Are you looking for soft, dry cat food reviews for your kitten or older cat? We’ve got them for you below! Cats, especially kittens and older cats with missing (or no) teeth, are often better off eating soft, dry cat food. Kittens have a problem chewing and digesting hard, dry kibble and have softer teeth, so soft and dry cat food is best for them. Finding a brand your cat loves, young or older, shouldn’t be difficult. We have reviews of the best brands to make your decision easier and help your precious kitty stay healthy and happy.
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A Quick Comparison of Our Winners in 2025
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend |
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Best Value
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Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Indoor Health Trout and Menhaden Fish Meal |
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Premium Choice
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Cat Food |
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| Best for Kittens |
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Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Kitten Dry Cat Food |
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Friskies Tender & Crunchy Combo Dry Cat Food |
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CHECK PRICE |
The 10 Best Soft Dry Cat Foods
1. Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, rice flour, corn meal gluten, chicken by-product meal |
| Protein content: | 34% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 366 kcal/cup |
Purina ONE Tender Selects is our best overall choice for soft dry cat foods. This recipe provides a high protein content with 12% maximum moisture. The resulting kibble is both crunchy and tender and easy to chew. The protein comes from real chicken, making it very palatable to cats. White rice flour is the second ingredient, which is healthier than the artificial ingredients typically used as fillers. Purina ONE does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors.
While this recipe has plenty of benefits, it is not organic, which might be a deal-breaker for some pet parents. Additionally, due to the protein and fat percentage, this food is not ideal for free-feeding as it could lead to weight gain in some felines.
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Easy to chew
- High-quality ingredients and added vitamins and minerals
- Not organic
- Not ideal for free-feeding
2. Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Indoor Health Trout and Menhaden Fish Meal – Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Trout, menhaden fish meal, peas, chicken meal |
| Protein content: | 36% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 379 kcal/cup |
Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Indoor Health Trout and Menhaden Fish Meal is not the softest dry cat food out there, but it does have 10% moisture which is higher than many other dry foods. And because it is designed for indoor cats, it’s more easily digestible. The main protein comes from fish, which most cats will love, although humans may find the smell unpleasant. But there is also a chicken and turkey flavor if your cat doesn’t like fish. This food is made with non-GMO ingredients and has a 36% protein content.
This food was not made specifically for older cats or kittens, but it’s great for most adult indoor cats, and you can always add a little moisture to the food if it isn’t soft enough. We think it’s the best soft dry cat food for the money.
- Affordable
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Great for indoor cats
- Fishy smell
- Not specifically for kittens or adults
3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Cat Food – Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, pea protein, peas |
| Protein content: | 38% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 328 kcal/cup |
One of the best soft, dry cat foods on the market, Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Chicken Recipe, is high in protein, thanks to real chicken as its first ingredient. It’s grain-free cat food that will help your cat’s gut stay healthy while improving its immune system and ability to fight disease. Peas add to the protein to help your cat’s muscles and bones stay strong, lean, and supple. It’s an excellent choice for cats with no teeth or dental problems that impede their chewing and biting. The packaging says that the formula is inspired by the diet a cat would typically have in the wild (although it’s doubtful wild or feral cats would be eating peas).
- Very easy to chew
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- No artificial ingredients or meat by-products
- Contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Nearly 30% carb content makes it unsuitable for diabetic cats
- Dries and hardens quickly after opening
4. Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Kitten Dry Food – Best for Kittens
| Main ingredients: | Chicken by-product meal, corn gluten meal, rice, soy flour, beef fat |
| Protein content: | 40% |
| Fat content: | 13.5% |
| Calories: | 414 kcal/cup |
100% balanced nutrition is the key to Purina Kitten Chow Nurture. The addition of 25 vitamins and minerals is also excellent, and real chicken is the primary protein. Chicken by-product meal is, however, the first ingredient. This Purina recipe has plenty of protein to help your kitten grow strong and a lot of calories to keep their energy level high.
- No artificial ingredients
- A large variety of minerals and vitamins
- Contains DHA and antioxidants
- Easy to digest
- Higher price than comparable brands
- Unsuitable for cats suffering from kidney and renal problems
5. Friskies Tender & Crunchy Combo Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Ground Yellow Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-product Meal, Ground Wheat, Soybean Meal |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 11% |
| Calories: | 389 kcal/cup |
Next on the list is Friskies Tender & Crunchy Combo Dry Cat Food. This recipe contains a high amount of lean protein, helping your adult cat maintain muscle mass. Plus, with a 12% moisture content, this cat food is softer than recipes containing 8% moisture. Friskies Tender & Crunchy Combo Dry Cat Food also has a good amount of vitamin A.
One concern people had was that chicken by-product meal is the only animal protein in the top five ingredients. Some people want to get a cat food with meat as the first ingredient.
- Good protein percentage
- 12% moisture content
- Complete diet for adult cats
- Made in the USA
- Meat is not the main ingredient
6. IAMS Proactive Health Adult Indoor Weight & Hairball Control
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, chicken-by-product meal, corn grits, ground whole grain corn, chicken meal |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 13% |
| Calories: | 329 kcal/cup |
Real salmon is the first ingredient in this IAMS Proactive Health Adult Indoor Weight & Hairball Control formulated for older felines. With 10% less fat than other IAMS products, it’s also a good choice for obesity control. The high-quality protein it provides from salmon is excellent for an older cat’s energy levels. Also, the beet pulp fiber blend will help your cat reduce their hairballs. This brand is a perfect choice if you have a cat 11 years or older.
