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10 Best Wet Cat Foods in the UK in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Rachel Giordano

Last Updated on February 1, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

orange cat eating wet food

10 Best Wet Cat Foods in the UK in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

orange cat eating wet food

As cat lovers, we want what’s best for our kitties, and that involves feeding healthy cat food that provides all the necessary ingredients cats need to thrive. When it comes to wet cat food in the UK, you’ll see plenty of options. But how do you go about selecting the right one?

In this guide, we’ll list our top ten reviews of the best wet cat food to help you make a decision. Many factors come into play, such as nutritional values, whether the wet food is healthy, and the price. Below, we’ll cover those factors more in-depth. 

divider-catclaw1 A Glance at Our Favorites in 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Purina ONE Adult Cat Food Purina ONE Adult Cat Food
  • Comes in a 40-pack
  • Affordable
  • No artificial preservatives or flavors
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches
  • Comes in a 40-pack
  • Promotes healthy skin and coat
  • No artificial flavors or preservatives
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food
  • High protein content
  • Omega-3s for healthy skin and coat
  • Comes in a 20-pack
  • Best for Kittens
    Natures Menu Cat Food Natures Menu Cat Food
  • Contains 70% real chicken
  • No meat meals or derivatives
  • Vet approved
  • Felix Original Fish Selection in Jelly Felix Original Fish Selection in Jelly
  • Contains many different fish
  • Meets 100% of daily nutritional requirements
  • Plenty of antioxidants
  • The 10 Best Wet Cat Food in the UK

    1. Purina ONE Adult Cat Food – Best Overall

    Purina ONE Adult Cat Food Chicken and Beef (1)

    Flavors: Chicken with green beans and beef carrots
    Lifestage: Adult
    Moisture: 79%
    Protein Content: 12%

    Purina ONE Adult Cat Food Chicken and Beef comes in wet pouches containing all the necessary vitamins and minerals your cat requires to lead a healthy life. It has a slightly higher protein content of 12% compared to other wet cat foods, and the high-quality chicken and beef used in the recipe provide excellent nutrition. Cats seem to love the gravy in Purina ONE, too.

    It’s fortified with antioxidants, such as vitamin E, to promote a strong urinary system for the prevention of urinary stones. It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives, and it comes in a 40-pack at a reasonable price, making it our pick for the best overall wet cat food.

    However, some consumers have reported that Purina’s customer service is inadequate.

    Pros
    • Comes in a 40-pack
    • Affordable
    • No artificial preservatives or flavors
    • Made with high-quality chicken and beef
    • High protein content
    Cons
    • Poor customer service

    2. Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches – Best Value

    Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches (1)

    Flavors: Poultry
    Lifestage: 1 year and over
    Moisture: 5%
    Protein Content: 8.5%

    Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches in jelly is another 40-pack that is a great value. This wet cat food is complete and balanced and contains natural ingredients to provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals your cat needs. It has zinc and sunflower oil for healthy skin and coats and no artificial preservatives or colors.

    The pouches are easy to open, which makes feeding time easy, and we think it’s the best wet food in the UK for the money. Whiskas may have a pungent smell after opening it, and some consumers claim the pouches have more jelly than food. Also, it also has a low protein content of 8.5%.

    Pros
    • Comes in a 40-pack
    • Promotes healthy skin and coat
    • No artificial flavors or preservatives
    Cons
    • Pouches may have more jelly than food
    • Low protein content
    • Strong smell

    3. Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food – Premium Choice

    Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food (1)

    Flavors: Tuna, ocean fish, salmon
    Lifestage: Adult
    Moisture: 84%
    Protein Content: 12.5%

    Encore 100% Natural Wet Cat Food contains 100% natural ingredients, and 55% of the ingredients are fish. It is a high-protein cat food with plenty of omega-3s for healthy skin and coats, and the chunks are mixed in with jelly. Encore comes in a 20-pack and is a bit pricey.

    However, the high-quality ingredients are worth the cost. A substantial number of consumers report that their fussy eaters love Encore, which makes it worth a try if you have a picky eater. However, it may cause diarrhea in some cats, and the food has a strong smell upon opening.

    Pros
    • High protein content
    • Omega-3s for healthy skin and coat
    • Comes in a 20-pack
    • High-quality ingredients
    Cons
    • May cause diarrhea in some cats
    • Strong smell
    • Expensive

    4. Natures Menu Cat Food – Best for Kittens

    Natures Menu Cat Food

    Flavors: Chicken, chicken, or turkey
    Lifestage: Kitten
    Moisture: 76%
    Protein Content: 10%

    Natures Menu Cat Food is a premium, vet-approved meal for growing kittens. It contains 70% chicken and is gently cooked in a pate-style mixture to retain all the nutrients. It beats the competition by excluding meat meals or derivatives and has a suitable protein content for kittens to promote a healthy start to life.

