Dry cat food is a very convenient and cost saving method of feeding your cat over wet cat foods. Dry cat food will not spoil if it is left out during the day, as a wet cat food will. Most cats eat a smaller amount of dry cat food than wet, so a bag of dry cat food often lasts much longer compared to a case of wet food. Some pet parents choose to feed their cats a mix of wet and dry foods.Â
We reviewed dozens of dry cat foods to identify the best of the best, based on factors such as Amazon ratings, flavor varieties, options for seniors and other needs, ingredients, and other buying considerations. Â
Our top pick for the best dry cat food is Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food. This is a premium brand of natural cat food with real chicken and other healthy ingredients in it. The formula was created by cat nutritionists for a great combination of flavor and health, all in one product and it doesn’t include any fillers.
In This Article
The 5 Top-Rated Dry Cat Foods
| Editor's Picks | Brand | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Best Overall | Rachael Ray Nutrish Indoor Dry Cat Food | 4.6 |
| Runner Up | Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free | 4.7 |
| Best Budget Buy | Kit and Kaboodle Adult Dry Cat Food | 4.7 |
| Best Dry Kitten Food | Hill's Science Diet Dry Kitten Food | 4.8 |
| Best Senior Dry Cat Food | Iam's Proactive Health Senior Adult Dry Cat Food | 4.7 |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change
Our Top Pick: Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food
This dry cat food is made from real United States farm-raised chicken as the first ingredient, meaning that it has more real chicken in the food than any other ingredient. Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food contains no ground corn, soy, wheat or fillers. There are no poultry by-product meals or artificial colors or preservatives in this food.
The kibble is small in size and created to be easy for your cat to chew no matter their age. It has the optimal satisfaction for your cat with a lot of crisp and crunch, which in turn also keeps your cat’s teeth clean. This cat food is all natural with added minerals, vitamins and taurine for health benefits for your cat. This dry cat food will delight your four-legged friend as it uses all natural ingredients that humans love and it is specially formulated for your culinary cat’s demanding palate. This is the ultimate in dry cat food where complete nutrition meets the most natural flavors.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Dry Cat Food Key Features:
- No ground corn, soy, wheat, or fillers
- All natural cat food
- Added vitamins and minerals
Our Runner Up Pick: Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Cat Food, Chicken
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Cat Foods has many of the same features as our top pick, although it is more expensive. The Blue Buffalo line of dry cat foods always include deboned chicken as the first ingredient. It also has protein sources of chicken meal and fish meal. It contains antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, cranberries, and blueberries and includes healthy complex carbohydrates of peas, sweet potatoes and potatoes.
This option never includes any fillers, such as poultry by-products meals, corn, soy or wheat or artificial preservatives and artificial flavors. Blue Buffalo pet foods all contain their exclusive LifeSource Bits in a precise blend of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants for a completely balanced diet.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free, Natural Adult Dry Cat Food, Chicken Key Features:
- Deboned chicken as first ingredient
- Additional protein from chicken meal and fish meal
- Antioxidant rich fruits
- No fillers, preservative or artificial flavors
Best Budget Pick: Purina Kit & Kaboodle Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food
This cat food has all your cat’s favorite flavors of chicken, salmon, turkey and garden greens. It’s specially formulated for adult indoor cats with extra fiber that they may need for their digestive system as they age. It also supports their immune system and promotes a healthy weight.
Even though this cat food is priced lower than others, Purina Kit & Kaboodle Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food is still 100 percent balanced and complete nutrition for adult cats. It’s a mixture of great flavors for your cat at a great price point.
Purina Kit & Kaboodle Indoor Adult Dry Cat Food Key Features:
- Chicken, salmon, turkey and garden greens
- For adult indoor cats
- Extra fiber
- Supports the immune system
- Supports a healthy weight
- 100 percent balanced and complete nutrition
- Great flavors at a great price point
Best Dry Kitten Food: Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food
ingredients including real chicken, lamb or salmon protein.
This cat food is specially formulated for indoor kittens with the antioxidants vitamins C and E to support your kitten’s healthy immune system, plus DHA from fish oil to support healthy brain and eye development.Â
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food contains no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. The formula has precise nutrition requirements to support your young feline friend’s overall health and well-being. It is nutritionally sound with vitamins, nutrients, minerals, amino acids and natural fiber to promote healthy digestion, and it’s made in the U.S.
Hills Science Diet Dry Kitten Food Key Features:
- Special formula for indoor kittens
- Fiber for digestive health
- No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
- Nutritionally sound formula with vitamins, nutrients, minerals, and amino acids
Best Senior Dry Cat Food: Iam’s Proactive Health Senior Adult Dry Cat Food
This cat food is packed with chicken flavor, as chicken is the number one ingredient. The formulas provides energy and supports muscle strength for your senior cat. The addition of Vitamin E helps to restore immune responses of older cats back to those of a healthy adult cat.
