Finding the best canned kitten food for your fur baby is essential if you want what every pet owner wants. A healthy and happy kitten!
Just like you, your kitten requires a balanced diet that includes all the vital nutrients for healthy growth, brain development and well-being.
Fortunately, several reputable brands offer healthy and nutritious kitten food. It all depends on what you seek.
We are going to look at the Top 5 best canned kitten food, the dietary requirements of kittens, the factors to consider when looking for the best canned kitten food, and tips for feeding kittens.
Just in case you are in a hurry, click on our short summary below to view our Top 5 reviewed products for the best canned kitten food:
- Wellness Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food
- Instinct Grain Free Kitten Wet Cat Food
- Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Kitten Pate Wet Cat Food
- Purina Fancy Feast Kitten Canned Wet Cat Food
- Wellness CORE Pate Wet Kitten Food
5 Best Canned Kitten Food – 2022 Top Picks
1. Our Editor’s Top Pick: Wellness Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food
Most kitten owners seek balanced nutrition that includes all the essential vitamins and minerals required for healthy kitten growth.
If this is what you want, the Wellness Complete Health Wet Canned Kitten Food recipe is a perfect choice.
The meal comprises natural ingredients only and is packed with protein as well as essential fatty acids.
Other ingredients include fresh whole canned berries and blueberries that are vital for your kitten’s urinary tract health.
What’s more, it makes your cat a little thirsty, increasing their intake of moisture, which is essential for their growth.
What we like:
- Natural, high quality ingredients
- Balanced nutrition
- Improves kitten appetite for food
- Nutritious and delicious
- Has no fillers
What we don’t like:
- Sold in small cans that your kitten will deplete quickly. This means you need to order more.
- GRAIN-FREE WET CAT FOOD: Canned cat food is free from grains, protein-dense, rich in meaty flavor, and nutrient packed to support your cat's daily needs, with real protein as the first ingredient.
- MINCED TURKEY: This natural food for adult cats is an excellent source of high quality proteins, packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids for complete, balanced nutrition. Wet food features very tiny chopped pieces of turkey served in light gravy.
- SUPPORTS HEALTHY HYDRATION: Wet food is an easy way to increase your cat's moisture intake for daily hydration health. We recommend feeding cat food at room temperature and refrigerating the unused portion.
- NO CORN, WHEAT, OR SOY: Cat food doesn't contain added carrageenan, wheat, wheat gluten, corn, soy, artificial colors, or preservatives.
- COMPLETE & BALANCED NUTRITION: Wellness cat food is created by nutritionists & veterinarians to nourish and sustain your pet's wellbeing.
2. Instinct Grain Free Kitten Wet Cat Food
The original grain-free kitten and cat food by Instinct Original is another healthy option you can choose to provide your kitten access to a wider variety of nutrients.
The meal offers an extensive list of ingredients that include beef liver, chicken and broth, salmon and montmorillonite clay.
There are no artificial preservatives, colors, or sweeteners in the meal.
It also features no grains, soy, corn, or potatoes, which makes it one of the healthiest wet kitten food recipes you can offer your 1-year-old kittens.
What we like:
- Packed full of healthy protein
- Has medical benefits that include relieving stomatitis
- Exceptional nutritional profile
- Can reduce kitten diarrhea by firming the poop
- Best grain free kitten food
What we don’t like:
- Poor taste for kittens in the initial feeding stages
- KITTEN GRAIN FREE WET CAT FOOD WITH CAGE FREE CHICKEN: Instinct Original for Kittens offers complete & balanced nutrition, using real meat, vegetables, fruits and other wholesome ingredients. Made with real chicken, salmon and beef liver, our kitten recipe is a balanced mix of poultry, fish and meat for healthy exposure to proteins.
- HIGH PROTEIN CAT FOOD: Our grain-free kitten food supports kitten energy needs for growth and play and includes natural DHA for brain and eye development. Responsibly sourced cage-free chicken is the #1 ingredient.
- CANNED CAT FOOD WITH NO FILLERS: Instinct Original Kitten wet cat food is specially formulated for kittens. Made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, soy, carrageenan, by-product meals, artificial colors or preservatives - ingredients known to trigger food sensitivities.
- NATURAL CAT FOOD: Made from real meat & whole food ingredients, our grain-free wet cat food is packed with animal protein for strong, lean muscles. Served as a meal or meal topper, this delicious pate has a texture and taste that even picky kitties will love.
- RAW INSPIRED WET CAT FOOD PATE: Instinct Original Kitten canned cat food is grain free, made from real ingredients, with natural DHA for brain & eye development to support your kitten's health. Complete and balanced nutrition using the finest ingredients from around the world.
3. Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Kitten Pate Wet Cat Food
Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Wet Kitten Food comes packed with various natural ingredients that offer a balanced meal for your new and older kittens.
The recipe eliminates grains, such as corn, wheat and by-product meals.
