Cats are well known for their weird, lovable antics, and eating dirt is definitely one of their more-puzzling behaviors. If you are noticing your cat eating dirt, the cause can be simply a kitten exploring and playing with dirt or due to a medical issue.

Possible Causes for Your Cat Eating Dirt

There are several possible causes of why your cat may be eating dirt from curiosity and boredom to medical issues. Below is a list of some of the most common causes of your cat eating dirt. When noticing your cat eating dirt, it is best to contact your veterinarian to first rule outer and address medical issues.

Medical Reasons

• Anemia : In some cases, cats can eat dirt or litter when they are suffering from anemia. Anemia can be related to a lack of nutrition in the cat’s diet or a symptom of a more serious disease. Anemia is symptom of another illness. It occurs when there are not enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is the main component of red blood cells and its job is to carry oxygen. When there are not enough red blood cells or hemoglobin the cells of the body cannot get enough oxygen, so they are unable to work properly. It is this lack of oxygen that causes the signs seen in the cat.
• Nutritional Deficiencies: Adult cats that eat dirt may be suffering from a lack of nutrients and vitamins in their food. Consider switching to a food that offers more complete nutrition; read the label carefully so you know what ingredients it contains or ask your vet for a recommendation. It is best to feed a food that is certified to meet your cat’s nutritional needs based on AAFCO food trials. This certification will be labeled on the food bag. Whichever route you go, ensure that your kitty is getting a balanced diet. Avoid giving too many treats as this can unbalance the diet. A good rule of thumb is that 90% of your cat’s diet, based on calories, should come from a balanced cat food or properly formulated home cooked diet, and 10% or less should come from treats and other food. And if you change to a different brand of food, introduce it gradually so you don’t upset your cat’s digestion.
• Pica: Pica is the term to describe the behavioral urge to eat nonedible materials. In cats, these items most often include fabrics, elastics such as hair binders, cardboard, paper, and plastic. Young cats are more likely to suffer from pica syndrome. The cause of pica is unknown, but experts speculate that it could be due to a number of causes such as dietary deficiencies, genetics, boredom, compulsive disorder, or stress. 

Behavioral reasons

• Curiosity: Kitten’s may eat dirt as they are discovering and exploring the environment out of curiosity. Kitten usually quickly learn to not continue to repeat this behavior.
• Boredom : Cats are amazing, intelligent creatures. Their lifestyle reflects the predatory skills and behaviors needed to hunt food in the wild. A cat’s day includes the need to rest, stalk, chase, pounce, kill, play, eat, and groom among other things. When we don’t provide them opportunities to do these things, they get bored. Boredom can lead to a variety of problems such as destructive behaviors, aggression, anxiety, and more. 
• Stress and Anxiety: Sometimes when cats are stressed, they will exhibit new behaviors such as eating dirt or missing the litterbox. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as bringing a new pet or baby into the house, losing a family member, or moving to a new home.There are even times when something mundane and seemingly harmless, such as rearranging the furniture, can stress a cat out. Think about any changes—no matter how insignificant—in your household that may have taken place prior to your cat developing the dirt-eating habit.
• Inherent behavior: In some cases, there may be no known cause influencing your cat’s behavior. Dirt eating may just be an idiosyncrasy and something you’ll need to accept. In these instances, removing the dirt from the equation (if possible) and providing plenty of other things for your cat to do may be as far as you can go.

The Dangers of Cats Eating Dirt 

If you see your cat eating dirt, it can causes injury to your cat so best to do what you can to prevent the behavior and make your veterinarian aware of the behavior.

Dangers include consumption of pesticides and other toxins, choking, damage to the teeth, throat, or digestive tract from ingesting rocks or sticks, and consumption of soil-dwelling parasites.

How to Prevent Your Cat from Eating Dirt

• Provide a distraction whenever your cat starts eating dirt. Calmly say your cat’s name to get their attention, then offer an appropriate chew item or engage them in a play session instead.
• Remove indoor potted plants or place them well out of your cats’s reach.
• Ensure your cat gets ample physical activity and mental stimulation to relieve stress and prevent them from eating dirt due to boredom.
• Provide an enriched environment: Make sure your cat has plenty of activities and places to go so it stays occupied, engaged, and can find stress relief when needed. For instance, engage in interactive play with your cat regularly to simulate its hunting instinct and offer solo toys for when you’re away. A tall scratching post, a cat tree or high perch, and a window for watching the outside world are all helpful distractions as well.
• Address any potential causes of stress in your cat’s life, such as a big change in routine or family structure.
• Provide additional chew toys: Divert your cat’s attention away from dirt with catnip or cat toys to play with. Change up your cat’s toys frequently to keep things interesting.
• Work with a certified cat behavior professional and your vet: If nothing else works, seek out a professional who can help modify the behavior.

