If you went back in time 50 years, you’d be shocked by the limited cat food options available on the market. Many people didn’t even feed their cats commercial food back then!
In recent years, the cat food market has exploded. You can find cat foods for just about every feline, including some holistic options.
Of course, what counts as “holistic” varies from person to person. Does the protein have to come from farm-raised animals? Do all the veggies have to be GMO-free? Each person will have a different answer.
There is no consensus around using the word “natural” or “holistic,” so you have to be fairly careful when shopping. You never know what a brand means by holistic until you read the ingredient list.
We have reviews of 9 brands of holistic cat foods below. Many of the foods use higher-quality ingredients, like farm-raised chicken. However, what each brand means by holistic varies from product to product.
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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Tiki Cat Variety Pack Cat Food |
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Best Value | Purina Beyond Salmon Dry Cat Food |
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Premium Choice | Smalls Fresh Human-Grade Cat Food |
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Click to Save 40% Use code: Catster24 | |
Instinct Chicken Pate Canned Cat Food |
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ORIJEN Original Dry Cat Food |
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The 9 Best Holistic Cat Foods
1. Tiki Cat Aloha Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Cat Food – Best Overall
First Five Ingredients: | Flaked Tuna, Tuna Broth, Pumpkin, Tilapia, Sunflower Seed Oil |
Protein: | 11% |
Fat: | 8% |
Tiki Cat isn’t a well-known brand. However, they produce very high-quality cat food. Most of their formulas are available as variety packs, like the Tiki Cat Aloha Friends Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Cat Food. We choose to review the first recipe listed in the variety pack as an example of what they offer. Most of their formulas are pretty similar, however.
This formula is primarily made up of tuna, with some tilapia thrown in for good measure. Pumpkin is also included, which is a high-quality veggie that provides many nutritious benefits for cats. It may also help with digestive issues, making it a solid option for cats with sensitive digestion.
Much of the formula’s moisture comes from tuna broth, which increases the nutritional content of the food. Broth contains vitamins and minerals, while water does not. Therefore, we prefer broth for all wet foods.
Sunflower oil is added higher on the ingredient list to improve Tiki Cat’s omega fatty acid content. The fatty acids are essential for supporting your feline’s coat and skin health. The formula is non-GMO and free of corn, wheat, and soy. With all these factors combined, we can easily name this the best overall holistic cat food you can purchase.
- Uses tuna broth
- High levels of animal protein
- Sunflower oil for high omega fatty acids
- Non-GMO
- Free from corn, wheat, and soy
- Only available in variety packs
2. Purina Beyond Grain-Free Whitefish & Egg Dry Cat Food – Best Value
First Five Ingredients: | Hake, Chicken Meal, Cassava Root Flour, Dried Egg Product, Pea Starch |
Protein: | 35% |
Fat: | 14% |
Purina isn’t often considered a natural, premium brand. However, they have one of the lowest recall rates on the market, which makes them one of the safest foods available. They have also recently started making their Beyond product line, which is of higher quality than similar brands.
The Purina Beyond Simply Grain-Free Wild-Caught Whitefish & Egg Recipe Dry Cat Food includes hake and chicken meal as the first two ingredients. They are high-quality proteins, especially since the use of fish raises the omega fatty acid content considerably.
However, the company practices ingredient splitting with their pea listing. They list “pea protein” and “pea starch” around the middle of the list. If these ingredients were listed together as “peas” (like they should), they would likely appear much higher.
Based on the ingredient list and price, Purina Beyond is the best holistic cat food for the money. It’s inexpensive compared to other brands.
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Limited Ingredient diet
- Hake and chicken meal
- High in omega fatty acids
- Large percentage of peas
- Includes higher levels of non-meat ingredients
3. Smalls Fresh Bird Holistic Cat Food – Premium Choice
First Five Ingredients: | Chicken Thigh, Chicken Breast, Chicken Livers, Green Beans, Peas |
Protein: | 21.2% |
Fat: | 8.05% |
Smalls Fresh Bird Recipe provides an excellent source of protein that is low in fat and high in nutritional value. The diet is quite palatable, with white and dark meat in the mix. We liked that it has kale, which provides a decent source of fiber that cats need even though they are obligate carnivores.
