The Best Kitten Food (2024 Guide)

Kittens need special care and attention to develop proper social and physical skills. While behavioral training is important, so is feeding them the right food. A healthy diet will help mature a kitten’s body as well as its brain. Many cat foods that are specially formulated for kittens contain ingredients that are higher in fat and calories to meet your kitten’s nutritional needs. 

We rounded up our picks for the best kitten food to help you make the right choice for your kitty. The options below include a mixture of wet food and kibble so you can determine which type better suits your kitten’s diet.

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10 Best Kitten Foods

• For Flavor: Fancy Feast Purina Kitten Canned Wet Cat Food
• For Growth: Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food
• For Best Texture: Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse
• For High Protein: Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
• For Indoor Cats: Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food
• For a Flavor Mix: Meow Mix Kitten Li’l Nibbles Dry Cat Food
• For Development: Blue Buffalo Healthy Growth Kitten Cat Food
• For Portion Control: Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Chicken Recipe
• For High-Quality Ingredients: Wellness CORE Grain-Free Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food
• For Diets: Hill’s Science Diet Wet Cat Food

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For Flavor

Fancy Feast Purina Kitten Canned Wet Cat Food

• Flavors: chicken, ocean whitefish, salmon, turkey, natural chicken, natural salmon, chicken and salmon, poultry and seafood, turkey and whitefish
• Type: wet
• Size: 12-pack of 3-ounce cans, 24-pack of 3-ounce cans

This pack of 24 cans of yummy chicken-flavored food is a great option for any kitten. It’s made with real milk, ensuring your cat will get the calcium it needs, and uses poultry as the number-one ingredient. 

Furthermore, this kitten food features essential vitamins and minerals that help promote growth and provide a balanced diet for your pet. It’s also available in several other flavor choices if your cat is a picky eater. 

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“My 3-month-old kitten loves this very much. Finishes the plate very quickly and cleans the plate with his tongue lol.” Mohd via Amazon

“Did the trick. Found a start kitten and fed him this canned food along with some dry food for 6 months. We have one very large healthy cat now. Vet says the canned food did wonders. Highly recommend” – H Moses via Amazon

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For Growth

Iams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food

• Flavors: chicken
• Type: dry
• Sizes Available: 3.5-pound bag, 7-pound bag, 16-pound bag

This dry kitten food is formulated to help kittens grow and establish good digestive health. Chicken is the top ingredient. It also has omega-3 DHA, which aids brain development, plus other helpful nutrients, such as vitamin E.

This food is available in a few different sizes with bags as large as 16 pounds, making it an excellent choice for those buying food for multiple kittens at once. It also has small, bite-sized pieces that make it easy for kittens to eat. 

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“This helped my kitten gain weight. Keeps her healthy and she loves it!—Kiwi via Amazon

“I took in a young stray, old enough to be on adult food but she is quite skinny. I bought her this to help her put on some weight. She loves it and she is definitely acting more healthy and energetic!—Jeremy via Amazon

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For Best Texture

Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse

• Flavors: chicken
• Type: wet
• Sizes: 24-pack of 3-ounce cans, 24-pack of 5.1-ounce cans

This wet kitten food has a fluffy, mousse-like texture that makes it easy for kittens to eat and helps them transition from milk to solid food as they grow. It’s also an effective choice for cats that are pregnant or nursing.

Furthermore, this food has DHA that helps kittens’ brains develop and antioxidants that strengthen their immune systems. This cat food also comes in multiple can and pack sizes for cat owners who have multiple pets or want to stock up.

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“We recently found some kittens in our back yard and got this products as a starter food as they were so tiny. After a week, the kittens are big and fluffy. Its soo good that they kept coming back for more, its a bit pricey but worth it. I’ve also tried this with my hedgehog as he wasn’t eating much of his kibble and has been losing a bit of weight, he also loves this and has been eating a half can each night for 2mths straight. Best for kittens and hedgies!—Moya via Amazon

“We bought this for the new kitten and mama that we rescued, and discovered that ALL the cats love this. Texture is what you would expect and it is pricey, but they eat it all and love the flavor.”—Laura via Amazon

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For High Protein

Purina ONE Healthy Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food

• Flavors: chicken, chicken and salmon
• Type: dry
• Sizes: 3.5-pound bag, 7-pound bag, 16-pound bag

This kitten food is high in animal protein, which helps support cats’ growing muscles. In addition to using real chicken as its main ingredient, this dry food is formulated with DHA and four antioxidants that promote brain development and a robust immune system. 

This food also uses calcium to support teeth growth and features vitamins E and A. It is available in multiple bag sizes, with the largest at 16 pounds.

