The advantages of dry cat food are numerous — not only is it generally cheaper than wet food, you can also leave it in your cat’s bowl all day without it spoiling.
Finding the best dry cat food can be a challenge, however, so we’ve combined the top picks from our team of researchers, pet nutritionists and veterinarians, to create a list of the best dry cat food recipes available today.
All the recipes contain high-quality ingredients and offer a balanced and complete diet for cats. They are formulated to provide all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals required for optimal feline health.
Some even cater to specific dietary needs, such as age-specific formulas or those designed for cats with specific health conditions.
Our top picks
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Open Farm
Open Farm dry cat food is made up of five grain-free recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
Open Farm was founded in 2014 by Jacqueline Prehogan and is based in Canada. This above-average dry cat food range is formulated with all the macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals a cat needs.
Open Farm Grain Free Homestead Turkey & Chicken was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. This recipe gets the bulk of its protein from chicken, which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The dry matter label analysis reveals a dry recipe containing 41.1% protein, 20% fat and 30.9% carbohydrates, with a fat-to-protein ratio of 49%.
Read our review of the full Open Farm (Dry) range hereThings we like
- High in protein
- You know where each ingredient comes from
- Humanely raised chicken and turkey are the top ingredients
Main Ingredients Humanely raised turkey, humanely raised chicken, ocean whitefish meal, herring meal, garbanzo beans. Texture Dry Type Kibble Protein Percentage 41.1% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Senior cats, cats and kittens EXCLUSIVE: New customer offer
20% off first auto-ship order with code CFA20
Sample buyer review...
"I’m very happy with the ingredients in this cat food. My cat really enjoys it."
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pawTree
pawTree dry cat food is made up of five recipes with ratings which vary from 4.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the product line is 4.5 stars.
Founded in 2012 by Roger Morgan, pawTree is based in Southlake, Texas, and all the foods are manufactured in the U.S. and formulated under the guidance of veterinarians and pet nutritionists.
pawTree Real Chicken Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. It gets the bulk of its protein from chicken and our dry matter label analysis reveals it contains 45.5% protein, 20.5% fat and an estimated carbohydrate level of 26.1%.
Read our review of the full pawTree Dry Cat Food range hereThings we like
- High in protein
- No corn, wheat or soy
- Developed by veterinarians and nutritonists
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken meal, dried potato, turkey meal, salmon meal Texture Dry Type Grain and grain-free recipes Protein Percentage 45.5% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All cats Save money on pawTree cat food
Sample buyer review...
"My cats love this food!"
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Blue Wilderness
Blue Wilderness dry product range is made of 11 recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
Blue Buffalo is owned by multinational food manufacturer General Mills. This particular range offers cats an excellent source of high-quality protein and essential fatty acids. It is made with natural, wholesome ingredients, free from grains, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Blue Wilderness Adult Cat Chicken was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. It derives the bulk of its protein from chicken which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 44% protein, 19.8% fat and 28.3% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 45%.
Read our review of the full Blue Buffalo Wilderness (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Natural ingredients
- High levels of protein
- No artificial colors or flavors
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, tapioca starch, peas Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 44% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"I have 19 and 10 year old cats. Both are thriving on this cat food. After just two bags the improvement in coat and digestive habits is notable. For the first time in years my 19 year old wants to play in the morning after her feeding time. I wish I would have started buying Blue Wilderness Chicken for adults years ago!"
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The Honest Kitchen
The Honest Kitchen product range is made of three dehydrated recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
Created by a vet nutritionist, these grain-free whole food clusters are prepared using human-grade muscle meat and liver, low-glycemic carbs, beneficial fats and live probiotics.
The Honest Kitchen Chicken & Whitefish Clusters was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. This formula derives the bulk of its protein from chicken which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
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%.
Read our review of the full The Honest Kitchen (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Human-grade ingredients
- Live probiotics
- Essential fatty acids
Main Ingredients Chicken, peas, lentils, eggs, white fish Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 38 AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Senior cats, cats and kittens EXCLUSIVE: New customer offer
30% off orders $30+ with code CFA30
Sample buyer review...
"My cats love this! They have been eating The Honest Kitchen food for years. I am so glad they now have kibble too. It’s a great addition to their diet and keeps them interested. And I love knowing it is healthy for them and not full of processed junk. We add a little to the top of the chicken recipe after mixing. They love it. It’s also a great treat and keeps them from getting bored. They hear the bag opening and they come running."
