Bengals are a striking and energetic breed, known for their spotted coat pattern which resembles wild felines, particularly the Asian Leopard cat, their wild ancestor. The best diet for them will maintain their lean muscular physique and shiny distinctive coat, as well as supporting their activity levels.
Below, we’ve created a list of reviews for the best Bengal cat food around. Keep reading to find out our top picks.
Disclaimer: This article has been fact-checked by a veterinarian, though the products were selected and reviewed by the author. Please note that the FDA is currently investigating a potential link between grain-free diets and certain heart diseases in cats and dogs. Always consult with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet.
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A Quick Comparison of the Winners in 2024
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Best Overall
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Smalls Cow Recipe (Fresh Cat Food Subscription) |
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Click to Save 40% Use code: Catster24 |
Budget Buy
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Tiki Cat Succulent Grain Free Canned |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Royal Canin Bengal Adult Dry |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Instinct Ultimate Protein Grain-Free |
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CHECK PRICE | |
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The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. |
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CHECK PRICE |
The 6 Best Cat Foods for Bengals
1. Smalls Cow Recipe (Fresh Cat Food Subscription) – Best Overall
Our pick for the best food for Bengals cats is the Smalls Fresh Cow recipe, available in smooth and ground textures. Smalls is a U.S.-based small business initially started by two friends cooking cat food in their kitchen. Their simple, tasty recipes rely on meat and vegetable ingredients sustainably sourced from the United States and Canada.
All Smalls recipes are made in the USA and include a vitamin and mineral blend. The food is gently cooked, packaged without preservatives, and shipped directly to your home every 2–8 weeks as needed. Unfortunately, Smalls does not ship internationally or to Alaska and Hawaii.
Smalls Fresh Cow is a fantastic option for Bengal owners who like the idea of home-cooked food for their cats but want to ensure they’re feeding a nutritionally balanced diet. Customers reported that their cats love the taste of Smalls’ food, and they noticed the kitties seem to have improved energy levels, less smelly litter boxes, and shinier coats when eating Smalls.
- Sustainably sourced ingredients
- Made in the USA
- Shipped directly to your home
- Made of fresh meats and vegetables
- Does not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally
2. Tiki Cat Succulent Chicken Canned Cat Food – Budget Buy
We all love our Bengals, and we always want to give them something tasty to eat. But when you’re on a budget, you’re looking for the best cat food for Bengals for the money. We have done our research and suggest Tiki Cat Succulent Chicken Canned Cat Food. This nutritious cat food provides the nutrition Bengals need without emptying your bank account.
Tiki cat food is made with shredded chicken as its first ingredient, which is cooked in chicken broth. It’s full of moisture and helps your cat stay hydrated, supporting urinary and digestive health. Additionally, it contains essential omegas, taurine, minerals, and vitamins and provides a healthy meal without carbs, flour, starches, gluten, or grains.
- Chicken breast is first ingredient
- Full of omegas, taurine, vitamins, and minerals
- Supports urinary and digestive health
- Affordable
- Full of protein
- Not specifically made for Bengals
- Some cats did not like the texture
3. Royal Canin Adult Dry Bengal Cat Food
Royal Canin Bengal Adult Dry Cat Food is another excellent choice. It’s specially made for Bengals and is formulated with the best ratio of fat and high-level protein for building and maintaining your Bengal’s lean muscle.
We also love that this Bengal cat food contains omega fatty acids, essential amino acids, and vitamins to keep your cat’s gorgeous striped coat smooth and silky. Finally, the formula includes prebiotics and highly digestible protein to support the digestive system.
- Specifically made for Bengals
- Includes vitamins and other ingredients for a healthy, beautiful coat
- Y-shape kibble is unique
- Good for digestive tract
- Texture encourages cats to chew for good oral hygiene
- May be a bit costly for some owners
- No wet food option
4. Instinct Protein Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
We have heard a lot about feeding raw diets and how good they are for your cat. The big disadvantage of the raw diet is that it takes a lot of time and effort. That is why we love Instinct Ultimate Protein Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. It was created to closely mirror the potential benefits of feeding your cat a raw diet.
The high protein levels in Instinct don’t come from an animal meal; they come from real meat. Your cat will be able to absorb all of the nutrition and enjoy the benefits of natural omegas, live probiotics, and antioxidants.
Of course, when you want to give your cat the best, you will pay for it. This is excellent cat food, but it’s a bit pricey and not made specifically for Bengals.
- 95% of the protein comes from actual chicken
- Contains no animal meal
- Easy to digest and absorb
- Supports healthy digestion, skin and coat, and immune system
- Mirrors a raw diet
- Made in the United States
- Not made exclusively for Bengals
- More expensive
5. The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Lamb & King Salmon Freeze Dried Cat Food
The New Zealand Natural Pet Food Co. Freeze Dried Cat Food is an excellent choice if you’re looking for top-notch nutrition for your feline friend. It is all-natural, so you never have to feel guilty about the ingredients.
The first few ingredients are lamb, king salmon with ground bone, lamb green tripe, lamb heart, lamb liver, lamb kidney, kelp, green-lipped mussels, manuka honey, rosemary, organic virgin coconut oil, hoki oil, and taurine.
In one serving of this cat food, there are 346 calories. Ultimately, it contains over 90% meat, organs, and bones making it a high protein selection. It is higher in fat though, so feeding it to easy keepers or already overweight cats might not be the best.
