The Best Wet Food For Kittens, from Gravies to Pâtés

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Kittens are ready to dive into kitten food even while they are still nursing. This is a great opportunity to get them started on a lifetime of healthy eating. Even if momma cat is enjoying kibble, make sure your kitten is trying out wet food. Once they’re weaned, wet food is a good way to make sure they are getting enough moisture. As you get ready for a busy and wonderful time with your adorable new kitten, we want to point you to some valuable tips on nutrition, including a list of some of the best wet food for kittens.

The Basics of Kitten Nutrition

Cats have special nutritional needs that can’t be met by human food or food intended for other pets. For one thing, cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they absolutely must have the amino acids found in meat to survive. According to this article from Catnip, the Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine newsletter, a cat’s diet must be high in proteins from meat and a kitten’s diet (from birth to 1 year) must be even higher in protein to support their rapid growth.

Kittens can be introduced to a specially formulated kitten food when they are as young as 3 weeks old. Once your kitten is weaned (at about 8 to 10 weeks) you can begin feeding them kitten food exclusively.

Dr. Gary Richter, author of “The Ultimate Pet Health Guide,” strongly recommends making wet food a significant part of your kitten’s diet to make sure they are getting plenty of water. “Canned diets or fresh, whole food diets have a much higher moisture content than dry kibble,” he says.

The Best Wet Food for Kittens

When you’re choosing food for your kitten, check the label to make sure it’s formulated for kittens. Look for wording that indicates the food meets the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Profiles “for growth” or “for all life stages.” AAFCO members regulate pet food at the federal and state level.

Our list below includes popular, high-quality wet foods from basic and premium brands, so there’s something to fit every kitten parent’s budget. And all of these kitten foods have received rave reviews from buyers.

Purina Pro Plan Classic Salmon and Tuna Wet Food for Kittens

Salmon is the first ingredient in this high-protein wet food for kittens. The easy-to-eat pâté also includes liver, chicken, tuna, and an array of vitamins and minerals.

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Duck and Tuna Recipe

This popular premium kitten food includes duck, chicken, turkey liver, and tuna. Nulo likes to combine poultry and fish to maximize animal-based proteins that kittens require, along with vitamins and minerals.

Royal Canin Feline Health Thin Slices in Gravy

Royal Canin is known for designing recipes for specific cat ages, health issues, and breeds. This is one of their top-rated kitten recipes, with thin slices in gravy that engage kittens in chewing but are easy for them to manage.

Fancy Feast Classic Pâté Collection Kitten Food

Fancy Feast is an extremely popular and affordable cat food brand, reputed to appeal to even the most finicky feline diner. If you want to get your kitten started on it, this variety pack of kitten-specific wet food recipes is a great choice, offering chicken, turkey, and seafood.

Purina One Healthy Kitten Chicken and Salmon Wet Food

This affordable wet food leads with chicken and salmon and includes vitamins, minerals, and taurine for healthy growth. This appealing pâté comes in 3-ounce cans, in cases of 24 cans.

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Formula Canned Food

This grain-free formula is packed with protein from fresh chicken and chicken liver, and it comes in a smooth, easy-to-chew pâté texture. It’s supplemented with antioxidant-rich cranberries, essential vitamins and minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Wellness Core Natural Grain-Free Turkey and Chicken Liver Pâté

This protein-focused wet kitten food leads off with turkey, chicken liver, turkey broth, and chicken, in a soft pâté your kitten will find appealing and easy to consume. It’s packed with the vitamins and minerals young kittens require. You can also treat your little ones to Core’s kitten formula dry cat food.

Merrick Backcountry Kitten Chicken Pâté Wet Cat Food

Here’s some tasty pâté for your kitty, featuring chicken and chicken broth. This kitten-specific recipe is available in 3-ounce or 5.5-ounce cans, by the case.

Iams Perfect Portions Healthy Kitten Chicken Recipe

These convenient food trays provide 1.3-ounce portions for your little kitten while putting an end to messy leftovers. This tasty chicken pâté recipe (veterinarian-approved) is formulated to support your growing kitten with DHA and other nutrients found in mother’s milk.

American Journey Minced Chicken Recipe in Gravy

This kitten-specific food will tempt your little furball with bite-sized minced chicken in a savory gravy. The protein-rich recipe includes vitamins, minerals, and DHA and ARA to support brain and eye development.

Smalls Wet Foods

Smalls is a home delivery subscription brand (and a hit with Rover’s feline foodies). Its wet foods come in a wide variety of flavors, including minced fresh chicken with main ingredients including chicken thigh, breast, and liver, plus green beans and peas. Smalls boxes are delivered monthly and custom-built for your cats’ needs so prices vary, but for just one cat of average size and age, the costs range from $1.10–$1.69 per day.

Further Reading

• How to Survive the First 24 Hours with Your New Kitten
• Healthy Kitten Treats Your Little Furball Will Pounce On
• How Much Wet Food Should You Feed Your New Kitten?