Cats can be notoriously picky eaters, and many owners rely on cat food toppers to ramp up their cats’ interest in food. Cat food toppers are also a smart way to hide supplements or medicines cats may otherwise dislike the taste of or flat-out refuse to eat. “Meal toppers can be beneficial for a cat’s health in several ways,” says Dr. Gabrielle Fadl, medical director at Bond Vet in New York City. “They can provide additional nutrients, such as protein and moisture, which can be especially helpful for cats prone to dehydration or those requiring a more protein-rich diet.”

Whether you’re dealing with a frequent fussy eater or just looking for a way to temporarily tempt at mealtime, this three-flavor Fancy Food Classic Broths Variety Pack is a great place to start. Cat-friendly fishy flavors (tuna, shrimp, and whitefish; tuna, anchovies, and whitefish; and salmon and vegetables) can quickly coax even the pickiest of eaters into finishing their bowls.

We also like using it as a clever mix-in for medication and an easy way to add moisture to our cats’ diet. Plus, leftovers can easily be refrigerated in the pouch. 

This topper has a moderate calorie content of 18 calories per pouch. If you’re using it regularly, you’ll need to adjust your cat’s meal portions to account for the extra calories. There are no artificial colors or preservatives.

You can feel good about this topper’s protein-first ingredient list, too. The salmon flavor contains tomato and spinach, while the two tuna-based flavors contain carrots. All flavors contain guar gum and tapioca, which work as a filler and can upset some cat tummies. 

These seafood-flavored pouches do have a fairly strong fish scent—great for cats, but not as loved by owners adverse to fishy smells. Still, it can be a small price to pay for a reliable topper that’s low in fat and high in moisture, especially if your cat has a habit of turning its nose up when it’s time for dinner. 

Adds hydration to diet

Instinct Raw Boost Mixers give your cat the benefits of a raw food diet without having to switch your cat’s usual food. Each pack of this freeze-dried meal topper contains 12 ounces of nutrient-dense whole protein, including organ meat and ground bones.

These soft, chewy pieces of raw kibble can entice even the pickiest of eaters and come with health benefits that range from improved digestion to skin and coat quality. Along with a cage-free chicken variety, we like that it’s also available in farm-raised rabbit (contains pork), making it a go-to pick for pet parents needing a meal topper with alternative proteins. 

Ingredients are free from gluten, soy, potato, and artificial preservatives and colors, but they do include non-GMO fruits and vegetables as fillers. This is a very high-protein and high-fat meal topper with a fair amount of calories, so you’ll want to adjust your cat’s daily meals so as not to overfeed. 

Two flavors: chicken and rabbit

How We Picked

More We Recommend

Best Broth: Open Farm Harvest Chicken Bone Broth uses humanely farmed chickens without hormones, antibiotics, or steroids. Natural collagen and chicken flavor are pulled from chicken bones simmered for 10 hours. Pouring out a portion of this savory chicken bone broth over wet or dry food is an easy, tasty way to add appealing flavor and moisture to your cat’s diet.

Each pouch holds 12 ounces of this liquid gold, and the recommended serving size is two tablespoons per 10 pounds of body weight. We love the resealable, easy-pour spout that makes it easy to dispense and securely store in the fridge between meals. Additional non-GMO ingredients include extras like carrots, pumpkin, and cinnamon, which are unnecessary but have inherent anti-inflammatory and digestive support. 

Three flavors: chicken, turkey, and beef

Best Calming: This meal-topper powder contains a probiotic strain that has been shown to encourage calm behavior. Like humans, a cat’s gut health can sometimes affect its mood. The Purina Pro Plan Calming Care Probiotics serves as a behavioral supplement when sprinkled over your cat’s food for at least six weeks.

