Wet foods designed for kittens are easier to chew and more nutritionally dense, offering a high-moisture diet optimized for development and growth.
"Cats should be introduced to wet food early," Dr. Kerri Blackburn, DVM, of River’s Edge Animal Hospital in South Carolina, shared The Spruce Pets. "Many common diseases or illnesses that cats can get as they progress through life can be managed well with increased moisture in canned diets."
Wet food is something all kittens should eat, but not all wet foods are the same. "Canned foods with gravy, i.e. the shreds, chunks, etc., are actually pretty heavy on carbohydrates, especially those that come in gravy. The best type of canned food is the old fashioned paté," advises Blackburn.
To help you select the best food for your maturing kitten, we polled 299 real cat parents to hear firsthand which brand and type of kitten food is served (or was formerly served) for their household, while gleaning additional insights for felines of all sizes, ages, and breeds. You can learn more about our polling methodology below our recommendations, under the headingHow We Found The Best Wet Foods for Kittens. We also have additional tips on how to evaluate wet food for kittens for yourself in theWhat To Look Forsection, below.
Our Top Picks
Best Budget:
Best for Very Young Kittens:
Best in Gravy:
What We Like
Veterinary recommended
No artificial colors or preservatives
Contains DHA, an essential omega fatty acid kittens need for brain and vision development
First ingredient is real chicken
Smooth pate consistency
What We Don't Like
Multiple cans may be needed in one day to feed larger kittens
Only one flavor
Purina employs teams of scientists, nutritionists, and veterinarians to develop and optimize all of their recipes for pet food within their Purina One line. The Healthy Kitten Wet Food from Purina One—commonly recommended by veterinarians—meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines for kittens along with a chicken and salmon flavor that will ensure your kitten consumes the calories, nutrients, and moisture they need. Among the 299 cat guardians we surveyed, Purina One Healthy Kitten cat food ranked high in terms of quality, reliability, and overall enjoyment, with a many praising the food for its "clean plate" appeal to kittens and cats.
For healthy brain and vision development, this kitten food is fortified with DHA, a naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acid that baby cats usually get from their mother's milk, but is also found in fish oil.The Healthy Kitten wet food is readily available at most retailers that sell pet food, both in-store and online. The recipe is rich in animal-sourced protein with the first ingredient being real chicken. It is also grain-free and contains no artificial colors, fillers, or preservatives. Plus, the texture of the food is a smooth pate, so it is easy for small kittens to nibble while getting the nutrition they need to help them grow.
The brand recommends serving one three-ounce can per 3.75 pounds of body weight daily. The food is only offered in three-ounce cans so as a kitten grows, you'll likely need to open up more than one can a day. Fortunately the food is affordable and the cans are equipped with a pull-tab. The dry food recipe, Purina One +Plus Healthy Kitten Dry Cat Food, is among our top choices, and you can follow the brand guidelines to mix the wet food with the kibble.
Key Ingredients: Chicken, liver, chicken broth, pork lungs, salmon, natural flavors, minerals, taurine | Calories: 105k calories/can | Protein: 11% minimum
What We Like
Multiple flavor options and variety pack
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Provides complete and balanced nutrition for a developing cat
Grain-free
What We Don't Like
Lower in calories when compared to other options
Purina's Fancy Feast Pate Wet Kitten Food is a protein-rich canned food that is formulated with the help of veterinarians and nutritionists to provide the nutritional intake kittens need. The pate wet foods are made without artifical colors, flavors, or preservatives, and there are four flavors of smooth textured recipes to choose from: tender chicken feast, tender salmon feast, tender ocean whitefish feast, and tender turkey feast.
The kittens—and former kittens—participating in our survey, expressed (via their humans) their enjoyment of Fancy Feast Pate Wet Kitten Foods with many refusing to eat another brand after having Fancy Feast in their bowl. On average, the cost per three ounce can of Fancy Feast for kittens is lower than other wet foods for kittens that made our list, but a lower price point does not mean you are sacrificing on quality ingredients for your young cat.