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“My two kittens love this food! They have been eating it ever since they could eat and they are very healthy kittens. 10/10 recommend.”—Chloe via Amazon

“Purchased for a litter of kittens that a stray cat had and I took in. They took to it immediately. Kinda pricey but I’m also feeding a litter of 6 so it adds up. Still worth it when you don’t want to run out to stores and they love it.—Amy via Amazon

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For Indoor Cats

Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Kitten Dry Cat Food

• Flavors: chicken
• Type: dry
• Sizes: 3.5-pound bag, 7-pound bag

This kitten food is specially formulated for indoor cats, featuring high protein levels to establish muscle mass. It also contains natural prebiotic fiber that reduces hairballs and makes for an easier litter box cleanup.

Natural DHA from fish oil helps support brain and eye development, which is great for cats that are up to a year old or for adult cats that are nursing or pregnant. This food does not have any artificial flavors or preservatives in its ingredient list, so you can feel good about feeding it to your developing kitten.

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“We had to make the switch from our previous brand. I was worried my picky cat wasn’t going to eat as he has turned his nose up at other brands. He immediately ate this food.”—riki via Amazon

“Tried to feed my kitten regular cat food that I already had but found it was too hard for his little teeth. Ordered this and she dove right in. It’s a little expensive but when you purchase high quality you get what you pay for.” —KDavis via Amazon

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For a Flavor Mix

Meow Mix Kitten Li’l Nibbles Dry Cat Food

• Flavors: chicken, ocean fish, salmon, turkey
• Type: dry
• Size: 3.15-pound bag

This kitten food is also made with ingredients such as fatty acids and DHA plus vitamins and minerals that your cat needs to grow its muscles and mind.

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“My cats could not thank you enough. I tried other brands they barely ate. But they love this brand. We tried to do them, they kept going to this brand only no matter where you placed the other brands in bowls.” —Sarah via Amazon

“My cats love this (what DO these mfc put in inexpensive cat food that addicts almost all felines?) … I use as an inexpensive sub for cat treats that come in small packets. My girls especially like these small kitten-size niblets, though they will also come running for the regular size kibble. But one had to have her teeth removed due to stomatitis, and these are the only hard treat that she eagerly gobbles. This was my first time ordering here, and the bag was obviously fresh and the niblets appealing as always to my 3 girls.—KadyOne via Amazon

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For Development

Blue Buffalo Healthy Growth Kitten Cat Food

• Flavors: chicken, chicken and brown rice
• Type: dry
• Sizes: 3-pound bag; 5-pound bag; 7-pound bag

This food uses deboned chicken for high-quality protein and flavor and features DHA, ARA, and choline for brain and eye growth. It is also free of artificial flavors and preservatives. 

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“I got this for our kitten who when we got her she was only 12 ounces . Our adult cat (3 yrs) also loved it started wanting to eat only the kittens food Lol . Anyway I recommend Blue and think outs a great brand . Obviously my kitten likes it and it has made her coat grow nice and she is getting bigger and stronger . —Linda via Amazon

“I adopted both of my kittens and they were sent with another food. Once I switched to Blue Buffalo their upset stomachs went away and their was a lot fewer messes to clean up. They love the taste and run to feeder when it dispenses.—Majorkl via Amazon

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For Portion Control

Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Chicken Recipe

• Flavors: chicken
• Type: wet
• Size: 24-pack of 2.6-ounce twin trays

Besides the convenient packaging, this food offers good nutritional value. It uses a grain-free chicken recipe that your kittens are sure to love, it contains DHA and other healthy nutrients, and it provides hydration for your kitten.

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“My kitten love this kitty food, perfect potion, easy the dispose no can opener Yay!! easy to travel with and don’t smell —Monie-Q via Amazon

“These packets of food are hard to open. Especially for a senior citizen. I use a knife to open edges and will confess they evoke some “words”. With that said, my 3 kittens will not eat anything but Ian’s. The gobble it down and is just the right portions for them.—Lori via Amazon

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For High-Quality Ingredients

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food

• Flavors: turkey
• Type: dry
• Sizes: 2-pound bag, 5-pound bag

In addition, this food uses salmon oil to provide DHA omega-3 fatty acids, plus vitamins, minerals, and essential taurine that help your kitten develop its eyesight and mature its brain. This kitten food is also formulated with ActiCoat probiotic coating, which aids digestion in cats with sensitive stomachs.

