5 Best Adult Feline Dry Cat Foods

There are an almost infinite number of cat food brands on the market, all claiming to be healthy, nutritious, and tasty for your feline friend.
On the other hand, you’ve probably heard knowledgeable experts rail against grains, carbs, and a slew of other ingredients found in commercial cat food.
As with any complex issue, there are valid points on both sides…but that doesn’t make deciding on the best dry food for your cat any easier. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to finding the best dry cat food for your specific feline, as well as 5 of our favorite options.
We’ll go over everything you need to know, but if you just want to see what made the list, you can see all of our favorites below or use the table of contents to skim around.

Your Cat Is a Carnivore By Nature

They are, however, not just any carnivore; rather, they are an obligate carnivore. Cats, therefore, require meat and animal-based proteins to survive and function. They simply cannot obtain the nutrients they require from plants, and your cat would consume very little to no plant matter in the wild.
Vitamin A, beta carotene, and carrots are examples of how our omnivore physiology differs from that of obligate carnivores like our cats. We can eat carrots and convert the beta carotene to vitamin A because we are omnivores. Our cats require vitamin A to stay healthy, but because they are obligate carnivores, they cannot get it from carrots.

Cats, on the other hand, get their vitamin A from liver meat and other animal sources.
That’s just one of dozens of examples of how an obligate carnivore’s biology differs from that of an omnivore, such as humans or dogs.
But what does any of this have to do with discovering the best dry cat food?
Now that we understand the importance of animal-based protein for our cats, we should expect to see meat ingredients near the top of any quality ingredient list, as well as plenty of protein in the best recipes.

The Top 5 Dry Cat Foods

Now that you know how we chose the recipes on this list, let’s get into our top dry cat foods, beginning with the best overall.

Dr. Elsey’s Clean Protein is the best overall dry cat food

Dr. Elsey (yes, he’s a real person) began manufacturing cat litter in 1987 with the intention of assisting cats in remaining in their homes by preventing inappropriate urination. They still make great litter and are dedicated to helping cats by donating litter and other resources to shelters in need.
They’ve also made their way into the cat food industry with their exceptional line of protein-focused recipes centered on chicken, turkey, salmon, duck, or rabbit.
But what distinguishes them as the best overall dry cat food?

They concentrate on high-quality proteins that are ideal for your carnivorous cat! If you include gelatin (which is usually derived from animals), then all five of the first ingredients are derived from animals. That is virtually unheard of in dry cat food.
Because of this emphasis on carnivore-friendly ingredients, they have an exceptionally high protein content of 67% by dry matter and a carbohydrate content of around 9%. Again, you won’t find such high protein and carbohydrate content in many other dry food brands.
Furthermore, as of this writing, Dr. Elsey’s brand of cat food had never been recalled.
It’s also comforting to know that behind the brand is a real person who genuinely cares about cats. Dr. Elsey started a feline-only veterinary practice in Denver before ever getting into cat food or litter…so he’s the real deal when it comes to caring for cats. That doesn’t guarantee good food, but it gives me some peace of mind.

Tiki Cat Born Carnivore is the runner-up

Tiki Cat is frequently overlooked in the world of premium cat foods, but they have earned a place as one of the better options.
Some may be put off by the cartoon cat and silly names for their recipes, but when you look closer, you’ll find quality animal proteins, minimal carbohydrates, and a company owner willing to eat her own cat food product on camera! Okay, so that doesn’t make cat food any better, but it’s always nice to know when companies and owners stand behind their products.
For this list, we’re looking specifically at Tiki Cat’s Born Carnivore line of dry cat food, which checks all of our boxes with high protein content, low carbohydrate content, deboned chicken as the first ingredient, and minimal additives.

Tiki Cat is also one of only a few dry cat foods that uses a baking process rather than the traditional extrusion process. Both require high heat, but baking is generally thought to be gentler on dry food, and Tiki Cat suggests that this may help improve the taste, texture, and quality of the dry kibble.
While the pros and cons of both techniques are debatable, baking does appear to change the flavor, and some cats may prefer the baked kibble flavor over other dry cat foods. As a result, this kibble may be a good choice for picky cats who enjoy the unique baked flavor.
Tiki Cat is an excellent dry food, but because it contains slightly fewer animal-based ingredients at the top of the ingredient list, I had to rank it second. Nonetheless, they make up for it with pricing that is more affordable than many other truly premium dry cat foods.

