Providing proper nutrition during kittenhood is the best way to ensure you’re laying the foundation for your new pet’s optimal health and longevity. An appropriate diet ensures your kitten grows healthfully, optimizing their immune function and minimizing the likelihood of obesity.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about pet nutrition, which can make picking the right food for your growing kitty feel impossible. To help you make the right nutrition decisions for your kitty, we’ve collected a list of the 10 best wet, soft, and canned kitten foods available. Keep reading to find our reviews and a comprehensive guide on the factors you need to consider when shopping for the perfect kitten food for your new pet.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2024

The 10 Best Wet, Soft & Canned Kitten Foods

1. Wellness Complete Health Natural Canned Kitten Food – Best Overall

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Chicken Entree Recipe Natural Canned Cat Food is the best overall wet kitten food for its focus on quality protein sources and added nutritional benefits. This food features a real protein as the first ingredient (something you should always look for when shopping for food for your kitty). It contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, which can promote both brain and vision development in growing kittens. The formula also contains taurine, a type of essential amino acid that’s critical for vision, reproduction, and heart function. This pate has a smooth and delicious texture that’s easy for kittens to eat and swallow, and the formula uses no added flavors, colors, or preservatives. For these reasons, we believe this to be the best overall wet kitten food.

This food comes in convenient, kitten-sized cans, but the price may be out of reach to owners on a budget.

---

2. Fancy Feast Variety Pack Canned Kitten Food – Best Value

On an ounce-by-ounce basis, the Fancy Feast Tender Feast Variety Pack provides cat owners with the best wet kitten food for the money. This particular variety pack contains four different flavors, including chicken, salmon, turkey, and whitefish, which is a great way to provide variety in your kitten’s nutrition plan and introduce them to a variety of flavors while they are young. Each recipe features a real protein source as the first ingredient, and all formulas contain milk and broth to give your kitty the hydration they need. Though “by-products” often get a bad reputation in the pet food world, they aren’t “bad”. In fact, according to WebMD, by-products can have more nutrients than straight meat.

The texture of these formulas is a bit on the course and grainy side, which may not be up every kitten’s alley.

---

3. Hill’s Science Diet Tender Chicken Kitten Food – Premium Choice

The Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Tender Chicken Recipe Cat Food recipe doesn’t start off with a real protein as the first ingredient, but it does boast water as its most plentiful ingredient. Proper hydration is an essential component for all living things, and cats are notorious for not drinking enough. This formula’s high water content may also make it more attractive to particularly picky kitties.

The second and third ingredients are chicken and pork liver, which boost the recipe’s protein content. Chicken is a great source of lean protein, while pork liver is a nutrient-rich organ meat with many essential vitamins and minerals. However, the formula does fall on the lower end of the protein and fat content on a dry matter basis, but it’s still a highly nutritious option for growing kitties.

This food comes in an easy-to-serve, single-serving pouch to make mealtime easy. It has chunks of real chicken in a savory gravy that most kittens love.

Looking at its per-ounce price, this formula is quite a bit more expensive than others on our list.

---

4. Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra Soft Mousse in Sauce

Like the Hill’s Science Diet Recipe, the Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Mother & Babycat Ultra Soft Mousse in Sauce doesn’t list a protein source as its first ingredient. It does, however, name water as its most plentiful ingredient, boosting your kitten’s hydration and the moisture content of the recipe. This formula is designed for kittens up to four months of age and their mothers. It contains a unique blend of antioxidants like vitamins E and C to support your kitten’s developing immune system. This formula contains highly digestible proteins like chicken and chicken liver for digestive support.

Royal Canin is a higher-priced brand, and this formula is no exception.

---

5. Purina Pro Plan Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entree Kitten Food

The Purina Pro Plan Kitten Flaked Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entree Canned Cat Food is a flaky-textured formula made with real whitefish and tuna for a taste kittens love. This formula contains DHA for your pet’s brain and vision development and vitamins like vitamin A for vision and bone growth. It also contains taurine, an essential amino acid necessary for the development of healthy vision. This formula can be fed until your kitten’s first birthday.

Not all cats take to the flaky texture of this formula right away (or at all).