The kibble in Iam’s Proactive Health Senior Adult Dry Cat Food packs a lot of crunch to keep your senior cat’s teeth clean by reducing plaque buildup. It supports strong bones and healthy joins with the essential nutrients including potassium and calcium. The addition of L-Carnitine helps your senior cat maintain a healthy weight.
Iam’s Proactive Health Senior Adult Dry Cat Food Key Features:
- Chicken as number one ingredient
- Provides energy and strong muscles for senior cats
- Crunchy to clean senior cat’s teeth
- Supports strong bones and healthy joints
Who Should Buy Dry Cat Food
Anyone who has a cat can benefit from feeding them a quality dry cat food. Dry cat food is crunchy and it helps to scrub your kitty’s teeth to keep them clean as he eats. This will help with his all around health and keep his pearly whites in good shape. Dry cat food is economical and it doesn’t require refrigeration like wet food does, plus it’s easier (and less messy) to dispense compared to wet food.Â
Dry cat food is available in many formulations to fit your needs. It’s most economical to buy a larger bag of dry cat food and store it in an airtight container to preserve freshness. Dry cat food doesn’t spoil when it is left out during the day as wet food or moist food can. Make certain that your feline friend has plenty of water to go with his dry cat food.
Looking for tasty cat treats your favorite feline will love? Check out our review of the best cat treats.Â
Important Features to Consider
A dry cat food should have a few important features. Here’s what to consider when selecting a dry cat food:
- Real meat as the first ingredient. Real meat is important to feed to your cat at any age. It provides the protein they need in a flavor they will love without using a lot of fillers that don’t help your cat’s health. Fillers basically just add volume to dry cat food and in doing so, it diminishes the good ingredients.
- Complete balanced nutrition. Look for this type of statement on the dry cat food bag. It should contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals to be a completely balanced formula.
- The right food for the right life stage. You should always buy the right cat food for your cat according to his age. Kittens need kitten food which has much smaller kibble for their tiny mouths to chew. Adult cat food is formulated for adults and it contains the vitamins and nutrients they need as an adult. Senior cat food includes the correct balance of nutrition for an aging cat in an easy to digest food with nutrients for good immune health and eye sight and most include items to help a senior cat maintain their weight.
- No artificial colors or preservatives. Many cats are sensitive to artificial colors and preservatives and this can make your four legged friend sick. It’s best to stick to all natural ingredients in a dry cat food at all stages of your cat’s life.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food should I feed my cat?
The best way to determine how much food you should feed your cat is by his weight. The back of the package will tell you how much food to feed your feline friend based on your cat’s weight and the specific formulation. You can step on a household scale, weigh yourself and record the number. Then, hold your cat and weight yourself and your cat by stepping on the scale. Subtract the first weight from the second one to get your cat’s present weight. Some cats will simply stop eating when they are full, although others may overeat, which can lead to them being at an unhealthy weight.
Can I mix wet and dry cat food?
You can mix wet and dry cat food to give your cat an extra special treat that is abundant with flavor. If you are changing your furry friend to dry cat food from wet cat food, you will likely need to add some wet to the dry to transition him. Some cats prefer the wet food, but are happy to eat dry food mixed with wet food also.
How do you feed two cats different foods?
Many cat owners have more than one cat in their household. If they have multiple cats, they may require different cat foods due to their age groups. In order to make certain that each cat is eating their own food and not the food of the other cat, you simply feed them in separate areas that have a door between them. A laundry room with the door closed and a kitchen next to it works well, as you normally have hard floors in this area so cleanup of spilled food or water is a breeze.
Is dry cat food bad for cats?
Dry cat food is not bad for cats, although you do need to ensure that your cat drinks enough water if she’s on a strictly dry food diet. Dry food encourages the crunching motion to clean your feline friend’s teeth. It contains all the nutrients your cat needs to be playful, healthy and happy and it comes in an amazing number of different formulas including meats, fish, seafood, vegetables, and berries to satisfy any cat’s cravings.
Other Dry Cat Foods We Reviewed
We looked at 20 other dry cat foods. Even though they didn’t make our 5 best dry cat foods list, they’re the best of the rest and each is still a great option for your cat. The information you’ll need to compare each one is included with the listing.
Grain Free Dry Cat Foods
CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food
CRAVE cat foods use real chicken as the number one ingredient for a great choice of lean protein. This dry cat food is inspired by cats in the wild but it is formulated with your cat in mind. It packs 40% protein in a completely balanced diet for developing muscle, supporting energy, and supporting a healthy immune system in your cat.
