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As pet owners, we all want the best for our furry friends, and that starts with the food we feed them! If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent countless hours researching the best cat food, comparing ingredients, and considering the price. In this article, I’ll be talking specifically about wet cat food, and sharing the top 5 brands that my cats have loved and that I love too.
Before we dive into the brands, let’s first discuss why I prefer wet cat food over dry kibble. While dry kibble has gotten a bad reputation for being unhealthy, the truth is, it’s not necessarily unhealthy. However, there are some components that may not be the best for your cat, like the high carbohydrate content, fillers, and additives that are often used to make it. These ingredients can make it difficult to understand what you’re feeding your cat, and many people are skeptical about feeding their pets food that they can’t even pronounce.
Another factor to consider with dry kibble is the moisture content. Since dry kibble is, well, dry, it doesn’t provide your cat with much moisture. This means you have to make sure your cat is drinking enough water, just like if you were to eat a lot of crackers without drinking water. Wet cat food, on the other hand, provides your cat with the moisture they need, and it’s a great way to make sure they’re getting enough hydration.
Now, let’s talk about the top 5 brands, including the ingredients, price point, and why my cats and I love them. Take note that this list is based on all of the brands and products that we personally have tried with our cats, so there are very likely other similar brands out there that are up to par!
Here are our favorite 5 healthy cat wet food brands:
- Portland Pet Food Company
- Open Farm
- Wellness CORE
- Instinct Raw
- Nulo Freestyle
Portland Pet Food Company
Portland Pet Food Company is a newer brand, and more exclusive! This brand is definitely the most expensive on this list, but the quality of the ingredients makes it SO worth the price.
The Portland Pet Food Company only uses 8 ingredients in their cat food pouches, making it a fantastic option for those who want to avoid additives, gums, preservatives and fillers. My cats love this brand and devour every last bit of it!
The consistency of this specific wet cat food is great, and the ingredients are easy to understand, like chicken, pumpkin, eggs, and sea salt. One unique ingredient is eggshells, which is neat!
Stock up on yummy Portland Pet Food Company with 25% off your purchase using code “CHIPTHEMANX25”, here!
Open Farm
Open Farm is a brand that I’ve been using for about a year now, and I absolutely love giving it to my cats!
Open Farm is a Canadian pet food brand that offers high-quality, ethical, and sustainable pet food products. The company is focused on using responsibly sourced ingredients and ensuring that their products are free from any artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors. (That’s a big deal for us!)
Open Farm offers a range of dry and wet food options for dogs and cats, and emphasizes the use of human-grade ingredients in their recipes. They also support various animal welfare and environmental organizations, and aim to promote a healthier and more sustainable food system for pets.
We even had an opportunity to provide thousands of meals to a local shelter with the help of Open Farm! (check out the video on YouTube, here!)
The ingredients in their cat food cartons are wholesome and healthy, including turkey, pumpkin, spinach, carrots, and red lentils (for the Homestead Turkey recipe)!
What’s great about Open Farm is the packaging – the wet food cartons are convenient, easy to store, and you can reseal it for later. Keep in mind though that since the ingredients in this brand are so wholesome, once you open it, you need to make sure your cats eat it quickly, as it can expose it to air and bacteria in the environment.
Get 15% off your first order of Open Farm with the code “CHIP”, here!
Wellness CORE
Wellness CORE is a brand that you can easily find at PetSmart or on Amazon, making it more accessible than some of the other brands on this list!
Wellness CORE is a premium pet food brand that is part of the WellPet family of brands. The brand is known for its high-protein, grain-free pet foods that are made with real meat as the first ingredient. (AKA: Less fillers and carbohydrates!)
Wellness CORE does have a big range of dry and wet food options for your kitties, and their products are free from artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors. In addition to offering high-quality nutrition, Wellness CORE uses ethical and sustainable sourcing practices (this is important to us!).
This brand is known in the pet food industry as a leader in the production of higher-quality, nutritious, and sustainable pet foods! The ingredients in this particular cat food include real meat, like chicken or turkey, as well as a blend of fruits and vegetables.
The food is also grain-free, making it a great option for cats with food sensitivities. My cats love the taste of this brand and I love the price point – it’s affordable without sacrificing quality!
You can check out this brand on Amazon, here!
Instinct Raw
Another great option is Instinct Wet Cat Food. This brand is also known for using high-quality, natural ingredients in their food. You can get this brand of pet food at a local pet shop, like PetSmart, or at Amazon!
Instinct is a premium pet food brand that offers high-quality, natural cat food products. The brand is part of the NUTRO™ family of pet food brands, and they use real meat as the first ingredient in their recipes!
Instinct cat food is available in both wet and dry forms, and the brand offers multiple flavors and recipes to meet the needs of different kitties. They emphasize the use of natural ingredients, thus the “raw” verbiage on the packaging!
Although this brand adds in some additional ingredients compared to the very limited-ingredient options that I mentioned before, this brand is known for its great quality!
Check out the line of Instinct Raw for your kitty on Amazon, here!
Nulo Freestyle
Last but not least, Nulo is an accessible brand that I’ve used for years and I love it just as much now as I did when I first started using it. Like the other brands mentioned above, Nulo is known for using higher-quality ingredients and being formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of cats.
The ingredients include real chicken or fish, plus a blend of wholesome foods, like carrots, cranberries, and sweet potatoes. The price point of this brand is also affordable, making it a great option for those on a budget!
The “Freestyle” Nulo brand is one that you can get more easily at a local pet store, and it’s one that is liked well by our cats!
Check out the Nulo Freestyle wet cat food on Amazon, here!
Summary
Choosing the best wet cat food for your cat can be really tricky, with SO many options! What’s key is to remember that it’s all about finding the right balance between price, ingredients, and quality.
The 5 brands mentioned in this article are all great options for those looking for wet cat food! However, it’s always important to talk to your veterinarian to make sure the food you choose is right for your cat and their unique needs. Whether you choose one of the brands mentioned or another, just remember that the most important thing is to make sure your cat is getting the best possible nutrition to keep them happy, healthy, and purring for years to come!
