What’s the best cat food? A guide to cat food formats

Choosing cat food used to feel like a fairly simple question: kibble or tins? Now, the shelves can include wet, fresh, frozen, raw, air-dried and freeze-dried options – each offering a different way to fill the bowl.

So, which is best? The short answer: there isn’t one best food for every cat. The right choice starts with a complete and balanced food that suits your cat’s life stage, health and individual nutritional needs – and that they enjoy and tolerate well. The format is one part of the decision.

In this guide, we break down the benefits and considerations of popular cat food formats so you can compare the options with less aisle-circling and a lot less label-staring.

Contents:

• How to choose the best cat food
• Dry cat food
• Wet cat food
• Fresh and frozen cat food
  • Gently cooked cat food
  • Raw cat food
• Air-dried cat food
• Freeze-dried cat food
• FAQs about cat food formats

How to choose the best cat food

The cat food aisle can be a lot to take in. When choosing your cat’s main food, start with five questions:

1. Is the food complete and balanced?
2. Is it appropriate for my cat’s life stage?
3. Does it suit their individual health and nutritional needs?
4. Do they enjoy eating it and tolerate it well?
5. Does the format work for my budget, storage space and feeding routine?

If a food ticks these boxes, it can be a strong choice whether it comes dry, wet, fresh, raw, air-dried or freeze-dried. There’s no single format that wins for every cat: nutritional suitability comes first, followed by practical considerations such as budget, storage and your feeding routine.

If your cat has a diagnosed health condition or specific dietary needs, speak with your vet before changing their food.

You don't have to stick to one food format

Dry or wet? Fresh or freeze-dried? The good news is that your cat’s bowl doesn’t have to pick a side.

Mixed feeding means combining two or more food formats at mealtimes. You might pair kibble with wet or fresh food or add a suitable topper. This can introduce different aromas and textures, add variety and, when a higher-moisture format is included, bring more moisture to the bowl.

Just keep the bigger nutritional picture in mind. Start with a complete and balanced foundation, check how each product is intended to be fed and adjust portions to account for every part of the meal.

Popular Cat Food Formats

Dry Cat Food

Dry cat food, also known as kibble or cat biscuits, is one of the most commonly fed cat food formats – and there’s no shortage of options in the aisle. These range from affordable everyday foods to specialised veterinary diets formulated for particular health needs, which should only be fed on your vet’s advice.

Benefits of dry cat food

• Convenient, widely available and easy to buy in larger bags
• Has a long shelf life when stored correctly and is less likely to spoil quickly once served
• Easy to measure, portion and serve, with minimal mealtime mess
• Nutrient- and energy-dense, so serving volumes are generally smaller than with higher-moisture formats
• Works well in timed feeders for cats that prefer several smaller meals
• Easy to use in puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys to make mealtimes more engaging
• Ingredients are evenly combined, making it difficult for cats to pick out their favourite bits and leave the rest
• Adds a crunchy texture that some cats enjoy

Things to consider about dry cat food

• Some fussy cats may find dry food less appealing than softer, more aromatic formats
• It provides considerably less moisture than wet, fresh or frozen food
• Cats eating mainly dry food may need to drink more, so reliable access to fresh water is essential
• Its energy density can make overfeeding easy if portions aren’t measured, particularly when food is available for grazing throughout the day
• Kibble undergoes more processing than some other formats, but processing alone doesn’t determine whether a food is nutritionally appropriate – the quality and balance of the finished diet do
• Its firm texture may not suit every cat, particularly those with certain dental or chewing difficulties

Wet cat food

Wet cat food contains considerably more water than dry food and most commonly comes in cans, trays or sachets. It also tends to have a stronger aroma – meaning the sound of a pouch opening can quickly become its own dinner bell.

Wet food is available in a wide variety of textures and consistencies, including:

• Chunks or shreds in gravy
• Pieces in jelly
• Pate, loaf or mousse
• Mince

If wet food will make up your cat’s main diet, check that the label describes it as complete and balanced for their life stage. Some wet foods, toppers and broths are complementary products designed to be fed alongside a complete diet.