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“I have two cats. One of them is such a picky eater while the other one will eat almost anything. It’s hard for me to purchase food they both agree on and this has by far been the best.. they can’t get enough of it and my picky eater goes straight for it”—Steph and Alex via Amazon

“So far so good! I adopted a 3 month old kitten back in February and have been feeding him the Wellness Core kitten formula ever since I got him and he’s never had an issue with taste. He has been healthy with no problems since then, he’s always full of energy, is an absolute cuddlebug, and his coat and skin are very glossy, healthy, etc. No problems with bowels or vomiting or behavior or anything like that. I’ll continue to use this food and then switch him to the adult formula once he’s old enough. —Jean-Michel via Amazon

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For Diets

Hill’s Science Diet Wet Cat Food

• Flavors: chicken, turkey
• Type: wet
• Size: 24-pack of 2.8-ounce cans, 24-pack of 5.5-ounce cans

It features taurine to aid with vision and heart function and other key nutrients that support urinary tract health. This canned food is also free from artificial preservatives and flavors.  

What Other Pet Owners Are Saying

“We’ve tried other cans and dry. Since our dog love Hills Science we tried their cans for cats. She loves it and finishes her bowl regularly. The smell is not unpleasant like other brands when we feed her. All stars all around!—Ronald via AMazon

“So good, my 5 month old Orange tabby boy refuses anything else! He literally goes crazy for it. Not too overly gross smelling in comparison to other wet kitten foods we’ve tried. It’s a bit costly, but hey, anything for our fur-babies, right?! TRY IT! Great, long-established brand! Just beware – your little fur child will want more and more! ;-)” —Jean via Amazon

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What to Look For in Kitten Food

Kitten food comes in many different varieties, so it can be difficult to sort through all the options to find food that will be the healthiest and most delicious for your kitten. When buying kitten food, it helps to first examine the following factors:

Ingredients

The first ingredient listed in your kitten food should be meat, such as chicken, turkey, fish, rabbit, or beef. You should also look for ingredients that help kittens’ muscles grow and that develop their immune and nervous systems, such as quality proteins and fats, vitamins, and DHA. Choose foods that aren’t composed of unhealthy fillers that add no nutritional value.

It’s important to note that kittens require more calories per day than adult cats as they grow and mature into their bodies. 

Nutritional Elements

In addition to being made with ingredients that help them grow, kitten foods should also be nutritious for your pet. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets standards for pet food nutrition. For young kittens and pregnant and nursing cats, it should contain at least 30 percent crude protein based on dry matter. To calculate the dry matter, subtract the percentage of moisture content listed. Then, divide the crude protein by the dry matter and multiply it by 100.

For example, if the moisture content of a dry kitten food is listed as 10 percent, then the dry matter would be 90. If the crude protein content is 35 percent, you would divide 35 by 90 and then multiply by 100. That means the crude protein content is 39 percent, which meets the requirements for a growing kitten.

High-quality kitten food will also contain a number of other essential nutrients, such as vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, and taurine.

High grain levels in food may also be something to avoid as it could mean the food contains difficult-to-digest carbohydrates.

Type

Like adult cat food, kitten food can be served either wet or dry. Dry food can be left out for kittens to eat at their leisure and has a long shelf life. However, some dry foods may be difficult for a kitten to eat and bite into.

Wet foods, meanwhile, have a high moisture content and are easier for kittens to eat. Many kittens may shy away from drinking much water, so giving them wet food can be a good way to ensure they stay hydrated. However, wet food can be messy and will spoil quickly once opened. Most vets recommend a mix of wet and dry food for your cat.

Size

You should also be aware of how much food comes in a bag or can and how you should portion it. Some kitten food comes pre-portioned, but if it doesn’t, you’ll want to be careful not to overfeed or underfeed your pet.

Look to feed your kitten between one-fourth and one-half of a cup of food at a time. Try portioning your cat’s food out in advance so you know exactly how much to give at once. If you’re feeding multiple kittens at a time, it may be best to buy food in bulk so you can be sure you don’t run out.

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Our Recommendation

Overall, if you’re looking for a dry food option, the Wellness CORE Grain-Free Kitten Formula Dry Cat Food provides a wide range of beneficial nutrients from premium ingredients that can aid with growth and development. 

For wet food, the Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse is our choice because its soft texture will help them transition to harder food as they get older.

However, the best kitten food depends on what you value the most for your cat, and you may need to try multiple foods to find one that works best. You’ve made a good choice as long as you find a food your kitten likes that has a high nutritional value with natural ingredients.

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How We Chose the Top Kitten Foods

We’ve vetted hundreds of products to help you select the top premium pet products for your furry family member. 

Before recommending any pet products, we’ve analyzed and reviewed them based on the following factors:

• Customer reviews: We read at least 100 customer reviews for every product in our lineup, considering pain points and advantages cited by pet parents.
• Ratings: Each product we recommend has a high amount of verified customer ratings on sites such as Chewy and Google and earned high average ratings.
• Brand research: We conducted research into each brand to assess its reputation in the pet industry.
• Features: We compare products based on their key features, customization options, and other factors related to performance. 

Our data points and review content are regularly updated to account for shifts in customer consensus, product availability, and overall quality.