It works by helping to tone down the production of cortisol, a stress hormone, which can be the catalyst behind a cat’s aggressive, anxious, or antisocial behavior. According to Purina, there is a guaranteed level of microorganisms in each pouch to help your cat stay calm (though the types and levels are not disclosed). Adding liver flavor helps make it more palatable, though the powder is best mixed up and dished with wet food since it cannot be absorbed by dry kibble. 

Liver-flavored

Best Low-Calorie: Indaba Churu Lickable Treats have a long-standing reputation as a top cat treat, but these squeezable tubes can also double as a sneaky meal topper. At around six calories per tube, we like that using a Churu treat meal topper doesn’t require us to count calories or recalculate regular meal portions.

These low-calorie, high-moisture toppers are an ideal meal topper for the occasional fussy eater, kitties on weight-control diets, and cats that need frequent appetite stimulation. We love that you can dish out partial portions and refrigerate the rest until the next meal—or serve as a between-meal treat.

But be warned: Some cats have been known to just lick up the treat topper and leave their food, so you may want to consider mixing it in before serving. Part of what makes these treats so appealing is their creamy consistency, which, unfortunately, is the result of using tapioca starch.  

Approximately six calories per serving

Best Probiotic: Cat probiotics come in many forms, and our favorite probiotic food topper is Zesty Paws Probiotic Powder for Cats. The pumpkin-flavored powder comes in pre-measured sachets, making it easy to dispense and convenient for travel. Along with inulin and yeast extract (Saccharomyces boulardii), each sachet contains over 400 million CFU of the clinically studied DE111 probiotic strain, known as Bacillus subtilis, which supports gut and immune health in cats.

It mixes easily into kitty’s favorite wet food, though the powder doesn’t quite adhere as well to dry food, making it harder to incorporate evenly. Some pet parents have had better luck mixing it in their cat’s bowl with both wet and dry food. We should note that some finicky cats might be turned off by the pumpkin flavor; however, cats generally find it appealing.

Pre-measured sachets

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

K. Alex Beaven is a lifelong cat owner and currently in service to her leash-trained cat, @hellomisterbo. Alex has also written stories for The Spruce Pets on The Best Kitten Foods, Best Bone Broth for Cats, and Best Lickable Cat Treats.

For this story, Alex consulted with Dr. Gabrielle Fadl, medical director for Bond Vet, for expert medical advice and tips on how and when to use a cat food topper.

Cats are finicky friends, even when it comes to treat time. Luckily, the market is filled with options for giving your kitty a few tasty tokens of appreciation, whether you’re looking to reward good behavior, improve their health, or simply say “I love you.” Cat treats can serve several purposes, including bonding, dental health, hiding pills, training, or helping your cat relax. It’s particularly important to be aware of the number of calories in treats and the intended life stage, so you can provide appropriate nutrition.

Temptations cat treats are a long-standing favorite among cats everywhere. In fact, these treats are known to be incredibly irresistible to cats, so don’t be surprised if they literally beg for more. The bite-sized Temptation MixUps Crunchy and Soft Cat Treats combine the best of two treat types with a crunchy outside and soft, creamy inside, and come in three tasty flavors: Backyard Cookout, Catnip Fever, and Surfer’s Delight. Backyard Cookout includes pieces flavored like chicken, liver, and beef, while Surfer’s Delight features shrimp, tuna, and salmon flavors. The Catnip Fever flavors are catnip, cheese, and chicken.

We are big fans of the multiple sizes available, including up to a 30-ounce tub, and the price is incredibly affordable, even if you don’t buy in bulk. While the ingredients aren’t the healthiest on the list—they contain grains and protein by-product and meals—we do like that they are less than two calories per treat, so you don’t have to feel too guilty when you cave to their cute faces. A word of warning: Be careful to keep the tub lids closed tightly and treat bags stored away in cabinets—cats have been known to break into tubs and chew through the plastic treat bags in order to reach these highly popular treats.

Fewer than 2 calories per treat

Churu are just as irresistible to cats as Temptations, and I’ve personally never met a cat that has turned their nose up to any flavor of Churu. These wet treats are packaged in individual skinny plastic tubes (great for portability, bad for the environment), and require you to hold the tube and “feed” your cat the treat by applying pressure to the tube (kind of like a toothpaste tube). This direct delivery of such a desirable treat can help foster and strengthen a bond between you and your cat, or help establish trust between you and a new cat. Churu treats are popular with cat foster parents who are tasked with socializing cats who have been rescued from outdoor situations, and you may even see them used as a tool to gain kitty trust at vet offices and cat rescues.