As your kitten grows, they will need to consume more than one can per day (one can per 3 pounds is recommended), and this food is lower in calories compared to other options on our list. You might find the need to supplement with the occasional treat.
Key Ingredients: Varies depending on flavor | Calories: 90-95k calories/can depending on flavor | Protein: 11% minimum
What We Like
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Multiple flavors and can sizes available
Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, taurine, fiber, vitamins, and minerals
Formulated in the United States
What We Don't Like
Not grain-free
Hill's Science Diet ranked a very close second to Purina in our survey of cat and kitten foods, receiving a near perfect score, 4.5 out of 5, for satisfaction with ingredients and quality. Hill's Science Diet highly recommended by veterinarians for daily feeding to help kittens grow healthy and strong. This kitten food, like others on our list, contains DHA from fish oil, which supports the healthy development of cats' brains and eyes. It also has vitamins and minerals that support a developing immune system, muscle growth, and bone and tooth growth. While it is free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, this kitten food is not grain-free and might not be suitable for grain-sensitive kittens.
All its wet and dry cat foods are formulated in the United States. This brand is highly recommended by veterinarians for daily feeding to help kittens grow healthy and strong. This kitten food, like others on our list, contains DHA from fish oil, which supports the healthy development of cats' brains and eyes. It also has vitamins and minerals that support a developing immune system, muscle growth, and bone and tooth growth. While it is free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, this kitten food is not grain-free and might not be suitable for grain-sensitive kittens.
Kittens will devour any of the three flavors that this food comes in, including tasty roasted chicken and rice, savory turkey, and tender chicken. Note that the chicken flavor is in little morsels, so it might be best to wait to feed this flavor when your kitty's ' teeth can chew better. These flavors are available in multiple sizes and packs, including 2.8-ounce cans in a 24-pack and 5.5-ounce cans in a 24-pack. The biggest downside that was noted in the survey was its price, as it tends to be a bit more expensive than some of the other brands.
Key Ingredients: Varies per flavor | Calories: 155-203 per 5.5 ounce can | Protein: 6.5% minimum
Best for Very Young Kittens
Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Canned Food
What We Like
Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
Two can sizes, 3 ounces for a kitten and 5.1 ounces for mother cat or multiple kittens
Very soft mousse texture
What We Don't Like
Contains corn, wheat, yeast, and rice ingredients that may not be suitable for all kittens
Kittens who are weaning are new to the experience of chewing their food, so you’ll want to offer something that doesn’t take much effort. Royal Canin’s Mother & Babycat formula is a mousse that is super-soft and designed specifically for weaning kittens. Royal Canin has a long history of making high-quality pet foods, and this wet food is also well-accepted by tiny kittens. Since the only other experience they have with food is sucking milk from their mother or a bottle, kittens can be messy eaters when they start eating something else.
Because of this, Dr. Blackburn recommends feeding weaning kittens in a large, easily cleaned area and offering the canned food on a very large, shallow plate or flat surface. "They tend to be messy eaters and explore foods by walking in them and grooming said food off their paws, etc,” she says.
Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Canned Food comes in one flavor but includes corn, wheat, yeast, and rice ingredients, which might not be best for all kittens. The amount to feed your baby cat varies depending on their age, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's direction. It is available in multiple sizes and packs, including packs of 6, 12, or 24 3-ounce cans, a 24-pack of 5.1-ounce cans, and a 24-pack of 5.8-ounce cans.
While Royal Canin is typically more expensive than other options that made our list, 85 percent of survey participants who feed their cat a food from Royal Canin praised the brand for offering a formula that addresses their cat's health needs with quality ingredients. Key Ingredients:
The 11 Best Healthy Cat Treats of 2024
What We Like
Very palatable to kittens
Supports brain health, eye care, and immune system
Real poultry, liver, and fish ingredients
Multiple flavors
Formulated by veterinary nutritionists
What We Don't Like
Not grain-free
The Purina Pro Plan Kitten Variety Pack provides three flavors of canned cat food, each with a high percentage of protein, 25 essential vitamins and minerals, taurine, and DHA for health eye and brain development. The wet foods are all made with real animal-sourced proteins, including poultry, liver, and fish, and were formulated by veterinarian nutritionist to support a kitten's healthy growth with antioxidants and fiber to keep their immune and digestive systems functioning properly during their early months.
