Every fur parent wants the best for their pets—a cozy and clean home, regular exercise, and proper nutrition. But finding the best kitten food for your pet can be challenging. Supporting kitten development is vital to brain function and vision. And kitten food plays a significant role in this process. By about 8 weeks old, kittens are generally weaned off of their mother’s milk. But their nutritional requirements are still a little more complex than adult cats’.

Kittens go through a tremendous growth spurt in the first year. And all of that growing takes a lot of energy. Depending on your vet’s recommendations, most kittens should eat kitten food about 4 times a day.

We collected a list of 10 nutrient-rich kitten foods so you can focus on your new life as a parent of a kitten. By sifting through kitten-specific foods with essential vitamins and minerals, we were able to pick 10 quality products for your kitten.

Hill’s uses veterinary support to manufacturer one of the healthiest kitten foods on the market. The company’s emphasis on pet health means that they prioritize animal well-being over profit. This strategy can be seen in the quality of the ingredients used. The Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat and Kitten food uses natural ingredients to make sure that your cat or kitten receives only the best product. Nutrients like brain-boosting DHA ensures that your kitten will stay sharp as a tack even while growing at the speed of light.

Best used for young or old cats, this product provides a calorically-dense nutritional option for pets who need it. While using this food, you’re likely to see a robust and radiant change in your pets since it contains all the benefits of a balanced diet. Many pet owners reported a decline in litter box use while using Hill’s product because the food contains rich nutrients that are actually being used by your pet’s body. It’s not uncommon to see your cat growing a shiny coat or radiant eyes while using Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food. It seldom causes any digestive issues, unlike competitive products.

The smell of this cat food is a bit strong, but healthy. And the food bag even comes with a velcro top, which makes accessing the food clean and simple. Whether you’re looking to support your kitten’s growth or to make sure your old cat gets the nutrients he or she needs, this product is worth a try. You won’t be disappointed by introducing the Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food into your pet’s life.

Key Features
  • DHA included
  • #1 vet recommended
  • Made with natural ingredients
  • Source of protein
  • Made in the USA
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken, brown rice, wheat gluten, chicken fat, egg product, whole grain oats
  • Package Size: 3.5-15.5 lbs
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Hill's Science Diet
Pros
  • Vet recommended
  • Supports strong bones and teeth
  • Manufacturer uses high-quality ingredients
  • Hill's is a philanthropic company
Cons
  • May upset kitten's stomach

It’s always encouraging to see that chicken is the first ingredient in your cat food because it shows that your product is full of real ingredients. And the Iams Proactive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food is the perfect example! Not only is chicken the main ingredient of this particular product, it’s also packed full of additional health-enducing ingredients like: Vitamin E, Taurine, and Omega-3. Ingredients like these encourage immune health, brain development, and healthy eyes. So, you can be sure that your kitten has all the proper nutrients to have an energetic and healthy lifestyle.

This product also claims to have no fillers, so you don’t have to worry about harmful additives. Although this product is dry kitten food, it’s a great product for your cats because many of the nutrients are comparable to what you’d find in milk. There are no artificial preservatives and the kitten formula is designed to help your kitty grow strong.

Unfortunately, this product is not grain free so it’s possible that your kitten could experience slight adverse reactions like irritated skin. Keep your eyes out for any changes in kitten behavior to make sure that your pet isn’t intolerant to this (or any) brand.

Many users of this product point to weight gain as the main benefit of this food. This is a great quality for kittens since their bodies are often growing faster than they can consume food. The caloric density of this product will make sure that they have everything they need to grow big and strong.

Key Features
  • Comes in 16 lbs bag
  • Dry kitten food
  • Chicken is #1 ingredient
  • Rich in Omega-3
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product, chicken fat
  • Package Size: 16 lbs
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Iams
Pros
  • Quick online delivery
  • Chicken is the #1 ingredient
  • Boosts immunity
  • Includes a rich supply of vitamins
Cons
  • May cause gas

If you’re someone who values high-quality nutritional content for your pets, you should have a look at Instinct’s Original Kitten Grain Free Cat Food. Made with 81% animal products and natural oils and 19% fruits and vegetables, this kitten food is designed to optimize animal health. Made with cage free chicken, you can be sure that your pet will receive only the best and most wholesome ingredients. Instinct really emphasizes raw ingredients as part of their brand, and the Instinct Original Kitten Food is no exception to that rule.

So now that we know about the quality ingredients that this kibble has, let’s talk about what isn’t in this product. In order to support pet health, Instinct chooses not to include harmful additives like competitive brands do. That means that it’s entirely gluten free, there is no potato, corn, wheat, soy, or artificial preservatives. With Instinct, what you see is what you get. And when it comes to pet health, this is a great quality! You don’t have to worry about causing any inflammation or digestive issues by opting for a brand that contains harmful ingredients.