The recipe also contains green beans and peas, which we didn’t like. According to the FDA, the jury is still out about the nutritional benefits of legumes in dog and cat foods.1 We also had concerns about the practice of shipping fresh meals because of the risk of foodborne illnesses, which is also on the American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) radar.2
It’s worth noting that Smalls issued a voluntary recall of some of its products earlier in 2021. We suggest following the package’s instructions when feeding your cat this food. Make sure to remove your pet’s bowl promptly and clean it once your kitty finishes eating.
- High-quality protein
- Low in fat
- Kale for fiber
- Decent moisture percentage
- Green beans and peas in the recipe
- Recall history
4. Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Chicken Canned Cat Food
First Five Ingredients: | Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Ground Flaxseed |
Protein: | 10% |
Fat: | 7.5% |
The Instinct Original Grain-Free Pate Real Chicken Recipe Wet Canned Cat Food utilizes chicken and turkey as the primary protein source and includes organ meats and chicken broth. Ground flaxseed is included to raise the omega fatty acid content, promoting your cat’s skin and coat health.
Most of the formula is meat, just like it should be. 95% of this recipe comes from an animal product. Only 5% are veggies, including peas and carrots, but they’re listed much further down the ingredient list.
Instinct Original is free from grain, corn, potatoes, wheat, soy, and by-products. Artificial colors and preservatives are also absent from the ingredient list. If you’re looking for a formula that mirrors your cat’s natural diet, this is it.
As obligate carnivores, cats are designed to live off mostly meat. However, Instinct Original is considerably more expensive than similar brands. That’s what happens when your feline is mainly consuming meat. Compared to grains and veggies, meat is expensive.
- High in animal meats
- Free from grain, potatoes, corn, and wheat
- High-protein
- Cage-free chicken as the first ingredient
- Expensive
- Not good for sensitive stomachs (due to the richer ingredients)
5. ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
First Five Ingredients: | Chicken, Turkey, Whole Mackerel, Turkey Giblets (Liver, Heart, Gizzard), Flounder |
Protein: | 40% |
Fat: | 20% |
There isn’t much to dislike about the ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Cat Food. It’s full of high-quality meats ranging from turkey to flounder. Eggs are also included, as are an array of organ meats. You aren’t going to find a much better ingredient list!
The protein content is extremely high. At 40%, it is much higher than most of the other formulas on the market. The same could be said for the fat content at 20%. With a freeze-dried coating, this formula is extremely tasty for many cats.
Many owners reported that their picky cats loved this food. With so many positive qualities, you’re probably wondering why it didn’t land higher on our list. First, ORIJEN is incredibly expensive. That’s what happens when you shove so much quality meat into cat food.
Secondly, the kibble is quite large, and little cats may be unable to handle the bigger pieces.
- High-quality ingredients
- Protein content at 40%
- Freeze-dried coating for taste
- Grain-free
- Extremely expensive
- Large pieces
6. Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals Beef Pate Canned Cat Food
First Five Ingredients: | Beef, Meat Broth, Liver, Chicken, Fish |
Protein: | 9% |
Fat: | 5% |
Fancy Feast is a relatively popular brand. The Fancy Feast Gourmet Naturals Beef Recipe Pate Canned Cat Food is a good natural recipe, though it isn’t our favorite. As a wet food, it is high in moisture. This higher water content is helpful for some felines, especially if they are prone to urinary tract infections.
However, “meat broth” is added as the second ingredient to bring up the moisture content. There is nothing wrong with broth. It includes extra nutrients that water doesn’t have! But we have no idea what type of meat was used. It’s mystery broth, in other words!
