Choosing the Best Cat Food: A Practical UK Guide

Updated July 2026

Estimated reading time: 18 minutes

Choosing cat food should be simple.

You pick something your cat likes, put it in their bowl and get on with your day.

Unfortunately, the shelves are filled with wet food, dry food, kitten recipes, senior diets, indoor-cat formulas, grain-free products, fresh food, raw food and packets making all kinds of nutritional claims.

It is easy to start wondering whether you are feeding the wrong thing.

The reassuring answer is that there is no single brand or type of food that is best for every cat. A suitable food should be nutritionally complete, appropriate for your cat’s life stage, manageable within your budget and capable of helping them maintain a healthy weight and body condition.

Most importantly, it must be something your cat will reliably eat.

For a wider overview of everyday feline welfare, visit my Cat Care Advice Hub or read 5 Essential Cat Care Tips Every Owner Should Know.

This guide provides general information for owners of healthy cats. It does not replace advice from your vet. Cats with medical conditions, unexplained weight changes, digestive problems or changes in appetite may need an individual veterinary assessment.

Quick answer: what is the best food for a cat?

For most healthy cats, start by looking for a food that is:

• Labelled “complete”.
• Made specifically for cats.
• Appropriate for their life stage.
• Suitable for their current health and body condition.
• Fed in measured portions.
• Readily available enough to buy consistently.
• Affordable enough to feed for the long term.
• Enjoyed and tolerated by the individual cat.

Wet food, dry food or a measured combination can all be suitable when the main diet is complete, and the total daily quantity is appropriate.

A high price, attractive packaging or a long list of fashionable ingredients does not automatically make one food better than another.

What cats need from their food

Cats are obligate carnivores.

This means their bodies have nutritional requirements that differ from those of people and dogs. They require suitable amounts of animal-derived nutrients, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids such as taurine and arginine.

Trying to judge whether an individual recipe supplies everything a cat needs by looking at one or two ingredients is extremely difficult.

That is why the most useful word on a commercial food label is usually not “premium”, “natural” or “luxury”.

It is “complete”.

The PDSA guide to feeding cats recommends choosing a commercially prepared, complete food that is appropriate for the cat’s stage of life. Cats Protection provides similar advice in its guide to feeding your cat.

Complete and complementary cat food

The difference between “complete” and “complementary” is one of the most important things to understand when choosing cat food.

Complete cat food

A food labelled “complete” is formulated to supply the nutrients required for the stated species and life stage when it is fed according to its instructions.

It can form the main part of your cat’s diet.

The packet should also tell you whether the food is intended for:

• Kittens.
• Adult cats.
• Senior cats.
• All life stages.
• A particular veterinary or nutritional purpose.

Complementary cat food

Complementary food does not provide a complete daily diet by itself.

This category can include:

• Treats.
• Toppers.
• Some tins or pouches of fish or meat.
• Broths.
• Mixers.
• Supplements.
• Lickable treats.

A complementary product may look and smell like an ordinary meal. That does not mean it contains everything your cat requires over the long term.

UK Pet Food explains that complete food meets daily nutritional needs when used according to the feeding instructions, whereas complementary products need to be combined with other suitable foods.

The first check to make in the shop

Turn the packet over and look for the product description.

Do not rely on the photograph, brand name or wording on the front.

Look for a statement such as:

“Complete pet food for adult cats.”

That simple check is more valuable than trying to select a food according to fashionable ingredients or advertising claims.

Choosing food for your cat’s life stage

A cat’s nutritional needs change throughout their life.

The life-stage description on the packet helps you choose a food formulated for their current needs.

Kitten food

Kittens are growing rapidly and have different energy and nutritional requirements from adult cats.

Choose a complete food specifically intended for kittens. Young kittens also have small stomachs, so their daily allowance usually needs to be divided into several smaller meals.

My Kitten Sitting in Finchley guide explains how feeding, supervision and home visits differ for younger cats.

Adult cat food

Healthy adult cats normally need a complete maintenance diet combined with portion control and regular monitoring of their weight and body condition.