Other pet owners rave about this brand because their kittens seem to love the taste. Plus, it’s been known to make coats shiny and soft. Whether you’re looking for the comfort of knowing that your kitten is receiving only the best ingredients, or you want to make sure they love the taste, this product should do the trick. Instinct pulls out all the stops to make sure your kittens have all of the vital vitamins and nutrients they need to have an active, playful life.

Key Features
  • Includes cage free chicken
  • Includes probiotics
  • Raw coated kibble for kittens
  • Made with 81% real animal ingredients and oils
  • 19% fruits and vegetables
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken, turkey meal, fish meal, chicken fat, peas, chicken meal, white fish meal
  • Package Size: 4.5 lbs
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Instinct
Pros
  • Made with raw foods
  • Natural ingredients
  • Grain free
  • High-protein
Cons
  • Tough on sensitive stomachs

Made with real chicken, Purina’s Kitten Chow Nurturing Formula is a dry cat food that includes essential vitamins like A, E, B-5, and many others. And it is also packed full of minerals like zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, and more. This particular kitten formula is gentle on your pet’s stomach. In fact, your kitten will like this food so much that it might be difficult to introduce adult cat food into their lives when the time is right.

Purina’s Kitten Chow facilitates an active kitten lifestyle, providing the building blocks to muscular and cognitive development. The extra nutrients in this kitten food help your kitten put on healthy weight so they can live an active, happy lifestyle. Some pet owners even use this kitten chow for older cats to make sure they’re as healthy as possible.

But before feeding your kittens, it’s always good to check the bag of kitten food to make sure there aren’t any tares in the bag. Also, store it in an airtight container to make sure you don’t end up feeding your kitten contaminants like mold or dust.

Finding the right food for your pet can take some trial and error. The vast number of options makes choosing the right brand intimidating. And it takes time to figure out how your kitten is responding to each brand. But whether you’re a new kitten parent or you’re still on the hunt for the perfect food for kitten health, the Purina Kitten Chow will do the trick.

Key Features
  • Supports brain development
  • 14lb bag
  • Supports vision development
  • Contains essential nutrients
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal, brewers rice, soy flour, fish meal
  • Package Size: 14.2 pounds
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Purina
Pros
  • Targets kitten development
  • Balanced nutrition
  • Made with real chicken
  • Packed with vitamins and nutrients
Cons
  • Needs to be softened

Purina’s Pro Plan Kitten Canned Wet Cat Food offers a great cat food option for tiny kittens. The wet consistency makes it easier to chew and digest. So, your kitty will be able to absorb all the essential nutrients. Plus, it uses real ingredients like whitefish tuna and chicken to make sure your pet gets the best ingredients possible.

One of the great features of this product is that it contains DHA. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that helps with brain function and development. It’s also a component that contributes to a healthy heart, reduced inflammation, and great vision. So, by introducing this property into your kitten’s food, you’re encouraging good health naturally. Great for both humans and kittens, DHA contains all the properties that contribute to lasting health.

Some people have a hard time with the smell of this product, feeling that it’s overwhelming at best. And it can be suffocating at worst. But the nutritional benefits might be worth the smell.

Purina’s Pro Plan kitten food is especially formulated to assist kittens during their first year of life. The early stage in a pet’s life provides the building blocks for their adult life, so it’s really important to provide a complete diet. Purina’s Pro Plan kitten food includes nutrients that target development and weight gain during the earliest stages of your kitten’s life. The flavor is unbeatable, so you won’t have a hard time getting them to ingest it. And the value to portion size is terrific.

Key Features
  • Wet cat food
  • Includes classic & flaked
  • Made with poultry or fish
  • Contains DHA
  • Twenty-four 3oz cans
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken, whitefish tuna, Meat by-products, liver, rice, wheat gluten
  • Package Size: 4.5 pounds
  • Number of Flavors: 7
  • Brand: Purina Pro Plan
Pros
  • Made with real ingredients
  • Formulated for kittens
  • Contains DHA for brain development
  • Boosts your kitten's immune system
  • Generous portion size
Cons
  • Some cans have a lot of water in them
  • Strong smell

Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free kitten food is a really high-quality product that uses all natural ingredients. Rather than using meat by-products like many brands do, Blue Buffalo only uses real meat (real chicken in this case). If that’s not enough for you, this particular kitten food also includes vegetables like peas, potatoes, and carrots and fruits like blueberries and cranberries so you can be sure that your kitten is getting a diverse array of nutrients.

Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness kitten food is also designed to boost the immune system of kittens, which is incredibly important when they’re still young. It takes time to build up a resistance to all the new bacteria in their world. So, providing vitamins and nutrients in their dietary regimen will help them combat illnesses. Additionally, this product contains DHA & ARA, which will help with brain and eye development. And the protein-packed food will provide the building blocks your kitty needs to develop strong muscles.