This formula is considerably less expensive than other brands. Some pet owners may look past the mystery broth’s inclusion due to the lower price. The other ingredients are pretty high-quality, but “liver” and “fish” are a few other unknowns.
- High in moisture
- Inexpensive
- Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
- Some vaguely named ingredients
- Lower protein and fat content
7. Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken Grain
First Five Ingredients: | Boneless Chicken, Dehydrated Chicken, Sweet Potatoes, Chicken Fat, Dried Whole Eggs |
Protein: | 44% |
Fat: | 20% |
For those preferring a premium brand, Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken Grain may be a good option. However, it’s expensive, and you can find cheaper brands that provide similar benefits. This recipe list starts with boneless chicken, followed by dehydrated chicken.
After that, eggs and chicken fat make an appearance, but the formula also includes quite a lot of sweet potatoes. Based on the pre-cooked weight, 70% of this food is from a meat source, and 97% of the listed protein comes from animals.
Farmina is free from GMOs, peas, lentils, pea protein, chickpeas, and plant oils. The ingredients are high-quality, but you will pay a pretty penny for them.
There are some complaints about the formula being unpredictable. Some pet owners noticed differences between bags. This may be a recipe change or a sign of poor quality control. However, Farmina has not experienced any recalls.
- 97% animal protein
- 70% of ingredients from animal sources
- Free from GMOs, lentils, peas, pea protein, chickpeas, and added plant oils
- Extremely expensive
- Some problems with consistency
8. Weruva Mideast Feast Tilapia in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
First Five Ingredients: | Tuna, Water Sufficient for Processing, Tilapia, Potato Starch, Sunflower Seed Oil |
Protein: | 12% |
Fat: | 5% |
Weruva Mideast Feast with Grilled Tilapia in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food isn’t made by a trendy brand, but the formulas are high-quality. The recipe includes mainly tuna and tilapia, which are quality options for most felines. They are tasty and provide high levels of omega fatty acids to support your cat’s coat and skin health.
There are no grains in this recipe, and it includes no GMOs or MSG. However, there are a few downsides to this formula as well. It provides water to increase the moisture content, not broth. Therefore, the nutritional content is a bit lower than you may find with other wet foods.
The fat content is also a bit lower than most, and cats need higher levels of fat to thrive. While the fat included is likely high-quality due to the inclusion of fish, we would have liked to see more of it.
- Grain-free
- Completely natural
- Chicken-free (for cats with allergies)
- Water instead of broth
- Low-fat content
9. Fussie Cat Premium Tuna with Prawns
First Five Ingredients: | Tuna, Water Sufficient for Processing, Prawns, Sunflower Seed Oil |
Protein: | 12% |
Fat: | 4% |
The Fussie Cat Premium Tuna with Prawns cat food isn’t as popular as many of the other brands we’ve reviewed and isn’t as widely available, though you can find it in many online stores. However, it is a suitable natural option.
It may appear slightly more expensive than other brands. However, it comes with more cans, so you aren’t paying more. Actually, Fussie Cat is priced pretty affordably. This formula is potato and grain-free and doesn’t contain peas.
According to the ingredient list, it is also free of chicken. With tuna as the first ingredient, Fussie Cat includes high levels of omega fatty acids. They are important for your feline’s skin and coat health. They can prevent some skin issues and keep your feline’s coat soft.
On the surface, Fussie Cat may seem like a great option. However, it is missing many of the features we look for in holistic cat food. First, it isn’t a non-GMO product.
It also doesn’t include probiotics, which are essential for your cat’s gut health. While probiotics are often missing from low-quality cat foods, it is disappointing that Fussie Cat doesn’t include any.
- High-quality animal protein
- High in omega fatty acids
- Potato and grain-free
- Contains GMOs
- No Probiotics
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Holistic Cat Food
“Holistic” is a vague term for cat food. The only way to know whether something is holistic is to check the ingredient list. You can’t always go off of what the company states on the front of the bag.