    It also has no sugars or fillers and uses human-grade ingredients. Each pouch contains 108 calories and has 8% crude fat. Natures Menu is expensive, and it’s only suitable for kittens.

    Pros
    • Contains 70% real chicken
    • No meat meals or derivatives
    • Vet approved
    • No fillers or sugars
    Cons
    • For kittens only
    • Expensive

    5. Felix Original Fish Selection in Jelly

    Felix Original Fish Selection in Jelly Cat Food (1)

    Flavors: Fish
    Lifestage: Adult
    Moisture: 83%
    Protein Content: 8.5%

    Felix Original Fish Selection in Jelly Cat Food has plenty of different fish in the ingredients, such as pollock, sardine, salmon, trout, shrimp, tuna, and cod. If your kitty loves fish, Felix will be a home run. The chunky formula is mixed in with jelly and meets 100% of your cat’s daily nutritional needs.

    It has high vitamin D and E levels with plenty of antioxidants to build up your cat’s natural defense. It is also free of artificial colors and preservatives. Some packets may arrive damaged, leak, and have an unpleasant smell. The pouches do not seem very sturdy, so be aware when opening them. Another downfall is that the chunks may be too large for some cats to consume comfortably.

    Pros
    • Contains several fish
    • Meets 100% of daily nutritional requirements
    • Plenty of antioxidants
    Cons
    • Packets are flimsy
    • Large chunks make it hard for some cats to chew

    6. SHEBA Cat Wet Food

    SHEBA Cat Wet Food (1)

    Flavors: Fish, beef, chicken, turkey, tuna, salmon, and cod
    Lifestage: Adult
    Moisture: 83%
    Protein Content: 8%

    SHEBA Cat Wet Food comes in jelly and gravy mixes, and several flavors are available. Scientists and veterinarians worked together to develop the formulas, and they’re 100% complete and balanced. All the fish in the recipes come from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery with 8% protein content.

    It has a high moisture content of 83%, which will help keep your cat well-hydrated. It has 40% meat content, but some of the meat is from derivatives. SHEBA is a little pricey, which seems to be the biggest complaint, and many consumers reported that their cats loved the food and gobbled it up at every feeding.

    Pros
    • Fish sourced from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery
    • High moisture content for hydration
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Includes meat and animal derivatives

    7. Applaws Natural Wet Cat Food

    Applaws Natural Wet Cat Food (1)

    Flavors: Fish, chicken, and tuna
    Lifestage: Adult
    Moisture: 82%
    Protein Content: 14%

    Applaws Natural Wet Cat Food is a chunky cat food in broth with a high protein content of 14%. They also have cat food in jelly if your cat prefers that to broth, and they produce several flavors, such as chicken and fish, chicken and tuna with crab, tuna filet, ocean fish, and mackerel. Applaws is an all-natural cat food with no hidden ingredients, and the fish provides plenty of omega-3 fatty acids.

    If you order the chicken and fish recipe, it will contain mostly fish. It’s designed as a meal topper; you can mix it with kibble, but you cannot feed it exclusively.

    Pros
    • High protein
    • Many flavor options
    • Comes in broth or jelly
    Cons
    • Chicken and fish recipe is mostly fish
    • Must mix it with dry food or kibble

    8. HILIFE Luxury Seafood Platter

    HILIFE Luxury Seafood Platter (1)

    Flavors: Tuna loin, shrimp, ocean fish, and salmon
    Lifestage: Adult
    Moisture: 83%
    Protein Content: 14%

    If you’re looking for a grain-free formula, HILIFE Luxury Seafood Platter is a terrific option. This high-protein wet cat food contains 60% real fish with 100% natural ingredients. It has no GMOs or soy, and the meaty chunks are in jelly. The grain-free recipe is handmade and comes in a box of 20 pouches.

    A downside to HILIFE is that it is another complementary food, meaning you’ll have to mix it with dry food. Also, the manufacturer states it should only be given three to four times a week, but it’s in small print, and some consumers may not read the statement on the packaging. The contents in the pouches are also hard to dig out.