In addition to all of the other nutrients, Blue Buffalo includes “Life Source Bits.” These little pieces are cooked at a lower temperature level in order to preserve the nutrients. This is where they pack all the extra vitamins and minerals so you can be confident that your kitten has everything it needs!

Generally speaking, the healthiest cat foods have the least amount of grains. Grains can cause skin reactions for kittens. Since Blue Buffalo is 100% grain free, you won’t have to worry about some of the icky side effects that you might receive from poor quality products.

Key Features
  • Grain free
  • High in protein
  • Made with real chicken
  • Dry cat food
  • Precise blend of vitamins and minerals
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal
  • Package Size: 5 lbs
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Blue Buffalo
Pros
  • 30% protein
  • 100% grain free
  • Contains DHA & ARA
  • Includes Blue Buffalo's Lifesource Bits
  • Uses REAL MEAT over by-products
Cons
  • May cause kitty gas

Natural Balance’s Original Ultra Whole Body Health Dry Kitten Food is formulated with kitten health in mind. Full of antioxidants and nutrients that support digestion, this product is great for young kittens. Intended to support healthy development in your kitten’s bones, teeth, eyes, and heart, you can expect a well-balanced formula when buying this product.

Created by pet nutritionists, the Whole Body Health kitten food includes premium ingredients like chicken, duck, and even salmon! With most brands, you’re lucky if you get one high-quality protein. But Natural Balance includes three! Plus, your kitten will be sure to get a nice mixture of plant-based fibers so his or her digestion will stay on track. This product is also gluten free, which is great!

For cats, the “gluten free train” isn’t just a fad. When you find gluten in your kitten's food, it often is a sign that there might be other inflammatory additives in the food as well. While they don’t always serve as irritants, it’s a good rule of thumb to reduce wheat products when possible. And Natural Balance makes this easy!

Another great product feature is the small kibble size. Sometimes it can be tough to get your kitten to eat dry kibble simply because it’s hard for them to chew. Reducing the size will certainly help. And if you still have trouble, try softening it as well. Natural Balance recognizes that every cat is different and they try to offer products that cater to those differences. The Natural Balance kibble is a great example of that since it targets common kitten needs.

Key Features
  • 38% protein
  • Balances protein with key nutrients
  • Small kibble for small jaws
  • Available in 2- or 6-lb bag
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, pea, pea protein, chicken fat, duckmeal, chicken liver, salmon meal
  • Package Size: 2-6lbs
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Natural Balance
Pros
  • Protein-packed
  • Formulated for kittens
  • Digestive support
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Premium ingredients
Cons
  • Occasionally causes allergic reactions

Blue Buffalo has the reputation for making really high-quality food for your pets, and the Freedom Grain Free Natural Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food is no exception to this rule. Deboned chicken is the first ingredient in this kitten food, so you can be sure that it’s packed with protein and all of the other vitamins that come with it. But it also has ingredients like peas, flaxseed, cranberries, blueberries, carrots, and others. Together, this combination of nutrients is designed to provide your kitten with everything it needs. Bursting with antioxidants, fiber, and protein, this kitten food is certain to please.

But on top of all of these benefits, Blue Buffalo also does a great job of targeting kitty health by incorporating DHA and ARA to maximize brain health and eye development. The extra energy your kitten will have is just a bonus on top of all of these other benefits. Unlike competitive products, Blue Buffalo does not use meat by-products. So, your kitten will receive the best of the best. Plus, this product doesn’t include artificial flavors or preservatives that can be damaging to kitten health. On top of all of the other benefits, this kitten food does not include grain, since grain often causes irritation and inflammation.

Other pet owners love this product because of its scent, flavor, and value. Introducing Blue Buffalo to your kitten’s life will make sure that he or she has all of the essential nutrients to develop brain and muscular health. Because your kitten deserves the best.

Key Features
  • Grain free kitten food
  • Chicken is the main ingredient
  • Contains DHA and ARA
  • Supports digestive and immune health
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Debone chicken, chicken meal, tapioca starch, peas, fish meal, chicken fat
  • Package Size: 1 lb
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Blue Buffalo
Pros
  • Contains many natural ingredients
  • Grain free
  • Packed with vitamins and minerals
  • Contains DHA & ARA
Cons
  • Contains chemical additives

Wellness’s Complete Health Natural kitten food offers a great option for those who are looking for high-quality kitten food. Made with real ingredients like chicken, cranberries, carrots and flaxseed, you can be confident about the nutrients you’re providing for your pet. These ingredients support overall health and well-being. Cranberries maintain and encourage urinary health. Chicken will help give your kitten the protein it needs to get big and strong. Flaxseed supports a health coat of hair and luscious skin. And carrots provide an excellent source of fiber and antioxidants.