Key Features:
- 40% proteinÂ
- Grain free
- Added minerals and vitamins
- Completely balanced diet
- Supports muscles, energy, and immune system
Cost: $31
Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural, Adult Dry Cat Food
This is an all-natural, grain free cat food with no fillers in a delicious ocean whitefish and egg flavor that your cat will love. It’s a completely balanced diet of dry cat food for your feline friend.
Key Features:
- Grain free cat food
- No fillers of any kind
- Great ocean whitefish and egg flavor
Cost: $30
Taste of The Wild Grain Free Premium High Protein Dry Cat Food
This is a grain free dry cat food with the tantalizing tastes of roasted venison and smoked salmon for high quality protein to promote lean and strong muscles. It has added vitamins and minerals as well as fruits and vegetables and a fatty acid blend for a beautiful coat and skin.
Key Features:
- Grain free dry cat food
- Roasted venison and smoked salmon flavor
- Vitamins and minerals added
- Fruits and vegetables
- High quality protein added
Cost: $32
Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Recipe Dry for Cats
Whole Earth Farms offers a delicious natural cat food in a delicious salmon flavor that your cat will love. It has high quality protein along with fresh fruits and vegetables to delight his taste buds. It contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors.
Key Features:
- All natural ingredients
- Grain free with no fillers
- Complete balanced diet
- Salmon flavor
- High protein with vegetables and fruits
Cost: $25
Indoor Formula Dry Cat Foods
9 Lives Dry Cat Food Indoor Complete
Â
This dry cat food is formulated for indoor cats for complete and balanced nutrition. It’s an adult maintenance formula with lean protein and B vitamins to help adult cats maintain a healthy weight and a healthy metabolism. It has a delicious flavor combination of real chicken and salmon and an addition of garden greens.
Key Features:
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Lean protein
- Vitamin B
- Healthy weight and metabolism formula
- Real chicken and salmon
Cost: $9
Purina Cat Chow Indoor formula promotes a healthy weight and it helps control hairballs for your cat. It’s packed with garden greens and includes all 25 essential vitamins and minerals for great health. It is a 100% complete and balanced diet for your indoor cat.
Key Features:
- Indoor formula
- Promotes healthy weight
- Controls hairballs
- Includes garden greens
- 25 vitamins and minerals
- Complete and balanced diet
Cost: $14
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Indoor, Chicken Recipe
Hill’s Science Diet has balanced nutrition, especially for indoor cats. Real chicken is the number one ingredient with high quality protein to help maintain lean muscle. It contains no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.
Key Features:
- Complete balanced nutrition
- Chicken as the #1 ingredient
- High quality protein
- No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
Cost: $15
IAMS Proactive Health Indoor Weight and Hairball Care Dry Cat Food
IAMS version of dry cat food for indoor cats provides a healthy weight and also hairball care for your adult cat. It has L-Carnitine to support the metabolism of cats, which also helps to burn fat and keep your kitty in tip top shape. It includes a fiber blend with prebiotics and beet pulp for easy digestion and supports heart health with seven essential nutrients.
Key Features:
- Healthy weight formula
- Hairball control formula
- Metabolism support
- Fiber blend with prebiotics and beet pulp
- Heart healthy blend
Cost: $30
Meow Mix Dry Cat Food Indoor Health
Meow Mix Indoor Health dry cat food is complete and balanced nutrition for your indoor adult kitty. It has all the essential vitamins and minerals for great health and it helps your adult cat maintain a healthy weight. It is a mix of flavorful ingredients such as chicken, turkey, salmon, and ocean fish for great variety all in one package.
Key Features:
- Complete and balanced nutrition
- Indoor cat formula
- Essential vitamins and minerals
- Healthy weight formula
- Chicken, turkey, salmon, and ocean fish flavor
Cost: $11
NUTRO Indoor Cat Adult Dry Food
NUTRO Indoor Dry Cat Food is formulated for adult cats. It has a wholesome list of essential ingredients including farm-raised chicken and brown rice. The chicken provides protein for strong muscles along with a great taste that your cat will love. It also is a healthy weight formula and includes fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat.
Key Features:
- Indoor cat food
- Adult cat food
- Farm raised chicken and brown rice
- Protein for strong muscles
- Healthy weight formula
- Fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat
Cost: $11
Purina ONE Indoor Advantage has 42 grams of protein in every cup of food. Its high protein level supports strong muscles, and it has all the added vitamins, essential nutrients, and minerals that you cat needs. The number one ingredient is turkey for lean protein that your cat craves. This formula also reduces hairballs and promotes a healthy weight for your cat.