---

6. Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Food Trays

The Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Chicken Recipe Pate Grain-Free Wet Cat Food Trays are made with real chicken as the first ingredient to ensure your kitten gets the protein they need to thrive. This formula contains DHA and taurine to promote brain, vision and heart health and vitamin E, an important antioxidant for overall wellness. The formula features nutrient-rich sources of fiber and prebiotics to promote healthy digestion. The recipe contains water and chicken broth in the first five ingredients, providing your kitty with a healthy dose of hydration.

The trays come in a two-pack format, providing two nutritious meals for your kitten. While these trays, in theory, are super convenient, it can be difficult to peel back the foil lid.

---

7. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Pate Variety Pack Kitten Food

The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Pate Kitten Variety Pack with Chicken & Salmon Grain-Free Cat Food is a high-protein food free of artificial flavorings or preservatives. This variety pack contains two flavors – chicken and salmon. The chicken formula lists real chicken as its first ingredient for muscle development and energy and chicken broth as its second ingredient for added moisture and hydration. This formula also contains salmon oil, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids to promote healthy skin and coat. The salmon flavor lists real salmon and chicken as its first two ingredients and fish broth for added hydration as its third. Both flavors contain added vitamins and minerals like pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), which is necessary for carbohydrate and fat metabolism.

The texture is very soft, which may make it more appropriate for younger kittens. Additionally, the texture seems to vary from can to can.

---

8. Tiki Cat Baby Grain-Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Wet Food

 

Tiki Cat Baby Grain-Free Chicken & Salmon Recipe Wet Cat Food is made with real chicken and salmon, providing kittens with the high protein they require for muscle growth. Speaking of high protein, this is one of the most protein-rich recipes in our entire buying guide. The formula contains taurine for heart and vision health, as well as DHA for brain development.

This food is priced very high, especially considering the small size of the cans (2.4 ounces). The texture isn’t something all kittens take to right away, either.

---

9. Weruva Kitten Can Jam! Canned Food Variety Pack

The Weruva Kitten Can Jam! Chicken, Tuna & Salmon Flavored Pate Canned Cat Food Variety Pack offers kitten parents three flavors (chicken, chicken/tuna, and tuna/salmon) to keep their pets happy and interested in mealtime. The chicken recipe lists real chicken as its first ingredient, while the other two list fish or chicken broth as its main ingredient (though chicken or tuna are listed second). These recipes are made without any artificial flavors or preservatives and are crafted in human food facilities. Each can contains added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as pyridoxine (vitamin B6), necessary for metabolizing immune function and glucose metabolism. Each flavor has a different texture, which may or may not be a hit for your kitten.

According to some customers, this food smells awful, and the scent can linger for a while.

---

10. Sheba Kitten Soft Paté Variety Pack

The Sheba Perfect Portions Kitten Variety Pack Chicken Pate & Pate Salmon Wet Cat Food is an affordable, high-protein option. Both flavors in this variety pack list chicken as their first ingredient. The formulas also contain water and pork broth in the first five ingredients, ensuring your kitty gets some extra hydration. The recipes are enriched with DHA and fish oil to support brain health. This easy-to-eat pate is soft and perfect for little mouths.

This food has a very strong smell, which may be off-putting to some cat owners. Additionally, the packaging can be difficult to open, with the juices splashing everywhere.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Wet Food for Kittens

When picking the right food for your growing kitten, there are several key factors one must consider.

Nutrient Ratio

The critical nutrients for a kitten are protein, fat, and calcium. While these components can be found in diets made for adult cats, they will not be in the right ratios to support your kitten’s growth. At this point in your kitty’s development, you absolutely should be feeding them food made specifically with cats their age in mind. Kitten food is much more nutrient-dense, providing your growing kitty with the nutrients and calories they need.

Protein requirements are particularly high during weaning, though they decrease after that. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, kittens need around 35% to 50% protein on a dry matter basis.

Fat is a crucial macronutrient for kittens as it provides them with a source of essential fatty acids and acts as a source of energy. Too much fat, however, can cause obesity and may lead to the development of orthopedic conditions. Kittens should have between 18% to 35% fat on a dry matter basis.

Calcium is an essential nutrient for kittens, as it supports the growth and development of their bones and teeth. Kitten growth food formulas should contain between 0.8% and 1.6% calcium on a dry matter basis.

