Cats can experience a variety of skin and coat issues, often due to a combination of environmental factors, allergies, infections, or underlying health conditions.
If your cat’s coat is looking dull and they’re suffering with dry/flaky skin, you might want to look for a food specifically formulated to aid skin and coat health.
Key ingredients to look out for include foods which contain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA & DHA), found in fish oil, flaxseed, and algae. These help reduce inflammation, improve skin hydration, and add shine to the coat. Omega-6 fatty acids are also important and can be found in poultry fat, sunflower oil, and safflower oil. They support skin barrier function and promote a glossy coat.
Foods with biotin (vitamin B7) help strengthen hair follicles and can be found in eggs, liver and fish.
Vitamin E - an antioxidant that helps maintain skin health and reduce dryness - can be found in animal fats, sunflower oil, and spinach.
The mineral, zinc, helps with skin repair and prevents dandruff. It can be found in red meat, fish, and whole grains.
Avoid foods that contain artificial colors, preservatives, and excessive grains. Some cats are sensitive to these, which can lead to itchy, irritated skin.
To help you find the best cat food for skin and coat health, our team has put together the list below. These all contain the ingredients highlighted as being beneficial for cats that suffer from skin issues and/or a dull or patchy fur.
Our top picks
- The Honest Kitchen (Dry) Jump to review
- Weruva Truluxe Flavors (Wet) Jump to review
- Open Farm Pate (Wet) Jump to review
- KatKin (Fresh) Jump to review
- Tuscan Natural (Dry) Jump to review
- Farmina N&D Pumpkin (Dry) Jump to review
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The Honest Kitchen (Dry)
The Honest Kitchen Grain Free Salmon & Cod Câté recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
It is one of three recipes in this product range made by The Honest Kitchen, which was founded in 2002 by Lucy Postins in San Diego and is still based there today.
This recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken. Our dry matter label analysis reveals a dry recipe containing 38% protein, 17.4% fat and 36.6% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 46%.
This grain-free whole food cluster recipe was created by a vet nutritionist and is prepared using human-grade muscle meat and liver, low-glycemic carbs, beneficial fats and live probiotics.
Read our review of the full The Honest Kitchen (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Human grade ingredients
- High in protein
- No artificial preservatives, feed grade by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, corn, wheat or soy
Main Ingredients Chicken, peas, lentils, eggs, white fish Texture Dry Type Kibble Protein Percentage 38% AAFCO Standards All life stages Best For All cats EXCLUSIVE: New customer offer
30% off orders $30+ with code CFA30
Sample buyer review...
"My cats LOVED this. I was worried about switching them over to Honest Kitchen because a lot of them are picky - but they truly love it and it makes me so happy."
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Weruva Truluxe Flavors (Wet)
Weruva Truluxe Flavors Mediterranean Harvest with Tuna & Veggies in Gravy received the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
It is one of ten recipes in a product range made by Weruva Inc whose company’s headquarters is in Natick, Massachusetts, but the food is manufactured in Thailand.
This recipe derives the bulk of its protein from tuna. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 66.7% protein, 9.3% fat and 16% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 14%.
It is made with real, human-grade fish and is high in protein and free of grain, gluten.
Read our review of the full Weruva Truluxe Flavors (Wet) range hereThings we like
- High in protein
- Human-grade recipes
- Moisture-rich food promotes healthy hydration
Main Ingredients Fish broth, tuna, potato, pea, tomato Texture Wet Type Flakes Protein Percentage 66.7% AAFCO Standards Unspecified Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"Great product and my cat loves it. There are no chicken byproducts, which is exactly what I was looking for because my cat is allergic. It has a lot of gravy rather than solids, but it depends on the cat's preference. It's quite pricey, but my guy is worth the extra money!"
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Open Farm Pate (Wet)
Open Farm Chicken & Salmon Pâté for Cats received the Cat Food Advisor’s average rating: 3.5 stars.
It is one of six recipes in this product range made by Open Farm Pet Foods which was founded in 2014 by Jacqueline Prehogan. The cat food arm of the operation has its headquarters in Canada, and the products are developed and formulated there too.
This recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken and salmon. Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 38.6% protein, 34.1% fat and 19.3% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 88%.
