10 Best Wet Cat Foods: Cat Tested & Approved

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High protein wet cat food is the best choice for your carnivorous cat.

Tiki Cat After Dark is the stand out choice. It’s high protein, filler-free and suits all life stages.

Great for diabetes, weight control, diarrhea and shedding.

Our top 3 best wet cat foods:

  1. Tiki Cat After Dark | Best Overall
  2. Fancy Feast | Best Budget
  3. Feline Natural | Senior Cats

There’s a huge range of wet cat foods.

It’s impossible to find what’s best scrolling online with so much information.

Hopefully that changes with this article.

I’ll go through my buying guide to show you what you need, and then go through the best choices for each situation.

Finally, I’ll go through frequently asked questions on the topic.

I am not a veterinarian and I recommend seeking the advice of a vet for any further questions. This article is not intended as a replacement for medical advice.

Let’s get into the article.

Buying Guide

Cats are part of the carnivora order of the animal kingdom.

Doesn’t get more carnivore than that.

As the cat food market continues to grow more attention will go to affordability. This can come at the expense of nutrition quality.

What to look for:

Nutrition

Choose high protein.

Cats have double the protein needs of omnivores (e.g. humans), using protein for energy. Picky cats prefer a high protein diet (~50% dry basis).

Target:

AAFCO recommends at 26% protein (dry matter basis) for maintenance and 30% for growth. Check with a calculator.

Senior cats need more protein in their diet for sarcopenia. Aim for 40% with older cats over 12.

Quick notes:

  • Cats need more protein than humans
  • Use a calculator to check
  • Fussy cats prefer high protein

Resources:

A guaranteed analysis on a cat food label
Use the guaranteed analysis and calculate the dry matter nutrition

Ingredients

Meat is best.

Meat by-products and grain based protein are lower quality than meat, especially the latter. Be weary of things like wheat gluten and corn gluten.

As a general rule, the first 3 ingredients should all be meat based (not including water). This ensures cats the meat they need and love.

Quick notes:

  • Meat is best
  • Avoid low quality grain protein
  • First 3 ingredients ideally all meat based
An ingredient list on a wet cat food label
Check the first 3 ingredients are meat based

What Ingredient Should Not Be In Wet Cat Food?

Any carb ingredients.

Cats have zero need for carbs.

High carb foods include:

  • Rice
  • Brewers rice
  • Corn
  • Corn gluten meal
  • Wheat
  • Wheat gluten meal
  • Tapioca starch
  • Oats
  • Pumpkin
  • Sweet potato

Why avoid carbs:

Cats digest cooked starch efficiently (85-95%), however it’s the quantity of most concern. A cat can tolerate ~16g of carbs per day (~12% carbs dry basis).

Injecting insulin into a cats liver doesn’t help metabolize sugar. Despite claims a rats gut is ‘carb loaded’ and is evidence cats need carbs, all cats (even big cats) tend to avoid the gut when eating prey.

What to do:

Keep carbs low.

Diabetic cats should have no more than 15% carbs (dry basis), and some experts suggest going even stricter (6% max).

Any carbs in the first 3 ingredients is usually a bad sign in wet cat food.

Quick notes:

  • Cats don’t need carbs
  • Keep total under 15% (dry basis)
  • Be weary of carb ingredients in first 3

Read more:

A cat with bananas
Limit carbs to less than 15% dry matter in diabetic cats

Choose Lifestage Appropriate Cat Food

You want complete cat food.

AAFCO make nutrition guidelines for cats. Look for the statement of nutritional adequacy on the cat food label.

What to get:

  • Maintenance: For adult cats (1-7 yrs)
  • Growth: For kittens (<1 yrs)
  • All life stages: Any cat

Examples:

  • Five year old cat = choose maintenance or all life stages
  • Eight month kitten = choose growth or all life stages

What about older cats?

The cat world has a hard time categorizing older cats.

The metabolic rate of cats plateaus at the mature range. They’re at high risk of weight gain.

However, its at the ‘senior’ range where muscle loss from sarcopenia begins. Seniors struggle to digest protein.

What to get for older cats:

All life stages.

A lot of ‘mature’ cat food is low calorie and high fiber which isn’t great for seniors, Instead you’ll want a calorie dense and protein rich food for bony older cats.

Choose cat food for all life stages after 7 years.

