3 Best Wet Food for Kittens 2024: Reviewed

There are some great pet food delivery services offering nutritious wet recipes for kittens — but distinguishing these trustworthy providers from those merely claiming high-quality ingredients can be challenging. I've created this guide to help you select services offering excellent value and reasonable prices.

Genuine pet food providers use various strategies to attract customers. Some offer a wide assortment, others have attractive money-back guarantees, and still others offer personalization services. But all should use human-grade ingredients and meet or exceed industry nutritional standards.

After careful consideration, I think Smalls is the best wet food provider for kittens. It has all the qualities I just mentioned, and experts approve of its recipes. But I also recommend some other services with unique qualities, so read on to find out more.

Best Wet Food for Kittens Reviewed

1. Smalls – Best Overall Fresh Food for Kittens

Smalls excels at providing highly nutritious fresh cat food. Catering to all ages, including kittens, the company works with pet nutrition specialists to make its meals rich in high-quality proteins and beneficial superfoods. As a result, most of its subscribers see noticeable improvements in their cats' health.

What’s on Offer?

Smalls offers 5 recipes in 3 different textures. Most kittens will likely prefer the  pâté-style Smooth texture, which is available for all recipes. The Bird and Other Bird recipes are also available in Ground and Pulled textures for older kitties.

The recipes are named after their proteins: Bird is chicken, and Other Bird is turkey. The other recipes are Pig (pork), Bird & Fish (chicken and salmon), and Fish (cod and salmon). Additionally, the recipes are fortified with veggies and vitamins to support a growing cat.

Smalls' cat food is devoid of preservatives, fillers, by-products, and other harmful or unnecessary additives. As detailed in our thorough review, the company's food is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates. To maintain the nutritional value of the ingredients, the team cooks food at low temperatures for a long time.

What Makes It Special?

Smalls features an in-depth meal customization quiz, considering aspects like breed, age, health, body conditions, and even your young cat's picky tendencies.

What further distinguishes Smalls is its use of human-grade ingredients. What’s more, the company's fresh meals have received approval from expert veterinarians.

The service covers you with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If your cat doesn’t adapt to its new meals, you can contact the company's concierge team for a complete refund. That said, you should wait at least 2 weeks to assess your kitten's adjustment to the new diet.

Is It Good Value?

Based on customer feedback, the cat food delivery service provides great value. Nine out of 10 customers report seeing improvements in their cats' health. What's more, 78% have noticed shinier coats and 64% have seen their cats become more energetic.

Smalls includes free treats in your sampler box. And not just for the first delivery, but for the life of your cat. If you prefer to choose specific treats yourself, check out The Honest Kitchen. 

How much you'll pay depends on various factors. But the price of the most affordable Smalls item for <$2 per meal.

2. The Honest Kitchen – Best for Kitten Essentials

The Honest Kitchen offers a good range of wet food options suitable for kittens and adult cats. There’s a useful “Kitten” category in the main dropdown menu, which brings up all of the options suitable for kittens.

What’s on Offer?

The Honest Kitchen has a range of wet food options that comes in easy-to-serve packaging, designed to provide moisture-rich meals that mimic a cat’s natural diet. The selection is somewhat limited compared to mainstream brands like Chewy, but the offering is premium and focuses on wholesome protein sources. Wet food comes in minced and pate options.

The Honest Kitchen uses minimally processed ingredients in its wet food. Each recipe is free from artificial preservatives, by-products, and other additives often found in more budget-friendly brands. For kittens specifically, the higher protein content and moisture levels in these recipes can support muscle development and hydration – crucial for a kitten’s early growth stages.

While its wet food options are slightly more limited in flavor variety compared to brands that specialize solely in cat food, The Honest Kitchen’s recipes are tailored to provide a balanced and complete diet for kittens and adult cats. There are also dry and dehydrated options, as well as toppers, milk, and supplements – so it’s a great choice if you want to try your kitten with different types of food.

What Makes It Special?

One of the standout features is The Honest Kitchen’s commitment to using human-grade ingredients. This designation means that the ingredients and manufacturing processes meet FDA standards for human food. Find out more about ingredients in our in-depth review.

The Honest Kitchen also sources its ingredients responsibly, often opting for organic vegetables and free-range meats that are less likely to contain harmful additives or contaminants. The brand is open about its sourcing and ingredient lists, making it easier for cat parents to make informed decisions.