Supplementation

It’s not enough that your pet’s food is just high in protein, fat, and calcium. What you feed your kitten needs to support all facets of their health. Pet food manufacturers know what animals need to thrive, so they often add supplements to their recipes to ensure they’re meeting every need.

Hydration

It’s a well-known fact that cats have a low thirst drive and are awful at drinking the appropriate amount of water. Feeding your kitten wet food is a great way to boost their hydration level, but some canned foods are more hydrating than others. You can check the moisture content of any of the cat foods on our list by reading their nutritional information.

Calories

According to the American Animal Hospital Association, kittens have high energy requirements compared to their weight, which slowly decreases over time. At 10 weeks, they need approximately 200 calories per kilogram of body weight daily, compared to 80 calories per kilogram of body weight when they reach ten months. However this does not mean that they need less food as they grow up because a 10 month old kitten weighs more than a 10 week old kitten.

Thankfully, cat food manufacturers include feeding guidelines on their labels to help owners determine exactly how much food their kitten needs to thrive. However, if you’re ever in doubt, contact your veterinarian for advice. They can take your kitten’s exact age, size, and activity level into account when making recommendations on how much to feed your pet. Looking at your kitten’s body condition is an effective way to make sure you are not underfeeding them.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Dry Matter Basis?

As you may have noticed in the “Nutrient Ratio” section above, we used the term “dry matter basis” when referring to how much protein, fat, and calcium kittens require. You may also notice that none of the protein or fat percentages in the ten reviews above came anywhere close to 35% to 50% protein or 18% to 35% fat. This is because these percentages are not based on a dry matter basis; they’re based on an “as fed” basis.

Cat and dog food manufacturers use guaranteed analyses to tell consumers the basic nutritional information of the food in question. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a non-profit organization that sets the standards of the quality and safety of pet food, only requires manufacturers to include the minimum information for things like protein and fat on an “as fed basis.” “As Fed” portrays nutritional information of the food without taking things like moisture into consideration. This can greatly skew how much protein and fat are in the food, especially when wet, soft, and canned kitten food is extremely high in moisture when compared to kibble.

Thankfully, handy calculators are available online that allow consumers to determine the dry matter basis for their pet’s food.

When Should I Start My Kitten on Soft Food?

Kittens typically wean off their mother’s milk by the time they’re six or seven weeks old, though they often express interest in eating solids as young as four weeks old. When they’ve weaned from their mothers, kittens rely solely on their human caregivers to provide them with proper nutrition.

How Often Should I Feed My Kitten?

Kittens have small tummies and can’t handle too much food at once. It’s best to divide their food into three or even four smaller meals spread throughout the day. By the time they’re around six months, you can drop down to twice daily feedings, though some older cats prefer smaller, more frequent meals.

What About Dry Food?

One of the great debates in feline nutrition is whether owners should feed their cats a wet, dry, or combination diet. Some experts believe cats should only eat wet food, while others recommend a mix of both.

Both wet and dry foods have their pros and cons.

Wet food is higher in moisture and will do a better job of keeping your kitten hydrated. However, wet food does not provide any abrasion, which can contribute to dental disease. It’s also pricier than dry food.

Dry food is easier to feed in multi-cat homes and may improve dental health. However, it’s easy to overeat dry food, especially if you let your pets free feed, and its low moisture content does not help keep your kitten hydrated.

It’s important to offer your kitten at least some canned food as part of their diet, as their small teeth aren’t able to chew dry food well until they’re a bit older.

Conclusion

Our choice for the Best Overall soft kitten food is the Wellness Complete Health, which offers a high-quality protein source with a smooth and delectable texture. If you’re searching for good nutrition at a fair price, consider Fancy Feast, as it is budget-friendly and filled with quality protein sources. Our Premium Choice is the Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Tender Chicken Recipe Cat Food because of the combination of quality ingredients and the high water content.

Our other two top choices are the Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Mother & Babycat Ultra Soft Mousse in Sauce and the Purina Pro Plan Kitten Flaked Ocean Whitefish & Tuna Entree Canned Cat Food. Both will offer the important nutrients and water content that growing kittens need.

Choosing the best nutrition for your kitten isn’t easy, but we hope our reviews and guide have shed some light on the importance of a quality diet for your growing kitty.

---

Featured Image Credit: Elizabett, Shutterstock