Their requirements can be influenced by:

• Body size.
• Activity.
• Whether they live indoors or go outside.
• Neutering.
• Individual metabolism.
• Treats and food obtained elsewhere.
• Pregnancy or nursing.
• Health conditions.

Senior cat food

There is no single birthday on which every cat suddenly requires senior food.

Brands may use different age ranges, and cats of the same age can have very different health, mobility and body conditions.

Older cats may experience changes in:

• Appetite.
• Digestion.
• Muscle condition.
• Dental comfort.
• Kidney function.
• Mobility.
• Ability to reach their usual feeding area.

Do not assume that unexplained weight loss, increased thirst or reduced appetite is simply part of getting older. These changes should be discussed with your vet.

My Senior Cat Holiday Care guide explains why eating, drinking, movement and toileting need closer observation when an older cat is being cared for at home.

Wet food, dry food or mixed feeding

One of the most common questions is whether wet or dry cat food is better.

Both can provide a suitable diet when they are complete, appropriate for the cat and fed in the correct quantity.

Wet cat food

Wet food has a higher moisture content and may help increase water intake in cats that do not drink much from a bowl.

It is available in different textures, including:

• Pâté.
• Mousse.
• Chunks in gravy.
• Chunks in jelly.
• Flakes.
• Soup-style products.

Wet food can be highly appealing, but opened food needs appropriate refrigeration and should not be left sitting in a warm room for extended periods.

Dry cat food

Dry food is convenient to store and can work well in measured feeders or puzzle-feeding activities.

Its calorie density means that a relatively small-looking portion may contain more energy than an owner expects. Weighing the daily allowance is usually more reliable than estimating it by eye.

Cats eating mostly dry food must always have easy access to fresh water.

Mixed feeding

Some cats receive wet and dry food.

This can provide variety and practical flexibility, but the portions need to be calculated together. A full wet-food allowance plus a full dry-food allowance would usually result in overfeeding.

Use the manufacturers’ mixed-feeding guidance where available. Ask your vet or veterinary nurse for help when the quantities are unclear.

Feeding type	Possible advantages	Points to consider
Wet food	Higher moisture content and a range of textures	Needs suitable storage and should not remain out for too long
Dry food	Convenient, easy to weigh and suitable for some puzzle feeders	Portions can look small and fresh water remains essential
Mixed feeding	Offers different textures and practical flexibility	Both parts must be included in the total daily allowance

PDSA advises that healthy cats can be fed wet food, dry food or a combination unless their vet recommends otherwise. (PDSA)

How to read a cat-food label

Pet-food labels can appear technical, but you do not need to become a nutritionist to make a sensible choice.

Concentrate on the information that affects your cat directly.

Look for the following

Check:

• Whether the food is complete or complementary.
• The animal species it is intended for.
• The appropriate life stage.
• The feeding instructions.
• The weight of the packet or individual portion.
• Storage instructions.
• The use-by or best-before information.
• Whether there are specific veterinary directions.
• The manufacturer’s contact details.

Composition

Ingredients are listed under the heading “composition”.

They may be listed by a specific name or under legally permitted categories such as “meat and animal derivatives”.

A category-based description is not automatic evidence that the food is poor quality. UK labelling rules allow manufacturers to describe ingredients in different ways, and the nutritional suitability of a complete food cannot be judged from one phrase alone.

UK Pet Food explains that both specific and category-based ingredient descriptions can be used, with ingredients listed in descending order by weight.

Analytical constituents

The packet may list values for protein, fat, fibre, ash and moisture.

These figures can be useful, particularly when your vet asks for them. However, comparing a wet food directly with a dry food can be misleading because the two contain very different quantities of water.

A higher number is not automatically better.

Your cat needs an appropriate overall balance, not the largest possible percentage of one nutrient.

Feeding guide

The feeding table is a starting point rather than a guarantee.

Two cats of the same weight may need different portions because their activity, age, neuter status, health and individual metabolism differ.

Start with the packet guidance, measure the food and then monitor your cat’s weight and body condition.