- Made in the USA
- Helps cats with weight and hairball problems
- Reduced fat content for weight control
- Ideal for older cats with tooth problems
- Has been known to cause diarrhea
- Kibble size isn’t consistent
7. American Journey Grain-Free Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, tapioca starch, dried egg, pea protein |
| Protein content: | 40% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 342 kcal/cup |
Real, deboned turkey is the first ingredient in this soft, dry cat food, with turkey meal and chicken meal rounding out the top three ingredients. That gives American Journey Turkey and Chicken Recipe one of the highest amounts of protein on today’s list. It’s also filled with antioxidants, fatty acids, and taurine from blueberries, spinach, pumpkin, and carrots. You won’t find any grains in this grain-free cat kibble, nor wheat, corn, or soy.
- Deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal are the first three ingredients
- All ingredients are sourced in the USA
- 40% protein
- Grain-free recipe
- Strong odor
- More expensive than some brands
8. Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, and Oatmeal |
| Protein content: | 30% |
| Fat content: | 14% |
| Calories: | 363 kcal/cup |
Real chicken is the primary protein in this high-quality soft, dry cat food. Blue Buffalo Healthy Aging Chicken and Brown Rice provide an excellent protein source for aging cats, and the soft bite makes it easier for them to chew. The recipe doesn’t contain chicken by-products, corn, soy, or wheat. It’s also devoid of artificial preservatives and flavors. For aging cats, it’s one of the best kibble choices on the market and is specially designed to help your cat age gracefully.
- Made specifically for senior cats
- Kibble size is very small for east ingestion and chewing
- The first ingredient is deboned chicken
- Expensive
- Pet owners reported digestion problems
9. Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Whole ground corn, chicken by-meal product, corn gluten meal, soybean meal |
| Protein content: | 31% |
| Fat content: | 11% |
| Calories: | 327 kcal/cup |
Although chicken by-meal product is the protein source, and whole ground corn is the first ingredient, Meow Mix Tender Centers Dry Cat Food for kittens and younger, healthy cats. It’s soft on the inside but crispy outside: a combination that kittens love. Of course, it would also be a good choice for mature, healthy cats, but some kittens and adult cats may reject the abundance of corn and grains.
- 100% complete, balanced nutrition
- Has salmon for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Wide range of flavors
- Doesn’t stay fresh long after opening
- Real protein is not the #1 ingredient
10. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, corn gluten, brown rice, brewer rice |
| Protein content: | 14% |
| Fat content: | 14% |
| Calories: | 386 kcal/cup |
The first ingredient in this celebrity-sponsored Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Cat Food is chicken, although it has a relatively low protein content of 14%. Lentils supply fiber and can help control your cat’s weight. Natural prebiotics are also included (from pumpkin) and are excellent for your cat’s digestive health. Rachel Ray Nutrish comes in several flavors and is suitable for cats of all ages.
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Suitable for cats of all ages
- Corn gluten is the third ingredient
- Lower protein content than the competition
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Soft Dry Cat Food
Important things to consider when buying soft, dry cat food.
Since dry, soft cat food is typically made for younger or older cats, look for a brand with meat or seafood as the primary protein. That will ensure your cat gets the protein, fat, and calories they need. Also, cat food with fewer by-products and no artificial ingredients is always a good choice.
What makes a quality soft, dry cat food?
Recipes with chicken, turkey, or fish as the first ingredient (or close) is the key to quality cat food. The brand should have a higher water content to make it easier to chew and a high amount of protein to help your cat stay strong and healthy.
- Look for soft, dry cat food with meat or fish as the first ingredient.
- Look for a brand with natural ingredients. Avoid recipes with fillers, preservatives, and artificial colors.
- Look for soft, dry food, which is different than dry food. Dry food can cause chewing and biting problems for kittens and older cats.
What Options Do Buyers Have?
The best way to find a quality cat food that’s good for cats with tooth problems is to check the nutrition label, ask your vet for advice, and always look for a recipe that’s free of artificial ingredients.
How Have Soft, Dry Cat foods Evolved
Today, you’ll find the best cat food manufacturers using natural protein as their first ingredient, plus fruits and vegetables for their vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutritional benefits.
- 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...
Whether you are an avid kibble supporter, favor wet food, or dabble between the two, opting for the right cat bowl to serve it in is key! The Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is equipped with features like shallow dishes for whisker relief, slight elevation to promote good posture and digestion, and removable stainless steel bowls for easy cleaning. Its modern design is spill-proof and has a wide tray on the base meant to catch anything that falls from your kitty's mouth or out of the bowl. Click here to find out if the Hepper NomNom Cat Bowl is right for you.
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 Soft Dry Cat Foods 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.
If you have additional questions about choosing the right food for your cat, a call with a vet can help.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our dry, soft cat food reviews. The best overall brand was Purina ONE Tender Selects Blend. We picked Tiki Cat Born Carnivore Indoor Health Trout and Menhaden Fish Meal as the best value for the money. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Indoor Chicken Recipe was picked as our premium choice cat food. With high protein and chicken as the first ingredient, it’s an excellent choice. Purina Kitten Chow Nurture Kitten Dry Cat Food was our choice as best for kittens and will likely be your kitty’s fave. Our final Top 5 pick was Friskies Tender & Crunchy Combo Dry Cat Food for it’s high protein and moisture content.
Featured Image Credit: Skrypnykov Dmytro, Shutterstock