Quick notes:

  • Choose complete cat food
  • Check statement of nutritional adequacy
  • All life stages after 7 years

Read more:

A cat food nutrient profile showing it's a complete and balanced cat food
Check the cat food label to see if it meets the needs for all life stages

10 Best Wet Cat Foods for Health

1. Tiki Cat After Dark

Best Wet Cat Food Overall

Tiki Cat After Dark
Tiki Cat After Dark

Pros and Cons

  • High protein
  • Low carb
  • All life stages
  • Pricey
  • Mixed taste results

Summary

Why is Tiki Cat After Dark the best?

It’s our highest rated cat food for nutrition and ingredient quality. There’s no added carbs, and all ingredients are meat based.

Finally it’s suited to all life stages. With a variety of chicken rich flavors, it’s hard to find better.

It’s pricey though, and some cats might not enjoy it.

Best for:

  • Easy digestion
  • Healthy weight
  • Diabetic cats

Where to find Tiki Cat After Dark?

Learn more:

Tiki Cat After Dark dry matter nutrition
Tiki Cat After Dark dry matter nutrition
Tiki Cat After Dark review score
Tiki Cat After Dark review score

2. Fancy Feast Classic

Best Budget Wet Cat Food

Fancy Feast
Fancy Feast

Pros and Cons

  • Protein rich
  • Picky cat friendly
  • Lots of flavors
  • Not attractive looking
  • Mixed quality

Summary

What’s so great about Fancy Feast?

Fancy Feast is affordable, protein rich, and cats love it.

With lots of variety, it’s hard to go past. Low in carbs for easy digestion.

Main gripes are the ‘cat food’ smell and appearance. Not appealing for some (although cats don’t seem to mind).

Best for:

  • Picky Eaters
  • Affordability
  • Flavor variety

Where to find Fancy Feast?

Learn more:

Fancy Feast classic nutrition dry matter basis
Fancy Feast classic nutrition dry matter basis
Fancy Feast cat food review
Fancy Feast cat food review

3. Feline Natural

Best Wet Cat Food for Senior Cats

Feline Natural
Feline Natural

Pros and Cons

  • High protein
  • Added omega 3
  • All life stages
  • Pricey
  • Mixed taste

Summary

Why Feline Natural for senior cats?

It’s higher in animal fat and protein to help with sarcopenia. There’s also omega 3 and chondroitin for joint health.

A carb free meal packed with grass-fed New Zealand meats and organs.

Pricey though, and mixed taste results.

Best for:

  • Kidney health
  • Joint health
  • Diabetes

Where to find Feline Natural?

Read more:

Feline Natural dry matter nutrition analysis
Feline Natural dry matter nutrition analysis
Feline Natural cat food review score
Feline Natural cat food review score

4. Sheba Perfect Portions

Best Wet Cat Food for Weight Loss

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Pros and Cons

  • Low calorie
  • Affordable
  • Portion control package
  • Added gums
  • Added tapioca starch

Summary

Why Sheba Perfect Portions for weight control?

They offer portion control packaging to help keep calories in check. Food is low calorie too to help.

It’s affordable too and customers approve of the taste.

Main downsides are the added fillers including gums and tapioca starch. Could irritate digestion in some cats.

Best for:

  • Portion control
  • Picky cats
  • Adults (1-7 years)

Where to find Sheba Perfect Portions?

Read more:

Sheba Perfect Portions dry matter nutrition analysis
Sheba Perfect Portions dry matter nutrition analysis
Sheba Perfect Portions cat food review score
Sheba Perfect Portions cat food review score

5. Wellness Core Tiny Tasters

Best Wet Cat Food for Kidney Health

Wellness Core Tiny Tasters
Wellness Core Tiny Tasters

Pros and Cons

  • Moderate protein
  • High calcium to phosphate
  • Convenient pouch
  • Added gums
  • Pricey

Summary

Why Wellness Core Tiny Tasters for kidney health?

It offers a positive calcium to phosphate ratio, which experts recommend for kidney health. Protein is moderately high, which can help as well.

Great for picky cats, and easy to serve.

A little pricey though, and gums might interfere with digestion.

Best for:

  • Picky cats
  • Convenience
  • Easy digestion

Where to find Wellness Core Tiny Tasters?

Learn More:

Wellness Core Tiny Tasters dry matter nutrition
Wellness Core Tiny Tasters dry matter nutrition
Wellness Core Tiny Tasters review score
Wellness Core Tiny Tasters review score

6. Felix

Best Wet Cat Food in Australia

Felix Sensations
Felix Sensations

Pros and Cons

  • High protein
  • Great taste
  • Convenient pouch
  • Uses by-products
  • Added thickeners

Summary

Why is Felix best in Australia?