Budget-Friendly: American Journey Recipe for Dry Cat Food with Turkey and Chicken

Our best low-cost option comes from American Journey, a Chewy-exclusive brand. In other words, you won’t be able to find this product anywhere else besides Chewy, so it might not be a brand you’re familiar with.
If you want to keep your carbohydrate content as low as possible, stick with one of the two brands mentioned above. However, if you’re looking for a recipe that strikes a balance between price, protein, and carbs, American Journey is certainly worth investigating, and at roughly 23% carbohydrate content, it still meets our requirements.
I chose the Turkey and Chicken recipe because it contains more animal-based ingredients than the other American Journey flavors. Because this is a low-cost dry food, we’ll see a few more meals (the ground version of the protein source) as well as some plant protein.

Pea protein is listed as the sixth ingredient in American Journey dry cat food. Plant protein can be digested by cats, and while it’s not something we’d want to see at the top of the ingredient list, including it further down the list is a great way to keep protein content high while keeping the price low.

Best for Hairball Control & Weight Loss: Blue High Protein Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food

It may be surprising to see a dry cat food that is designed to help with both weight control and hairballs, but higher fiber diets can help with both problems.
When it comes to weight loss, more fiber makes cats feel fuller and may even help cats stop begging as much. “Dietary fiber may help dogs and cats feel fuller by diluting calories,” explains Dr. Beth Flickinger. Because fiber is essentially calorie-free, including it in a diet helps to reduce caloric density, allowing the pet to eat a larger volume of food without consuming extra calories. This increased food volume contributes to gastric distension, which is one of the satiety cues that alerts the pet to the fact that it is full.”
Moreover, despite the fact that cats have almost no fiber in their natural diet, studies have shown that fiber can help with hairballs.

That’s where Blue Buffalo’s budget-friendly dry kibble comes in, and with a fiber content of just under 8% (by dry matter), it’s one of the higher fiber options available. Of course, with an animal-based protein as the first ingredient and animal proteins throughout the recipe, it checks all of our other boxes.
However, while fiber is considered “calorie-free,” it does appear as carbohydrates on guaranteed analysis, which is why this recipe has a higher carbohydrate content.
Blue Buffalo also includes their LifeSource Bits in this recipe, which they claim provide additional nutrients and vitamins. I understand the marketing aspect of the LifeSource Bits, but I will say that my cat (and dog) both enjoy them and usually choose them first. I know it’s not a large sample size, but I can’t help but notice how much my picky cat enjoys those bits!

Farmina N&D Functional Quinoa Urinary Dry Food is the best dry kibble for urinary health

Dry cat food of any kind should not be your first choice when it comes to promoting urinary health, so its inclusion on the list may come as a surprise. While some argue that the difference between wet and dry food isn’t as significant in healthy cats when it comes to preventing urinary issues, wet food will benefit felines who have had urinary issues in the past.
However, some cats simply prefer dry kibble, and some owners require a dry food option.
This is where Farmina’s urinary health formula comes into play. To be clear, this food is not a treatment, and if your cat has a history of urinary issues, you should consult with your veterinarian immediately. However, for cat parents who want to prevent urinary problems while feeding high-quality proteins, this recipe is worth investigating.

For starters, this dry cat food contains less magnesium and phosphorous, two minerals that frequently contribute to urinary stone formation. It has been discovered that reducing the amount of these minerals in your cat’s food can help reduce the likelihood of stone formation.
Farmina has also included cranberries as the 9th ingredient in this recipe, which can help with urinary health, according to PetMD. Of course, cranberries aren’t a replacement for veterinary care, but they’re one of many nice-to-have ingredients in this dry kibble.
Finally, with 35.9% protein by dry matter, plenty of animal-based ingredients at the top of the list, and a low carbohydrate content of around 20%, this recipe checks all the boxes we look for in dry cat food. You’ll also notice that duck is the main protein, and some felines will be especially curious about the somewhat novel protein.

Final Thoughts

Everything you need to know about choosing the best dry cat food for your feline pal!
I know we covered a lot of ground here, but choosing the right brand for your cat is one of the most important things you can do, so it’s worth your time to do your homework.
What are your thoughts? Have you discovered your new favorite dry cat food brand? Alternatively, did your cat find what they were looking for?

source https://babypetdaily.com/5-best-adult-feline-dry-cat-foods/