Best overall cat food
Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan Adult Chicken & Rice Dry Cat Food
4.8
🏆 Best Overall Cat Food
Tradeoff: By-product meal in the ingredient list — nutritionally sound, but it puts some owners off.
Cat Food & Nutrition
A cat is an obligate carnivore with a weak thirst drive, and those two facts explain most feeding advice: animal protein matters, and water intake is easier to raise through food than through a bowl. Portion by calories rather than by the marks on a cup, and actually measure — free-feeding is how the weight goes on quietly.
Start here
- Wet food is largely water, which is the practical case for feeding some of it. Dry is cheaper per calorie and more convenient, which is the case against feeding only wet.
- An indoor cat needs fewer calories than most bowls suggest. Measure the portion rather than topping up.
- Cats are neophobic about food and can fixate on one texture, so variety introduced early saves real trouble later, when a diet has to change for medical reasons.
- Change foods gradually. A cat that refuses the new food outright has not been stubborn — it has been switched too fast.
- A cat that stops eating for more than a day or two is an urgent problem, not a fussy one. Call a vet.
Buying guides & comparisons
- Indoor and senior cat formulas: worth it?Indoor formulas are mostly a calorie and fibre adjustment. Senior is not a regulated category at all. Here's when each is worth paying for.
- Wet vs dry cat food: which is better?Wet food wins on moisture, dry wins on cost and convenience. Here's how the two compare on the things that actually affect a cat's health.
Learn
18 guides on food & nutrition, grouped by what you're trying to work out.
How much to feed
Calorie needs for indoor and outdoor cats, meal frequency, and measuring portions that hold weight steady.
- Free-feeding vs measured meals for catsLeaving the bowl full is convenient and it is the most common reason indoor cats gain weight. Here's the honest comparison and how to switch over.4 min read
- How many calories does an indoor cat need?Indoor cats burn less than owners assume, and neutering lowers it again. Here's how to estimate a daily calorie target and check it against the cat.5 min read
- How much should I feed my cat?Most adult indoor cats eat far less than owners think. Here's how to work out a daily amount from your own bag or can, and how to split it.4 min read
- How often should I feed a cat?Twice a day is the common default, but more frequent smaller meals suit a cat's biology better. Here's how to pick a schedule and stick to it.4 min read
Wet, dry & raw
What each format actually does for hydration, teeth, cost and convenience — and how to combine them.
- Can I mix wet and dry cat food?Yes, and it is a sensible way to feed a cat. The mistakes are in the arithmetic and the timing, not the mixing itself.4 min read
- Homemade cat food: why it usually goes wrongCooking for your cat sounds caring and is the easiest way to build a deficient diet. Here's what breaks, and the one way to do it safely.4 min read
- Raw cat food diets: the real risks and tradeoffsRaw feeding has genuine appeal for an obligate carnivore and genuine hazards. Here's an honest look at both, and the safer middle options.4 min read
Choosing a cat food
Reading the label, AAFCO statements, protein sources, and which claims on the front mean nothing.
- AAFCO statements on cat food, explainedThe small print that says whether a cat food is a complete diet or a snack — and the difference between formulated and feeding-trial tested.4 min read
- Cat food protein sources and by-productsBy-products are not filler and named meat is not automatically better. Here's what each protein term on a cat food label actually means.4 min read
- How to read a cat food labelThe front of the bag is advertising. Here's the four places on the back that actually tell you what is in the food and whether it is complete.4 min read
Can cats eat that?
Safe, unsafe, and the ones that are fine in a quantity smaller than you think.
- Can Cats Drink Milk?No — most adult cats are lactose intolerant, and cow's milk usually causes diarrhea rather than doing any good.5 min read
- Can Cats Eat Dog Food? What Taurine Has to Do With ItAn occasional bite of dog food won't hurt a cat, but a steady diet of it causes real deficiencies — starting with taurine.5 min read
- Can Cats Eat Tuna? How Much Is SafeA small amount of plain, cooked tuna is fine occasionally, but regular tuna feeding risks mercury buildup and nutrient gaps.5 min read
- Human Foods That Are Toxic to CatsOnions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, and grapes can seriously harm a cat — here's what's dangerous, the early signs, and when to call a vet.5 min read
Weight & feeding problems
Fussy eaters, overweight indoor cats, food allergies, and appetite changes that need a vet.
