The Best Cat Food in Canada
When it comes to your cat’s health and nutrition, there are countless options (and opinions) out there on what constitutes the best for your furry companion. With this guide, we’ve compiled together the best cat foods you can find in Canada.
We based our choices on several parameters such as health/weight management, wet food, kittens and adult cats, and more – just to cover most bases and keep it varied for people’s (and cats!) needs.
Just scroll down and check which top-rated cat food would be ideal for your little friend. Take the guesswork and stress out of your search with our curated list below.
Our top picks
How to choose cat food
When you’re looking at different cat foods and trying to decide what’s best for your feline friend, be sure to keep these important factors in mind:
- CFIA + AAFCO approved requirements – The AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) and the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) both need to give their approval for pet foods of all kinds. If a brand isn’t approved by either or both of these associations – Don’t trust it for your pets. The CFIA regulates pet food imports from any country, into Canada. The products that are approved are regulated under the Health of Animals Regulations and are deemed safe for consumption.
- Nutritional needs – All cat foods should contain a source of high protein and fats. Cats are all obligate carnivores (meaning they need meat to survive, and their digestive systems don’t handle plant-based foods) and as such need key nutrients such as taurine and arachidonic acid – which are only found in animal sources, not plants. When you’re looking for pet foods, be sure that they have high protein counts and include nutrients such as taurine, etc. as stated.
- Carbohydrate fillers + cheap foods, etc. – Not all quality pet food needs to break the bank, however you might end up spending way more money on cheap ‘filler’ food, as your cat(s) will eat until they get the nutrients they require – meaning they might eat twice the amount of food just to get what they need.
Grains are used in many pet foods as a carbohydrate filler and that’s perfectly fine, as cats can digest and metabolize these carbs to use as an energy source – however, that being said, it is advised to have a higher protein and less carb diet for felines. That said, owners should be careful that if their food says it’s a grain-free diet, they may have switched the grain carbs to something like potatoes. Always read the ingredients list.
- By-products aren’t bad – There has been marketing and slander over the years that all by-products are bad. If they’re in a cheaper brand of food where it’s basically useless? Yes. High quality pet foods will include by-products that are incredibly beneficial for your four-legged friend such as highly digestible and nutritious organs – livers and lungs, etc. They can be highly nutritious – just be sure you’re getting it from a reputable brand.
- Wet food vs dry food – Unless your cat requires a special diet, deemed appropriate by your veterinarian, it’s a good idea to feed your cats a mix of dry and wet food. Perhaps a scoop of dry food in the mornings, wet food in the evening, and then dry before you go to bed so they can eat at night before/after they have the usual 2am zoomies.
Cats digestion benefits from wet food, and it’s a good idea to feed your cats on a daily schedule instead of free feeding for this reason, and also to keep easier tabs on if they’re eating enough or seem like they might need a trip to the vet.
Best protein-rich cat food
Catit Divine Shreds
A Canadian-made brand, Catit is known for being innovative and having well-made pet foods.
The wet food is well received by most cats, even the picky eaters. No grains, additives, or preservatives, and no by-products. The wet food cat topper is perfect to add onto dry food and it can be used as its own wet food as well.
Rich in protein and tuna or chicken is the top, main ingredient. All life stages of cat can eat these, including kittens or seniors, even if they have digestive issues, it seems that they work well for most cats.
Pros
- Affordable.
- Great for picky cats.
- Easily digestible.
- Canadian-made.
Cons
- Hard to find sometimes / can be sold out.
Best wet cat food
Whiskas Perfect Portions
The Whiskas perfect portions wet cat food takes the guesswork out of how much food you should be feeding your cats and keeping leftover food in the fridge that may spoil or your cats may not eat all of it.
Depending on how much dry food and other factors during the day, be sure that you’re not feeding your cats too much. Most like the flavours, and there are pate and gravy options available in these portion sizes, which is a bonus for owners that have picky eaters.
The variety packs and larger packs are affordable and will last, especially if you do split your cats wet food portions in two if they get other food during the day. Made with real poultry, meat, or seafood (depending on the flavour).
Pros
- Takes the guesswork out of how much to feed your cats.
- Has pate or gravy options.
- Affordable.
Cons
- Some cats don’t like the flavours.
- May not be the healthiest for all cats.
Best dry cat food
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Food
With a plethora of dry foods available on the market, it can be hard to decide what’s best for your cat. Blue Buffalo is a great brand for pet foods, and their dry Wilderness blend is a good choice to try.
It can be pricier, but it’s about in the same range as other cat foods in the same category of choice ingredients. This is for adult cats, and the blend of minerals and antioxidants have been chosen especially for cats and mimics what they would eat in the wild, allowing them to feel full for longer and get all of the healthy nutrients they need.
Omega 3 & 6 fats are included to help keep their skin and coat healthy and shiny, while staying healthy. Wheat intolerant cats will benefit from this food as it contains sweet potato and peas to help support healthy carbohydrates.
Pros
- Grain-free and packed with essential minerals and protein.
Cons
- Pricier.
Best natural cat food
Beyond Simply Natural Dry Cat Food
Some pet owners are skeptical of Purina being such a readily available brand that’s affordable, but their Beyond Simply Natural line is well liked by most. The ingredients are all natural as the name suggests, and it has essential minerals added such as Taurine for a complete and balanced diet.
Made without corn, wheat, or soy – it should diminish allergies in some cats that experience reactions to other cat foods that include a lot of wheat products. No artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives make this a safe and reassuring choice for any cat owner. Each ingredient can be tracked to their trusted sources as well.
Besides Salmon, there is a Chicken flavour as well. Some cats may not like it but from reviews a lot of cats love both flavours and don’t seem to experience any digestive issues once they were switched to this brand from other cat foods.
