If you have a picky cat, you know how frustrating it can be to find a food that they will actually eat. With so many different types and brands of cat food on the market, it can be hard to know where to start.
We did the research for you and compiled a list of reviews of the best cat foods for picky cats in Canada this year. Whether your cat prefers wet or dry food, there’s an option on this list that is sure to please even the most finicky feline!
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)
| Image | Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
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Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain |
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Best Value
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Iams Proactive Health High Protein |
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Premium Choice
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe |
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Check Price |
| Best for Kittens |
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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused |
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| Vet’s Choice |
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Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Cat |
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The 10 Best Cat Foods for Picky Cats in Canada
1. Taste of the Wild Feline Formula — Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Â Chicken meal, peas, sweet potatoes, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 42% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 425 kcal/cup |
If you have a picky cat, we recommend Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula as the overall best cat food for picky cats in Canada. This food is made with real venison and roasted lamb, so it’s sure to please even the most finicky eaters. It’s also packed with nutrients and antioxidants that will keep your cat healthy. The protein sources in this food are easily digested and suitable for cats with sensitive stomachs.
The one downside to Taste of the Wild cat foods is that they are slightly more expensive than most other brands. However, many pet parents feel that the ingredient quality makes it worth the extra cost.
2. Iams Proactive Health High Protein — Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn grits, ground whole-grain corn |
| Protein content: | 38% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 371 kcal/cup |
Iams Proactive Health High Protein is the best cat food for picky cats in Canada for the money. It has all the nutrients that your cat needs to stay happy and healthy, and it’s available at an affordable price. Iams Proactive Health High Protein contains chicken as the first ingredient. It’s free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, so you can feel good about what you’re feeding your pet.
High Protein foods appeal to your cat’s carnivorous nature, so they’re great for picky cats. Unfortunately, they have the downside of being high in calories. If your cat is prone to weight gain, this may not be the best food choice for them. Some animals also experience digestive issues when switching to high-protein food, so make sure to monitor their bathroom habits closely.
3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe — Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, tapioca starch |
| Protein content: | 40% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 443 kcal/cup |
If you’re looking for quality food for your picky cat, try Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein. This food is more expensive than many other options, but it’s a good choice for cats that gain weight easily. Many users report that their cats slimmed down with this food because the high protein content keeps them full for longer. For cats with allergies, this food is grain free but still maintains a healthy level of carbohydrates.
As with any food, not all cats like the flavor of this recipe, and there can be digestive issues when switching to a high-protein food, so make sure to change foods gradually rather than all at once.
4. Merrick Backcountry Kitten Recipe — Best for Kittens
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potatoes |
| Protein content: | 42% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 400 kcal/cup |
When you have a picky kitten, you need nutritious food to promote their healthy growth and development that also tastes good. We recommend Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Kitten Recipe. This food is traditional kibble with freeze-dried raw chunks mixed in to make it extra tasty. The chunks enhance both the smell and the flavor, so even the pickiest kitties are sure to love this food.
The one downside of Merrick Backcountry is the inclusion of peas and potatoes as primary carbohydrate sources. However, they aren’t in the top three ingredients, and the overall nutritional quality of meat ingredients makes up the difference.
5. Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Cat — Vet’s Choice
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, whole-grain wheat, corn gluten meal, powdered cellulose |
| Protein content: | 31% |
| Fat content: | 13% |
| Calories: | 319 kcal/cup |
Our vet’s choice recommendation for cat food for picky cats in Canada is Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Cat. Hill’s food is often recommended by veterinarians due to its high-quality ingredients and nutritional value. This food is high in fibre to promote digestive health. It’s easy to digest for sensitive tummies and reduces the occurrence of hairballs. Hill’s Science Diet food provides just the right amount of calories for less-active indoor cats and helps prevent weight gain while maintaining lean muscle mass.
The biggest consumer complaint about this food is the size of the kibble. The pieces are fairly large, and some cats have difficulty chewing them.
6. Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Natural
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, chicken meal, soy flour, whole grain wheat |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 17% |
| Calories: | 340 kcal/cup |
Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Natural gets top marks for being a tasty, affordable option for picky cats. This recipe contains real meat as the first ingredients, along with other protein sources, like salmon and turkey. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, and cats love the taste, which is the most important thing when your cat turns up their nose at most foods.
One of the reasons Purina ONE tastes so good is that it has a higher fat content than many other foods. This does put your cat at risk of becoming overweight. You can mitigate this by providing your cat with smaller portions and ensuring that they get enough exercise.
7. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, chicken meal, brewers rice, pea protein |
| Protein content: | 33% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 414 kcal/cup |
Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult Dry Cat Food aims to give your cat wholesome nutrition. This food is available in both wet and dry form, giving you the option to mix the two and keep your picky cat happy. Nutro is specifically designed to meet the nutritional requirements of adult indoor cats. It’s not suitable for kittens, seniors, or outdoor cats, as they have different requirements.