Besides being absolutely loved by cats, these wet treats can add some extra hydration to your cat’s diet. Churu treats are available in a host of grain-free flavors ranging from basics like chicken, beef, and tuna to combinations including tuna and bonito flakes, beef and cheese, and chicken and scallop (among many, many, many others). This makes it easy to provide your cat with several flavor options, even if they have a food sensitivity. Plus, they come in several quantities and variety pack combinations. Packets can also be squeezed onto a plate or on top of food for a picky eater. If you want to save some of the 2-ounce treat for later, the opened tube should be stored in the fridge.

Six calories per treat

How We Picked

Our top picks for the best cat treats were selected based on their combined appeal in several categories. Our first order of business was to collect reliable recommendations from friends and colleagues who have had real-world experience with certain types of cat treats, down to the best flavors. We then did additional research to find treats that covered a wide range of cat needs, from helping to maintain a certain diet, aiding in dental hygiene, and calming the nervous system. We also considered best-sellers, long-standing cat favorites, and newbies to the market.

More We Recommend

Best for Dental Care: While brushing your cat’s teeth is still the best way to provide at-home dental care, offering dental treats for cats proven to help oral health is also a great option. Greenies Feline Dental Treats are crunchy treats proven by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) to slow or reduce tartar, and can freshen breath by “cleaning” your cat’s teeth with their crunchy texture.

They are available in tuna, catnip, chicken, and salmon flavors. We love that they are designed to improve dental health, but know that you’ll need to feed an average-sized cat 16 treats a day to see these benefits. Thankfully, these dental treats are a hit with cats and available in a variety of sizes, including a 1.3-pound tub, so you won’t have trouble getting them gobbled down or have to worry about running out. Greenies should not be fed to kittens under 1 year old (unless noted on the packaging).

Under 2 calories per treat

Best for Grain-Free Diets: If you’ve got a cat that relies on a grain-free diet, you’ll likely need to stick to a single-ingredient cat treat like PureBites. In order to make them more affordable, a lot of cat treats contain grains or other fillers. These PureBite Freeze-Dried Chicken Breast Treats contain just one ingredient—chicken breast. This makes them a fantastic, low-calorie, high-protein, high-quality treat for your cat.

They are freeze-dried and come in bite-sized pieces that make healthy treats for your cat. They have no added grains or other ingredients, so it’s easy to avoid things your cat can’t have, and the unique texture will be an appealing reward. These treats are affordable, all-natural, and have about 2 calories each. Salmon and shrimp treat options are also available from PureBites for cats that need to avoid both grains and chicken.

Two calories per treat

Best for Raw Diets: If your cat is on a raw diet, these Vital Essentials Freeze-Dried Cat Treats offer a single-ingredient, protein-packed raw treat without the fuss and hassle of having to defrost anything. Vital Essentials treats are frozen fresh and then slowly freeze-dried over two days to preserve the most natural nutrients possible. These treats can be great for cats with food allergies since some of the recipes only contain one ingredient, such as minnows, chicken hearts, and duck liver. The crunchy texture is also good for naturally “cleaning” your cat’s teeth.

Each treat includes as much of the animal protein source as possible, which for the freeze-dried minnows means bones, tails, and organs—mimicking the way your cat would naturally eat any prey. We love that these treats are fresh, but they can definitely be a bit smelly (to be fair, that’s part of the reason cats dig them, too). The size of each piece varies within a package and across the full line of freeze-dried treats. You might also find that your cat has a preference for certain flavors over others. My cat Bo does not like the minnows, but he gobbles down the raw, freeze-dried duck livers, chicken giblets, and chicken hearts.

Two calories per treat

Best for Sensitive Stomachs: These Royal Canin Veterinary Diet treats will require a prescription from your vet—and being a prescription-only product makes them one of the more expensive picks on the list—but if your cat suffers from food allergies or stomach issues, they might just be worth it to give your BFF some treats that don’t upset their digestive tract.

