Are you looking for the best high protein cat food for your beloved feline friends? After all, cats need a good supply of protein and other nutrients to keep them strong and healthy for all that jumping, climbing, and prancing around, whether in or out of the house.
To help you out, I’ve come up with this comprehensive list of the best high protein foods for cats that your pets will surely love, and I’ve also written a helpful buying guide to assist you in making the decision on which one is best for your cats.
Crave Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
My first pick is Crave’s grain-free dry cat food, which boasts of 40% high protein sourced from real chicken meat. It’s a grain-free cat meal recipe that gives your cats the complete, balanced, and protein-rich diet that they need.
This formula also contains high-quality carbohydrate and nutrient sources to provide your cats with the energy and essential nutrient requirements for them to live healthy, develop superior immune systems, grow muscles, and digest food effectively.
You can also rest assured that this recipe is 100% free from chicken by-products, grains like corn, wheat, and soy, as well as artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors. All in all, it’s healthy protein-rich cat food with flavors that your cats are sure to love, and will surely give your cats that lean and healthy body that’s ready to take on the world.
PROS
- Real chicken meat, 100% grain free
- Excellent flavor and scent
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Comes in adult and kitten formulations
- Available in 5 meaty flavors and 3 sizes
CONS
- May cause diarrhea when not introduced properly
- Not suitable for cats with sensitive allergies
- Some say it has a strong kibble smell
Blue Buffalo Healthy Gourmet Wet Cat Food
The second best on this list is Blue Buffalo’s healthy gourmet flaked wet cat food for adult cats. It offers high-quality protein sources from real chicken, tuna, fish, and shrimp for superior energy, muscle growth, and maintenance.
It’s not only flavorful, delicious, and healthy; it also comes in flaky textures that your cats are sure to love nibbling on. And, it’s made with 100% natural ingredients that are enriched with all the essential vitamins and minerals that your cats need.
If you want a real healthy meal for your cats with no chicken and poultry by-products, no thickening ingredients like wheat, corn, and soy, and no artificial preservatives and flavors. This is a great protein-filled cat food filled with real meat, as well as fruits and veggies, such as sweet potatoes, carrots, and cranberries.
PROS
- Real chicken/ seafood meat, 100% grain free
- Antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Available in 3 flavors and 3 sizes
- Comes in a variety pack and pack of 12 or 24
CONS
- May cause diarrhea when not introduced properly
- Not as flaky and wet as you may expect
- Poor product handling and customer service
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dry Cat Food
Another cat meal made by Blue Buffalo that I really love is their wilderness grain-free dry cat food for adult cats, which claims to supply your cats with nature’s evolutionary diet filled with real chicken and life source bits.
It’s packed with chicken meat that helps your cats build and maintain their muscle mass and contains a specific blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that promote balanced health and immune system at all ages.
What’s more, this formula is filled with healthy carbohydrate sources such as peas and sweet potatoes, as well as fatty acids like omega 3 and 6 to support your cats’ active lifestyle and ensure healthy skin and coat. Plus, you don’t have to worry about any by-products, additives, or artificial preservatives and other harmful ingredients.
PROS
- Suitable for all cat breeds
- Cold-formed to preserve the potency
- Excellent flavor and scent
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Comes in 3 flavors and 5 sizes
CONS
- May cause sickness if not introduced properly
- New formulation is not as good as before
- More expensive than other cat food brands
Taste Of The Wild Rocky Mountain Dry Cat Food
In fourth place is Taste of the Wild’s rocky mountain premium dry cat food, another grain free and high protein recipe that is tasty, nutrient dense, and promotes good overall health for your beloved cats.
You can get this in exciting flavors such as smoked salmon and roasted venison, both of which are high in protein content for developing lean and strong muscles, and boast of an excellent amino acid profile for a healthy heart.
Not only that, it also contains other superfoods such as fruits and vegetables to further promote an excellent health and nutrition from a good supply of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fatty acids that all make for a healthy skin and coat, so your cats can look and feel good inside and out.
PROS
- With probiotics for the immune system
- Suitable for all ages- kitten to senior cats
- Excellent flavor and scent
- Superior ingredient quality
- Amazon’s Choice product
CONS
- May cause diarrhea if not introduced properly
- More expensive than other cat food brands
- Contains traces of cashew (not for cats with allergies)
Rachael Ray Nutrish Dry Cat Food
Ranking a close fifth is Rachel Ray Nutrish’s super premium food for cats, which is a dry cat meal recipe that is made with real superfood blends and uses real chicken meat as its number one ingredient to provide all your cats’ protein needs and more.