A few controversial ingredients are contained in this recipe — specifically, corn gluten meal and wheat flour. These ingredients aren’t harmful to your kitty, but they are primarily fillers and don’t provide much nutritional value. Nutro cat food is also high in carbohydrates, which is not ideal.
8. Wellness CORE Natural Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned turkey, deboned chicken, turkey meal, chicken meal |
| Protein content: | 45% |
| Fat content: | 18% |
| Calories: | 497 kcal/cup |
Wellness CORE Natural offers a grain-free, high-protein option for cats that need to get extra energy from their diet. This food contains high-quality ingredients designed to promote the maintenance of lean muscle mass and healthy body weight. Since it’s high in protein, it’s extra tasty for picky cats. It also keeps your cat full for longer, so you won’t have to feed as much of it to keep your kitty satisfied. It’s packed with vitamins and antioxidants to promote skin, coat, and immune system health.
The biggest downside to Wellness CORE food is the cost. It’s expensive compared to most other brands. Some cat parents find this is offset if they use less kibble at each meal, but the effectiveness of this varies among cats. Some cats also experience digestive upset when eating high-protein food, so speak to your vet to make sure the extra protein is appropriate for your pet.
9. Instinct Original Minced Recipe
| Main ingredients: | Chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, egg whites |
| Protein content: | 9% |
| Fat content: | 4.5% |
| Calories: | 97 kcal/bowl |
There are a few reasons to choose Instinct Original for your picky kitty. This company only uses raw ingredients in its food, which is freeze-dried. This means they maintain their nutritional quality even after processing, and it locks in flavor that your cat will love. This recipe contains real meat and organ meat to provide the best nutrition for your little carnivore.
If your cat is picky about texture, this minced recipe may not be ideal. It’s a bit mushy, and many cats don’t like it. That said, other cats that don’t like pâté-style food appreciate this shredded variety, so it depends on the individual preferences of the cat.
10. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hypoallergenic Selected Protein
| Main ingredients: | Peas, rabbit meal, pea protein, coconut oil |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 11% |
| Calories: | 334 kcal/cup |
There are a few occasions where picky cats aren’t being picky because they don’t like their food, but because their food upsets their stomach. If your cat has tummy troubles or allergies that make choosing a food difficult, we recommend Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hypoallergenic Selected Protein. This food is designed to be easily digested by pets with sensitive stomachs. It’s available in both wet and dry recipes to suit your pet’s individual needs. If you’re still unsure, Royal Canin offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so it’s risk-free to buy, even if your cat refuses to eat it.
When it comes to feeding a prescription diet, the biggest downside is the cost. Availability is also limited. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet food is only available through your veterinarian or online with a prescription.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Food for Picky Cats
It can be difficult to find the right cat food for your feline friend, especially if they are picky eaters. In this buyer’s guide, we give you tips on what to look for in cat food to make the best decision for your pet.
The Different Types of Cat Food
There are a variety of different types of cat food on the market, and it can be tricky to decide which one is best for your feline friend. If your cat is a picky eater, you might want to try out multiple ones to see what they prefer.
What to Consider When Buying Cat Food
There are a few things to think about when purchasing cat food, especially if your cat is picky. The first thing to consider is what food your cat prefers. Some cats prefer dry food, while others prefer wet food. You should also check the ingredients in the food and whether your cat has any allergies to them. Additionally, look at the price of the food and compare it to other brands.
How to Introduce a New Cat Food
If you have a picky eater, you may have bought countless types of cat food, only to have your feline friend turn up their nose at every single one. If your kitty is a finicky eater, it can be tough to find something that your cat actually enjoys eating. We’re here to help!
With patience and trial and error, you should be able to find a new food that your cat enjoys.
Final Thoughts
To recap, the best overall food for picky cats in Canada is Taste of the Wild Rocky Mountain Feline Formula. This food is specifically designed to appeal to your cat’s meat-loving taste buds. Iams Proactive Health High Protein is the best cat food for picky cats in Canada for the money. The high protein content makes it extra tasty, and it’s more affordable than many other options. Our premium choice is Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe. While this option is pricey, it offers premium quality nutrition and a flavor that picky cats love! Finicky kittens will benefit from Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Kitten Recipe. The freeze-dried raw meat chunks add extra flavor, while the kibble gives your little one all the vitamins and nutrients that they need to grow up healthy. Our vet’s choice is Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Cat. It provides just the right number of calories for indoor cats to maintain a healthy weight, and it’s extra tasty for picky felines.
If you have a picky eater for a cat, don’t despair. With patience and trial and error, you can find the perfect cat food to tempt even the fussiest of felines. The buyer’s guide will help you navigate the options and choose something that your kitty will love. With the right food, your picky eater can be a happy and healthy cat.
Featured Image Credit: Fantom_Rd, Shutterstock