In this section, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of holistic or natural cat food and how to select one for your feline.
What Is Holistic Cat Food?
Truthfully, it depends on who you ask! Different people have different definitions of holistic. It’s important to consider what you’re looking for when purchasing this type of cat food.
Here’s what this term usually means:
- Natural ingredients. In many cases, holistic formulas include only natural ingredients. The food should only include whole foods such as meats, fruits, veggies, and whole grains. More meat is included since that’s what cats naturally eat.
- Enriched with extra supplements. Some holistic foods have extra vitamins and nutrients. For instance, omega fatty acids are a common addition. Many include oils to support the food’s fat content.
- Free from artificial ingredients. As you might expect, most natural cat foods do not include artificial ingredients. This includes hormones, dyes, antibiotics, and pesticides. By-products are also typically absent.
Every pet is unique in their nutritional needs, so we recommend reaching out to your vet for advice.
If you need to speak with a vet but can’t get to one, head over to PangoVet. It’s an online service where you can talk to a vet online and get the personalized advice you need for your pet — all at an affordable price!
Why Should Cat Parents Choose Holistic Cat Food?
There are many arguments for and against holistic cat food. It mostly depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your feline’s food, as well as what definition of holistic the food uses.
- A healthier cat. Usually, the main reason pet parents choose holistic food is because they believe it is healthier. To an extent, this is true. Holistic foods are formulated without pesticides like BHA and BHT, which can harm your feline. However, no studies have been performed on whether holistic cat food, in general, is better for felines.
- High-quality ingredients. Many cat owners consider natural, organic ingredients to be of higher quality than other options. In some cases, this is true. After all, pesticides aren’t good for use or our felines in higher amounts. However, just stating that a food is made with natural ingredients doesn’t necessarily mean that the ingredients are higher quality. It’s essential to read the label!
- Supports better practices. You can purchase natural cat food to support better industry practices like farm-raised protein sources. While this may or may not be reflected in your cat’s health, it can make a difference to the environment.
- 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...
Feeding your cat a high-quality diet is important for keeping them healthy and happy. But it goes beyond the food you choose; the dishes they use also matter. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite for its unique, five-star design that protects from whisker fatigue and promotes good posture which also aids in better digestion. As an added bonus, it’s beautifully crafted and offers a modern take on the traditional cat bowl that fits seamlessly with all home stylings. Learn more about the NomNom by clicking here.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
What Cat Foods are Really Holistic?
The easiest way to determine which foods are holistic and which aren’t is to check the ingredient list. Preferably, it should contain mostly meat. The meat should be from a natural source. In many holistic foods, the meat will be farm-raised or organic.
Next, you should check for preservatives and artificial colors. They hide in the long list of added vitamins and minerals common in most cat foods. However, sodium nitrate is a common preservative that usually appears at the end of the list. Colors are labeled as “red 3” or something similar.
- Propylene glycol
- Calcium ascorbate
- Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)
- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)
- Artificial flavors and colors
While some companies label their food “holistic,” even if it includes these ingredients, most of us wouldn’t consider them holistic. For the most part, judging whether or not a cat food is holistic will include studying the ingredient list for artificial ingredients.
How We Selected Our List of Holistic Cat Foods
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!
Final Thoughts
Many brands claim to be “holistic.” However, there is no official definition for the word. We picked Tiki Cat Aloha Friends Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Cat Food as the best holistic cat food on the market. It includes high-quality ingredients and is mostly made of meat. The ingredients are non-GMO and free from corn, wheat, and soy.
For those on a budget, consider Purina Beyond Simply Grain-Free Wild-Caught Whitefish & Egg Recipe Dry Cat Food. The recipe includes plenty of protein while remaining cheaper than other brands.
Hopefully, our reviews helped you choose the perfect holistic cat food for your feline.
Featured Image Credit: sweetlouise, Pixabay