Not only do they improve the skin of cats with food sensitivities, they are also formulated to create an inhospitable environment within a cat’s urinary tract, reducing the likelihood of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals, making them ace for urinary health, too. We like that Royal Canin offers a 100 percent guarantee on these treats, including that your cat will like the texture and flavor (a mix between fish and chicken). Right now, these treats are only formulated for adult cats.

Fewer than 6 calories per treat

Best Calming Aid: Many cats are stressed, anxious, or overly excitable and can act out by scratching things they shouldn’t, urinating outside the litter box, and even acting aggressively towards other pets and people. VertiScience’s Composure Calming Treats for Cats are chews with ingredients like L-theanine, colostrum biopeptides, and thiamine that research has shown to have calming effects without the need for sedation.

These chews can be given as needed, 30 minutes before a stressful event, or daily for more consistent calming. They come in chicken, trout, and a chicken and trout flavor, and are a fish-shaped soft chew for easy administration (which we also like for their ease of chewing for senior cats or cats with mouth issues).

Five calories per treat

Best for Hiding Medicine: Giving pills to cats is not easy, but if your cat will eat a soft treat, Greenies Feline Pill Pockets will be an extremely helpful tool in your belt to get the task done. Although not quite as irresistible to cats as the crunchy Greenie treats, most cats still find these soft pills to be plenty tasty. One of the reasons these treats work so well to hide pills is that you can use your fingers to mold the soft treat around the pill, usually completely encasing it in a Trojan horse treat.

There is also enough treat to work for larger pills, too, but you can also use multiple Pill Pockets if you need more “dough” to disguise a pill or capsule. Pill Pockets are available in three flavors: salmon, catnip, and chicken, and come in a resealable bag for freshness. Note that some cats may eventually catch onto your game and begin to eat around the encased pill or refuse the Pill Pocket.

Three calories per treat

Best for Kittens: Kittens have little mouths with baby teeth, so it’s imperative to only feed them treats that are the right size for them. Airy, crunchy textures are also preferred because they are easy to break up with little bites and are less likely to cause choking compared to soft chews. These Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Grain-Free Kitten Crunchies are not only the right size and consistency for kittens, but they are healthy, too. We love the grain-free formula and that there are no meat by-products or meals. Plus, they are oven-baked for a good but not sharp crunch. Flavors are your basic chicken or salmon, but that’s not a problem with most kittens. These treats are also low in calories, so you won’t have to worry about giving too many treats when you want to reward your new furry friend.

Under 2 calories per treat

Best for Hairball Prevention: Wouldn’t it be nice to have a healthy and tasty treat on hand to remedy the inevitable hairball problem? Pet Honesty Cat Hairball Support Chews may be the answer, and it’s a daily treat with clean ingredients, including apple pomace, citrus fiber, psyllium husk, and omega-3s, without corn, soy, or wheat additives. Reviewers say their cats even love the apple flavoring, and it certainly helps that each pellet-shaped treat is dual-textured, with a crunchy outer shell and a creamy filling that cats can’t resist.

Each bite-sized treat is formulated with clean ingredients to help reduce clogs by gently moving hairballs through your cat’s digestive tract. The manufacturer recommends the number of pellets based on your cat’s weight. For example, a 10-pound cat can have 10 treats a day. A 30-day supply of treats comes in a resealable bag.

Calorie information not listed

Why Trust The Spruce Pets?

For this update, K. Alex Beaven refreshed current product information and reviewed our top picks, adjusting, removing, and adding cat treat products as needed. She also relied on her own experience as a lifelong cat owner trying to find cat treats that check as many boxes as possible. Alex has also written stories on the best probiotics for cats, the best lickable cat treats, and the best cat trees for The Spruce Pets.

A previous version was written by Adrienne Kruzer, a registered and licensed veterinary technician in three states, who has been writing on pet and vet topics for over a decade.

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Visit our Cat Care page for more expert picks and advice!

• This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Choosing a healthy and balanced food for your cat isn’t the only tricky part of managing their nutrition. The other half of the battle? Understanding how much to feed, especially when it comes to wet food.

The amount of food you offer will likely change over your cat’s lifetime, since it depends on their age, their activity level, their weight, and if they have any preexisting health conditions.

“In general, you can feed an average-sized adult cat one 3-ounce can per 3 to 3½ pounds of body weight daily,” explains Dr. Heather Timmermans, DVM, partner and lead veterinarian at CityVet Richardson. But it’s still important to read the feeding instructions on your can, since calorie counts vary, and to consult your vet about the proper caloric intake for your particular kitty.