Benefits of wet cat food

• Its high moisture content can help support your cat’s daily water intake
• Its strong aroma and soft texture can appeal to fussy eaters
• Unopened cans, trays and sachets generally have a long shelf life and do not require refrigeration
• Available in a wide variety of flavours and textures
• Its softer texture may be easier for some cats to eat, including those with certain chewing difficulties
• Single-serve trays and sachets can make portioning convenient

Things to consider about wet cat food

• Not every wet product is complete and balanced, so it’s important to check the label
• Once opened, it must be refrigerated and used within the timeframe stated on the label
• It can spoil relatively quickly once served, particularly in warm weather
• Cats that prefer to graze may not finish it before it needs to be discarded
• It can create more mess and require more clean-up than dry food
• It may cost more per day than dry food
• Because it contains more water, cats generally need a larger volume of food to receive the same number of calories

Fresh and frozen cat food

Fresh and frozen cat food is a broad category covering diets that need to be kept chilled or frozen rather than stored at room temperature. You’ll generally find two main formats in the fridge or freezer: gently cooked and raw.

These diets often use familiar ingredients such as meat and organs, along with any oils, vitamins, minerals or other nutrients required to complete the recipe. They’re available as pre-made commercial products or can be prepared at home.

“Fresh” doesn’t automatically mean more nutritious

Fresh and frozen foods may look a little closer to something from your own kitchen, but familiar ingredients aren’t a shortcut to complete nutrition. Cats have precise nutritional requirements, and meat or fish alone won’t provide everything they need.

The quality and nutritional balance of the finished diet matter more than whether the food is fresh, cooked, raw or made into kibble.

If fresh food will make up your cat’s main diet, check that it’s complete and balanced for their life stage and follow the storage and handling instructions carefully. Some fresh and frozen products are intended only as complementary foods, toppers or treats.

Homemade fresh-food diets

Some cat owners like preparing their pet’s food at home because it gives them control over the ingredients and preparation. However, homemade diets can easily become imbalanced and lead to health problems caused by nutrient deficiencies or excesses. Combining meat, organs, bones and vegetables in estimated proportions isn’t enough to ensure your cat receives every nutrient they need.

If you wish to feed your cat a homemade diet, speak with your vet. They may refer you to a qualified veterinary nutritionist who can formulate a complete and balanced recipe for your individual cat. Follow the recipe exactly, including every ingredient quantity and supplement, to ensure your cat receives all the nutrients they need.

Gently cooked cat food

Gently cooked cat food is made by cooking fresh ingredients using a controlled time-and-temperature process. These foods are typically kept refrigerated or frozen and often have a soft texture, high moisture content and rich aroma that many cats find appealing.

Benefits of gently cooked cat food

• Often has a strong aroma and soft texture that appeals to many cats
• Its high moisture content can help support daily water intake
• Controlled cooking helps reduce harmful microorganisms
• Commercial options are often conveniently portioned
• Can offer recognisable ingredients and textures
• Can be formulated for an individual cat when prepared under appropriate veterinary nutritional guidance
• May be easier for some cats with chewing difficulties to eat

Things to consider about gently cooked cat food

• Must be stored in the fridge or freezer
• Usually has a relatively short shelf life once opened or defrosted
• Can be more expensive than traditional dry or wet food
• Correct handling, storage and serving practices remain important
• Preparing it at home requires additional time and clean-up and carries a risk of cross-contamination while handling uncooked ingredients
• Homemade recipes can cause nutritional deficiencies or excesses if they haven’t been professionally formulated and followed exactly
• Cats may pick out preferred ingredients if the recipe’s components remain separate
• Not every gently cooked product is complete and balanced, so it’s important to check the label

Raw cat food

Raw cat food contains uncooked ingredients such as meat, organs and edible bone. Depending on the recipe, it may also include oils, vitamins, minerals and other ingredients or supplements.

Some pet parents choose raw food because they prefer an uncooked format or believe it more closely resembles an ancestral feline diet. Raw-feeding approaches vary and include commercial diets, prey-model diets and biologically appropriate raw food, commonly known as BARF.

However, raw doesn’t automatically mean more nutritious. The quality and nutritional balance of the finished diet matter more than whether its ingredients are raw or cooked.

Not every raw product is suitable as your cat’s main food. Check whether the label describes it as complete and balanced for their life stage or as a complementary food, topper or treat.

