Because kittens are susceptible to more illnesses and require more moisture, it is crucial to select the best wet, soft & canned kitten food for your new feline friend. Unfortunately, many manufacturers are not completely honest about their quality or products, making it difficult to know which option you should select.
In this article, we’re going to help you find the best wet, soft & canned kitten food on the market. We offer reviews of our 10 favorite varieties and look intensely at the pros and cons of each. We also provide a buyer’s guide at the end that can help you know what to look for as you are finalizing which kitten product to buy.
Let’s get started.
A Glance at Our Top Picks (2024 Update)
| Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall
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Smalls Fresh Cat Food Subscription |
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Click to Save 40% Use code: PetKeen2023 |
Budget Buy
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Fancy Feast Turkey Canned Kitten Food |
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Check Price |
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Goody Box + Kitten Pate |
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Check Price |
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Royal Canin Vet Diet Canned Kitten Food |
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Check Price | |
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Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Mousse |
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Check Price |
The 10 Best Wet, Soft & Canned Kitten Foods
1. Smalls Fresh Cat Food Subscription – Best Overall
| Texture: | Ground, pulled, smooth |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 15% protein, 6% fat, 72% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Kittens, pregnant mothers, nursing mothers, all life stages |
If you are looking for an alternative to traditional canned kitten food, you might want to check out Smalls. Smalls is a cat food delivery service that works by recommending meal plans based on your cat’s dietary needs. When you get started on Smalls’ website, you’re asked to fill out a short questionnaire to determine which recipes would be best for your cat or kitten.
There are three recipes available, all human-grade fresh food, which are formulated with a variety of meats that you can choose from depending on your kitten’s preferences. The human-grade fresh food comes in a packet rather than a can and is “gently” cooked with a variety of all-natural ingredients. This is the plan that would be an alternative to traditional canned food.
What we like best about Smalls is that it caters to cats of all ages, including kittens, and offers a variety of options based not only on your cat’s dietary needs, size, and shape but also on what they like and don’t like. We also love the emphasis on natural ingredients and minimal processing.
Some customers have mentioned issues with packaging and customer service as their main complaints when it comes to Smalls. That said, other cat parents have shared positive experiences with Smalls’ service.
2. Fancy Feast Kitten Turkey Canned Kitten Food – Budget Buy
| Texture: | Pate |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 11% protein, 5% fat, 78% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Kittens |
The Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Turkey Feast Canned Cat Food is a good budget wet, soft & canned kitten food. It is highly affordable, yet it comes with key nutritional ingredients, such as taurine, so that the kitten can grow healthily.
It is flavored Tender Turkey Feast, which is something the kitten will appreciate. It’s made from real broth and milk, which will help keep the kitten hydrated as it is growing. The price is also way more affordable than many other options on this list, making it perfect for those on a budget.
Although this kitten food is a great choice because of its price, it does not come with nutritional values that are as impressive for kittens. For example, it comes with a lower moisture content than our best overall kitten food. Another issue is that it has a pate texture, which means newborn kittens may have trouble if they have not yet transitioned from their mother’s milk to solid food.
3. Goody Box + American Journey Kitten Chicken Pate
| Texture: | Pate |
| Nutritional Analysis: | Not listed |
| Suitable For: | Kittens, toys suitable for older kittens and cats |
The Goody Box Kitten Toys & Treats + American Journey Kitten Pate Chicken Recipe is another good choice because it comes with kitten food, as well as a goodie box filled with kitten toys and treats. All of these items can help you welcome your kitten into your home with a bit of fun and style.
The kitten food is chicken flavored and includes a variety of healthy ingredients, including DHA, AHA, omega-3, and six different fatty acids. The food is grain-free, which is ideal for kittens since their stomachs are more sensitive than adult cats.
Although the company does list many of the ingredients found in this kitten food, it doesn’t list the exact nutritional analysis, which is a bit worrisome. It is pate textured, meaning it is less suitable for kittens who have not yet transitioned to solid food.
4. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Kitten Mousse
| Texture: | Mousse |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 10% protein, 4% fat, 79.5% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Kittens |
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Gastrointestinal Kitten Ultra Soft Mousse is specifically designed for kittens who haven’t yet transitioned to solid food. The ultra-soft mousse allows the kitten to begin getting a feel of textured food without risking choking or other issues.
The ingredients are packed full of protein, calcium, and a number of other ingredients, such as omega-3 fatty acids. These ingredients help to aid digestion, growth, and brain development within the kittens. This recipe is specifically blended with prebiotics and dietary fibers to enhance the gastrointestinal system too.
Quite like the other Royal Canin varieties, this kitten food is expensive, but the price may be worth it if you are looking for one of the best transitional foods for your kitten.
5. Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Mousse Cat Food
| Texture: | Mousse |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 9% protein, 4% fat, 81% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Kittens, pregnant mothers, and nursing mothers |
Another great wet, soft & canned kitten food is the Royal Canin Mother & Babycat Ultra-Soft Mousse in Sauce Wet Cat Food. This kitten food is specifically designed so that you can feed it to pregnant cats, nursing cats, and kittens between the ages of one and four months old.
