Best Wet Cat Food
Water is so important for your cat’s health, just like it is for us. It helps keep their body temperature stable, supports healthy joints and movement, and makes sure chemical reactions in their body work right.
There’s nothing that can fully replace water. But giving your cat wet food is a great way to keep them hydrated all day. You don’t just want any wet food, though. You need one with good ingredients, no strange chemicals, and extra nutrients besides just water.
This guide will show you different options. We’ll look at what to think about, and review some of the best wet cat foods out there.
And hey, if you’re looking for food for little kittens, you can check out our guide on wet cat food for kittens.
Best Wet Cat Food
Here are the top-rated wet cat foods from our guide, all in one place. You can find more detailed reviews for each one further down.
Overall Best Wet Cat Food: Natures Menu Cat Food Pouch Multipack (48 x 100g) 5/5
Best for Sensitive Stomachs: Scrumbles All Natural Wet Cat Food Chicken 5/5
Most Affordable Wet Cat Food: Felix Mixed Selection In Jelly Cat Food 4/5
What Ingredients Should I Look For in Wet Cat Food
When picking out wet cat food, you want to focus on a few key things.
- Lots of Moisture – Wet cat foods are a good way to give your cat more water. This is especially helpful if your cat doesn’t drink much.
- Natural Ingredients and Nutrients – Your cat needs all the good stuff from their food. Top-quality cat foods usually list natural ingredients, plus vitamins like C and E.
- Plenty of Named Protein – More meat means better food, but sometimes it costs more. Look for specific meats, like chicken or beef, not vague “extracts” or “derivatives.”
- Right for Your Cat’s Age – Kittens need foods with lots of taurine and DHL. Older cats do better with added calcium for strong bones and teeth.
What to Avoid in Wet Cat Food
Cheaper wet cat foods often use less meat and more fillers. Here’s a quick list of things to try and avoid. This will help keep your cat healthy.
- Low moisture and low protein products.
- Artificial stuff, like preservatives, colors, and fillers.
- Too many carbohydrates – just like with some dry foods. Lots of carbs can lead to weight or muscle issues.
- Grains – these can often cause upset tummies for cats. It’s a common allergen.
Wet Cat Food Reviews
These are our top wet cat foods in the UK. We’ve got great options for cats with teeth problems, sensitive stomachs, or those who are a bit older. We checked out big brands like Natures Menu, Felix, and Whiskas.
Our wet cat food reviews are listed from highest rating to lowest.
1. Natures Menu Cat Food Pouch Multipack (48 x 100g)
These Natures Menu cat food pouches give your cat a full and balanced meal. Each pouch contains raw meat, which is really good for cats with sensitive tummies or food issues, since they’re gluten-free.
Every flavor has 70% real meat — chicken, tuna, or salmon. They’re packed with important vitamins and minerals, and no questionable derivatives. We liked how much meat there was compared to jelly.
Our cats loved this food. The price per serving made it a great deal too.
Key Features
- 48 x 100g pouches
- 3 flavors (Chicken, Salmon & Tuna)
- 70% real meat in each pouch
- Gluten-free
- Big pouches for all cat sizes
- Other products for older cats are available
- Grain-free, high in protein
Best Wet Cat Food for Older Cats
Natures Menu also has a similar item for older cats. The pouches have similar contents, but they are made to help older cats digest and eat better. You can get more details here.
2. Scrumbles All Natural Wet Cat Food
Scrumbles cat food is made in the UK and Ireland. It uses prime British meat. With a high 70% meat content, it has a mousse-like texture. This makes it a really good choice for cats with no teeth, gum issues, or upset tummies.
The natural ingredients help make your cat’s skin and coat better. The 85g packs are a nice size for most small cats. They can also help with portion control for bigger cats. The mousse texture was really easy for our cats to eat. They just kept coming back for more.
We really like the quality of Scrumbles cat food. We talk about it a lot on our site. Their hypoallergenic cat food range is especially great if your cat has a sensitive stomach.
Key Features
- Contains 70% fresh British meat
- Comes in 3 flavors (chicken, salmon & tuna)
- 8 x 85g pouches in a pack
- Hypoallergenic, free from common allergens
- Fully balanced food
- Grain-free, high in protein
- All natural ingredients
- Recyclable packaging
3. Applaws 100 Percent Natural Wet Cat Food Multipack
This Applaws product is known for having a lot of meat. It’s high in natural taurine, which helps with lean muscle growth, and also good for heart and eye health. The ingredients mostly feature meat, so your cat eats more of that than anything else.