The Honest Kitchen’s philosophy centers around minimally processed foods. This approach aims to preserve the nutritional integrity of ingredients, providing kittens with more bioavailable nutrients. In a growing kitten, this can make a big difference, as sensitive stomachs are common in young cats adjusting to solid food. 

Is It Good Value?

The Honest Kitchen’s commitment to premium quality and human-grade standards comes at a cost, and its wet food products can be more expensive than standard commercial brands. For a kitten who requires multiple meals a day, this can add up quickly.

Prices start from $27.48 for a one-time purchase of 12 2.8 oz packs. However, you can save an extra 5% if you sign up for recurring shipments, which you can set to ship every 2-12 weeks.

3. Chewy – Best Wet Food Assortment for Juvenile Cats

Chewy offers a diverse selection of products from established and upcoming brands. Its range extends beyond food to include treats, supplements, and a variety of items like beds and scratchers. It also has a user-friendly website and readily available customer support.

What’s on Offer?

Chewy has one of the largest pet food assortments among the services I've reviewed. For kittens, it offers over 120 specially designed meals, with various options like variety packs, growth formulas, natural pâtés, and more.

The cat food delivery service provides a diverse range of protein choices, such as Chicken, Tuna, Meat, and Seafood & Fish. If you're looking for a particular diet for your kitten, options include Human-Grade, High-Protein, and No Corn No Wheat No Soy.

You can also buy various cat supplies from Chewy. Some options in the sea of possibilities are scratchers, condos, bowls, and grooming accessories. If your kitten needs a little encouragement to eat, you can buy food toppings, too. Check out our tested review to learn more about available products. 

What Makes It Special?

This online pet store is a 1-stop shop for all your pet's needs. The company likely has anything that's available on the market today on offer. 

The service's 24/7 customer support is an uncommon feature among pet food delivery services. If you need immediate help, call 1-800-672-4399 or chat live. If it's not urgent, you can email the customer support team. 

Is It Good Value?

Consider Chewy if you know precisely what you need for your pet. Its website is also ideal for those who prefer to buy all pet supplies in one place. But it's not suitable for owners who wish to personalize their pets' diets, a feature that Smalls offers.

The cost of your kitten's diet at this online pet food store depends on many factors, like the type of food, the brand, and the specialty diet you choose. Still, prices begin at <$2 per meal.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Best Wet Food for Kittens

There are a few crucial factors to consider when picking wet food for your kitten. These tips have always worked for me as a cat owner:

• Study the ingredients. Many pet food providers have poor-quality wet food. Focus on those that use genuine ingredients and avoid additives, preservatives, fillers, or other non-essential or potentially harmful by-products. Seek out vet-approved meals with human-grade ingredients.

• Check the variety. The range of suitable products differs greatly between pet food providers. Some offer an extensive selection, with dozens or even hundreds of options. In contrast, providers like Smalls have a limited but tightly quality-controlled assortment.

• Consider other essentials. Apart from buying basics such as a litter box, you may wish to indulge your kitten with treats or buy toys for playtime. Also, consider vitamins or supplements, and if you travel a lot, you may need carriers or car accessories. Chewy is a top choice for these and many other extras. 

• Think about food customization. Every cat is unique, including their dietary requirements and habits, so customizing your kitten's meal plan is something to consider. Smalls stands out with its food personalization quiz, which is the best I've found so far.

FAQ

What is the healthiest wet kitten food?

Figuring out the healthiest wet food for kittens is challenging due to varying needs and preferences, but Smalls is a top choice. Its meals feature high-quality, human-grade ingredients. Moreover, it has a nutritionally balanced formula developed in consultation with pet nutrition experts.

Can a 4-week-old kitten eat wet food?

Yes, a 4-week-old kitten can eat wet food. At this age, you should mix kitten formula with the wet food. Then, let your young cat eat this mixture themselves from a dish or feed them using a kitten-specific bottle. Slowly adjust the mixture to increase the proportion of wet food while decreasing the amount of formula.

Is it OK to mix wet and dry food for a kitten?

Yes, it is perfectly fine to mix wet and dry food for a kitten. Providing a varied diet at an early age can help make the kitten less picky about food in the future and ensure a good nutritional balance.

Can I give my kitten different types of wet food?

Yes, you can give your kitten different types of wet food as long as they are natural. This approach ensures your kitten gets a well-balanced diet. Chewy stands out as 1 of the top services for offering a wide variety of wet food options for kittens.

Best Wet Food for Kittens in 2024: Final Score