10 Best Healthy Dry Cat Foods of 2024: Unbiased Review- Cats.com (2024)

Mallory Crusta / Cats.com

Overall Best

Runner Up

Best Moderately Priced

Best Budget

Best Air-Dried

Best For Picky Cats

Best for Kittens

Best For Sensitive Stomachs

Best For Seniors

Best Chicken-Free

#1 Overall Best: Open Farm RawMix Open Prairie Recipe

• Made In: United States
• Guaranteed Protein: 38% Min
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 106
• Typical Cost Per Day:$0.90 per day

Open Farm made our top pick for several reasons. First, we appreciated the brand’s transparency regarding sourcing, testing, and nutritional info. They’re one of the few cat food brands that provide a typical analysis and let consumers trace every ingredient. We were also impressed with the food’s exceptional ingredient quality and palatability—seconded by our test cats who loved this food!

In addition to their collection of wet and dry foods, Open Farm now offers several freeze-dried recipes and a small collection of kibble. These dry foods are given a healthy boost with a coating of powdered bone broth and freeze-dried raw organ meats, like turkey gizzards.

This RawMix Open Prairie Recipe emphasizes animal-derived protein from chicken, turkey, and menhaden fish meal. It also receives supplemental protein from ocean whitefish meal, chicken liver, and chicken neck. Because it contains bone, the chicken neck is a species-appropriate source of minerals.

This recipe is fairly low in fat, so it isn’t as calorie-dense as others on this list. Though some of the fat in this recipe likely comes from the fish meal, the main sources of added fat are plant-based: coconut oil and sunflower oil. The food also contains peas, chickpeas, and lentils, which contribute significantly to the recipe’s high carbohydrate content.

Open Farm RawMix is not nutritionally perfect, and you can certainly find dry foods that are higher in protein and fat with lower carb content. That said, this pick is still a good choice if you’re okay with a higher-carb food that scores high on ingredient quality and trustworthiness.

With an average cost of $0.56 per ounce, it’s a touch pricier than many dry foods. It should cost about $1.15 per day to feed the average 10-pound cat.

What We Liked:

• Top three ingredients are animal proteins
• Kibbles are coated with bone broth and freeze-dried turkey gizzard
• Made with humanely raised and sustainably sourced ingredients
• Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives

What We Didn’t Like:

• Fairly high in carbohydrates
• Expensive, over $8 per pound

#2 Runner Up: Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein Chicken Formula Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

• Made In: United States
• Guaranteed Protein: 59% Min
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 113
• Typical Cost Per Day:$0.85 per day

In the last year, cat parents have voiced concerns over changes in the consistency and quality of Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein formula. Reports of cats who’ve either lost their taste for this food or experienced a reaction to the new recipe suggest this sudden change may not agree with cats who have been eating the original Elsey’s formula for some time. However, newcomers to Elsey’s cleanprotein shouldn’t experience any problems.

This formula change has prompted us to bump Dr. Elsey’s from their long-held position as our top recommendation. That said, this brand still appears to offer superior quality and nutrition compared to many other dry foods on the market. Because it defies stereotypes with its low starch content, lack of legumes, and generous doses of species-appropriate protein, Dr. Elsey’s cleanprotein™ kibble has earned its status as the Runner Up in our dry food lineup.

With chicken and hydrolyzed pork as its first ingredients, the brand’s Grain-Free Chicken Formula is high in protein and easy to digest. At about 113 calories per ounce, this is a relatively calorie-dense dry food for cats. It should cost about $0.85 per day to feed the average 10-pound cat.

What We Liked:

• Low in carbohydrates
• Made primarily from species-appropriate animal ingredients
• One of the most nutrient-dense dry foods on the market
• Doesn’t contain any of the most common inflammatory ingredients

What We Didn’t Like:

• Expensive

#3 Best Moderately Priced: Nulo Freestyle Chicken & Cod Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat & Kitten Food

• Made In: United States
• Guaranteed Protein: 40% min.
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 110
• Typical Cost Per Day:$0.60 per day

If you’re looking to save money without compromising on quality, Nulo’s Freestyle line is worth checking out. This grain-free Chicken and Cod formula is made with 83% animal-based proteins, and the first four ingredients are deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and deboned cod. This recipe also includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and shiny coats.

Additionally, Nulo Freestyle recipes include a probiotic strain to support your cat’s immune system and GI health. You’ll also find antioxidants, Vitamins C, E, and A, and taurine for vision and heart support. On the downside, this food contains peas and lentils, which contribute to a higher level of carbohydrates.

What We Liked:

• Suitable for both kittens and adult cats
• Free from potatoes and tapioca

What We Didn’t Like:

• Includes legumes
• Some cats may not like the tiny kibble size

#4 Best Budget: Kirkland Signature Chicken and Rice Cat Food

• Made In: United States
• Guaranteed Protein: 30% min.
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 115
• Typical Cost Per Day:$0.17 per day

If you want to feed your cat dry food on a budget, Kirkland Signature’s kibble is a great option. Along with a better grade of primary ingredients, Kirkland Signature dry cat food contains nutraceuticals that are seldom found in the cheapest kibble on the market.