Pros
- Affordable and available in most stores.
- Natural ingredients + essential minerals.
Cons
- Some cats may not like the flavours.
Best cat food for indoor cats
Hills Indoor Cat Food
Hills indoor cat food is specially formulated for indoor only cats and contains enough protein and fiber to keep their digestive system going and keep them full throughout the day so that they maintain a proper weight while living inside, even if they don’t get a lot of exercise or are on the larger side.
Quality proteins and natural fiber allows your cat to maintain energy with their indoor lifestyle and supports staying full throughout the day. Ocean fish entrée flavour should satisfy most cats as far as taste goes, and it’s made with all natural ingredients.
The large 15lbs bag will last for months, and while the price is high – Hills is vet recommended and it will go a long way in keeping your feline friend happy, healthy, and having their fur shiny and soft.
Pros
- Formulated especially for indoor cats.
- Contains fiber and proteins for healthy weight and digestion.
Cons
- Pricey.
Best cat food for kittens
Orijen Cat & Kitten Dry Food
Orijen cat food is known for being a great brand, full of fresh ingredients that are chosen specifically for how cats would hunt/eat in the wild. No grains and no rendered poultry meal. All of their food is ‘whole prey’ which means that it includes the organs and bones, to get all of the nutrients your cat needs.
Cats and kittens can eat this food without the need to feed your felines separate food if you have multiple cats, and you can continue feeding them this one when they reach over a year of age as well, without having to switch. Cats have sensitive stomachs and changing their food can be an adjustment.
The Orijen pet food is pricier than other cat foods, but the quality is well worth the investment. Large bags last for months, depending on how many cats you have – a bag can last well into six months. Some cats may not enjoy the taste of this food, or if they’re picky, but most seem to do just fine.
Pros
- No grains, made without rendered poultry meals.
- Lasts a long time.
Cons
- Price can be higher than other cat foods.
- Some cats may not like the taste.
Best cat food for sensitive stomach
Royal Canin Digestive
Cats have sensitive digestion systems, but some cats more so than others. While one can eat anything you throw at them with no issue, some can have awful stomach issues from a small amount of new food.
Royal Canin’s Sensitive Digest food will help most that are struggling with digestive issues, or just simply have a touchy stomach with other foods. There is a dry food available as well that tackles the same problems with ease.
Without a bias – the writer of this article has one cat with very sensitive stomach troubles, and this food helped within the same week of switching to the Royal Canin Digest. The cans and dry food can be pricier, but the quality is top grade and will last for a long time, especially if you can afford to grab the larger portions at the time of purchase.
Pros
- Perfect for cats with sensitive digestion systems.
Cons
- Some cats may not like the taste.
Hills Science Diet Weight Management
Hills Science Diet Weight Management
If your feline friend is in need of a healthy dry cat food that can help lose and maintain weight to a more manageable degree – Hills Science Diet dry cat food just might be the ticket.
Over 70% of cats that switched or use Hills weight management food have lost weight within 10 weeks, all while being provided the adequate amount of protein and nutrients to maintain their new weight without gaining it back.
With a vegetable and chicken medley, most cats should enjoy the taste without getting bored. There is a feeding measurement guide on the bag as well so that you don’t have to guess how much to feed your cats. The large bag sizes can be pricier, but they do last for months without needing to order or go out and purchase more.
Pros
- Amazing weight support.
- Natural ingredients.
Cons
- Can be pricier.
Our methodology
For this guide, we researched and chose the best cat foods that were top-rated from Amazon users, as well as the best overall based on research by other reputable sources such as vets and pet-based websites with high credentials. Personal use and experiences were a factor as well, and not used as a bias, just as information and review. Our main goal for this article was recommending only cat food brands we would give to our cats.
Common questions about cat food
How much dry food do you feed a cat?
For most adult cats, ¼ cup of dry food once in the morning and once in the evening, should be sufficient to keep them a healthy weight and still have all the nutrients they need. This can be higher or lower as well depending on how active your cat is, and other factors such as health issues or other factors that your vet has stated.
How much wet food do you feed a cat?
A lot of wet foods come in three-to-six-ounce cans, and it is recommended to feed your cats one can a day for every three to three and a half pounds of body weight. Brands do vary and depending on how much dry food your cat is getting, and how active they are – your numbers can vary.
Also be sure that your cat eats it within 30mins, as wet food will spoil when left out.
How to make your own cat food?
You can make homemade cat food, but it is advised to do so after proper research and with consulting your vet/pet nutritionist. There are pre-made raw diets available as well in quality pet stores. It can be either more or less expensive, depending on how you go about it. Also be aware that while raw food diets can be better for your cats, some may not like it, or it might not work with their digestive systems.
If you’re already feeding your cats dry and wet commercial food, be sure to switch slowly as cats have a sensitive digestive system and it could cause upset or problems. There are also very real factors such as zoonotic (animal to human) disease transmission, food safety, and contagion issues with feeding raw.
Wet cat food or dry: What’s the difference?
Wet food is recommended so that cats can get more water and moisture to help their digestive systems out, and dry food is a great way to get all of their nutrients in a compact and easy to eat formula.
How long can wet cat food sit out?
Wet foods shouldn’t sit out for any longer than half an hour / 30 minutes before they start to spoil and can harm to your cat.
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Updated date
January 10th, 2024
About the author
Nikki Lyka
Nikki Lyka is a reviewer and writer at Rank-It.ca that’s written about a variety of subjects from the best fantasy novels to travel guides and blogs. When she isn’t researching and typing up a storm, she’s generally found winding down with tea, video games, practicing aerial hoop, photography, and reading good horror novels.
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