead.

You want to avoid that, since it’s not going to offer your cat what they need (only what they think they need).

By law, ingredients are listed by weight from top to bottom. However, how they’re divvied up can vary.

As a general rule of thumb, check the first 5 ingredients. Ideally, all 5 are meat, but that’s rarely the case.

Anything less than 3 is red flag, especially if meat isn’t the first ingredient.

For more info, check out my guide below.

Quick notes:

  • Meat is a high quality protein, rich in essential amino acids.
  • Grain-based protein is lower quality and less tasty.
  • For best results, ideally more than 3 of the first 5 ingredients should be meat based.
An ingredient list for a dry cat food
An ingredient list. The first 3 ingredients are meat based (a good sign).

Look for a Statement of Nutrition Adequacy

You want complete cat food. Complete cat food includes all the nutrients cats need, defined by AAFCO.

AAFCO are a non-profit organization that research and publish nutrient guidelines for cats and dogs.

The label will say if the cat food is for either:

  • Maintenance
  • Growth
  • All life stages
  • Supplemental feeding

Maintenance is suitable for adult cats (1-7 years). For kittens you’ll want either growth or all life stages.

There’s no recommendations for seniors, but I suggest choosing cat food suited to ‘all life stages’. This gives senior cats the added nutrients they need to support ageing.

Quick notes:

  • Look for the statement of nutritional adequacy.
  • Find lifestage appropriate cat food.
  • Maintenance is for adults (1-7 years), growth (<1 years), and all life stages (all).
A statement of nutritional adequacy on a cat food label
A statement of nutritional adequacy on a cat food label (this one is for maintenance).

Frequently Asked Questions

Try Ziwi Peak.

This food has no grains, peas and lentils. High fiber foods and food intolerances may cause some cats to vomit.

Cutting out these ingredients may help some cats.

Most vets in Australia will recommend Hill’s, Optimum or Royal Canin for cats.

All offer complete nutrition for cats as a sole feeding option. They’re not my favourite options though, due to added high carb ingredients (e.g. rice, wheat).

You can soak dry cat food if you want.

This can help increase water intake and help with hydration. It’s helpful for urinary health.

Related:

Ziwi Peak.

This is an air-dried cat food that is chock full of grass-fed animal foods. No added grains or fillers in the bag.

It’s a complete meal for cats of any age.

The amount of dry cat food a cat should eat per day varies based on age, size, activity level, metabolism, and health.

Cat food manufacturers offer feeding guidelines. They give a good starting point for determining how much food to give your cat.

These feeding guideline recommendations are usually found on the packaging. They’re based on the average needs of cats with a particular weight range.

Here are other tips for different life stages:

Adult Cats: Most adult cats need around 1/4 to 1/2 cup of dry food per day.

Kittens: Kittens need more food per kg of body weight than adult cats due to rapid growth. Feed them up to four times a day and check the feeding guidelines.

Senior Cats: Older cats may need slightly less food than their adult counterparts. However senior cats might need more to combat weight loss.

Active or Pregnant/Nursing Cats: These cats may need more food to meet their energy needs.

Wet food is better for older cats.

It tends to offer more protein which helps combat sarcopenia. The added moisture is also helpful for urinary and kidney health.

Older cats have a higher risk of diabetes, which requires low carbohydrate food. Most wet cat food is lower in carbohydrate, compared to dry cat food.

Conclusion

Dry cat food offer convenience, but at the cost of quality.

Most dry cat foods load up on cheap grains, which cats don’t need. This can hamper digestion and lead to food rejection.

As a general rule, aim for 40% protein (dry basis). Look for the statement of nutritional adequacy and choose lifestage appropriate cat food.

>> Our best rated dry cat food is Ziwi Peak. It’s the highest quality cat food packed with grass-fed meat and organs for the pickiest of cat.

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AUTHOR

I'm qualified dietitian that's turned their attention to cat nutrition. My goal is to help tease out the science on how best to feed your cat.

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