Here’s what you need to know to calibrate how much wet food your cat should be getting.

Wet Food Feeding Chart for Cats

Different types and flavors of wet food offer more or fewer calories. A standard 3-ounce can of wet cat food can have as few as 70 calories or as many as 170.

Why the difference? Leaner cat foods with minimal ingredients are typically lower calorie, while wet foods with additives, like gravy and cheese, can bump calories up. Always read the labels to see specific calorie counts.

Here’s what adult feeding instructions look like across five popular wet food brands:

Product	Calories	Cat size (lbs)	Cans per day
Fancy Feast: 1 can per 3-1/2 pounds daily	91 kcal/can	6	1.7
		8	2.3
		10	2.9
		12	3.4
		14	4
Friskies: 3/4 to 1 oz per pound daily	173 kcal/can	6	1.1
		8	1.5
		10	1.8
		12	2.2
		14	2.6
Purina Pro Plan: 1 can per 5 to 5-1/2 pounds daily	135 kcal/can	6	1.2
		8	1.6
		10	2
		12	2.4
		14	2.8
Hill’s Science Diet: 1 can per 3 pounds daily	87 kcal/can	6	2
		8	2.5
		10	3
		12	3.5
		14	4
Tiki Cat: 2 cans per 7 pounds daily	77 kcal/can	6	0.9
		8	1.1
		10	1.4
		12	1.7
		14	2

Remember that kittens need more wet food, as much as twice the above amounts, while pregnant and nursing cats may need as much as four times more. Consult your vet to learn about the nutritional needs of your particular cat.

How Often To Feed Cats Wet Food

The feeding instructions on cans of wet food are “one size fits most,” Dr. Timmermans says.

Healthy adult cats typically do well eating two meals a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.

But unlike dry food and kibble that can be left out all day for cats to graze on, it’s not a good idea to leave wet food in your cat’s bowl for any longer than two hours at a time.

“Canned food at room temperature is a breeding ground for bacteria, which can be harmful to your cat’s gut health,” Dr. Timmermans warns. Exposure to room temperature also changes the texture of the wet food. For finicky feline taste buds, it could lead to food aversions and refusal to eat.

So if your cat is a slow eater or prefers to graze on their wet food instead of gobbling it up in one sitting, you can split up their total canned foods for the day into three or four smaller meals instead. If that doesn’t work with your schedule, consider using an automatic feeder designed for wet food.

If your cat is still having trouble finishing a meal in two hours, consider warming up your cat’s wet food. Warming wet food makes the smell more potent and also makes it easier for cats to digest, Dr. Timmermans says.

What’s the best way to store wet cat food?

After wet food is opened, Dr. Timmermans says you can store it in the refrigerator with an airtight lid for 2-3 days.

Is only wet food a bad idea for cats?

Some cats might enjoy the variety of dry food added to their regular rotation of wet food, but a wet food-only diet isn’t bad.

The biggest perks of adding dry food to your cat’s diet is that kibble is easier to store, is cheaper than wet food, and doesn’t go bad as quickly. Kibble can be a good pick for cats who are slow eaters and prefer to nibble at and graze on their food all day.

Dental formula dry food can also help support your kitty’s oral health. But be aware that a bowl of kibble doesn’t replace the need to take your cat to the vet for yearly professional teeth cleaning or brushing your cat’s teeth.

Factors That Affect How Much Wet Food You’re Feeding Your Cat

Age and activity levels

Different life stages have different caloric and nutritional needs.

Kittens who have rapid growth spurts need more energy-dense foods with higher protein and calories, with as many as four small meals per day.

Healthy adult cats with no medical conditions do well with two meals a day.

Pregnant and nursing cats often need double or quadruple the amount of calories as the typical adult cat. Many vets advise they eat wet kitten food while pregnant and nursing because those foods are specifically formulated to support growth.

Senior cats who have slower metabolisms and are usually less active could eat two or three small meals of specially formulated lower calorie, more digestible senior wet cat food.

Weight

Overweight cats need a less calorie- and carb-dense diet and smaller quantities of food. But if you have a chunky kitty, don’t rush to put them on a crash diet based only on the feeding instructions on the can. It’s better to work with your veterinarian to come up with a safe transition plan.

