10 Best Cat Foods in Canada in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

As cat owners, we want to provide the absolute best for our cats. They need the sturdiest scratching posts, the most fun toys, and of course, the most nutritious food. If your cat’s current diet isn’t cutting it anymore, it might be time to change things up.

Considering all the options available, choosing the right food can be challenging. This process can be even more difficult if you’re Canadian and don’t have access to the same brands that are available in the United States.

So, we helped take the guesswork out of the cat food selection process by compiling a list of the best options available in Canada right now. Read on for the reviews so you can find the product that best suits your cat’s nutritional needs and life stage.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2025

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Hill's Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food	Meat as the first ingredient No artificial colors or preservatives Helps with weight loss and maintenance	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Chicken & Rice Entrée Wet Cat Food	Fortified with live probiotics Real meat as the first ingredient Boosts digestive health	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food	Over 20 different recipes Different texture options High protein recipes	CHECK PRICE
		Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Food for Young Kittens	Provides immune support Special kibble texture for emerging teeth Antioxidants to build kitten’s natural defenses	CHECK PRICE
		Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Chicken Pâté Wet Cat Food	Protein-rich recipe Balanced diet for adults and kittens Antioxidants for immunity	CHECK PRICE

The 10 Best Cat Foods in Canada

1. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food — Best Overall

If you’re looking for the best overall cat food in Canada, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Cat Food is the answer. This dry food comes in 3-, 7-, or 15-pound bags, so you can choose the size that suits your cat’s needs and diet the best.

This hard food is designed specifically for cats that need assistance with weight loss. It can promote healthy weight maintenance due to its proprietary blend of wholesome ingredients and tasty and nourishing formula.

Hill’s Science Diet is backed by veterinarians, and this formula has been proven to provide the antioxidants that your cat needs to promote a healthy immune system.

2. Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Chicken & Rice Entrée Wet Cat Food — Best Value

Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Chicken & Rice Entrée Wet Cat Food is the best cat food in Canada for the money. This affordable wet food is high in protein and is made with real chicken and rice. It has a tasty gravy sauce for additional moisture that most cats enjoy.

This formula is made with antioxidants to improve your cat’s immune system and with fatty acids and vitamins to boost their skin and coat health. It has natural prebiotic fiber to boost digestive health and vitamin A to support healthy vision.

Purina’s Pro Plan Complete Essentials food comes in several different flavors, so you can find one that best suits your cats’ specific tastes.

3. Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food — Premium Choice

Wellness Complete Health Natural Grain Free Wet Canned Cat Food is for cat owners for whom money is no object. While this food is on the pricey side, it’s worth the cost for owners looking to provide their cats with a high-protein and nutrient-dense meal. This recipe is made with natural meat, and its first four ingredients are all protein-based to ensure your cat is getting a sufficient amount of protein in their diet.

This food is full of antioxidant-rich ingredients like cranberries, carrots, and omega fatty acids, which boost your kitty’s immunity and overall health. Its pâté texture provides a hefty dose of hydration to keep your cat’s water levels up.

4. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Food for Young Kittens

Kittens need a specific diet that has the vitamins and minerals they need for proper development. They also need antioxidants to boost their natural defenses and healthy fats for optimal brain development. Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Food for Young Kittens is designed to provide your growing kitten with just that. This food is meant to be given in the second growth stage of your kitten’s life, when they’re between 4 and 12 months.

This recipe features easily digestible ingredients and probiotics that are easy on your kitty’s still-sensitive digestive system.

Royal Canin also has a Mother & Babycat soft food formula that is recommended for lactating queens and kittens between 1 and 4 months.

5. Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Chicken Pâté Wet Cat Food

This high-protein and grain-free food is great for pet owners looking to provide their kitties with nutritious food for their sensitive tummies. While grains are an uncommon cause of food allergies in cats, some may have a harder time digesting them.

Merrick Purrfect Bistro Grain Free Chicken Pâté Wet Cat Food is full of antioxidants to help support your cat’s immune system and omega fatty acids to make their skin and coat soft and shiny. There are no artificial colorings, flavorings, or preservatives in this food, so you can feed it to your kitty without worry.

This recipe has real deboned meat as the first ingredient, providing a healthy dose of protein in every can.

6. Iams Proactive Health Hairball Care With Chicken & Salmon Dry Cat Food

Does your cat struggle a lot with hairballs? If so, you might want to consider a hairball formula cat food. It’s high in fiber and made with specific ingredients to improve your cat’s coat health and minimize how much they shed. The goal is to encourage the hairballs to go through the digestive tract instead of coming back out of their mouths.

Iams Proactive Health Hairball Care With Chicken & Salmon Dry Cat Food is made with high-quality proteins to ensure your kitty is getting a healthy and balanced diet. The unique fiber blend of prebiotics, cellulose, and beet pulp gets to work immediately to help control your cat’s hairballs.

7. Friskies Gravy Pleasers Variety Pack Wet Cat Food

Friskies Gravy Pleasers Variety Pack Wet Cat Food can be found in grocery and department stores and online, making it one of the most easily accessible brands on this list. Their Gravy Pleasers kit has 24 cans in three different flavors. Each flavor is formulated to be 100% complete to provide balanced nutrition for your adult cats. Each recipe comes in a different texture to cater to cats that need a little variety in their diet.

This mega pack is cost-effective for pet parents on a budget who still want to provide their kitties with a tasty and healthy diet.

8. Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Natural Mature Dry Cat Food

Just as kittens need a special diet to support their growing bodies, senior cats need appropriate nutrition for their aging bodies.

The Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Natural Mature Dry Cat Food is full of ingredients to ensure your senior cat enjoys healthy golden years. The formula is made with the perfect balance of protein and carbohydrates to give your kitty the energy they need to stay active. It has the amino acid taurine included to boost eye and heart health and the essential vitamins and minerals that your senior cat requires for a healthy immune system. The formula is made with real meat as the first ingredient to help your senior feline maintain strong muscles.

9. Whiskas Perfect Portions Variety Pack Chicken, Chicken & Liver, Salmon & Tuna Entrée Cuts in Gravy & Pâté Wet Cat Food

Whiskas knows that busy cat owners love convenience, and that’s why it created Whiskas Perfect Portions Variety Pack Chicken, Chicken & Liver, Salmon & Tuna Entrée Cuts in Gravy & Pâté Wet Cat Food. It comes in an easy-to-serve package that takes the guesswork out of determining how much to feed your cat.

This food has an appealing pâté texture and comes in a wide variety of flavors that cats love. Don’t let the “animal plasma” ingredient scare you away. Some companies use animal plasma as a binder because it provides a hefty dose of protein and is easily digestible.

10. Fancy Feast Collection Variety Pack

Fancy Feast Collection Variety Pack has flavors that cats love, such as tuna, chicken, and salmon. Each recipe is made with real meat that’s been slow-cooked in a savory gravy sauce. This gravy is designed to entice your kitties to their wet food and provide them with the moisture they need to stay hydrated.

These recipes provide 100% complete and balanced nutrition for adult cats and a host of vitamins and minerals they need to support their health. With real meats listed as the first few ingredients, Fancy Feast’s food is something you can feel good putting in your cat’s bowl every day.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Cat Food in Canada

Now that you’re aware of the top cat food available in Canada, you’re well on your way to knowing which will be the best for your cat. There are still some things you should learn before buying any new cat food, though.

Life Stage

How old your kitty is will determine the type of nutrition that they need to thrive. Kittens need specially formulated kitten food until they’re 12 months old. During this critical growth stage, they have higher requirements for protein, amino acids, and vitamins. Kittens should have some wet food in their diet, as their small teeth make chewing dry food difficult.

Older cats need their diets to be easy to digest and complete and balanced in nutrition. Nutrients like EPA, DHA, and glucosamine can help boost mobility and reduce pain in aging kitties. They need highly digestible proteins to support their digestion and nutrients like fatty acids to boost their digestive health.

A senior cat’s nutritional needs will also be influenced by any health conditions they may have. If your kitty has developed diabetes or heart disease in their old age, they’ll need a diet that can support them.

Nutrition

The whole reason you’re reading this now is so you can find out which cat food will be the healthiest for your pet. A good place to start is by determining if the food in question meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards. The AAFCO statement on pet food packaging will tell you that the food contains the essential nutrients that your pet needs and the life stage that the food is appropriate for.

AAFCO has specific nutrition requirements for cats based on the life stage they are in. Cats in the growth and reproduction stage (kittens and pregnant or lactating mothers) need 30% protein, 9% fat, minerals like calcium and iron, and vitamins like A, D, and E. Cats in the adult maintenance stage need 26% protein, 9% fat, and similar vitamins and minerals.

You can rest assured that when you choose a product that meets AAFCO standards, you’re feeding your cat a food that will meet all their nutrient requirements. That said, the AAFCO label is not required in Canada, so you may need to do extra research to find out if the food you’re considering meets its standards.

The Great Debate: Wet vs. Dry Food

Many pet owners are curious about whether wet or dry food is better for their cats. Is dry food a better choice because it’s great for your cat’s teeth, or is wet food better since it has higher moisture content?

Let’s take a look at a few more of the differences between wet and dry cat food.

The Benefits & Drawbacks of Dry Food

Dry cat food is more affordable and convenient because it won’t spoil as fast. It has roughly 10% moisture content and is better than wet food at preventing dental diseases. It is the best pick for people who free-feed their cats or those who use automatic feeders or puzzle toys. Since there’s less of a risk for bacterial growth, you can leave a bowl of dry food out all day for your kitty without worrying about what could be growing in their food bowl.

However, some studies suggest that cats fed predominantly dry food are more at risk for obesity. This could be due in part to the fact that many cats that are fed a dry food diet are free-fed, and it’s difficult for owners to control how much their pets are eating. Older cats, those with dental disease, or those that have had teeth removed often have a difficult time chewing dry food.

The Benefits & Drawbacks of Wet Food

Wet food has a high water content, which is great for cats that have health conditions that require a higher water intake. Cats with kidney disease or diabetes will especially benefit from having additional water. Wet food also tends to be more palatable than dry food because it has textures and ingredients that cats can sniff out.

The price of wet food adds up fast if that’s all you’re feeding your cat. It spoils faster and will take up space in your fridge, as you’ll need to refrigerate the food after you’ve opened it. If you leave canned food out in the open air for longer than a few hours, bacteria could begin to grow and contaminate the food.

Which Is Better?

We know you’re looking for a cut-and-dry answer here, but there just isn’t one. Whether your cat eats wet or dry food will depend on their health status, life stage, and personal tastes.

Some cat owners choose to feed their pets a combination of both wet and dry food. This gives them the benefits of both diets—the high moisture content and palatability of wet food and the dental benefits of dry food. Plus, the variety will keep your kitty from getting bored of one type of food.

If you’re not sure which diet to feed your cat, talk with your veterinarian. They can provide insight into what will be best for your cat based on their specific needs.

How to Introduce New Food

So, we’ve convinced you to switch to one of the foods you’ve read about. All that’s left to do now is buy it, wait for it to arrive, and then fill your cat’s bowl with it, right? Actually, new foods must be introduced slowly to prevent gastrointestinal upset like diarrhea and vomiting.

In a perfect world, you would need at least a week to transition your kitty to their new food. If your pet isn’t super picky, you can start by adding a small amount of the new food in with the older food at every meal. You then gradually increase the amount of new food you put in their bowl while simultaneously reducing how much of the older food you put in.

Here is a 1-week schedule you can follow when transitioning to the new food:

• Days One & Two: 75% old food + 25% new food
• Days Three & Four: 50% old food + 50% new food
• Days Five & Six: 25% old food + 75% new food
• Day 7: 100% new food

Of course, you’ll need to pay close attention to how your kitty is reacting to the new food. If you notice any gastrointestinal upset, scale back a bit, and add less of the new food until their stomach can handle it.

Unfortunately, many cats can be extremely picky when it comes to their food. Some will resign themselves to only eating one particular brand or flavor and will try to starve themselves when new foods are introduced. Usually, though, with a bit of patience and time, even the finickiest of cats will come around to a new food.

How We Determined This List of Cat Foods in Canada

All the cat foods reviewed in this article were chosen by our writers, editors, and team of experienced veterinary professionals to ensure that they are safe and meet the care needs of your pet. When choosing which cat foods to feature, we took into account brand reputation, personal and hands-on experience, reviews from other customers, and of course, feedback from our beloved pets, to make sure to bring you only the best of the best. We at PangoVet want to give you only the best products to choose from in our reviews, to ensure that they meet your pets’ needs for optimal health and well-being.

Why Trust PangoVet?

We are a team of experienced veterinarians, writers, and editors who are pet owners ourselves, so we understand how important your pets and the products they use and consume are to you. Whether you are caring for a furry, scaly, or feathered friend, we make sure that you have honest and unbiased reviews of the top cat foods on the market, so you can make an informed decision.

Conclusion

For the best overall cat food available in Canada, Hill’s Science Diet combines weight loss assistance and support for lean muscles in flavors your cat will love. The best budget pick is Purina Pro Plan’s Complete Essentials for its affordable price and 25 essential vitamins and minerals. Our premium pick is Wellness Completes wet food for its natural formula and high-quality protein sources.

We hope that these reviews have helped you determine which cat food will be best for your pet.

Featured Image Credit: Seattle Cat Photo, Shutterstock