It also contains an assortment of other healthy goods such as fiber-rich lentils for good metabolism and weight, pumpkins and dandelion greens with probiotics for a healthy digestive system, and fruits such as cranberries and blueberries for a good supply of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for a strong immune system.
This is a thoughtfully crafted recipe perfect for indoor cats. It’s completely free from harmful, unhealthy, and allergy-causing ingredients like corn, wheat, soy, poultry fillers and by-products. Even artificial flavors and preservatives, so what you’re getting is only the best when it comes to your cats’ nutrition and supplement needs.
PROS
- Crispy and bite-size kibbles
- Suitable for indoor adult cats
- Easy to chew and swallow
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Available in 3 flavors and 3 sizes
CONS
- May cause sickness if not introduced properly
- Poor product handling and customer service
- Contains a synthetic form of vitamin K
Diamond Naturals Chicken Meal & Rice Formula
Next up is Diamond Naturals’ active cat chicken meal and rice formula, a complete and balanced cat food recipe that is made with exceptional ingredients and promotes complete and holistic nutrition for your cats.
Its main ingredient is real and cage free chicken meat that’s rich in protein and is tailored with optimal amino acids to give your cats the strength and energy it needs, as well as help them build and maintain healthy muscles.
Moreover, this recipe also contains other superfoods and high protein ingredients, such as fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. These all work on developing a strong immune system and promoting healthy skin and coat growth. It even contains probiotics to aid in digestion, so all in all, it’s exceptional protein-packed cat food.
Also Read: Best Cat Food For Weight Gain
PROS
- Suitable for physically active adult cats
- Also works for kittens and pregnant/ nursing cats
- Excellent flavor and scent
- Available in 2 flavors and 2 sizes
CONS
- May cause sickness if not introduced properly
- May contain certain allergens depending on variant
- New formulation is not as good as before
Purina Pro Plan Savor Cat Food
You might also want to consider Purina Pro Plan’s savor dry cat food, which is a specially formulated cat meal recipe rich in protein and probiotics to support your cats’ overall health and nutrition requirements.
This brand’s tagline is nutrition that performs, and that seems to be true, seeing as this recipe is packed with all the nutrients your cat will need, such as the high-quality proteins that your cats can get from the number one ingredient, real chicken.
It also contains a chicory root that’s rich in natural prebiotic fibers to promote good digestive health. Other healthy and nutrient-dense ingredients that offer a healthy supply of vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and antioxidants so your cats can enjoy a clear vision, a well-nourished skin and coat, and a strong immune system.
ALSO READ: Best Food For Old Cats With Tooth Problems
PROS
- Excellent flavor and scent
- Great value for money
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Available in 3 flavors and 7 sizes
- Can be purchased as a dry and wet bundle
CONS
- Poor product handling and customer service
- Recent hefty price increase is a turn off for some
- May cause flatulence and mild sickness
Hill’s Science Diet Dry Cat Food
Another great option for high protein cat foods is the Hill’s Science diet, dry cat food specifically formulated for adult cats with high dietary requirements but particularly sensitive stomachs.
It’s a veterinarian recommended specialty cat meal recipe that’s made of real chicken and rice and other natural ingredients enriched with prebiotic fibers that promote good digestive health nourish the skin and help develop a healthy and lustrous coat.
What’s more, it’s also rich in vitamins, minerals, omega 6s, antioxidants, and other nutrients that support a healthy immune and digestive system. It promotes an excellent overall health and nourishment cats need. It also doesn’t contain any chicken by-products, nor artificial preservatives, flavors, and colorings.
PROS
- Excellent freshness and ingredient quality
- Part of the proceeds go to charity
- 100% money back guarantee
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Available in 2 flavors and 5 sizes
CONS
- May cause sickness if not introduced properly
- New formulation is not as good as before
- Contains traces of eggs (not for cats with allergies)
Purina One Natural Dry Cat Food
Nearing the end of this list is another Purina cat food, the Purina One natural dry cat food for sensitive stomachs and sensitive skins. It’s an easily digestible formula that offers purposeful nutrition for a lifelong whole body health and immunity.