It’s affordable and comes in bulk packs to save on costs. Their meals are great for fussy eaters. Widely available in stores and online.

Their pouches are convenient and thankfully it’s meat rich in the pouch. Options for adults and kittens.

Like many Aussie cat foods, they use thickeners. That could include unsavory ingredients like carrageenan, that may irritate digestion.

Best for:

  • Fussy eaters
  • Convenience
  • Affordability

Where to find Felix?

Learn More:

Felix dry matter nutrition analysis
Felix dry matter nutrition analysis
Felix review score
Felix review score

7. Tiki Cat Baby

Best Wet Kitten Food

Tiki Cat Baby
Tiki Cat Baby

Pros and Cons

  • High protein
  • Helps solid transition
  • Great taste
  • Limited reviews
  • Pricey

Summary

Why is Tiki Cat Baby best for kittens?

It’s high in animal protein from chicken and salmon. They offer mouse and shreds texture to help with solid food transition.

Rich in omega 3 fatty acids to help with learning and cognitive development.

Pricey though, and there’s a lack of reviews (our cats enjoyed it though).

Best for:

  • Easy digestion
  • Kitten health
  • Transition to solids

Where to find Tiki Cat Baby?

Learn More:

Tiki Cat Baby dry matter nutrition analysis
Tiki Cat Baby dry matter nutrition analysis
Tiki Cat Baby review score
Tiki Cat Baby review score

8. Ziwi Peak

Best Wet Cat Food for Hairballs

Ziwi Peak Venison Recipe cat food
Ziwi Peak Venison Recipe

Pros and Cons

  • 4% fiber for hairball relief
  • Novel protein
  • Grain-free
  • Pricey
  • Added chickpea

Summary

Why is Ziwi Peak Venison a good choice for hairballs?

This cat food uses novel protein sources with limited ingredients. Hairballs can be a sign of food intolerance or allergy.

There’s a small amount of fiber, which can help clear hairballs.

Fiber is from chickpeas, which isn’t the best choice (cellulose or beet pulp are better). Pricey too.

Best for:

  • Senior health
  • Kidney health
  • Allergies

Where to find Ziwi Peak?

Learn more:

Ziwi Peak dry matter nutrition analysis
Ziwi Peak dry matter nutrition analysis
Ziwi Peak review score
Ziwi Peak review score

8. Instinct Original Grain-free Real Rabbit

Best Wet Cat Food Without Chicken

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Pros

  • 95% animal ingredients
  • Low carb
  • Grain-free
  • Mixed taste reviews
  • Added peas

Summary

Why is Instinct Original a great chicken-free cat food?

They offer rabbit and pork flavors, free from chicken. It’s a high protein and affordable cat food, that most love.

This is the only one we haven’t tested, and the reviews could be a tad stronger. Not a fan of the added peas in the tin.

Best for:

  • No chicken diets
  • Diabetic cats
  • Weight control

Where to find Instinct Original cat food?

Learn more:

Instinct Original dry matter nutrition analysis
Instinct Original dry matter nutrition analysis
Instinct Original cat food review score
Instinct Original cat food review score

10. Fancy Feast Creamy Delights

Best Wet Cat Food for Constipation

Fancy Feast creamy delights cat food
Fancy Feast Creamy Delights

Pros and Cons

  • Low residue
  • Affordable
  • All life stages
  • Uses by-products
  • More flavors?

Summary

Why Fancy Feast Creamy Delights for constipation?

Low residue diets (low fiber) are recommended for constipation relief, which this cat food offers. It’s great tasting and affordable.

The creamy delights range offer an option (chicken with milk) that suits all life stages, which suits seniors with constipation (higher risk of getting it).

Could use more flavors and not all the ones in this range suit all life stages. Annoying.

Best for:

  • Affordability
  • Fussy eaters
  • Easy digestion

Where to find Fancy Feast Creamy Delights?

Read more:

Fancy Feast Creamy Delights dry matter nutrition
Fancy Feast Creamy Delights dry matter nutrition
Fancy Feast Creamy Delights cat food review score
Fancy Feast Creamy Delights cat food review score

What We Looked For?

We tested all these cat foods with our cats (except Instinct Original).

If our cats didn’t enjoy these foods, I’d give them a miss.

I also looked at nutrition, ingredients and cost – grading foods out of 10.