The same is true if you have an underweight or very skinny cat. Talk with your vet before increasing their food portions. Your vet can help you find out if your cat is naturally small and doesn’t need to gain any weight or if there’s an underlying disease or illness that’s causing weight loss and changes in appetite.

Cat food brand

Not all wet foods are the same. Even different wet food product lines in the same brand can have different calories, fats, carbs, and other nutrients. That means portions will also fluctuate.

To make sure you’re feeding your cat the right amount of wet food, read the ingredients list, nutrition facts, and feeding guidelines on every wet food you feed your cat.

Health conditions

Cats with diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal problems like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) require specialized diets.

Changes in appetite and drastic weight loss or weight gain are also common with these serious conditions and can be a sign that your kitty needs to see the vet.

What to know if you are feeding your cat wet and dry food

If you’re considering adding dry food to your cat’s traditionally wet diet, you’ll have to do a little bit of math.

Kibble and dry foods are typically higher in calories and carbs per ounce than wet canned foods. That means you might subtract a physically larger amount of wet food and add a seemingly smaller amount of dry food to get the same nutritional outcome.

Always read the labels on your cat’s food, and starting with small portions. If you give your cat too much dry food too fast, it can lead to overeating, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal upset.

Discover the best wet cat food of 2025

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Featured Photo by: Magryt/bigstock.com

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Best Wet Cat Food of 2025

 

 

Key Features

Packed with added vitamins and minerals. Nutrient-dense recipe delivers flavour and nutrition your cat will absolutely love.

Truly great food—nutritious, tasty, and high-quality. Made in the USA with premium ingredients.

Grain-free. No artificial flavours, colours, or carrageenan. Offered at a reasonable price.

Made with natural ingredients your cat would eat in the wild.

 

Dave prides himself on making great food at a reasonable price—that’s why their Naturally Healthy, Grain-Free Chicken Formula was voted best budget cat food of the year on Cats.com. At an unbelievable price, this paw-lickin’ formula delivers a tasty and protein-packed feast that includes real chicken as its first ingredient. Each bite is loaded with essential vitamins, minerals, and omegas to help keep your kitty’s coat glossy and their purrs endless.
Sensitivities? No problem. No grains, wheat, gluten, carrageenan, or artificial flavors here. Just pure, honest ingredients from a family-run business. Quality without compromise… flavor without fuss—that’s what Dave’s believes in. Available in different sizes and flavors. Because your pets deserve the best, without the big price tag.

Reviews

• “Our three cats love the chicken dinner flavor, and they’re all cats that would rather…” Read More – By Mo on Mar 2, 2025.
• “I have 13 kitties. I wanted a more natural less additives alternative. My kitties love…” Read More -By Kimberly on Apr 28, 2025.
• “Have been feeding this food to cats for years. They have all like it and done well on it…” Read More – By Karen on May 13, 2025.

 

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Key Features

“Carnivore nutrition” formulated for Specific Needs: Urinary, Dental, Mobility, Skin & Coat, Digestion, Weight Management and Fussy Eaters.

Baked kibble and toppers also available, a perfect combination that will satisfy every cat’s preference.

Reviewed & recommended by Tiki Cat® Veterinary Nutritionists.

A unique mousse texture with superior palatability that’s minimally processed.

 

Tiki Cat® SolutionsTM Mousse is a line of prey-inspired wet food for cats with specific concerns such as urinary, dental, digestion, mobility, skin & coat, weight management, and more. Protein and moisture-rich mousse combines beneficial ingredients like prebiotics, gentle fibers, glucosamine, chondroitin, and balanced omega fatty acids with real chicken, tuna, and duck liver. Reviewed & Recommended by Tiki Cat® Veterinary Nutritionists, the recipes are minimally processed, grain-free and use non-GMO ingredients, with no artificial colors or flavors. Tiki Cat Solutions Mousse aims to provide targeted nutrition while appealing to cats with high-quality, palatable recipes.

Reviews

• “My cat has an extremely sensitive stomach. I have tried just about every cat..” Read More – By Catherine R. on Jun 4, 2024.
• “This Tiki cat Mobility has made a difference for my sweet Sunny, she gets around much better…” Read More – By Stephnie on Jan 1, 2024.
• “My older male Maine Coon is fussy about wet food. Now that he has kidney issues…” Read More – By Christina on May 5, 2025.