Other ingredients include rice, broth, and water. It’s easy for cats to digest and doesn’t have any extra additives or preservatives. The smaller pouches are a nice size for smaller cats. The food felt a lot like canned tuna, with big flakes of fish and other natural bits.
Our cats really liked this one too. It’s a great choice if your cat especially likes fish.
Key Features
- Tuna Fillet (75% tuna)
- Ocean Fish (45% mackerel, 30% tuna)
- Chicken Breast (75% chicken breast)
- Chicken and Cheese (70% chicken breast)
- 12 x 70g pack
- Smaller pouches for smaller cats
- Made to BRC standard
- Natural ingredients
4. Lily’s Kitchen Natural Wet Cat Food, Pack of 4 (8 x 85g)
Lily’s Kitchen Natural Wet Food also has a high percentage of good quality meat. The recipes are all balanced in terms of nutrients and include taurine, which is super important. It’s a perfect mix of fresh meat, water, vitamins, and special minerals that help your pet take in nutrients better.
Every meal has salmon oil in it, making it rich in good fatty acids. No meat meal, no fillers, just natural cat food. Your cat will like it.
Key Features
- Whisker Lickin’ Chicken (65% chicken)
- Lovely Lamb Casserole (30% lamb, 20% chicken, 15% pork)
- Poultry Pie (50% turkey, 15% duck)
- Hunter’s Hotpot (25% chicken, 15% game, 15% pork, 10% turkey)
- No preservatives or fillers
- Grain-free, high in protein
5. Whiskas Wet Food Pouches
Whiskas Adult Cat Pouches are juicy, mineral-rich, and come in gravy. They are made for adult cats in their best years. While not as meat-heavy as some other foods, they do have added vitamins and minerals.
The lower meat content makes this a more affordable wet cat food. It’s much cheaper than others we’ve looked at. Whiskas says their wet food is gentle on the stomach. It’s also good for your cat’s skin, coat, and bladder health.
Key Features
- Chicken (4% chicken)
- Poultry (4% poultry)
- Duck (4% duck)
- Turkey (4% turkey)
- 84x100g pouches
- Each pouch has 22% meat & animal derivatives
- Comes in gravy
- For adult cats over 1 year old
6. Felix Mixed Selection in Jelly Cat Food
The Felix mixed selection is the cheapest wet cat food on our list. It’s also known for giving your cat all the nutrients she needs for good health. Experts specially prepare its recipes, so they are really good for adult cats and their specific diet needs.
The amount of meat compared to other ingredients is about the same as Whiskas. But you get more product for your money with Felix.
Key Features
- Beef (4% beef)
- Chicken (4% chicken)
- Tuna (4% tuna)
- Salmon with Trout (4% salmon)
- 120x100g pouches
- Suggested to feed 4 pouches a day
7. Gourmet Cat Food – Perle Chef’s Collection
Gourmet Cat Food by Perle Chef’s Collection is a whole bunch of tasty recipes. Think chicken, lamb, duck, and turkey, all cooked in rich gravy. It’s great for cats aged 1 to 7.
It has tempting choices that will surely keep your pet’s taste buds happy with every 85g pouch. Plus, each pouch is sealed to keep it fresh. It also has all the basic vitamins and minerals an adult cat needs to stay healthy.
Key Features
- Lamb (4% lamb, also includes fish)
- Turkey (4% turkey)
- Chicken (4% chicken, also includes fish)
- Duck (4% duck, also includes fish)
- 96x85g pouches
- Suggested to feed 4 pouches a day
8. Sheba Fine Flakes in Jelly Wet Cat Food Pouches
All meals from Sheba are packed in a tasty jellied gravy. No extra additives or preservatives. Sheba works for both grown-up and older cats, and it’s certified by Grüner Punkt – ARA.
You might think a well-known brand would cut corners on meat and use more fillers. But that’s not what happens with Sheba. It does have 45% meat and animal by-products, but there’s still more meat than anything else.
Key Features
- Chicken (4% chicken)
- Turkey (4% turkey)
- Poultry (4% poultry)
- 45% meat and animal derivatives
- Good for cats aged 12 months and up
- Suggested feeding 3 pouches a day for 4kg cats
Why Wet Cat Food?
Just like us, water helps cats get rid of bad stuff in their bodies. That’s why wet food is so helpful — it helps them take in more water.