Instead, it features enhanced ingredients to include essential vitamins and minerals required for healthy and happy kitten development.
This meal suits kittens from a week old to 20 weeks old and suits those seeking wholesome ingredients.
Healthy gourmet also offers quality and all ingredients aim to deliver specific micro-nutrients.
What we like:
- Very tasty and aromatic
- High quality kitten food
- Perfect for kitten weight gain and optimal health
- Delicious for kittens of all ages
What we don’t like:
- The ingredients include various vegetables which your kitten might not like
- REAL CHICKEN FIRST: BLUE wet kitten food starts with high-quality protein from real chicken to support healthy muscle development plus DHA to support cognitive development
- FLAVORFUL PATÉ: Feed your kitten BLUE 's delicious and healthy wet cat food paté with a smooth texture and savory gravy for an irresistible taste
- NATURAL CAT FOOD: All BLUE canned cat foods are made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals
- ONLY WHOLESOME INGREDIENTS: BLUE wet kitten food contains NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals NO corn, wheat (a common thickening agent used by many other brands) or soy, and NO artificial flavors or preservatives
- Contains twenty four (24) 3-oz cans of BLUE Healthy Gourmet Natural Kitten Pate Wet Cat Food Chicken
4. Purina Fancy Feast Kitten Canned Wet Cat Food
The wet kitten food by Purina Fancy Feast is a nutritious addition you can purchase for your kitten.
Its aquatic ingredients include Tender Ocean whitefish that all cats love and will soon crave once they have their first wet bowl of Purina Fancy Feast.
The meal has a smooth texture for nibbling, so it is perfect for very young kittens.
It also features real milk, which is nutritious for kittens of all ages.
What we like:
- Balanced diet and quality ingredients
- Delicious for all kittens
- Improves kitten bowel movement
- Has no fillers and artificial additives
What we don’t like:
- Might cause bloating in cats with sensitive stomach
- The kitten might start to reject other meals, once they are fond of fish meals
- Canned cat food specially made for kittens
- Purina Fancy Feast wet food for kittens featuring real ocean whitefish and made without artificial colors or preservatives
- Crafted with real, high-quality ingredients to deliver 100 percent complete and balanced kitten wet food
- Delicious recipe featuring fish for cats developed in partnership with our expert nutritionists to create a unique and unforgettable taste experience for your growing kitten
- Canned kitten food that’s skillfully crafted in Purina’s own U.S. facilities where it undergoes regular quality and safety checks
5. Wellness CORE Pate Wet Kitten Food
Natural wet kitten food by Wellness Core offers a protein-rich meal that features high quality turkey and chicken liver, as well as herring, turkey, menhaden fish oil, cranberries and more.
The blended kitten food is 100% gluten-free and provides balanced nutrition for the wellbeing of your kitten.
Ingredients such as flax and fish omega fatty acid have medical benefits and support DHA for your kitten’s eye and brain development.
What we like:
- Protein-packed kitten diet
- Includes immune friendly antioxidants
- Contains DHA for healthy eyes and brain
- Improves digestion and kitten gut health
- Features essential minerals and vitamins
What we don’t like:
- Sensitive cats may suffer gas and diarrhea
- Pet Supplies
- Features High Quality Protein Sources To Support Higher Energy Needs
- Complete & Balanced For Everday Feeding
- Made With Naturally Gluten-Free Ingredients
- 5.5 Oz - Case Of 24
What are the dietary requirements of kittens?
Kittens aren’t much different from us humans.
They require a balanced diet for optimum health and well being and should be fed at least three or four times a day.
A balanced kitten diet should feature the following essential food items:
- Lean protein and healthy fats
- More calories
- DHA for eye and brain development
- Calcium for stronger bones
- Vitamin E and Selenium for a stronger immune system
The kitten will also require a wide variety of minerals and vitamins to enhance digestion, metabolism and other cellular activities.
However, these ingredients and micro-nutrients must be balanced in the right quantities to ensure your kitten is healthy.
When to give kittens wet or dry food?
Kittens will rely on their mother’s milk from birth until they are about four weeks old.
During this time, you should avoid introducing any wet or dry meals to your kittens.
It is recommendable to wait until they are approaching six weeks old before you start feeding them.
Start with wet canned kitten food as they continue to breastfeed.
If your kitten has no mother, you can give them milk until they are old enough to eat wet meals.
Dry kitten food will not be an option until your kittens are at least six weeks (one and a half months), although you can wait a little longer.
Dry meals don’t fit the moisture requirement of kittens, so they aren’t the ideal meal, but are still necessary for a healthy gut and maximum nutrient delivery.
Important factors to consider when choosing best canned kitten food
1) Quality vs quantity
The priority is to choose high-quality, nutritious ingredients required for your kitten’s growth, happiness and well being.
It is recommended to purchase kitten food in small cans for a start as you are not sure which type of canned food your kitten has a liking for.