Ingredients, meat percentages and marketing claims

Cat-food packaging is designed to attract owners as well as feed cats.

Words such as “premium”, “natural”, “ancestral”, “holistic” or “grain-free” may sound reassuring, but they do not replace the need to check whether the product is complete and appropriate for your cat.

Is a higher meat percentage always better?

Not necessarily.

The percentage on the front of the packet does not tell you everything about:

• Nutrient balance.
• Digestibility.
• Calorie density.
• Quality control.
• Suitability for your cat.
• Whether the food is complete.
• How your cat responds to it.

Water content also affects how ingredient percentages appear.

Do not reject a complete food that suits your cat simply because another packet uses more impressive marketing language.

Does the first ingredient decide the quality?

No.

Ingredient lists provide useful information, especially where a cat must avoid something on veterinary advice. They are less useful as a stand-alone scoring system.

The whole formulation matters.

A manufacturer should be able to explain:

• Who formulates its foods.
• How nutritional adequacy is assessed.
• What quality-control procedures are used.
• How owners can obtain further product information.

PDSA suggests considering food made by a member of UK Pet Food, whose members work to industry codes and nutritional standards. (PDSA)

What about grain-free food?

Grain-free does not automatically mean healthier, more natural or more suitable.

Some cats may need to avoid a particular ingredient as part of a veterinary investigation. That is different from removing ingredients from every cat’s diet because a marketing claim sounds appealing.

When you suspect a food allergy or intolerance, speak to your vet rather than repeatedly changing foods yourself. Proper investigation may involve a carefully controlled elimination or hydrolysed diet.

How much food does your cat need?

The correct food can still cause weight gain when too much is fed.

Use the feeding guide as your starting point, but pay attention to the individual cat.

Weigh the daily allowance.

A digital kitchen scale can make portions more consistent, particularly with dry food.

Measure the full daily allowance rather than pouring food into the bowl whenever it looks empty.

From that allowance, account for:

• Main meals.
• Treats.
• Food used in puzzle feeders.
• Medication treats.
• Food given by other household members.
• Food obtained from neighbours.
• Wet and dry food used together.

Monitor body condition, not weight alone.

The number on the scales matters, but so does your cat’s body shape.

At a healthy body condition:

• The ribs should usually be felt without pressing hard.
• There should be a visible waist when viewed from above.
• The abdomen should not be broadly rounded by excess body fat.

A cat’s natural abdominal skin fold, sometimes called a primordial pouch, should not automatically be mistaken for obesity.

Ask your veterinary team to show you how to assess your cat’s body condition. The BSAVA recommends regularly monitoring bodyweight and body condition and adjusting feeding where necessary. (BSAVA)

Never crash-diet a cat.

Do not drastically reduce a cat’s food or attempt rapid weight loss without veterinary guidance.

A proper weight-management plan must continue supplying essential nutrients while reducing calories safely.

Your veterinary practice may offer weight clinics or veterinary-nurse appointments to help establish an appropriate target and monitor progress.

Treats, toppers and human food

A complete diet already provides the nutrients a healthy cat requires.

Treats are optional.

They can be useful for positive handling, enrichment or hiding agreed medication, but they still contribute calories.

As a simple guide, treats should normally account for no more than around 10 per cent of the daily food or calorie allowance. Reduce the main food accordingly. (PDSA)

Alternatives to extra food

Depending on the cat, a reward might instead be:

• A short play session.
• Grooming, when enjoyed.
• Access to a favourite resting place.
• Calm attention.
• A few pieces of their normal dry-food allowance placed in a puzzle feeder.

Be careful with toppers.

Adding broth, fish, chicken, lickable treats or other toppers can encourage eating, but it can also teach a cat to wait for something more appealing.

Frequent additions may unbalance the diet or make it harder to monitor how much the cat has eaten.

Do not add supplements to a complete food unless your vet has advised them. More of a nutrient is not automatically better.

Human food

Small amounts of certain plain, cooked foods may sometimes be used as treats, but human meals are not a suitable main diet for cats.