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Gather Free Acres
Gather Free Acres dry cat food is made up of just one recipe which receives the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
Made by Petcurean, a Canadian pet food company founded in 1999, Gather Free Acres Organic Free-Run Chicken derives the bulk of its protein from chicken which is rich in the 11 amino acids a cat needs to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 33.3% protein, 17.8% fat and 40.9% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 53%.
This recipe is certified organic and sustainably produced. It includes antioxidant-cranberries and organic flaxseed to support skin and coat health and there are no by-product meals and non-GMO ingredients.
Read our review of the full Gather Free Acres Organic (Dry) range hereThings we like
- USDA-approved organic chicken
- No antibiotics or added growth hormones
- Antioxidant rich
Main Ingredients Organic chicken, organic dehydrated chicken, organic peas, lentils, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols) Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 33.3 AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Cats & senior cats Sample buyer review...
"Today the wonderful people at my local pet store gave me a sample of your Gather Free Acres organic cat food. When I gave it to my 11 year old cat Liza, I was surprised at her reaction. SHE ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! I have never seen her begging for food before today... ever!"
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Tender & True
Tender & True dry product range is made of six recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
Tender & True was founded in 2014 and was one of the first to produce certified humanely-raised pet food that meets USDA organic standards.
Tender & True Organic Turkey & Liver was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. This food derives the bulk of its protein from turkey, which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 33.3% protein, 20% fat and 38.7% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 60%.
Read our review of the full Tender & True (Dry) range hereThings we like
- No artificial preservatives, colors or flavors
- USDA certified organic ingredients
Main Ingredients Organic turkey, organic chicken meal, organic tapioca starch, organic dried pea, organic pea flour Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 33.3 AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Senior cats, cats & kittens Sample buyer review...
"We have mostly senior cats…they are doing so much better on this food! This is the best organic food out there on the market! Our kitties are thriving on the canned organic and organic dry food. Thank you Tender and True Pet Food for making such a great product!"
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Orijen
Orijen dry cat food is made of seven recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
Orijen is produced by Champion Petfoods, a Canadian company, founded by Reinhard Muhlenfeld, a German-born Canadian in 1975.
This range includes recipes that are beneficial for immune support, digestive health, healthy skin & coat, muscle maintenance, heart health, joint health, brain & cognitive function, and eye health.
Orijen Original was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. It derives the bulk of its protein from chicken and turkey. Both meats are naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a dry recipe containing 44.4% protein, 22.2% fat and 25.3% carbohydrates, with a fat-to-protein ratio of 50%.
Read our review of the full Orijen (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Very high in protein
- High quality meat sources provide the majority of protein
- No artificial ingredients
- Good range to choose from
- Low in carbohydrates versus other dry cat foods
Main Ingredients Chicken, turkey, whole mackerel, turkey giblets (liver, heart, gizzard), flounder Texture Dry Type Kibble Protein Percentage 44.4% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Kittens, cats and senior cats Sample buyer review...
"This food is very good. My cat is very fussy but he eats everything I give him when I serve him Orijen. Since eating this food, he has better, more shiny fur. Happy cat - happy mummy!"
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Nulo Freestyle
Nulo Freestyle dry cat food is made of six recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor’s highest rating: 5 stars.
This range includes recipes that are formulated to provide a balanced and complete diet for cats. It typically features animal-based protein as the first ingredient and is crafted without grains such as corn, wheat, or soy.
Nulo was founded in 2009 by Michael Landa and Brett Montana after they saw high rates of diabetes and other medical issues in dogs and cats while running their pet-sitting business.
Nulo Freestyle Indoor Cat Duck & Lentils was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. It derives the bulk of its protein from duck which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a dry recipe containing 44.4% protein, 18.9% fat and 28.7% carbohydrates, with a fat-to-protein ratio of 43%.
Read our review of the full Nulo Freestyle (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Contains probiotics
- Grain-free
- Quality protein ingredients
Main Ingredients Deboned duck, chicken meal, turkey meal, deboned cod, whole peas Texture Dry Type Kibble Protein Percentage 44.4% AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Adult cats Sample buyer review...
"I decided to switch our cat to a healthier food and Nulo has made a difference in our cat. She is more active and her coat is shiny. She loves the food which is a plus."
