The Best Food for Kittens: 7 Top-Sellers

What to look for in kitten food

Kittens have different nutritional needs than adult cats, so it’s important you choose a formula that’s tailored to their developmental stage.

Supplements for growth

Cats of different life stages have different needs. What kittens need are supplements that support growing brains and bodies, such as omegas, antioxidants and probiotics.

High-quality ingredients

Start your kitten on the right track by providing top quality food made from nutrient-dense ingredients rather than fillers.

Quality and Value

Kitten food should have high-quality ingredients, nourishing supplements and a price you feel comfortable paying.

Customer Reviews

See what other pet parents have to say to help make sure its the right formula for your kitten.

Pet parent faves

Here are some of the best dog vitamins and supplements most frequently purchased by Petco’s pet parent customers.

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Best Budget-Friendly Dry Kitten Food
Best Dry Kitten Food for Indoor Kittens
Best Grain-Free Canned Wet Kitten Food
Best Kitten Food for 4 Months to 1 Year Old
Best Canned Wet Kitten Food
Best High Protein Dry Kitten Food

Kitten Food	Life Stage	Grain-Free	First Ingredient	Sizes Available	Specialty	Avg. Review*
WholeHearted Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food	Kitten	Yes	Chicken	2.5, 5 and 12 lb. bags	Best Budget-Friendly Dry Kitten Food	4.6/5
Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food	Kitten	No	Chicken	3.5 and 7 lb. bags	Best Dry Kitten Food for Indoor Kittens	4.8/5
Wellness Complete Health Kitten Chicken Pate Canned Wet Food	Kitten	Yes	Chicken	3 oz. cans and 24-pack of 3 oz. cans	Best Grain-Free Canned Wet Kitten Food	4.6/5
Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Food for Young Kittens	Kitten	No	Chicken By-Product Meal	3.5, 7 and 15 lb. bags	Best Kitten Food for 4 Months to 1 Year Old	4.8/5
Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Loaf in Sauce Canned Cat Food	Kitten	No	Pork By-Products	3, 5.1 and 5.8 oz. cans and 24-packs	Best Kitten Food for 4 Months to 1 Year Old	4.8/5
Blue Buffalo Blue Wilderness Kitten Variety Pack Cat Food	Kitten	No	Chicken	6-pack of 3 oz. cans	Best Canned Wet Kitten Food	4.5/5
ORIJEN Grain Free Premium High Protein Dry Kitten Food	All Life Stages	Yes	Chicken	4 lb. bags	Best High Protein Dry Kitten Food	4.7/5

*Ratings as of April 6, 2022

Best Budget-Friendly Dry Kitten Food

WholeHearted Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food

Looking for a grain-free kitten food that leaves out bulky fillers but keeps in a whole lot of nutrition? This may be the best kitten food for your little kitty. Protein and fiber come from seeds, legumes and an array of fruits and vegetables—and, of course, flavor and protein come from a high quantity of real chicken. Probiotics support digestive health, and fatty acids aid brain development while also conditioning skin and coat for nutrition that radiates from inside to out.

Feline probiotics for digestion
Omega-3 fatty acids and DHA for brain, skin and coat strength
Antioxidants for immune support
Grain-free formula

Best Dry Kitten Food for Indoor Kittens

Hill’s Science Diet Indoor Chicken Recipe Dry Kitten Food

The best kitten food for your growing feline depends on the special circumstances of your household. Your young cat may have different nutritional needs depending on their energy, activities and overall condition, so it’s a good idea to look for a kitten formula that’s been crafted to suit not just their age but their lifestyle. If you have an indoor kitten, check out this scientifically formulated cat food from Hill’s. It’s made for the energy needs of kittens who spend their time inside. Easily digestible ingredients and natural fiber are gentle on your kitten’s system, while balanced minerals support the development of bones and teeth. And, of course, it contains fatty acids from fish oil to support the brain, eyes and skin.

Easily digestible ingredients
Balanced minerals for bone and tooth development
Fish oil for brain and eye development
Natural fibers for digestion
Made in the USA

Best Grain-Free Canned Wet Kitten Food

Wellness Complete Health Kitten Chicken Pate Canned Wet Food

Wet kitten food can be a nice change from dry food to give your kitten some mealtime variety. In fact, if your kitten is very small and has teeny-tiny teeth, a diet that’s high in easy-to-eat wet food can help ensure that they get the nutrition they need. Wet food may also be the best kitten food if your little cat needs a boost of hydration. Of course, hydration isn’t all your kitten needs when it comes to wet kitten food. The beneficial ingredients in this food include high-quality proteins, fatty acids, taurine for eye and heart development and a good dose of fruits and vegetables. It’s also a grain-free cat food, so you don’t have to worry about nutritionally poor grain fillers.