Kirkland’s Chicken and Rice Dry Cat Food features chicken and chicken meal as its primary ingredients. A mix of brown and white rice adds carbohydrates and consistency. Though it’s not radically high in protein and isn’t a low-carbohydrate food, this product has some notable benefits. For one, unlike most foods at this price point, Kirkland contains a mix of supplemental probiotics and prebiotics that may help to support digestive health and overall well-being.

At about 115 calories per ounce, this is a fairly calorie-dense dry food for cats. It’s one of the most economical options we’ve found and should only cost about $0.25 per day to feed the average 10-pound cat. While it’s convenient to buy Kirkland Signature cat food on Amazon, you’ll find the best deals in Costco’s pet product aisle. This food is also available at Walmart.

What We Liked:

• Primarily composed of clearly-named protein sources
• Doesn’t contain any of the artificial colors and potentially harmful preservatives found in most budget cat foods
• One of the most affordable foods you can buy

What We Didn’t Like:

• Not a low-carbohydrate food

#5 Best Air-Dried: ZIWI Peak Air-Dried Mackerel & Lamb Recipe Cat Food

• Made In: New Zealand
• Guaranteed Protein: 44% min.
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 128
• Typical Cost Per Day: $3.31 per day

This cat food looks more like chunks of jerky than bits of kibble—and it’s made differently, too.

Whereas most kibble is extruded, this food is air-dried. A twin-stage dehydration technique destroys pathogenic bacteria while retaining nutrients. This process makes Ziwi Peak dry cat food one of the most species-appropriate and nutrient-dense dry products you can put in your cat’s bowl. All Ziwi Peak recipes are composed of 96% or more fresh meat, organs, bones, and New Zealand green-lipped mussels.

While most cat foods rely on synthetic vitamins and minerals to replace nutrients lost in cooking, Ziwi Peak’s Air-Dried Mackerel and Lamb Recipe harnesses the nutritional power of the heart, tripe, liver, lung, kidney, and bone. With virtually no plant content, it’s extremely low in carbohydrates, landing at around 4%—less than most canned food.

This food is more expensive than many others on the market, but it’s also very nutrient-dense, so you can feed your cat less at every meal. It should cost about $3.00 per day to feed the average 10-pound cat, which makes it an economical alternative to freeze-dried food.

What We Liked:

• Minimally processed foods harness the nutritional value of fresh meat
• Made from high-quality ingredients
• Virtually zero carbohydrate content
• 95% of the protein in each meal is bioavailable

What We Didn’t Like:

• At just 14% moisture, this food is no substitute for a hydrating canned, homemade, or raw diet
• Extremely expensive
• Not every cat will like the jerky texture

#6 Best For Picky Cats: Instinct Original Grain-Free with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Cat Food

• Made In: United States
• Guaranteed Protein: 41%
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 122
• Typical Cost Per Day: $0.49 per day

If you’re struggling to find a dry food that satisfies your picky eater, consider Instinct Original. All of the foods in the Instinct line are grain-free and composed of at least 70% animal-based ingredients.

The brand’s Grain-Free Chicken Recipe starts with four animal ingredients: cage-free chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, and menhaden fish meal. This kibble also features a coating of freeze-dried raw chicken for enhanced nutrition and taste.

While there’s no grain, corn, or potato in this recipe, it does include peas as a binder. You’ll also find live, natural probiotics for better digestion. Additionally, Instinct Original contains omega fatty acids and antioxidants for healthy skin and coat.

It’s worth noting that a recent formulation change prompted a few customer complaints of cats with diarrhea. This is likely due to a recipe change, which can cause GI upset in cats used to the original formula. It shouldn’t affect new customers.

What We Liked:

• Made without grain, potato, corn, wheat, or soy
• No animal byproducts, artificial colors, or preservatives

What We Didn’t Like:

• Some reviews mention this food gave their cat diarrhea
• Kibble may flake & break down in the bag

#7 Best For Kittens: Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Deboned Chicken & Egg Recipe

• Made In: Thailand
• Guaranteed Protein: 42% min.
• Age Range: Kitten
• Calories Per Ounce: 111
• Typical Cost Per Day: $0.88 per day

Though primarily a wet food brand, Tiki Cat also offers a limited selection of dry foods in their Born Carnivore line, which contain 44% protein on average. This food is baked to preserve nutrition and is free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Recently, the brand introduced foods formulated specifically for kittens, which contain higher levels of protein and added DHA for brain and eye development.

Tiki Cat’s Born Carnivore Chicken & Egg Kitten Food features deboned chicken, chicken meal, and dried egg as its top three ingredients. These contribute to a dry matter crude protein content of around 47%. When measured as dry matter, the fat content is over 24%—which helps make this a calorie-dense diet that supports kitten growth and development.

While this recipe is meat-based, it does contain peas, chickpeas, and tapioca. These appear after the top six ingredients (all of which are animal-derived), but they still contribute to a fairly high carbohydrate content.