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Wysong
Wysong dry cat food is made of two recipes which both receive the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
Wysong corporation is a family run business that was established in 1979 by Dr Randy Wysong. These premium cat foods are designed to mimic the archetypal carnivorous diet and include quality protein ingredients with no fillers.
Wysong Restore was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
This recipe derives the bulk of its protein from dried chicken which is naturally rich in the 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life. Dry matter label analysis reveals a containing 72.2% protein, 22.2% fat and 0% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 31%.
Read our review of the full Wysong Optimal Line (Dry) range hereThings we like
- No fillers
- High in protein
- Holistic practices
Main Ingredients Dried Chicken, organic chicken, dried natural meat broth, chicken fat, beet pulp Texture Dry Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 72.2 AAFCO Standards Maintenance Best For Senior and adult cats Sample buyer review...
"Nutritious, and all four of my cats eat it. Even the picky eater. I use this as an addition to other Wysong products. "
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Tiki Cat Born Carnivore
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore product range is made of eight grain-free recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor’s second highest rating: 4.5 stars.
Tiki Cat was founded in 2005 by Christine and Robert Hackett. Christine had previously worked in research and development for Petco and decided the pet food market needed a new kind of product — food that was more species-appropriate and had fewer grains and carbohydrates.
This dry cat food range is rich in meat and or fish protein and relatively low in carbohydrate content. It also has no processed plant proteins, such as corn gluten, and is gently baked to preserve the nutrients and flavor.
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore High Protein Herring & Salmon was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis. This recipe derives the bulk of its protein from herring, a fatty marine fish naturally high in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
Dry matter label analysis reveals a wet recipe containing 46.7% protein, 21.1% fat and 24.2% carbohydrates . . . with a fat-to-protein ratio of 45%.
Read our review of the full Tiki Cat Born Carnivore (Dry) range hereThings we like
- Non GMO ingredients
- High in protein
- No artificial additives
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken meal, dehydrated chicken, dried egg product & tapioca Texture Dry Type Freeze-dried Protein Percentage 46.7 AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For Senior cats, cats & kittens Sample buyer review...
"My kitties go crazy for this food. I add a little hot water and let it sit for a minute to make a gravy, and the dry kibble softer. My kitties absolutely LOVE the gravy part! Their fur is silky smooth and shiny."
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Why feed your cat dry food?
Dry cat food is more calorie dense than wet food. It is easier to store and can be left out for longer without fear of it becoming contaminated with bacteria.
It is ideal for cats that prefer to snack throughout the day, rather than those that eat at set times.
However, it does need to be stored in a cool area and in a sealed, air tight container to keep it fresh.
Do vets recommend dry food for cats?
Vets often recommend dry food because it is easier to control the portion size of dry food to make sure your cat is getting the calories they need and are not overeating.
Kibble can also be put in slow-feeders which mentally stimulates your cat by allowing them to ‘hunt’ and complete tasks to get their food.
How much dry food should I give my cat?
As a general rule of thumb, if you are feeding your cat high-quality dry food, such as those recommended by the Cat Food Advisor, 1/2 cup of food or between 167–250 calories a day is the ideal amount.
Do cats on a dry food diet need water?
Yes, it is very important that cats on a dry food diet have access to clean drinking water. It may seem obvious but dry food contains a lot less water than wet food.
Interestingly, cats often prefer their water to be kept in a different location to their food bowl. This is a natural instinct to ensure their water is not contaminated from any potential bacteria.
If you are worried that your cat is not drinking enough water, you can add water to their dry food. (About a quarter of a cup of water to one portion of dry food should be plenty).
However, wet kibble should not be left out for longer than about 30 minutes as it can attract flies and grow bacteria which could make your cat sick. Once your cat has finished eating, put the food in the fridge or throw it away.
Can you feed your cat a mix of wet and dry food?
The short answer is, of course, yes, but . . . . it can lead to over feeding, so you need to regulate the amount of each food you give your cat to ensure they are getting the right amount of calories.
First, you need to determine the daily recommended amount of dry food your cat should be eating depending its size, age and weight. The measurement table on the side of each bag of kibble should help.
You can choose your own ratio of dry to wet food, but we recommend two thirds dry to one third wet. Each food type has a different number of calories per gram, so take the weight of dry food you’re not feeding your cat, and multiply this by 2.5 to get the right weight of wet food.
Sources
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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.