It comes in a variety pack of 24 cans, with eight 3-ounce cans of chicken and liver of classic paté style, eight 3-ounce cans of salmon and ocean fish in classic paté style, and eight 3-ounce cans of ocean whitefish and tuna in the flaked style. Survey participants who feed their cat a food from Purina Pro Plan enjoy the brand's affordability and value the brand's use of quality ingredients to help keep their cats healthy.
But the kitten recipes in the variety pack are not all grain-free which may aggravate symptoms in kittens who are allergic or sensitive to grains. If this happens to your young cat, you should consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible to advise on next steps and rule out underlying causes.
Overall, survey participants who feed their cat a food from Purina Pro Plan praise the brand's affordability and value the brand's use of quality ingredients to help keep their cats healthy.
Key Ingredients: Varies depending on flavor | Calories: 99-113k calories per 3 ounce can | Protein: 12% minimum
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What We Like
Includes taurine and omega acids
No artificial preservatives
Recommended by veterinarians
What We Don't Like
Kittens need multiple daily servings of this food, making it a pricey option
Only one flavor
IAMS Perfect Portions is grain-free and offers savory kitten food in chicken cuts of gravy that your kitten is sure to slurp up quickly. It includes taurine, an all-important ingredient to help support healthy vision, and omega-3 fatty acids to ensure your kitten will have a shiny coat and healthy skin. IAMS products are recommended by veterinarians, so you know that your kitten will get the necessary nutrition and vitamins that they need while growing up. Plus, it's a well-trusted and liked brand, as based on our survey, users find the IAMS brand to be a great quality cat food, meeting their cat's specific health needs and keeping their coats shiny and smooth.
This food comes in 1.32-ounce peel-and-feed trays that are convenient for easily dispensing food to your kitten. But the brand recommends you feed your kitten six to nine servings of this food a day, making it a pricey option. It is available in twin packs and comes in a pack of 24.
Key Ingredients: Chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, meat by-products, dried egg product, fish oil | Calories: 33k calories/per serving | Protein: 10% minimum
Final Verdict
When taking price and availability into consideration alongside flavor, nutrition, and texture, Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Pate Food is the best choice for most kittens. This food is affordable, contains no grains, is a soft pate that is easy for kittens to consume, follows AAFCO guidelines for growing kittens, and is formulated by veterinary nutritionists. If you are looking to introduce variety to your kitten, Purina Pro Plan Kitten Variety Pack which offers three recipes, all made with animal-source protein and formulated with vitamins and minerals kittens need.
How We Found The Best Wet Foods for Kittens
In addition to the advice of veterinary and regulatory experts, we developed a comprehensive questionnaire that would allow us to gather data from real cat guardians about what they look for in a wet food for their cat along with their feline's particular preferences and needs.
In total, we polled 299 households with at least one cat, gathering details on each cat's age, weight, and breed. Using our proprietary data, we were able to evaluate and quantify responses by life stage (kitten, former-kitten, and senior), dietary needs, common aliments, and other factors commonly addressed through cat foods. Using a combination of numerical scoring and detailed feedback, we narrowed down more than 20 high-quality candidates to highlight only the very best wet foods for kittens.
What to Look for in Wet Foods for Your Kitten
Key nutrient benchmarks are established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and all of our recommendations align with their guidelines for kittens.
AAFCO Seal of Approval
Dr. Kerri Blackburn of River’s Edge Animal Hospital reminds kitten owners that “ideally a canned food diet should be formulated to meet the nutrient needs of its target,” so your kitten food should be formulated with all the nutrients a kitten needs.
Look for a statement on the wet food that says it “is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO for Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for growth,” she says. The AAFCO establishes the nutrient requirements that a growing kitten needs and foods with this statement have ensured that all those key nutrient amounts have been included in the food.