Food from our plates may contain:

• Too much fat.
• Too much salt.
• Onion or garlic.
• Sauces and seasonings.
• Bones.
• Ingredients unsuitable for the individual cat.

Milk is also unnecessary, and many adult cats do not tolerate lactose well.

Feeding kittens

Kittens should receive complete kitten food rather than adult cat food or a homemade substitute.

They normally need:

• Smaller meals.
• More frequent feeding.
• Careful growth monitoring.
• Easy access to fresh water.
• Portions adjusted as they grow.

Keep feeding arrangements familiar when a kitten first arrives. A new home already involves changes in smell, people, routine and environment. Changing the food immediately may add unnecessary digestive or emotional stress.

Ask the breeder, rescue centre or previous carer what the kitten has been eating. Any planned change should be gradual unless your vet advises otherwise.

Read my Kitten Sitting and Feeding Visits guide for more information about home routines and care arrangements.

Feeding adult cats

For a healthy adult cat, focus on:

• A complete adult food.
• Measured portions.
• Consistent feeding.
• Regular weight monitoring.
• Fresh water.
• Limited treats.
• Suitable opportunities for activity and play.

Many cats prefer several smaller meals rather than one large portion.

Puzzle feeders can provide gentle enrichment for cats that enjoy searching or working for part of their food. Introduce them slowly and keep an ordinary bowl available until you know the cat is comfortable using the new equipment.

See my recommended cat products for practical feeding and enrichment equipment. Some links on that page may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Feeding senior cats

Older cats should be monitored closely rather than automatically moved to whichever packet has the oldest age printed on it.

Look for changes in:

• How quickly they approach food.
• Whether they chew differently.
• Whether they drop food.
• Which textures they accept.
• How much they drink.
• Their weight and muscle condition.
• Their ability to reach the bowl.
• Whether another cat blocks access.

A senior cat with stiff joints may benefit from food being offered in an easily accessible area. A wide, stable dish or a slightly raised feeding surface may help some cats, but introduce changes gradually.

Reduced appetite, increased thirst and unexplained weight loss require veterinary advice. They should not be dismissed as normal ageing.

Indoor cats, neutered cats and weight-management foods

An indoor lifestyle does not automatically mean a cat needs food labelled specifically for indoor cats.

However, some indoor cats use less energy than active outdoor cats and may gain weight when portions are not adjusted.

Food marketed for indoor or neutered cats may have a different calorie or fibre content, but the label alone does not decide whether it is right for your cat.

Consider:

• Current body condition.
• Activity level.
• Age.
• Quantity of treats.
• Whether food is always available.
• Whether several people feed the cat.
• Whether another pet’s food is accessible.

Weight-management diets are most effective when used as part of a measured plan. Simply giving a much smaller amount of ordinary food may also reduce essential nutrients.

Discuss significant weight loss plans with your vet or veterinary nurse.

Prescription and veterinary diets

Food can form an important part of managing certain health conditions.

Your vet may recommend a therapeutic diet for problems such as:

• Kidney disease.
• Diabetes.
• Urinary disease.
• Food allergy.
• Digestive disease.
• Obesity.
• Liver disease.
• Recovery from illness or surgery.

These diets are not interchangeable with ordinary foods that use similar words on the packet.

For example, a supermarket food described as supporting urinary health is not necessarily equivalent to a veterinary diet prescribed for a diagnosed urinary condition.

Follow your vet’s instructions about:

• The exact product.
• Portion size.
• Feeding frequency.
• Treats.
• Whether other foods are allowed.
• How gradually the change should be made.
• Monitoring and follow-up appointments.

In a multi-cat household, make sure the correct cat eats the prescribed food.

Raw cat food

Some owners choose commercially prepared raw food.

Raw feeding requires careful consideration of both nutritional completeness and hygiene.

Uncooked meat can contain pathogens that may affect cats or people. The risk is particularly important in homes with young children, older people, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system.