The wet cat food supports immune health, promotes digestive development, and contains DHA for brain development. The mousse texture even helps to transition kittens from mother’s milk to solid foods. The one downside of this option is that it is expensive.
Since it can be shared by mothers and kittens alike, it will keep everyone in the family happy. Plus, it is specifically formulated so the kitten grows strong and healthy.
6. Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Pate Kitten Chicken Cat Food
| Texture: | Pate |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 11% protein, 7.5% fat, 78% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Kittens |
The Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Pate Kitten Chicken Entrée this a kitten food specifically flavored with chicken. The chicken flavor will be appetizing to the kitten. All the while, it includes high-quality ingredients and a number of other necessary ingredients for your kitten’s growth.
For example, this kitten food includes DHA, which is a fatty acid that is naturally found in mother’s milk. More so, the recipe is free of grains, artificial flavors, and preservatives, creating a recipe that is holistic and suitable for sensitive kittens.
Although this kitten food is high in a number of necessary ingredients and nutritional factors, it does have a relatively low moisture content, which sits at around 78% maximum. It also has a pate texture, which may be too thick for some kittens.
7. Purina Pro Plan Kitten Classic Chicken & Liver
| Texture: | Pate |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 12% protein, 6.0% fat, 76.5% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Older kittens |
The Purina Pro Plan Kitten Classic Chicken & Liver Entrée is a good kitten food for older aged kittens. This entree is designed with a high protein diet. 12% of the nutritional benefits come from the protein. The food has a hearty chicken flavor, which the kittens will find irresistible, but it is also made with fish and liver for maximum absorption and nutrients.
This recipe comes with a number of added supplements to enhance the kitten’s growth and health. This includes taurine, zinc, omega-6 fatty acids, calcium, and phosphorus.
We stated that this recipe is best for older kittens because it has a very high protein count and a lower moisture count. These two factors may make it less suitable for newborns, but it will be good for kittens over two months old.
8. Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Chicken Soft Kitten Food
| Texture: | Pate |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 9% protein, 5% fat, 78% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Kittens |
The Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Chicken Recipe is designed to support kitten growth. These trays feature two meals that are sourced and produced in the USA. The recipe is made from chicken and includes other nutrients like DHA, antioxidants, and vitamin E. The recipe is free of fillers and preservatives.
Something that’s unique about this option is that it has a different packaging than most other wet cat foods. Instead of traditional cans, they are easy peel trays, which makes cleanup much easier.
This pate recipe maybe a bit too thick and dry for newborns, but it is perfect for slightly older kittens. It can help you save some money since it is very affordable.
9. Wellness CORE Grain Free Turkey & Chicken Canned Food
| Texture: | Pate |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 12% protein, 7.5% fat, 78% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Older kittens |
The Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Turkey & Chicken Liver Pate Canned Kitten Food is designed with a holistic recipe that offers a protein focused diet for kittens. The recipe is grain free and is specially selected from parts of the turkey, chicken, and livers.
The recipe also includes added nutrients, such as DHA. At the same time, the recipe is free of harmful ingredients, such as artificial colors, artificial flavors, byproducts, or carrageenan. Although the ingredients are top quality, this recipe does have a lower moisture content than we would like for younger kittens, which is why we recommend it for older kittens instead.
Nevertheless, the Wellness CORE Natural Grain Free Turkey & Chicken Liver Pate Canned Kitten Food does include premium ingredients that are difficult to find in other mass-produced kitten foods.
10. Earthborn Harbor Harvest Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
| Texture: | Shredded |
| Nutritional Analysis: | 12% protein, 2.0% fat, 82% moisture |
| Suitable For: | Older kittens and cats |
Finally, the last product on our list is the Earthborn Holistic Harbor Harvest Grain-Free Natural Canned Cat & Kitten Food. This recipe has a high protein and moisture content, making it perfect for kittens. It also includes additional vitamins, omegas, and taurine.
The recipe is free from grains or artificial ingredients. Because kittens’ digestive systems are not fully developed, the lack of these ingredients makes the food easier on their stomach. At the same time, this recipe is suitable for adult cats because of its high protein count.
This kitten food does have very little fat, which is fine for kittens, but it may be a problem for adult cats. Conversely, the shredded design may make it more difficult for kittens to swallow. If you keep a careful eye on your pet while using this product, however, both kittens and cats should thrive.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Wet, Soft & Canned Kitten Food
Kittens require a very different diet and food source than adult cats. If you have never had a kitten before, you may not know what to look for in their food. In this buying guide, we are going to cover the most important factors to look at when selecting wet, soft & canned kitten food, as well as answer some FAQs.
Important Factors to Consider:
- 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...
High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here.
At Pet Keen, 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!
FAQs:
Final Thoughts
Based on our reviews and buyer’s guide, we recommend the Smalls Fresh Cat Food. Although it is expensive, it provides the best nutritional analysis and ingredients for kittens and mother cats. If you are on a tight budget, the Fancy Feast Kitten Tender Turkey Feast Canned Cat Food combines great ingredients and a low price tag.
Whether you select these two products, another food on this list, or an option we didn’t talk about all, keep our buyer’s guide in mind so that you can pick out the best quality kitten food for your new addition.
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Featured Image Credit: karinrin, Shutterstock