Key Features:
- High protein formulas
- Added vitamins, nutrients and minerals
- Turkey as the #1 ingredient
- Reduces hairballs
- Promotes healthy coat and skin
Cost: $30
Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health Natural Dry Cat Food Turkey with Chickpeas & Salmon
Rachael Ray Nutrish Inner Health cat food includes a superfood blend to keep your cat healthy. This formula includes probiotics to help with digestion and prebiotics, too. It includes berries as antioxidants for a healthy immune system. It includes no fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and is all natural.
Key Features:
- No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- Prebiotics and probiotics to support healthy digestion
- Antioxidants for healthy immune system
- Superfood blend
Cost: $11
Adult Dry Cat Foods
IAMS Proactive Health Original Adult Dry Cat Food
Iams Proactive health adult dry cat food includes chicken as the main ingredient for healthy bodies and healthy energy. It includes a unique blend with beet pulp and prebiotics to aid in nutrient absorption. It provides nutrition for the life of your cat at any age to promote life long health benefits.
Key Features:
- Chicken as the #1 ingredient
- Healthy bones and bodies formula
- Beet pulp and prebiotics to help absorb nutrients
- Nutrition for life long health
Cost: $30
Meow Mix Dry Cat Food Original
Meow Mix dry cat food in the original formula is a 100% balanced and complete diet for your cat. It includes delicious flavors of turkey, chicken, salmon, and ocean fish for a variety of flavors in every bite. It includes all the essential vitamins and nutrients that your cat needs with a high quality of protein to support strong and healthy muscles in your cat.
Key Features:
- Turkey, chicken, salmon, and ocean fish flavors
- 100% balanced and complete
- Includes vitamins and nutrients
- High quality protein for strong, healthy muscles
Cost: $8
Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food
Meow Mix Tender Centers has a crunchy exterior and a soft interior in each and every bite. The dual-textured kibble is made of salmon and white meat flavors and includes essential nutrients to support the overall health of your cat. It is 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats.Â
Key Features:
- Dual-texture kibble
- Salmon and white meat flavors
- Includes essential nutrition for health
- 100% complete and balanced diet
Cost: $12
Purina Fancy Feast Adult Dry Cat Food
Purina Fancy Feast is packed with savory chicken and turkey flavors cats love. It includes all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for proper feline health in a 100% complete and balanced food. This food allows you to satisfy your cat with a gourmet meal that is good for him.
Key Features:
- 100% balanced and complete
- Savory chicken and turkey flavors
- Includes essential vitamins and nutrients
Cost: $20
Purina Friskies Surfin’ and Turfin’ Favorites Adult Dry Cat Food
Your cat will adore the wonderful flavor combination in this food. It includes chicken, ocean whitefish, filet mignon, liver, and salmon for a great mix bursting with flavors from your restaurant favorites. She will come running when she smells the lovely aroma every time you open the bag. This recipe is great for a complete and balanced diet for all life stages.
Key Features:
- Flavors of chicken, ocean whitefish, filet mignon, liver and salmon
- Complete and balanced diet
- Shapes and aromas that appeal to cats
Cost: $20
Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend Adult Dry Cat Food
Purina ONE Tender Selects is a great blend of dry cat food for adult cats that has both crunchy bites and tender morsels that your cat craves. Real chicken is the number one ingredient to provide protein for healthy muscles. It includes fatty acids for a luxurious skin and coat, plus antioxidants to support her immune system.
Key Features:
- Dual blend with crunchy bites and tender morsels
- Real chicken is the number one ingredient
- High protein for healthy muscles
- Fatty acids for skin and coat health
- Antioxidants for immune health
- Complete and balanced formula
Cost: $21
Purina One True Instinct High Protein Adult Dry Cat Food
Purina ONE True Instinct contains flavors that cats love as the number one ingredient is real chicken. It has a combination of both tender morsels and crunchy bites to add texture variety in every bite. It is grain free without wheat or corn and free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors in an all natural formula.
Key Features:
- Real chicken is the number one ingredient
- Grain free without corn or wheat
- No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
- Tender morsels and crunchy bites
Cost: $14
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Dry Cat Food With Probiotics
The number one ingredient is protein packed chicken for strong muscular development of cats. Purina Pro Plan’s Savor dry cat food includes rice and live probiotics to help support digestive health. It also includes vitamin A and fatty acids for beautiful skin and coat nourishment for your feline friend.
Key Features:
- High protein formula of 40%
- Chicken is the number one ingredient
- Includes rice
- Live probiotics for digestive health
- Vitamin A and fatty acids for skin and coat
Cost: $37