We love that this is a small operation, made in small, controlled batches in New Zealand. Because it is freeze-dried raw, it maintains more of its nutritional value than many more processed foods.
- Raw, freeze-dried pieces
- Ultra-high protein
- Made in small batches
- Nutrient-dense
- Pricey
- Higher in fat
6. Instinct Limited Diet Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
For those looking for formulas for kitties with sensitive stomachs, Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain-Free Dry Cat Food might be the answer. We love that it only has a limited number of ingredients, so it’s easy to read the label and know whether or not it’s right for our cats.
Instinct Limited Ingredient contains a single animal protein and a single vegetable, and so it can give cats the simple nutrition they need without upsetting their stomachs. When you are looking for something simple with easy-to-read ingredients, Instinct is ideal.
- Limited number of ingredients
- Easy-to-read labels
- Grain-free
- Good for cats with sensitive stomachs
- Easy to digest
- Not specifically for Bengals
- One vegetable included
- One animal protein
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Cat Food for Bengal Cats
With several options, how do you choose the right Bengal cat diet for your cat? We’ll examine what to look for in food for your Bengal and what to avoid.
What to Look for in Food for Your Bengal
Even though Bengals are a specialhybrid breed, they’re obligate carnivores like all cats and need a diet rich in animal protein. Their wild ancestor, the Asian Leopard cat, feeds primarily on prey including birds, small mammals and lizards. What you feed your Bengal should mimic this as much as possible and be high in protein, healthy fats, and limited in carbohydrates.
- Named Meat – Bengals need a high-protein diet and should be fed a brand with meat listed first. Animal-based protein is essential for muscle maintenance, tissue repair, and overall energy levels.
- No Fillers – You should avoid recipes that are loaded with fillers. However, some fillers are fine if they’re of high quality.
- No Artificial Flavors, Colors or Preservatives – Just like the previous advice, if you want to choose the best food, don’t choose brands that contain artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.
- AAFCO Statement – To give your Bengal a nutritionally complete and balanced meals, look for cat foods that have the AAFCO statement on the pet food label. This means the food has met or exceeded the nutritional adequacy standards established by the AAFCO.
- Lifestage – Make sure the food you choose is suitable for your Bengal’s lifestage. Kittens have different nutritional requirements during growth.
Seek advice from your veterinarian before swapping your Bengal onto a new diet. This is particularly important if they suffer from any medical conditions. Transitioning to a new food should always be done slowly to minimize digestive upset and give them time to adjust to the new food.
Things You Should Never Feed Your Bengal
As a cat owner, you know the look your cat gives you when you are eating something that they deem tasty. They meow, purr, and demand that you give them a piece. It’s okay to do once in a while, but there are some foods that you should never give your cat.
- Chocolate – Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to cats. This alkaloid can lead to problems with your cat’s digestion, heart issues, muscle tremors, seizures, and even death if consumed in large amounts.
- Alcohol – Most cat and dog owners know alcohol is dangerous, but it bears repeating. Even small amounts of alcohol can cause neurological signs and liver and kidney damage.
- Raw fish, eggs or meat – These may contain bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Raw fish can contain an enzyme that destroys thiamine, an essential B vitamin for cats.
- Garlic and onions – Any form of garlic or onion can be toxic for cats and damage red blood cells, leading to anemia.
- Avocado – Avocados contain persin that can be harmful to cats.
In general, it’s best to avoid feeding your feline human food and stick with high-quality cat food that contains everything they need to stay healthy and happy.
The 3 Tips for Your Cat’s Bowl
Finally, now that we have looked at the food you should buy your cat, what should you serve the food in? Below are some tips when choosing your cat’s dish.
1. Don’t Use Plastic
Plastic food bowls can become scratched and cracked, making them harder to clean and a breeding ground for bacteria. This can contribute to the development of feline acne on their chin. Choose a bowl made of stainless steel or ceramic.
2. Consider the Bowl’s Depth
A cat prefers bowls and dishes that are wide and relatively shallow. It might be uncomfortable when your cat sticks their face into a deep bowl too far. This may be because they don’t like the feel of it around their whiskers, or they can’t see their environment.
3. Make Sure the Bowls Are Clean
Your cat’s dishes should be washed daily using water and soap. Dry food is often oily, and bacteria can build up and smell. If your cat is fed wet food, the bowls should be washed after every feeding.
- NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
- WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
- CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking...
Choosing the right food and water bowls for our feline companions can pose certain challenges for pet owners. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl provides a chic and innovative solution that supports cat specific needs, such as shallow bowls and a subtle elevation that fosters whisker relief, posture comfort, and improves digestion. It features an elegant contemporary design with a wide wrap-around tray aimed at minimizing any messes from ending up on your floor! Furthermore, this bowl is entirely dishwasher safe, so pet owners are able to spend more time with their cats instead of cleaning up after them. Discover why the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is right for both you and your kitty by clicking here.
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How We Selected Our List of Foods for Bengals Cats
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat foods. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat foods. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!
Conclusion
We hope we have helped you find the right food for your Bengal cat with our reviews. In our opinion, the best Bengal cat food overall is Smalls Fresh Cow Recipe. If you are looking for the best value cat food for Bengals, then Tiki Cat Succulent Chicken Canned Cat Food is a great choice.
As cat owners, we know how hard it can be to investigate the numerous products available for your cat. That’s why we have tried to make it a little bit easier for you. Have a wonderful and long life with your cat, and treasure the time you share.
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Featured Image Credit: TheCats, Pixabay