In addition to protein, there's a long list of essential nutrients that must meet minimum amounts in foods formulated for kittens. “The diets most commonly formulated correctly are those that are made by food companies that employ veterinary nutritionists,” says Dr. Blackburn.
DHA
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an essential omega-3 fatty acids that all kittens need from their diet for healthy development of their brain, vision, and central nervous system.
Protein
Growing kittens require more protein than adult cats. This means that the food you feed your kitten should follow AAFCO recommendations to provide appropriate levels of protein for a kitten, not an adult cat. Protein is vital to the body. Without sufficient amounts of quality, animal-based protein, numerous health problems can occur. Thankfully, meat-based wet kitten foods usually contain more protein than dry kitten foods, so if you are choosing one that has followed AAFCO guidelines, you don’t have to worry about your kitten lacking this ingredient.
Avoid Fillers
“All canned foods are not created equally,” says Dr. Blackburn. This is not only because of the different levels of proteins and other nutrients that are present but also because of the various other ingredients. AAFCO does not define what exactly a "filler" is, so it is hard to say what ingredients are considered fillers.
High-quality foods that are formulated by veterinary nutritionists do not contain unnecessary ingredients, as this would only increase the cost of producing the food. Ingredients like starches and grains may be added for formulation reasons other than to provide nutrients, though. Food shape and texture or the ability to flow through a manufacturing machine without getting stuck often require these ingredients, therefore they are not unnecessary. On the other hand, if you are looking to avoid ingredients that cats do not necessarily need for nutritional reasons, such as excessive carbohydrates, some people may consider those added ingredients to be fillers.
FAQ
Why do kittens need special wet food?
Kittens have small mouths and may or may not have all their tiny teeth. This makes having soft, wet food ideal to make mealtime easy. Pieces of food that are too large for a kitten to chew or swallow can cause them to choke or avoid eating and lose weight. Wet foods like patés, mousses, and lickable cat treats that are ultra soft don’t require much effort on the kitten’s part, so they encourage baby cats to eat and transition from a completely liquid diet to a soft diet.
When should I stop giving my cat kitten food?
Kitten food contains what a growing cat needs according to the guidelines set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). “Kitten food should be formulated for growth,” says Dr. Blackburn, which means a cat that is no longer growing needs to switch to an adult formula. Cats usually stop growing at around one year of age, so they should also transition to adult food at this time.
Is wet or dry food better for kittens?
Wet food is often considered to be the better option for all cats but especially weaning kittens. Wet food is easier to eat, more enticing, and provides more moisture than dry food. This ensures your kitten is eating enough food to grow strong and healthy and helps to prevent urinary and kidney issues which are common in cats.
Why Trust The Spruce Pets?
This story was updated byAnna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.
We also took a comprehensive survey on preferred brands and feeding habits. Each respondent provided data on their cat's age, size, and breed, in addition to a detailed history of the cat food brands and products they mutually enjoy.
A previous version was written by Adrienne Kruzer, a registered and licensed Veterinary Technician in three states who has been writing on pet and vet topics for over a decade. She is also Fear Free Certified, has a special interest in pet nutrition, and loves researching, learning, and problem-solving in order to better help pet owners. Her years of working in various animal hospitals, alongside her formal college education and elective continuing education classes, have provided her with a wealth of experience and knowledge to help kitten owners select the right food for their pets.
Dr. Kerri Blackburn has been a veterinarian since 2007. Dr. Blackburn's special interests include general wellness care, ultrasound, internal medicine, nutrition, surgery, and oncology. Dr. Blackburn currently serves as the Medical Director for River's Edge Animal Hospital in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Prior to this, Dr. Blackburn completed an internship with Affiliated Veterinary Specialists in Florida and has continued to pursue knowledge in ultrasound, endoscopy, and advanced medicine through numerous continuing education opportunities through the years. Dr. Blackburn is also a member of the AVMA, NCVMA, SCVMA, and World Vets, and is in a network of emergency-preparedness vets for disasters in South and North Carolina. Dr. Blackburn loves the challenges posed by veterinary medicine and truly enjoys working with families to diagnose and treat their beloved pet's illnesses and maintain optimum health in their furry family members.
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