- Helping an Overweight Cat Lose Weight SafelySlow, vet-guided weight loss is the safe path for cats — crash dieting or skipped meals can trigger a dangerous liver condition.5 min read
- How to Switch a Fussy Cat's Food Without a StandoffA slow, mixed transition over 7-10 days works far better than a sudden switch — here's the schedule, plus what to do when a cat refuses anyway.5 min read
- My Cat Suddenly Stopped Eating — Is This an Emergency?Yes, treat it as one — a cat not eating for even 24-48 hours risks a serious liver condition, and this needs a vet, not a wait-and-see approach.5 min read
- Why Does My Cat Beg Constantly or Eat Too Fast?Both usually come down to feeding schedule, portion size, or competition, not true hunger — here's how to fix each one.5 min read
Gear for food & nutrition
Researched picks from the categories this section covers.
Best indoor cat food
Hill's Science Diet
Hill's Science Diet Adult Indoor Chicken Dry Cat Food
4.6
🏠 Best Indoor Cat Food
Tradeoff: Premium pricing for a mainstream ingredient list — you're paying for the QA.
Best high-protein cat food
Instinct
Instinct Original Raw Coated Chicken Dry Cat Food
4.6
💪 Best High-Protein Cat Food
Tradeoff: Rich enough that a fast switch causes digestive upset — transition over 7-10 days.
Best premium wet cat food
Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan Seafood Favorites Wet Cat Food
4.6
🥫 Best Premium Wet Cat Food
Tradeoff: Every recipe in the pack is fish — rotate in poultry separately.
Best for sensitive cats
Hill's Science Diet
Hill's Science Diet Sensitive Stomach Dry Cat Food
4.5
🩹 Best for Sensitive Cats
Tradeoff: It's a sensitivity formula, not a hypoallergenic one — chicken is still the protein.
Best high-protein premium cat food
Wellness
Wellness CORE Adult Turkey & Chicken Dry Cat Food
4.5
💪 Best High-Protein Premium Cat Food
Tradeoff: Premium price and grain-free — ask your vet if DCM risk applies to your cat.
What to know about food & nutrition
Wet vs dry, portioning for indoor cats, and which foods earn their price. A cat is an obligate carnivore with a weak thirst drive, and those two facts explain most feeding advice: animal protein matters, and water intake is easier to raise through food than through a bowl. Wet food is largely water, which is the practical case for feeding some of it; dry food is cheaper per calorie and more convenient, which is the case against feeding only wet. Portion by calories rather than by the marks on a cup, and actually measure — an indoor cat needs less than most bowls suggest, and free-feeding is how the weight goes on quietly. Cats are neophobic about food and can fixate on a single texture, so variety introduced early saves trouble later, when a diet has to change for medical reasons. Changes should be gradual. And a cat that stops eating for more than a day or two is an urgent problem, not a fussy one.
Food & Nutrition questions owners ask
Is wet or dry food better for cats?
Wet food is roughly three-quarters water, which helps a species that does not drink much on its own, and it is usually lower in carbohydrate. Dry is cheaper per calorie, easier to leave out, and easier to measure. Many owners land on wet meals plus a measured amount of dry, which gets most of the hydration benefit without the cost or the waste.
How much should I feed my indoor cat?
Most indoor adult cats need meaningfully fewer calories than an active outdoor cat of the same weight, and the exact figure depends on weight, age, and whether they are neutered. Work from the calorie content of your specific food rather than from cup marks, weigh the cat every month or two, and adjust from the trend rather than from a single reading.
Why has my cat stopped eating?
Treat it as urgent rather than as fussiness. Cats that go without food for more than a day or two can develop hepatic lipidosis, a serious liver condition, and loss of appetite is also one of the earliest signs of dental pain, kidney disease, and many other problems. Call your vet rather than waiting it out.
Can cats drink milk?
Most adult cats are lactose intolerant, so cow's milk tends to cause diarrhea even though they will happily drink it. It is not toxic, but it is not a treat worth giving. If you want to raise water intake, wet food and a fountain do far more than any milk product.