A full list of the best wet cat foods:

Wet Cat FoodCostTextureLifestageProtein*CarbFiberKcal/kgTotalNotes
Fancy Feast Classic$PateAdult48%5%7%1,1848.5Great low carb budget pick
Tiki Cat After Dark$$$ShredsAll78%0%0%7518.5Best overall
Tiki Cat Baby$$$ShredsAll63%2%8%11758.5Best for kittens
Fancy Feast Creamy Delights$PateAll45%1%7%1,3408.5Best for constipation
Instinct Original$$PateAll59%3%7%9448.5Best chicken-free
Purina Pro Plan Kitten$$PateGrowth51%2%6%1,3218Good for kittens
Fancy Feast Kitten$$PateGrowth55%5%7%1,0648Another good kitten choice
Hound & Gatos$$PateAll45%0%5%1,2228Single protein for allergies
Sheba Perfect Portions$$GravyAdult44%13%9%7838Best for weight control
Wellness Tiny Tasters$$$PateAdult47%4%0%1,2918Great taste, and kidney friendly
Wellness Tiny Tasters Kitten$$$PateGrowth48%2%5%1,4008Great kitten pick
Purina Beyond$$PateAdult41%14%7%12008Suitable for adults
Wellness Complete Health$$PateAdult48%3%5%1,1168Suitable for adults
Tiny Tiger$PateAll55%14%8%9298Affordable brand
Feline Natural$$$PateAll52%2%1%8958High quality but pricey
Ziwi Peak$$$PateAll54%10%4%1,2008Great for hairballs and allergies
Full comparison list of the best wet cat foods *dry basis

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Healthiest Wet Cat Food?

Tiki Cat After Dark.

It’s the highest protein option on the market, free from carbs and fillers. Suits all life stages.

Learn more:

Tiki Cat After Dark cat food
Tiki Cat After Dark is one of the healthiest choices for your cat

What Brand of Wet Food Do Cats Like Most?

Fancy Feast.

In our experience this is a reliable choice for picky cats. Wellness Core are another suitable pick.

All cats have different tastes and preferences developed through life. They’re neophobic and are hesitant with new flavors.

What Are the Disadvantages of Wet Cat Food?

Less convenient.

Wet cat food can’t be left out all day like dry cat food.

However, this is good as you want to establish set meal times and avoid free-feeding. Leaving dry cat food out all day contributes to obesity risk.

With a tin of cat food you need to open it and scoop out the contents. Then you need to wash the tin and recycle it – a time consuming task.

Learn more:

Can Cats Eat Canned Tuna?

Rarely.

Tuna is high in mercury, which is toxic to cats if cats eat too much.

You can offer your cat up to 1/2 a tin of tuna (3 ounce tin) per week maximum. Anything over might be risky.

Tuna isn’t a balanced food source, lacking calcium and other micronutrients cats need. Don’t rely on it as a sole feeding option.

Learn more:

Is Wet Food Good for Cats Every Day?

Yes.

Cats are carnivores and will eat prey like rodents.

Wet food is essentially meant to replicate what cats eat in the wild. A complete wet cat food gives cats all the nutrients they need.

Do Cats Get Bored of the Same Wet Food?

Possibly.

Cats are neophilic, as well as neophobic. It means they take time getting used to new flavors, but also get bored of the same thing.

Mix up meals with different proteins (e.g. beef, chicken, lamb, turkey) to offer your cat variety.

Do Cats Like Cold Wet Cat Food?

No.

Cats prefer food warm (15-50 degrees Celsius). I leave my cat food in the pantry and not the fridge.

If you have cat food in the fridge, warm it up for taste. Cats use smell to decide if their food is good to eat, and heating brings out smells.

Using a microwave.
Heat cat food to improve smell for picky cats.

Is Fancy Feast Good for Your Cat?

Yes.

It’s low carb and high protein.

High in animal ingredients. Low in plant ingredients and grains.

Not much else to say wrong. It’s meat in a tin, which is what cats need.

Nothing fancy, ironically.

Learn More:

Is High Fiber Food Good for Cats?

No.

Low fiber diets and small frequent meals help stop cats vomiting. They can also help alleviate constipation, a common problem in older cats.

Any benefit of fiber to health may already be in meat anyway. The tough collagen rich fibers of meats contain animal derived fermentable substrates (ADFS).

Conclusion

Cats are carnivores. The best wet cat food reflects a normal diet of cats, being high in protein and animal foods.

Choose wet cat food that are high in animal ingredients and low in fillers like grains. Also look for the sign of nutritional adequacy, from AAFCO.

Speak with a vet for more help on specific situations.

>> Our best wet cat food is Tiki Cat After Dark

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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.