Government guidance warns that raw pet food can spread organisms such as Salmonella and E. coli through the food itself, preparation surfaces, bowls or contact with the animal. (GOV.UK)

The BSAVA recommends that raw-fed animals receive a nutritionally complete and balanced diet and that strict hygiene precautions are followed.

Speak to your vet before changing to raw food.

Do not assume that combining pieces of raw meat, organs and bones at home will automatically produce a balanced feline diet.

Homemade cat food

A homemade meal can look wholesome while still providing an inappropriate balance of calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, minerals, fats or essential amino acids.

Plain cooked meat may be acceptable as an occasional treat for some cats. It is not a complete long-term diet by itself.

Owners wishing to prepare their cat’s main diet at home should obtain a properly formulated recipe from a veterinary professional with appropriate nutrition expertise and follow it accurately.

Adding a general supplement to an improvised recipe does not guarantee that the finished diet is balanced.

Vegetarian and vegan diets for cats

Cats have species-specific nutritional requirements and are biologically adapted to obtain essential nutrients from a meat-based diet.

PDSA and Cats Protection recommend feeding cats a complete meat-based food and advise against attempting to formulate vegetarian or vegan diets without appropriate professional guidance.

I would not recommend experimenting with a cat’s main diet on ethical, lifestyle or internet advice alone.

Discuss the subject with your vet and, where necessary, a veterinary nutrition specialist who can assess the individual animal and the proposed food.

How to change your cat’s food safely

Cats often value familiarity.

A sudden change in smell, flavour or texture may cause refusal even when the new food is nutritionally suitable.

Unless your vet has instructed you to change immediately, introduce a new food gradually.

A gradual transition

A simple approach is:

1. Offer a small amount of the new food alongside the familiar food.
2. Increase the new food slowly over several days.
3. Reduce the old food at the same pace.
4. Monitor appetite, stools and vomiting.
5. Slow the transition when your cat is reluctant or has a sensitive stomach.

Some cats prefer the two foods in separate dishes rather than mixed.

A complete transition may take one or two weeks, and certain cats need longer. PDSA advises making food changes slowly because sudden changes may cause digestive upset or refusal. (PDSA)

Do not starve a cat into accepting a new food.

A cat refusing the new food should not simply be left until they become hungry enough to eat it.

Return to something familiar and seek veterinary advice when the appetite remains reduced.

This is particularly important for:

• Kittens.
• Senior cats.
• Cats with diabetes.
• Cats with kidney or liver disease.
• Cats recovering from illness.
• Overweight cats.
• Cats already eating less than normal.

Feeding more than one cat

It can be difficult to know who has eaten what in a multi-cat household.

One confident cat may finish every bowl while a quieter cat eats very little.

Helpful arrangements can include:

• Feeding cats in separate places.
• Closing doors during meals.
• Supervising feeding where practical.
• Using individual measured portions.
• Removing uneaten food.
• Recording appetite for cats with medical conditions.
• Using a microchip feeder where appropriate.

Do not assume that an empty communal bowl means every cat has eaten.

Separate feeding can also reduce competition and give nervous cats more time and space. Cats Protection recommends placing feeding areas away from other cats where competition may be a concern. (Cats Protection)

Food bowls, water and feeding locations

The feeding environment matters as well as the food.

Many cats prefer:

• A clean, stable bowl.
• A wide dish that does not press against their whiskers.
• A quiet location.
• Distance from the litter tray.
• Food and water in separate locations.
• Space away from other animals.

Ceramic and stainless-steel dishes are usually straightforward to clean. Plastic can retain scratches and odours, although a cat already eating happily from a familiar plastic bowl does not necessarily need an abrupt change.

Provide fresh water at all times.

Some cats prefer several water bowls. Others enjoy a fountain. Neither is compulsory. Cleanliness, accessibility and regular water changes matter more than buying complicated equipment.

Choosing food when you are going on holiday

Immediately before a holiday is a poor time to test a new food, feeder or feeding location.

Keep your cat’s normal routine unless a veterinary change is essential.

