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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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
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.
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.
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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.
Our Cat Wet Food Selection Process
Catster’s dedicated team of writers and editors collaborate with expert veterinarians, considering a wide range of factors when selecting the best Wet Food for Cats. These parameters include customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, and in some cases, hands-on testing. Of course, our cats have a say in the process, too! We strive to select and review the highest-quality products available, to help you choose the best possible product and make the most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
Catster has been a trusted online brand since 2001, so we know a thing or two about Wet Food for Cat. We’re a team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians dedicated to helping you make the most informed decision for your feline. We deeply believe in providing the best information for cat owners to help their cats live their best life possible. We look at reviews from the most trusted sources available, and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options on the market. Our team is invested in the welfare and health of cats around the world, and believe that expert knowledge is one of the best ways to achieve this.
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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Rachel Giordano is a Pensacola, Florida-based musician and writer. She lives with her partner and their two dogs, Sophie, a Boston Terrier, and Aero, a Border Collie/Sheltie mix. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication and loves writing about all types of cat breeds. When she’s not writing about cats, she loves to write suspense/thriller novels. A musician by night and writer by day, she enjoys sharing her knowledge of the needs and requirements of our furry friends.