At about 112 calories per ounce, this is a fairly calorie-dense food. It should cost about $0.90 per day to feed the average 10-pound cat—but kittens may need more calories, depending on their age and how quickly they are growing.

What We Liked:

• Primarily a meat-based recipe with four animal proteins
• Relies primarily on animal-sourced fat
• Salmon oil provides DHA for brain and eye development
• Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives

What We Didn’t Like:

• Fairly high in carbohydrates
• Contains some peas and legumes

#8 Best For Sensitive Stomachs: FirstMate Chicken Meal with Blueberries Formula

• Brand Name: FirstMate
• Made In: Canada
• Guaranteed Protein: 36% min.
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 100
• Typical Cost Per Day: $0.76 per day

All FirstMate foods are manufactured in a company-owned facility in British Columbia, using ingredients sourced from North America (with the exception of lamb sourced from Australia). All meat ingredients are humanely raised and fish ingredients are sustainably sourced. The brand’s recipes are free from artificial additives, vaguely-named ingredients, and animal by-products. FirstMate has never had a recall.

Each of FirstMate’s limited-ingredient diets starts with a high-quality source of animal protein, generally a meat meal: whole proteins from which the moisture has been removed. This process yields a lighter, more concentrated source of protein that doesn’t change as much during the extrusion process. The brand’s Chicken Meal with Blueberries formula is no exception, featuring chicken meal as its first ingredient—and only source of animal protein.

This dry food formula provides 40% crude protein on a dry matter basis. The dry matter fat is a little low (around 18%)—but it comes from chicken fat, which may be a better choice for cats with fish allergies.

Potato serves as a binding agent and, along with whole blueberries, brings the dry matter carbohydrate content up to about 29%. While this is certainly higher than we like to see, it’s very common for dry cat foods to contain 30% dry matter carbohydrate or more. Like any dry food, this recipe is also low in moisture.

What We Liked:

• Made with a single source of animal protein and fat
• Limited list of ingredients improves digestibility and reduces reactivity
• Completely free from artificial preservatives, dyes, and flavors

What We Didn’t Like:

• No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs
• Fairly high dry matter carb content around 30%

#9 Best For Seniors: Young Again Mature Health Formula

• Made In: United States
• Guaranteed Protein: 54% min.
• Age Range: Adult & Senior Cats
• Calories Per Ounce: 132
• Typical Cost Per Day: $0.58 per day

Young Again offers a limited selection of dry cat foods, all formulated with high meat inclusions and low carbohydrate content. While the company sources its ingredients internationally, all of its animal ingredients are purchased from USDA- and FDA-approved human-grade food facilities.

The brand’s Mature Health formula is an excellent choice for senior cats who need the right balance of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and sodium to support kidney health. As your cat gets older, they require less of these nutrients. This meat-focused recipe features hydrolyzed pork and chicken meal as the primary ingredients. Fish oil is the main source of fat and provides plenty of skin- and coat-supporting omega-3s.

When measured as dry matter, this food contains 57.6% crude protein, which helps support your older cat’s lean muscle mass. It’s a nutrient-dense diet as well, so your cat doesn’t need to eat a lot of it to meet their energy needs.

Most importantly, this Young Again recipe doesn’t contain high-glycemic ingredients like beans, peas, and legumes. The only significant plant ingredient is potato starch, likely used as a binder. The overall carbohydrate content remains very low—less than 6% dry matter.

What We Liked:

• Meat-focused recipes support lean muscle mass
• Relies primarily on animal-sourced fat
• Low carbohydrate content, great for diabetic cats
• Free from beans, peas, and legumes

What We Didn’t Like:

• Contains starchy potato

#10 Best Chicken-Free: Orijen Six Fish Grain-Free Dry Cat Food

• Made In: United States
• Guaranteed Protein: 40% Min
• Age Range: All Life Stages
• Calories Per Ounce: 118
• Typical Cost Per Day: $0.75 per day

Chicken is one of the most common proteins used in commercial cat food. Finding a completely chicken-free formula can be challenging for cats with chicken allergies or sensitivities. This Orijen Six Fish recipe relies on fish-based protein and fat, making it an appropriate dry food option for cats who can’t tolerate chicken.

This Orijen dry food is made with 90% animal ingredients, including six different types of fish. Herring oil is the primary added fat and a biologically appropriate source of omega-3 fatty acids. Some of the whole fish ingredients like herring and salmon provide omega-3s as well.

Measured as dry matter, this formula contains 44% protein. It’s higher in carbs than we’d like, though on par with the average dry cat food. The downside is that much of the carbohydrate content in this recipe comes from beans and legumes which can be hard for some cats to digest. Supplementary probiotics and prebiotic fibers may help improve the digestibility of this recipe.

What We Liked:

• Completely free from chicken products
• Made with 90% animal ingredients
• Rich in animal-sourced omega-3 fatty acids
• Supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics

What We Didn’t Like:

• Beans and legumes may be hard for some cats to digest
• No dry food provides the moisture your cat needs