Wellness makes sure that all of their products include meat as their first ingredient, unlike many other competitive brands. Doing this ensures that your pet will receive all the essential vitamins and minerals that are essential to living a healthy lifestyle. This particular product has a great supply of fatty acids, protein, vitamins, and minerals. And it’s entirely free of added growth horomones and steroids. All fish ingredients are fresh-caught rather than farmed, which alludes to Wellness’s ethics. You can feel confident about supporting a brand that supports the environment.

Pet owners that use this type of cat food report that their kittens “grow like weeds,” which is a great indicator that you’re choosing the right ingredients to maximize health. A few people mentioned that they’ve received expired cat food, however. So make sure to check everything over before feeding it to your furry friend. Whether you’re looking for a tasty food option for your kitten or a nutritionally condensed food, this one should do the trick.

Key Features
  • Grain free kitten food
  • Wet canned food
  • Contains 24 (3oz) containers
  • All natural ingredients
  • Balanced formula
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken, chicken liver, chicken broth, carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini
  • Package Size: 4.63 lbs
  • Number of Flavors: 1
  • Brand: Wellness Natural Pet Food
Pros
  • All natural
  • Made in the USA
  • Grain free
  • High-quality
Cons
  • Inconsistent texture

During their first year of life, kittens need alot of nutrients to power them through their growth. They are setting up their physical foundation, which means that their body is very focused on muscle development. CRAVE’s Grain Free High Protein Dry Cat Food is packed full of protein to help kittens through this monumental growth spurt. To prioritize kitten health, CRAVE chooses healthy ingredients as the building blocks of your kitten’s life. That means that there are no grains included in this product. There is no wheat, no corn, and no soy protein. Chicken is the #1 ingredient, which accounts for the large amount of protein.

CRAVE’s secret recipe is designed to provide kittens with all of the essential nutrients for growth. Plus, it aids with digestion, and supports the immune system so your kitten can focus on being a cat rather than fending off illness. This product has been known to work for even picky kittens, which makes it particularly alluring. However, some pet owners report that CRAVE does, indeed, make their kittens “crave” more food. While this isn’t, in itself, concerning, it does make one ask: What is in this stuff?

The Crave Grain Free High Protein cat food is particularly loved for its high-quality ingredients, flavor, and scent. Compared to some fishy smelling food, CRAVE does a great job of providing all of the right nutrition without stinking up your whole home. Some recent users reported that there seems to have been a recent change to the ingredients, but kittens love it just the same.

Key Features
  • Includes 1 (4 lbs) bag
  • Real chicken is the #1 ingredient
  • Grain free cat food
  • High in protein
Specifications
  • Main Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, pea, pea protein, split peas, chicken fat
  • Package Size: 4 lbs
  • Number of Flavors: 4
  • Brand: CRAVE
Pros
  • Grain free
  • Chicken is the #1 ingredient
  • Packed with protein
  • No artificial flavors or colors
Cons
  • Occasionally causes upset stomach

During the first year of a kitten's life, he or she goes from drinking milk to chewing on kitten food. But growing healthy skin, hair, and claws requires eating specific nutrients, so it’s really important to know what you’re feeding your kitten. From week 12-16, kittens expend about three times the amount of energy as adult cats. So, you can imagine why kitten nutrition is so highly emphasized. Your choices as a pet parent help determine how your kitten will develop.

The best kitten food is easily digested but calorically and nutritionally dense. You want your kitten to be able to process everything with ease (like he or she would process its mother’s milk). But, at the same time, it’s important to provide the building blocks for growth. During this phase of life, you kitten will lose its baby teeth and his or her adult teeth will start to come in. Their digestive system will become more complex, which ultimately allows them to process hard food. But, none of this growth is possible without the appropriate nutrients.

While nutritional awareness is vital to your kitten’s growth, it’s also really important to pay careful attention to how they’re reacting to the food you give them. Sometimes, certain brands include irritating ingredients for the digestive tract. And being new to the world of complex food, your kitten might have a hard time adjusting to the change.

During the first 7 months of your cat’s life, they’ll put on several pounds. This is healthy and an important part of the growth process. After about a year, your cat’s energy requirements will slow, which allows you to change the cat food to a less dense option. This is why manufacturers make “kitten food” and “adult cat food” options. Compared to adult cat food, kitten food often has higher protein and fat content. Since their digestive systems are amped up and help them to grow strong, they need sufficient protein to facilitate muscular growth.

Cats are carnivorous creatures. But, like humans, they need a balanced diet. So, choosing food that has a variety of vitamins and nutrients is an important part of the process. If you opt for hard food, a useful tip would be to moisten the food with water so it’s easier to consume. Just make sure to read the ingredients on your potential kitten food choices, and you’ll be well on your way to finding the best kitten food for your pet!

Resources— Royal Canin, Vet Street

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