A grain and legume-free paté recipe, this food is made from humanely-raised and sustainably sourced proteins, paired with non-GMO vegetables and superfoods to create a complete and balanced diet, ideal for adult and senior cats.
Read our review of the full Open Farm Pate (Wet) range hereThings we like
- Good quality animal meat listed as first ingredient
- Contains fish
- Added vitamins and minerals
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, salmon, chicken liver, tapioca Texture Wet Type Pate Protein Percentage 38.6% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult & senior cats EXCLUSIVE: New customer offer
20% off first auto-ship order with code CFA20
Sample buyer review...
"I love the purity of the ingredients, the transparency of the sources, and the texture and smell of the product. I highly recommend it."
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KatKin (Fresh)
KatKin Quack recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
It is one of eight recipes in this product range made by Katkin, a brand founded by siblings Brett and Nikki O’Farrell in the UK.
KatKin Quack recipe derives the bulk of its protein from duck and chicken.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 58.8% protein, 32% fat and 1.2% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 54%.
This food is formulated to be high in protein and moisture. It is made with 100% human-quality meat and is free of grain and artificial preservatives.
Read our review of the full KatKin (Fresh) range hereThings we like
- High in protein
- Suitable for home freezing
- Human-grade recipes
Main Ingredients Fresh duck, chicken, minerals, fish oil, KatKin nutrient mix Texture Wet Type Fresh Protein Percentage 58.8% AAFCO Standards Not applicable as the food is formulated in the UK Best For All cats Sample buyer review...
"My cats absolutely love the flavor and have a shinier coat, and there is significantly less odor from their litter box, thanks to the high-quality, all-meat composition of the food."
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Tuscan Natural (Dry)
Tuscan Natural Harvest Turkey & Chicken Recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
It is one of three recipes in this product range made by Pyramid Pet Products which started trading in 1979 and is based in Las Vegas. Its food is developed to provide the perfect balance of ingredients for optimum health and energy.
This recipe derives the bulk of its protein from chicken and turkey meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals a dry recipe containing 41.6% protein, 24.7% fat and 25.7% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 59%.
This food lists humanely-raised animal meat as the first ingredient. Protein levels are high and carbohydrates are low. Nutrients from extra virgin olive oil from old growth trees, in addition to vitamins and prebiotics and probiotics have been added to create a very healthy food.
Read our review of the full Tuscan Natural (Dry) range hereThings we like
- High in protein
- Humanely-raised animal meat
- Low in carbohydrate
Main Ingredients Chicken meal from humanely raised chickens, turkey meal from humanely raised turkeys, humanely raised turkey, humanely raised chicken, sustainably farmed lentils Texture Dry Type Kibble Protein Percentage 41.6% AAFCO Standards All life stages Best For All cats Sample buyer review...
"These small kibbles are a lifesaver for my older cat who does not have many teeth. It must be easier to digest too, because I am noticing he throws up less on this food. It is a simple recipe, very much appreciated."
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Farmina N&D Pumpkin (Dry)
Farmina N&D Pumpkin Quail, Pumpkin and Pomegranate Recipe received the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
It is one of two recipes in this product range made by Russo Mangimi whose manufacturing facilities are based in Europe.
Farmina N&D Pumpkin Quail, Pumpkin and Pomegranate Recipe derives the bulk of its protein from quail.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a dry recipe containing 47.8% protein, 21.7% fat and 22.4% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 45%.
This food provides cats with an excellent source of quality protein and essential fatty acids, made with natural, wholesome ingredients, free from grains, carrageenan, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Read our review of the full Farmina N&D Pumpkin (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Contains high protein which is from animal sources
- Contains functional fiber
- Relatively low carbohydrate content compared to other dry foods
Main Ingredients Lamb, dehydrated lamb protein, sweet potato, dehydrated herring protein, dried pumpkin Texture Dry Type Kibble Protein Percentage 47.8% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult & senior cats Sample buyer review...
"High quality, high protein and perfect for cats with sensitive stomachs who can’t have grains. The only cat food that doesn’t impact a cat’s stomach in a negative way."
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Article reviewed by
Pet Nutritionist
Laura studied BSc (Hons) Animal Science with an accreditation in Nutrition at the University of Nottingham, before working for eight years in the pet food and nutrition industry.
