10 Best Cat Foods in 2025, Recommended By Vets

Our veterinarians recommend this high-quality dry cat food for most adult cats. Its well-balanced formula helps cats maintain a healthy weight, while the beet pulp may help reduce hairballs. Hill’s is a loved brand by our experts, and this kibble is packed with ingredients to provide a well-balanced nutritional option for your cat.

The food also contains antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, and L-carnitine (a supplement that helps turn fat into energy, which keeps them from gaining weight).

Cats can be notoriously picky eaters, but even the fussiest feline will find it hard to turn his nose up at this best rated wet cat food. With water as its first ingredient, this cat food is formulated to promote a healthy weight and aid in digestion. And the food’s chunky, slathered-in-gravy texture makes it irresistible for felines.

This well-balanced option was rated best cat food for indoor cats because it promotes good health and reduces human allergens. When fed daily, the food essentially helps to decrease the cat’s dander production (one of the major triggers for people with cat allergies) to help you and your indoor kitty cohabitate in harmony. It’s at a higher price point for cat food but boasts turkey as its first ingredient and is great for cats between 1-6 years old.

This Royal Canin dry food has all the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and prebiotics young kittens need to thrive. It contains immune-supporting supplements (antioxidants, vitamins, prebiotics, and probiotics), and the food’s high fat content (16%) helps support a kitten’s rapid growth and development. The kibble is palatable, highly digestible, and designed specifically for tiny kitten mouths—making it an ideal winner for best kitten food.

As cats grow older, their nutritional needs change. This food is formulated specifically for supporting cats that are at least 7 years old, thanks to the addition of omega fatty acids and glucosamine and chondroitin support. It’s also full of highly digestible proteins to allow older cats to digest nutrient and promote optimal stool quality.

The kibble is soft to protect gums and teeth, and its phosphorous levels work to prevent kidney disease, which is common in older cats.

As one of the best sensitive skin and stomach cat diets available over-the-counter, this Purina Pro Plan cat food is one of our veterinarians’ most recommended formulas. Thanks to ingredients such as rice and oat meal, it’s easy for cats to digest.

It took home top spot for best cat food for stomach stomachs because it’s high in fatty acids and contains live probiotics that make it gentle on your cat’s digestive tract—ideal for cats that manage frequent upset tummies.

For pet parents who have kitties with food allergies, this grain-free cat food is free of corn, wheat, soy, poultry byproducts, artificial colors and flavors, and preservatives. The wild-caught salmon formula also contains 10% less fat than other Purina Beyond cat foods.

It also offers extra nutritional support for indoor cats, including natural fiber to help with hairballs. While also full of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to make it a well-rounded cat food.

Studies show that over 60% of cats worldwide are overweight. Obesity in cats is dangerous because it adds additional health risks, such as joint issues, diabetes, and heart disease.

This option from Hill’s is formulated with a proprietary ingredient blend that supports healthy weight loss while maintaining lean muscle. It's considered the best cat food for weight loss by our experts, because it is powered by Hill's breakthrough weight management nutrition with visible results within 10 weeks.

This food was chosen by our vet experts as the best diet food for cats because it helps promote weight loss, so your kitty can lose his extra pounds and regain a healthy weight.

For pet parents on a budget, our veterinarians recommend IAMS ProActive Indoor Health for their cat. Chicken is the first ingredient, and the formula also contains beet pulp to prevent hairballs and omegas for skin and coat health.

It’s also formulated with L-carnitine, which helps burn fat while maintaining a healthy metabolism in cats.

For some urinary problems, such as recurring feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), this over-the-counter food can be a good way to promote your cat’s urinary health, without a vet prescription. It also supports the urine pH and works to stop hairballs from forming. Its healthy mineral balance supports the whole urinary tract system including kidneys and bladder.

But this OTC diet isn’t a one-to-one replacement for prescription urinary health cat foods, and it might not be the best fit if your cat experiences certain issues like urinary blockages, stones, or crystals. Chat with your veterinarian before starting your cat on this specific diet.