 

 

 

Key Features

Dual-layered wet food made of the finest fresh ingredients served in luscious gravy!

High in protein, with essential nutrients, vitamins & minerals to support your cat’s health.

No corn, wheat or soy. Grain free. No artificial ingredients. Non-GMO.

Highly palatable and low fat. Feed as a complete meal or add to dry food.

All seafood ingredients are dolphin-safe.

 

Each Catit Dinner meal consists of fish or chicken meats topped with a layer of nutritious meat cuts and veggies. Catit Chicken Dinner recipes have a delicious base of chicken meat, liver, and broth. Their Fish recipes use fish broth, tuna, salmon, tilapia, and basa meat. This low-fat cat food is all natural, high in protein and grain-free, with added vitamins and minerals for precisely balanced nutrition. Each of the 12 unique varieties is highly palatable and combines two different textures that your cat will love.

Reviews

• “My cat loves all of the Catit Dinners, and I like knowing it’s a complete..” Read More – By Kim B. on May 13, 2024.
• “My cat loves these and they’re perfect for one meal…” Read More – By Jeanette T. on Jun 24, 2024.
• “My 15-yr old cat loves the product, the texture and taste are perfect…” Read More – By Joanne A. on May 13, 2024.

 

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Key Features

Made with human-grade salmon as the first ingredient

High in protein to support lean, healthy muscles

Non-GMO and free from artificial preservatives or fillers

Rich in omega-3s to promote a healthy skin and shiny coat

Serve as a complete meal or a high-value topper

 

Treat your cat to the taste of the sea with Love, Nala’s Salmon Flaked Recipe—a wholesome, flavourful meal inspired by Nala’s favourite catch. Made with real, flaked salmon as the first ingredient, this protein-rich recipe is crafted to support your cat’s overall health while delighting their palate. Each serving delivers a silky texture and natural flavour cats crave, with no artificial preservatives, colours, or fillers. Whether served as a complete meal or a topper, it’s perfect for picky eaters and seafood lovers alike. Packed with essential nutrients like taurine, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids, this recipe helps support heart health, a shiny coat, and strong muscles. Created with care and backed by a commitment to high-quality ingredients, it’s cat food you can feel good about.

Reviews

• “My two Siamese cats love this Love, Nala Flaked Salmon Recipe..” Read More – By Shelley on Jan 18, 2025.
• “My kitties loved this food, and I was happy they enjoyed it…” Read More – By Meli C. on Jan 27, 2025.
• “NALA has exceptional ingredients, no fillers or bad stuff. It is…” Read More – By Linda H. on Jan 27, 2025.

 

 

 

Key Features

Easy-to-serve twin packs of wet cat food ensure 2 gourmet servings with no messy leftovers

Succulent cuts of roasted chicken, tender turkey, or sustainable salmon are covered in delicious gravy for a delectable and healthy meal

Made in the USA with quality ingredients from around the world

Free from grains, corn, soy, artificial flavours, and preservatives

 

Treat your cat to the gourmet experience of Sheba Perfect Portions Cuts in Gravy Variety Pack. Made in the USA with quality ingredients from around the world, this wet cat food features succulent cuts of roasted chicken, tender turkey, and sustainable salmon, all covered in rich, savory gravy. Each twin-pack offers two perfectly portioned servings, so you can snap, peel, and serve without any mess or leftovers. Free from grains, corn, soy, and artificial flavors or preservatives, these recipes are crafted to provide a wholesome, flavorful meal your cat will crave. The convenient packaging and irresistible taste make mealtime easier for you and more enjoyable for your feline friend. Whether it’s the chicken, turkey, or salmon, each bite is a savory delight your cat won’t be able to resist. Give your kitty the premium taste they deserve with Sheba Perfect Portions.

Reviews

• “Love when my order comes earlier than expected. I also appreciate when,..” Read More – By Kelly on May 2, 2025.
• “I have a kitten that found me recently. I tried getting her kitten food,…” Read More – By Yuri on Mar 24, 2025.
• “Easy to serve up right-sized portions. Grain-free is good for cats with digestive sensitivity…” Read More – By KimA on Mar 23, 2025.

 

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