    Pros
    • Made with 60% real fish
    • Grain-free
    • No GMOs or soy
    • Available in cans with sauce
    Cons
    • Complimentary food only
    • Contents in pouches are hard to dig out
    • Small font on packaging

    9. Lily’s Kitchen Shredded Fillets

    Lily's Kitchen Shredded Fillets (1)

    Flavors: Chicken, chicken and ham, chicken and mussels, and tuna and salmon
    Lifestage: Adults 1 year and up
    Moisture: 82%
    Protein Content: 11.5%

    Lily’s Kitchen Shredded Fillets comes in a multipack of two recipes each for a total of 8 pouches. This complete formula is in broth, and the main ingredient is real chicken for the chicken recipes and real tuna for the tuna and salmon recipes.

    It has no artificial ingredients but plenty of vitamins your cat needs daily, such as taurine for eye health, digestion, heart health, and vitamin E. It’s free of meat meals and has no added sugar, and the recipes are grain-free. Lily’s Kitchen is expensive, but many consumers claim their cats love it. Even picky eaters love the tasty recipes.

    Pros
    • Real meat is main ingredient
    • No meat meals
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Only 4-packs available

    10. Harringtons Complete Wet Cat Food Chicken in Gravy

    Harringtons Complete Wet Cat Food Chicken in Gravy (1)

    Flavors: Chicken
    Lifestage: Cats 8 weeks and up
    Moisture: 82%
    Protein Content: 8.5%

    Harringtons Complete Wet Cat Food Chicken in Gravy is a complete formula in a pate form. It targets healthy coats and skin with rich protein and omega-3s. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, and it has natural ingredients.

    It contains herbs, such as oregano, sage, and parsley, and it also has rosehips to boost vitamin C. The primary ingredients are chicken, pork, and beef liver, and there are plenty of vitamins and minerals to round out this healthy cat dish.

    Harringtons only comes in one flavor, and some consumers mentioned that it has a strange smell, but most kitties seem to like the recipe.

    Pros
    • Natural ingredients
    • No artificial flavors or preservatives
    Cons
    • Only comes in one flavor
    • Strange smell

    cat paw divider

    Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Wet Cat Foods in the UK

    We’ve reviewed our top ten picks for wet cat food, but below, we’ll discuss the characteristics to look for when shopping for wet cat food.

    Why Buy Wet Cat Food?

    One reason cat owners buy wet cat food is for the moisture. Cats usually are not big water drinkers, and feeding wet food provides a good source of hydration for your kitty. Canned cat food is a little more expensive than dry kibble, but it’s more palatable for your cat.

    However, canned food lasts only  24 hours in the refrigerator after opening it. If you’re questioning whether or not to feed wet cat food, you can always consult your vet for recommendations.

    kitten eating wet cat food
    Image Credit: MaraZe, Shutterstock

    Jelly vs. Gravy

    Deciding between jelly and gravy depends on your cat’s preference since both contain similar ingredients. Jelly makes the food have a lighter taste, whereas gravy will have a stronger taste with shredded, ground, or minced meat.

    Complementary vs. Complete

    Some canned wet food is meant to be used only as a topper to dry cat food or kibble, and some are only intended as treats. When searching for wet cat food, ensure you read the labels; the manufacturer will state whether or not it’s complete or only complementary.

    Lifestage

    If you have a kitten, ensure the cat food is intended for kittens, not just adults. Kittens have much more energy than adult cats, and they need a higher amount of protein, amino acids, and minerals. If you have a senior, be sure the food is appropriate for their needs.

    Cats are considered seniors between the ages of 11–14 and are geriatric at age 15. When cats reach this age range, their nutritional requirements change, and senior cats need more energy in their golden years.

    However, before switching your cat to senior food, we recommend consulting your vet first because your cat may have specific requirements depending on its overall health.

    cat-eating-wet-tuna-food
    Image Credit: Svetlana-Rey, Shutterstock

    Look For the Main Ingredients

    Cats are carnivores¹, and their primary source of protein should come from meat-based sources. The first ingredient should always be protein, which means it will be the most prevalent ingredient. Also, avoid foods with fillers, artificial flavors, and preservatives.

    divider-catclaw1 Final Verdict

    We hope you’ve enjoyed our top 10 reviews of the best wet cat food in the UK and that they help you make a final decision. To refresh your memory, we recommend Purina ONE Adult Cat Food Chicken and Beef for its high-quality chicken, vitamin and mineral content, and reasonable price. For the best value, we recommend Whiskas Wet Cat Food Pouches for their natural ingredients, sunflower oil for healthy coats and skin, and a reasonable price.


    Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

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