High-quality proteins
Fruit and vegetable ingredients
Balanced protein, fats and carbohydrates
Taurine for eye and heart development
Fatty acids for skin and coat
No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives

Best Kitten Food for 4 Months to 1 Year Old

Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Dry Food for Young Kittens

The best kitten food for a sensitive stomach uses a combination of factors to create an easy eating experience for your kitten—like this dry kitten food from Royal Canin. It starts with the structure of the kibble—small, easy to chew and palatable so your kitten doesn’t end up swallowing oversized chunks that may create indigestion. And packed inside those kibbles are highly digestible proteins, fibers and prebiotics that work together to be gentle on your kitten’s system. A nutritionally dense recipe packs vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fish oil into each flavorful bite. It may be one of the best dry kitten food formulas your young cat tries, so don’t be surprised if they get hooked.

Easy-to-chew kibbles for small teeth
Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for immune support
Prebiotics and fiber for digestion
Highly digestible proteins
For kittens 4 to 12 months old

Royal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Kitten Loaf in Sauce Canned Cat Food

At around 4 months old, your growing kitten is ready for some foods they couldn’t handle as a younger kitten. This “loaf in sauce” wet kitten food is a great transitional nutrition source, giving your young cat hydration from a richly flavored sauce plus a bit of texture from the “loaf” of tender food. It’s made with an optimal formulation of protein, fats and carbohydrates, and it’s designed to be gentle on your kitten’s digestive system with its blend of fiber, prebiotics and highly digestible proteins. Whether this is your growing kitten’s primary food source or an occasional alternative to dry food, this is one of the best kitten food choices for young cats transitioning out of babyhood.

Balanced proteins, fats and carbohydrates
Loaf in sauce formula
Fiber and prebiotics for digestion
For kittens 4 to 12 months old

Best Canned Wet Kitten Food

Blue Buffalo Blue Wilderness Kitten Variety Pack Cat Food

The grains are left out, and flavorful, high-quality protein is left inside this wet kitten food. Its smooth pate-style formula is luxurious and easy to eat, but that’s just the cherry on top. The focus of this food is a high protein kitten formula crafted from real chicken, fish and organ meat ingredients. All that nutritious meat is backed by fruits and vegetables, not grains, and rounded out with beneficial supplements as all the best kitten food is. Of course, most important of all—at least, according to your kitten—it’s formulated to have a delicious flavor and easy-to-eat texture.

Grain-free formula
High-quality animal proteins
No poultry by-products
Natural ingredients
Vitamins and minerals for brain and muscle development
No artificial flavors or preservatives

Best High Protein Dry Kitten Food

ORIJEN Grain Free Premium High Protein Dry Kitten Food

With 90% premium animal ingredients, including fresh or raw poultry and fish, this could be the best kitten food to make your growing cat feel like a little tiger. Whole-prey animal ingredients include not just muscle meats but organs and bones for a more complete, nutritionally dense eating experience. Though animal ingredients play a big part in this robust dry kitten formula, it also contains natural fiber sources like leafy greens, whole pumpkin and whole pears. The small kibble size is designed to make it easy for your kitten to eat so they can feel like a fierce wildcat without having to chew like one.

Contains poultry or fish, organs and bone to mimic a wild diet
Includes fresh or raw ingredients
Fish oil for brain development
Prebiotics and natural fiber sources

*Based on petco.com sales data.

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FAQs About Kitten Food

What is the best kitten food?

There are plenty of great kitten foods, but the best kitten food for your little cat depends on your goals—including a budget, nutritional goals, your cat’s overall health and other considerations. If you’re particularly focused on brain development, you might want a cat food with omega-3 fatty acids. If your kitty has a troubled tummy, the best kitten food for a sensitive stomach is probably a kitten food with probiotics and easily digestible ingredients. Maybe you want a grain-free kitten food that’s high in protein or a budget-friendly food that still delivers essential nutrients. Whatever motivates your quest for the best kitten food, Petco is sure to have an option that you and your kitten can agree on.

How much food should my kitten eat?

Kittens’ nutritional needs change throughout their growth and development, so your kitten’s age and activity level will play a large part in determining how much—and how often—you feed them. You can talk to your veterinarian about the best kitten food serving size and meal frequency for your kitten. In general, younger kittens need frequent feedings—3 to 4 per day—from 8 weeks of age until 4 to 6 months of age. Around 6 to 10 months of age, your kitten should eat 2 to 3 times per day, and from 10 to 12 months old, your kitten can begin to transition to 2 meals of adult food per day. If you’re using dry kitten food, you can plan to serve about 1/2 cup of total food per day, gradually increasing to about 1 cup when your kitten is 6 to 12 months old—but consult your veterinarian for specific advice.

How much wet food should I feed my kitten?

If your kitten eats wet food, feed them according to the same schedule you’d use for dry food, but adjust the amount of food served. 2- to 3-month-old kittens should get up to 4 oz. of wet kitten food a day, and by 6 months, many kittens can eat up to 6 ounces of wet food per day. By 10 to 12 months old, your kitten may be able to eat 1 cup or more of wet food per day. Talk to your veterinarian about the proper amount of wet kitten food for your cat.

When should I switch from kitten to cat food?

By the time your kitten is 12 months old, you can probably begin introducing adult dry cat food—and your cat may even be ready to start transitioning around 10 months old. Incorporate new food gradually to get your kitten used to it. And check with your veterinarian before switching from a kitten formula to an adult one. Some large breed cats benefit from eating kitten food until they are 18 months to 2 years old.