This is an all-natural adult cat meal that’s primarily made with real turkey that is deliciously delicious and rich in protein and other nutrients that your cats need. It also has wholesome grains and real vegetables to promote steady energy, strong muscles, a healthy heart, a thick skin and coat, and a great immune system.
Plus, it comes in bite-sized pieces enriched with added vitamins and minerals and is free of harmful ingredients such as fillers and artificial flavors or preservatives. It also tastes really good and gives off a crunch, so your cats are sure to love this one.
PROS
- Makes for a healthier cat in 28 days
- Wheat free and gluten-free
- Excellent flavor and scent
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Available in 4 sizes
CONS
- May cause sickness if not introduced properly
- Contains grains and other potential allergens
- Poor product handling and customer service
Elsey’s Cleanprotein Dry Cat Food
Finally, there is also Dr. Elsey’s clean protein dry cat food formula, a high protein cat kibble that makes use of simple and high quality ingredients to promote an optimized appetite, body mass, and overall health for your cats.
It’s a 100% grain-free formulation that makes use of real chicken meat is its primary protein and fiber source, and also contains lots of added vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to help your cats develop a healthy immune system regardless of their age.
All things considered, this recipe is a clean and healthy choice for your cats, as it is a nutrient-dense and value-added meal, packed with omega 3 fatty acids, and is 100% free of grains, gluten, and artificial preservatives or flavors.
PROS
- Non GMO, grain and gluten free
- Excellent flavor and scent
- Suitable for all cat ages
- Amazon’s Choice product
- Available in 2 flavors and sizes
CONS
- May cause sickness if not introduced properly
- Some say the protein content is too high
- Not suitable for cats with sensitive allergies
ALSO READ: Best Low Protein Cat Foods
Best High Protein Cat Food Buyer’s Guide
It can be quite a tough decision when it comes to finding the best high protein cat food brands and recipes that will work perfectly for your cats’ needs and requirements. There are just so many things to be considered, from what type of cat food you should buy, what ingredients they should contain, and so on.
Here’s a short but helpful buyers guide that lists down everything you need to know when picking out the cat food high in protein that’s perfect for your cats:
Dry vs Wet cat food
Your common choices regarding food for cats are generally limited to dry and wet variants, although you can always opt for preparing raw food from scratch if you have the time and money to do so.
There are many benefits to either dry or wet formulations. Dry recipes have more texture, and are also cheaper and have a longer shelf life, while wet variants are better for your cats’ digestion and moisture intake, although they cost more.
A great solution here is to provide your cats with a balanced combination of the two. Just remember to go for products tagged as high protein wet cat food and high protein dry cat food to ensure that your cats will get all their protein and nutrient needs.
Cat Age and Condition
The food formulation that is right for your cats also depends on their age and physical condition, since different recipes and formulas are used for cat meals to fit their specific needs. For example, kittens and senior cats need food that is easy to chew and digest.
On the other hand, active adult cats need something that’s a little heavier on carbohydrates and proteins to give them their needed muscle mass and energy, while pregnant and nursing cats need extra nutrients to pass on to their kittens.
Cat Food Ingredients
It’s also a must to carefully check what ingredients are used in making the food, since this will affect how much and what kinds of nutritional benefits your cats can get out of each meal. Will also let you know whether the formula can cause an allergic reaction or other health conditions to your cats.
The general rule, however, is to stay away from products that contain ingredients not suitable for cat consumption, artificial preservatives, flavors, and colorings, and other harmful or toxic substances that can make your cats sick.
What cat food is high in protein?
Since protein content is your main goal when purchasing high protein meals for your cats, it’s only right to know what types of food are high in protein. The truth is, there are many excellent protein sources, from meat to seafood, and even some vegetables.
The most common ones are chicken (especially chicken breast), turkey, salmon, egg, fish, and almost all beans and legumes.
Is high protein food good for cats?
High protein food is not only good for cats- they need it, simply due to their physical build and regular activity, which involves working a lot of muscles, and as such, requires a healthy muscle mass that protein can help develop.
Is high protein bad for older cats?
Protein is generally a good nutrient, both for young and old cats. But, older cats are always at risk of kidney disease, and protein dense meals can aggravate this, so it’s important to feed your cats just the right amount of protein and other nutrients that their body requires.
Conclusion
Finding the best high protein cat food is important if you really want to give your cats the best and healthiest diets that they need for their everyday function and overall health. The good news is, there are lots of excellent options out there, and as long as you know the right things to look for, you’re sure to find a cat meal that works for you and your cats.
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API