Benefits of raw cat food

• Its aroma, moisture and texture can appeal to many cats
• Its high moisture content can help support daily water intake
• Commercial options may come in convenient pre-portioned packs
• Provides an uncooked format for pet parents who prefer this feeding style
• Homemade recipes allow control over the ingredients when professionally formulated for the individual cat

Things to consider about raw cat food

• Raw food carries a greater risk of harmful microorganisms than heat-treated food
• Pathogens can affect cats and people in the household, and cats may carry or shed them without appearing unwell
• Homemade recipes can cause nutritional deficiencies or excesses if they aren’t professionally formulated and followed exactly
• Bones can cause dental injuries, choking or digestive complications
• Careful preparation, hygiene, storage and clean-up are required
• It must be stored in the fridge or freezer and has a short shelf life once opened or defrosted
• It can be more expensive than traditional dry or wet food
• Homemade diets require additional time and effort to prepare
• Cats may leave behind ingredients they don’t like, affecting the balance of what they consume
• Not every commercial raw product is complete and balanced, so check the label carefully

Raw food safety and hygiene

Because the ingredients in raw cat food aren’t cooked, it can contain harmful bacteria and parasites. These may make cats unwell or spread to people through the food, contaminated surfaces, the litter tray or contact with a cat carrying or shedding the microorganisms.

Extra caution is needed in households with young children, older people, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system. Speak with your vet before choosing a raw diet, particularly if your cat or someone in your household may be more vulnerable to infection.

If you choose to feed raw cat food: 

• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the food or cleaning the litter tray
• Keep raw pet food separate from human food and use dedicated utensils and containers where possible
• Wash and disinfect bowls, utensils and preparation surfaces after every use
• Store and thaw the food according to the label, keeping it refrigerated until needed
• Serve it promptly and discard leftovers rather than leaving them in the bowl

Air-dried cat food

Air-dried cat food is made by slowly removing moisture from its ingredients using circulating air. The result is usually a soft, chewy or jerky-like food that combines some of the convenience of kibble with the concentrated aroma and texture of a treat.

Air-dried products can be sold as complete diets, meal toppers or treats. Before filling the bowl, check how the product is intended to be fed and whether it’s complete and balanced for your cat’s life stage.

Benefits of air-dried cat food

• Its concentrated aroma and chewy texture can appeal to many cats
• Shelf-stable and generally doesn’t require refrigeration before opening
• Ready to serve without cooking or defrosting
• Nutrient- and energy-dense, so serving sizes are often relatively small
• Easy to measure and portion
• Uniform pieces make it more difficult for cats to select only their favourite ingredients
• Convenient for travel
• Depending on the product’s size and texture, it may work well in puzzle feeders and treat-dispensing toys

Things to consider about air-dried cat food

• Often more expensive than traditional dry or wet food
• Its energy density can make overfeeding easy if portions aren’t measured carefully
• Contains considerably less moisture than wet, fresh or frozen food, so reliable access to fresh drinking water is essential
• Air-drying may not eliminate all harmful microorganisms, so follow the product’s handling and storage directions
• Nutritional content and processing methods can vary considerably between products
• Some products need to be used within a particular timeframe after opening

Freeze-dried cat food

Freeze-dried cat food is a lightweight, low-moisture format commonly available as nuggets, patties, pieces or powders. Products can be sold as complete diets, meal toppers or treats, so check the label before deciding how much space they should take up in your cat’s bowl.

Despite the name, freeze-dried food doesn’t need to stay in the freezer once the manufacturing process is complete. Removing most of its moisture makes it shelf-stable and easy to store. Depending on the product’s directions, adding water before serving can create a softer, more aromatic meal and contribute to your cat’s daily water intake.

Benefits of freeze-dried cat food

• Its concentrated aroma and texture can appeal to many cats
• Shelf-stable and generally doesn’t require refrigeration before opening
• Lightweight and convenient to store or travel with
• Nutrient- and energy-dense, so portions are often relatively small
• Easy to measure, portion or crumble over meals
• Uniform pieces can make selective eating more difficult
• Can often be served dry or rehydrated, depending on the product’s directions
• Rehydrating adds moisture and creates a softer texture

Things to consider about freeze-dried cat food

• Generally more expensive than traditional dry or wet food
• Contains little moisture unless rehydrated, so cats eating it dry need reliable access to fresh drinking water
• Some products must be rehydrated before feeding, so always follow the label
• Freeze-drying doesn’t guarantee that harmful microorganisms from raw ingredients have been removed
• Raw freeze-dried products require careful hygiene and handling
• Its energy density can make overfeeding easy if portions aren’t measured
• Not every freeze-dried product is complete and balanced
• Rehydrated food is perishable and shouldn’t be left sitting in the bowl

Find the food that gives you’re cat that feed good feeding

Need help building the right bowl for your cat? Explore our extensive range of cat food online or visit your local Petbarn store, where a team member can help you compare formats and understand which foods are right for your cat.