It is common in the initial stages to change brand once or twice as you experiment with the taste preference of your kitten.
2) Artificial additives
Additives, such as preservatives, sweeteners and colors, can increase the volume of the kitten food without corresponding nutritional value.
Some are even harmful, so it is essential to keep unnecessary additives from your kitten’s meals.
Choose recipes that are free of grain, soy, corn, wheat, artificial sweeteners and preservatives.
3) Ingredient list
Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their gastronomical system relies on meat in some form.
They cannot digest plant material as effectively as herbivores, but still require essential nutrients that can come from plants.
When selecting kitten food, make sure there are lots of protein in the recipe and then find the right mix of vitamins and minerals.
Fish, beef, chicken, turkey, liver are all great ingredients required for kitten growth and the shiny glow on their fur.
4) Cost – Value for Money
The cost of your kitten’s meal should be the last thing you compare once you have a few best picks that can deliver the right balance and nutrition.
While spending a little more will get you better offers, you can compare existing offers, set a budget and then look for top brands and meals within the set price range.
Tips for feeding kittens
A) Provide multiple meals in a day
Like humans, cats need more than one meal per day to be happy and satisfied, so it is essential to feed them regularly.
You should aim at providing three or four meals in a day.
Make sure you determine the right portions for your kittens to avoid overfeeding them, as this might leave them at risk of becoming obese.
B) Use regular feeding intervals
In the natural setting, the cat mother breastfeeds or provide regular meals during specific times of the day.
You should also feed your kittens at regular intervals to train their digestive system.
You can use a cat food dispenser that can be programmed to provide meals at regular timed intervals.
Kittens shouldn’t be fed more than four different times in a day and a dispenser simply ensures you don’t forget.
C) Avoid early weaning
It is recommendable to resist all temptations to wean your kittens too early as this can interfere with their natural growth and development process.
Instead, let your kitten breastfeed for at least four weeks and gradually introduce wet meals.
Once they are comfortable with wet meals, wait another two weeks before you can start adding dry meals.
D) Provide a wide variety of foods
Kittens can get attached to certain flavors and meals of specific texture, which can lead them to reject other foods.
To avoid this, provide your kitten with meals from various brands to enjoy a wide variety of flavors, tastes and textures.
The range also helps your kitten absorb more micronutrients from the different recipes.
FAQs on The Best Canned Kitten Food
1) Is canned food good for kittens?
The first 4 weeks of your kitten is dedicated to milk-feeding.
After that, they can transition to kitty food and have more snacks throughout the day.
Canned food is good for kitten since their teeth are too little to chew on dry food well.
If you get a high-quality canned food, your kitty will have a nutrionally-balanced diet and will grow healthy without being overweight.
When your kitty is fed with dry and wet food, you can give them 2 servings of canned food daily.
2) What kitten food do vets recommend?
Vet-recommended food is based on the nutritional needs of your kitten.
If you consulted with them, they can clearly explain and give insights on your cat’s condition and what’s best to give them daily.
More often, a prescription formula from the vet is very helpful to kitty parents who want to give only the best for their pet.
If you are targeting a specific need or improving health condition, your vet will prescribe either dry, canned food, or a combination of both, and home-prepared varieties.
3) What is bad for kittens to eat?
There are certain types of food you shouldn’t be giving your kittens.
In general, most cats are lactose intolerant so you must avoid giving them milk, cheese, and dairy products.
Chocolates contain ingredients such sa theobromine and caffeine which can cause rapid breathing, seizures, diarrhea and vomiting.
Some foods like onions and garlic can cause dehydration and anemia in cats.
Dog food and canned tuna may not be sufficient for your cat’s nutritional needs so you should not make it their proper meal.
You must also be cautious of giving your kitten raw eggs and meats since they contain bacteria that can cause vomiting, digestive problems, allergy, or lethargy.
Also read: 31 Toxic Food Your Cats MUST Avoid!
4) What human foods can kittens eat?
It’s not totally bad to give some snacks to your cat that you also love eating or think will be good for them.
Your kitten would love to taste the delightful snacks you enjoy such as cooked deli meats, turkey, chicken and beef in SMALL amounts. You can give them whole grains like cornmeal or oats.
If you wish to give them fish, cooked fish is better than raw. The omega-3 acids found in fish are good for their eyesight and health disorders.
Not all cats would love vegetable but making a veggie burger pattie can be a good trick!
Final Words
It is vital to choose the best canned kitten food for your fur baby.
The best canned food for your kitten should provide all the essential minerals, vitamins and food classes that your kitten needs to grow and thrive.
The Wellness Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food, comes highly recommended as it is made with only natural ingredients and is packed with protein as well as essential fatty acids.
Make sure to review the ingredients thoroughly and choose the best canned kitten food brands with a positive reputation in the market.
There are many wet kitten food brands, but only a few are reputable. Your kitten will thank you with endless cuddles!