Leave your sitter:

• The exact brand and variety.
• Clear portion sizes.
• Feeding times.
• Storage instructions.
• Information about permitted treats.
• Instructions for leftovers.
• Enough food for the booking.
• A reasonable spare supply in case your return is delayed.
• Details of what your cat normally eats.
• Clear instructions about appetite changes.
• Your veterinary details and emergency contact.

Avoid instructions such as “give a handful” or “top the bowl up”.

Measured instructions make it easier to notice whether a cat has eaten too much, too little or nothing at all.

My What to Leave for Your Cat Sitter guide includes a complete preparation checklist.

For local care, read about my Cat Sitting Service in Finchley.

When changes in appetite need veterinary attention

Knowing what your cat normally eats helps you recognise when something changes.

Contact your vet when your cat:

• Stops eating.
• Eats significantly less than normal.
• Suddenly becomes unusually hungry.
• Loses weight without explanation.
• Has difficulty chewing.
• Drops food.
• Chews on one side.
• Vomits repeatedly.
• Has persistent diarrhoea.
• Drinks or urinates noticeably more.
• Becomes lethargic.
• Appears painful.
• Refuses a prescribed veterinary diet.

Reduced appetite can be associated with dental disease, pain, stress, kidney disease, fever and many other conditions. PDSA advises arranging a veterinary check when a cat loses its appetite because cats can develop serious complications when they do not eat adequately. (PDSA)

Cats Protection recommends contacting your vet when an adult cat has not eaten for more than 24 hours, and sooner when there are additional symptoms or the cat is particularly vulnerable.

Do not wait for a cat to look severely unwell before seeking help.

A simple cat-food checklist

Before buying a new food, ask:

• Is it labelled complete?
• Is it intended for cats?
• Is it suitable for my cat’s life stage?
• Has my vet recommended anything different?
• Can I understand and follow the feeding guide?
• Can I feed it consistently within my budget?
• Is it readily available?
• Will my cat eat it?
• Does my cat maintain a healthy weight and body condition on it?
• Can I change over gradually?

If the answer to those questions is yes, you may already have found a perfectly sensible food.

You do not need to keep changing it because a social-media advert claims something else is “the only natural choice”.

Frequently asked questions about choosing cat food

Final thoughts

The best cat food is not necessarily the most expensive packet or the one with the most impressive description.

For most cats, it is a complete food that suits their age, health, body condition and preferences, provided in measured portions they will reliably eat.

Look at the cat in front of you.

Are they eating normally?

Are they maintaining a healthy weight?

Can they reach their food comfortably?

Is the diet affordable and available enough to remain consistent?

Has anything recently changed?

Those practical questions usually matter more than marketing.

When you are going away, keeping the familiar food and routine can help your cat remain settled. I provide calm, in-home cat-sitting visits in Finchley, North Finchley, East Finchley, Muswell Hill and selected nearby areas.

Visits can include feeding, fresh water, litter-tray care, general welfare observations, agreed medication support and updates while you are away.

Contact Del with your postcode, dates and a brief description of your cat’s normal routine.

Related cat-care guides

• Cat Care Advice in Finchley
• 5 Essential Cat Care Tips
• Kitten Sitting and Feeding Visits
• Senior Cat Holiday Care
• What to Leave for Your Cat Sitter
• How Often Should a Cat Sitter Visit?
• Cat Sitting FAQs
• Cat Products and Equipment I Recommend

Trusted sources and further reading

• PDSA: The best diet for your cat
• Cats Protection: Feeding your cat
• UK Pet Food: Understanding pet-food labels
• BSAVA: Companion-animal nutrition
• GOV.UK: Raw pet-food guidance

Veterinary disclaimer

I am a professional pet carer, not a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nutritionist.

This guide provides general educational information for cat owners. It does not diagnose illness, recommend treatment or replace an individual assessment by your veterinary practice.

Under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, the diagnosis of disease and advice based upon that diagnosis are matters for appropriately qualified veterinary professionals. Contact your vet when your cat has a health condition, needs a therapeutic diet or develops a concerning change in appetite, weight, thirst, digestion, urination or behaviour. (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons)