If your beloved cat has been diagnosed with feline leukemia, our hearts are with you. It is heartbreaking for every pet parent to learn that their pet suffers from a potentially fatal illness. But aside from following the recommendations and treatment offered by your veterinarian, there are some things you can do to support your cat’s overall health and well-being.
One of those things you can manage is the diet of your pet. The food your cat eats may not specifically treat their condition, but it can definitely help boost your cat’s immune system by providing a healthy number of essential antioxidants, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Our product reviews will help you find the right foods for your cat’s needs. Here are the six best options we found for cats with feline leukemia.
Disclaimer: The foods reviewed here were chosen because they have certain characteristics that might help with some of the causes or consequences of this medical condition. However, they are not a medical treatment or a substitute for medical treatment. Keep in mind that each medical case is different and what works for some pets may not work for others. Your veterinarian is the right person to advise you on the best diet for your pet’s individual case.
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A Glance at Our Winners in 2025
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Smalls Fresh Pulled Other Bird |
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Best Value
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Iams ProActive Protein Cat Food |
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Premium Choice
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Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Canned Food |
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| Best for Kittens |
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Hill's Science Diet Dry Kitten Food |
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Blue Buffalo Protein Grain Free Cat Food |
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The 6 Best Foods for Cats With Feline Leukemia
1. Smalls Fresh Pulled Other Bird – Best Overall
| First ingredients: | Turkey (80% fresh meat) |
| Protein: | 23% min |
| Fat: | 7% min |
| Moisture: | 70% max |
The most important factor when it comes to choosing the right food for a cat with leukemia is quality. You want your cat to be getting the most out of every bite, and that’s what they’ll get with Smalls. This fresh food is made from a small list of high-quality, human-grade ingredients that are lightly cooked to remove any pathogens, giving your cat the benefits of eating a raw meat diet without the risks. The food is then frozen in individual portions and delivered to your door. This eliminates the need for artificial preservatives, ultra heating, or pressurized storage that most pet foods rely on to keep food from spoiling.
Smalls comes in a variety of different flavors, all of which will provide any cat with the ideal balance of nutrients, particularly those in need of extra special care. The Smalls Fresh Pulled Other Bird is high in protein and fat, making it ideal for cats that need to maintain their weight.
- 80% of ingredients are fresh meat
- Highly digestible food
- Delivered to your door
- Human grade ingredients
- Expensive
- Only available as subscription
2. Iams ProActive Health High Protein Cat Food – Best Value
| First ingredients: | Chicken, chicken by-product meal, corn grits |
| Protein: | 38% min |
| Fat: | 18% min |
| Moisture: | 10% max |
Caring for your sick pet shouldn’t cost you all of your money. That’s why we investigated a great value option: the Iams ProActive Health High Protein Chicken and Salmon Recipe won us over. The high concentration of protein helps support the muscles of the less active feline and maintains optimal heart health, plus the prebiotics and beet pulp work wonders for your cat’s digestive health. This is not a grain-free option, however, and cats with allergies or other intolerances will not benefit from it.
- Packed with essential nutrients
- High-quality protein
- Contains prebiotics
- Budget-friendly
- Not a grain-free option
3. Earthborn Holistic Monterey Medley Grain-Free Natural Canned Cat & Kitten Food – Premium Pick
| First ingredients: | Fish Broth, Skipjack Tuna, Mackerel |
| Protein: | 12% |
| Fat: | 2% |
| Moisture: | 82% max |
Perfect for fish-loving felines, the Monterey Medley is one of Earthborn’s selection of natural, grain-free recipes. Although not cheapest on our list, the ingredients in Earthborn’s foods are high in quality and free from grains and unnecessary additives, so are ideal for cats with allergies or sensitivities. Customers rave about how much their cats like the taste. This food is suitable for all feline life stages, including kittens.
The holistic range from Earthborn can be fed as a complete diet, or as a topper to encourage cats to eat more of their regular diet.
- High-quality ingredients
- No additives
- Liked by picky eaters
- A bit pricey
4. Hill’s Science Diet Dry Kitten Food – Best for Kittens
| First ingredients: | Chicken, brown rice, wheat gluten |
| Protein: | 33% min |
| Fat: | 9% min |
| Moisture: | Max 8% |
Unfortunately, kittens are not immune to contracting the feline leukemia virus and can actually contract the disease in their mother’s womb or through her milk. This is why there is no age limit to start giving a diet that reinforces the immune system of your little feline. And with Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Chicken Recipe, it’s hard to go wrong. This highly recommended vet brand has ingredients like antioxidants and vitamins C and E that have been clinically proven to boost the kitten’s developing immune system. This option is expensive, although you may have the opportunity to switch to a cheaper option once your kitten has reached adulthood.
- Recommended by vets
- Supports immune system development
- Clinically proven antioxidants and vitamins C and E
- High-quality protein
- Expensive
- Contains high volume of grains
5. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain-free Cat Food
| First ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, tapioca starch |
| Protein: | 36% min |
| Fat: | 12% min |
| Moisture: | 9% max |
Blue Buffalo is a well-established brand that has delighted many pet owners, as well as their furry companions. A cat with feline leukemia will benefit from this high-protein formula which is also grain-free. This is great for lowering the overall carbohydrate content. However, the ingredient list is not stellar, as it contains chicken meal, tapioca starch, potato starch, and fish meal. That doesn’t make it a bad option, it’s just that for the relatively high price tag, one would expect more “whole foods” in the main ingredients. However, it does contain added vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support cats with weakened immune systems.
- High protein
- Ingredients rich in antioxidants and vitamins
- Great for hairball control
- Contains no corn, wheat, or soy
- Pricey
- Contains tapioca starch
6. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food
| First ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, brewers rice |
| Protein: | 34% min |
| Fat: | 12% min |
| Moisture: | 9% max |
Rachael Ray Nutrish is an excellent dry kibble option for indoor cats; the ingredient list contains real chicken, which provides a good source of protein for your feline. Lentils are also a great source of protein while being low in fat and high in fiber, which is perfect for your cat to maintain a healthy weight.
However, what caught our attention is the addition of cranberries, which are very rich in antioxidants, one of the main attributes of which is to support the immune system of the cat. They can also help support urinary tract health, a common problem area for cats. The guaranteed analysis also meets the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). However, the kibbles contain corn gluten meal, which does not make them a grain-free option. Additionally, some buyers have reported that their cats are not fans of this product at all.
- Rich in antioxidants to support the immune system
- Meet the AAFCO standards
- Good for sensitive stomachs
- Affordable
- Contains corn gluten meal
- Might not work for all cats
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Food for Cats With Feline Leukemia
What Is Feline Leukemia?
Like AIDS in humans, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is caused by a retrovirus. This virus infects the white blood cells of cats, causing suppression of the immune system. The immunocompromised cat is then more likely to catch all kinds of infections.
Unfortunately, the virus can also cause cancer of the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) in addition to causing disorders in the cells of the bone marrow and blood. The disease is, therefore, often fatal.
What Are the Signs of Feline Leukemia?
This disease produces very variable, sometimes subtle, signs. The affected cat may show non-specific signs such as decreased appetite, depression, general discomfort, and fever. You may also notice weight loss, swollen glands, diarrhea or chronic loose stools, respiratory and eye problems such as rhinitis, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and various infections such as gingivitis, dental infections, and abscesses.
How Is Feline Leukemia Transmitted?
The virus is transmitted between cats mainly through saliva, but also through all other body fluids or secretions such as urine, nasal secretions, and even breast milk! Usually, adult cats become infected when virus particles enter their mouths or noses, but sometimes transmission takes place during gestation, via the mother’s uterus.
Because this virus is quickly eliminated once in the environment, close feline relationships are required for transmission to take place. Thus, cats that live together are more at risk.
A cat at risk of being infected with this virus will be:
Usually, an adult, often unsterilized, who goes outside and has contact with other cats. Unlike FIV (feline AIDS), which is usually spread through fighting, FeLV is more often spread between cats that live in close quarters and get along well.
Social cats living together or having close contact with each other, such as through mutual grooming, sharing food and water bowls, and litter boxes, have the greatest risk of infection. Kittens born to a FeLV-positive mother are definitely at risk of contracting the virus too.
How to Treat Feline Leukemia
At present, there is no treatment capable of completely eradicating feline leukemia; this virus causes the death of 9 out of 10 infected cats within 4 years. Therefore, treatment is based on supportive care and consists of taking charge of the pathologies, infections, and dysfunctions that result from viral leukemia. This support is therefore adapted on a case-by-case basis.
- Using IV fluids and appetite stimulants for inappetence and dehydrated patients
- Nutrient-rich, high-quality diets to boost the immune system and improve overall health
- Blood transfusions for severely anemic cats
- Antibiotics to treat secondary infections
At the same time, the animal must not be in contact with other cats in order to limit the risks of contamination for them.
How to Prevent Your Cat From Contracting Feline Leukemia
- Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent your cat from becoming infected with FeLV. Even if your cat lives completely indoors, we recommend that all kittens receive a primary vaccination course
- Keep your cat in the house and out of contact with other cats. Have any new kitty that you want to adopt tested before even presenting it to your other felines.
- Before buying a cat from a breeder, make sure its parents have been tested.
- NO MESS - The 360° tray on this cat food and water bowl set has a raised design to catch and...
- WHISKER FRIENDLY - Shallow and wide metal containers with flat bottoms ensure your kitty can enjoy...
- CHEW-SAFE MATERIALS - Kittens and cats love chewing on silicone and soft rubber - but it's a choking...
High-quality cat food is an important part of fostering a long and healthy life for your cat but the right cat food and water dish will promote good posture, offer whisker relief, and aid in good digestion. The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is our favorite bowl since it offers all of the above and is beautifully crafted to meet modern home stylings. The wide tray design catches any food and water spills and the entire setup is dishwasher safe. Learn more about the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl here.
At PangoVet, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Our Foods for Cats With Feline Leukemia Selection Process
The cat foods we reviewed in this article were chosen by PangoVet’s writers and editors, in collaboration with our experienced veterinary team, based on personal experience with the product, knowledge and expertise about the pet’s care needs, brand reputation, and reviews across multiple retail outlets from other customers that have purchased and used the product. The combination of these factors allows us to gather a wide range of information to help you choose only the best cat foods and ensure you have the most accurate information about these products to promote proper care, health, and well-being of your beloved pets.
Why Trust PangoVet?
PangoVet’s licensed and experienced veterinarians have a knowledge base that extends to all kinds of pets—furry, scaly, and feathered—and want only the best for pets of all shapes and sizes. We also have experienced writers and editors who are pet owners with a variety of different pets, and we love our pets as much as you do. We recognize pets as part of our family. We make sure to only choose products from reputable brands highly rated by customers as well as products that we have personal experience with, to ensure that every cat food featured in this review is high-quality and safe for your pets.
Final Thoughts
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is the second leading cause of death in cats after trauma. Since the virus suppresses the cat’s immune system, much like AIDS, it can predispose cats to deadly infections.
The key here is therefore to strengthen the immune system of the cat since there is no treatment to date, other than the vaccine, to contain this fatal virus. The food choices and reviews we have presented to you, while not magical, can help support your pet’s immune system. Smalls Fresh Pulled Other Bird and Iams ProActive Health High Protein are, respectively, the best overall option and best value for money that we have found. In any case, do not hesitate to seek the advice of your veterinarian, because your kitty’s diet is not to be neglected.
Featured Image Credit: Veera, Shutterstock