Another reason to give your cat wet canned food is it’s similar to what they’d naturally eat, like mice. Wet cat food has the same structure. Plus, most dry foods have lots of carbohydrates. These aren’t great for cats. Not that they can’t digest carbs, but they grow stronger and healthier with more protein and fat in their meals.
Giving your cat wet canned food also helps them avoid getting too heavy and developing sugar problems. Even if they have diabetes, a high-protein diet can help them get better.
Here’s something important to clear up: some people think eating kibble cleans cat teeth. Studies show this isn’t really true. Cats barely chew kibble. Even if they did, it’s too small to clean their teeth well.
Of course, there are other perks to feeding your cat protein-rich wet food. It can make their body leaner and stronger. It also helps them keep their muscle as they get older.
And just like you wouldn’t want to eat the same meal daily, your pet will like the variety wet cat food offers. Dry food can get boring and taste the same every time. By adding wet cat food to their diet, you keep them happy and their taste buds excited with different flavors and textures. There are so many kinds of wet cat food to pick from — seafood, creamy, gravy-soaked, and more.
Wet cat food also has the same key nutrients as dry food, like iron, zinc, and biotin. But it’s easier to digest. When food is easier to digest, more of its nutrients get absorbed into the body.
FAQs
How Much Wet Food Should I Feed My Cat?
It depends on your cat’s size and health. Each food maker suggests how much to feed daily. Usually, it’s about 3 to 4 pouches a day (around 250-400g) for a 4kg cat. If you’re not sure, it’s best to ask your vet.
How Often Should I Feed My Cat Wet Food?
You can give your cat wet food every day. Some food companies suggest switching between dry and wet meals. But this really depends on what your cat needs for their diet.
Do Cats Need Wet Food?
Cats don’t absolutely need wet food in their diet. But wet food offers benefits that dry food doesn’t. Cats need water, and wet food helps keep them hydrated. It also gives them variety and helps them keep a lean body.
Can You Feed Your Cat Wet and Dry Food?
Yes, you can! Many cat food makers recommend mixing dry and wet foods. This keeps your cat’s diet interesting. It also makes sure they get the good things from both food types.
Wet Cat Food Buying Guide
Having many wet cat food options is good. It means you have more choices to find what’s best for your cat. But it can also make choosing harder. So, how do you pick wisely for your beloved pet? There are a few basic things a responsible pet owner should know.
What to Look For
When buying wet cat food, check the label for these things:
- A specific protein source, for example, “chicken,” not just “meat.”
- The protein source listed first.
- An expiration date.
Just as you need to know what to look for, you also need to know what to stay away from. Don’t buy a product if its main ingredients include or suggest any of these:
- Added sugars.
- Meat and bone meal, or animal digest.
- BHA, BHT, propyl gallate, and ethoxyquin — these are chemical preservatives.
- Cornmeal, used as a filler.
Remember, cats are meat-eaters first. While vegetables are fine, these animals thrive mostly on meat. Also, no pet food company can say their product is “complete and balanced” unless it meets certain rules. For instance, the food should have passed feeding tests for the recommended cat age. The food’s contents should also be within set nutrient levels. If there are any preservatives, they must be proven safe for pets and people. Lastly, current rules for cat food production say only natural preservatives should be used.
Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
In the UK, all wet cat food using animal leftovers (like milk, eggs, shellfish) must be registered with the APHA. If you buy wet food from a local seller, check carefully if it has these ingredients. The Food Standard Agency also doesn’t allow making commercial raw pet food in regular kitchens or kitchens that prepare food for humans.
The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)
If you’re buying wet cat food from outside the UK, make sure it’s regulated by The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The AAFCO is a group that suggests rules for how animal food producers, like wet cat food makers, should make and label their products. It includes officials from various groups and agencies in the U.S. and around the world, animal welfare groups, and vet colleges.
Investing in a Good Cat Food Brand
Many new cat owners try to save money by buying the cheapest foods. But this can backfire for two main reasons. Cats eat as much food as they need to stay healthy. So, if they eat more foods filled with carbs, it can harm their health. Also, feeding your cat poor quality food for years can cause serious health problems, or make existing ones worse.
Invest in a good brand. Let your pet get the benefits of quality food. The good news is, you don’t have to buy every product and test it yourself. Do some research. Read reviews. Stick to reliable sources. It’ll be easy to narrow down your choices and pick the very best.
