Healthiest Cat Food 2024: Real Foods, Nothing Less

Many cat food deliveries provide outstanding meals for our felines. But distinguishing these high-quality services from those merely claiming superiority is challenging. Cats, akin to humans, need nutritious food for optimal health and longevity. And identifying authentic services that sell high-quality recipes is no easy task. 

Cat subscription services use various strategies to attract customers. Some provide a wide array of options, including dry and wet foods. Others focus on providing meals that are primarily muscle meat with minimal organ meat. Some feature meal customization tools, letting you tailor your cat's meals to her specific needs.

I find Smalls to be the healthiest cat food delivery service. It has meals made with human-grade ingredients and includes a meal personalization tool. The bulk of its customers reported a noticeable improvement in their pets’ well-being. Still, other services are worth noting, too, so read on to find the best fit for your cat.

The Healthiest Cat Food Delivery Services Reviewed

1. Smalls – Best Healthy Cat Meals Overall

Smalls stands out in offering fresh cat food that meets all the criteria for a healthy feline diet. The company designs its cat food for all life stages in consultation with pet nutrition experts, ensuring meals include high-quality proteins and beneficial superfoods. As a result, most of its subscribers have reported significant health improvements observed in their cats.

What’s on Offer?

Smalls has 5 recipes and 2 textures. If your cat prefers ground food, go for Ground Bird Recipe and Ground Other Bird Recipe. If smooth, pâté-like meals are your pet's choice, choose from Smooth Bird Recipe, Smooth Other Bird Recipe, Pig, Fish (white fish), and Bird & Fish (chicken and salmon). 

Bird recipes include chicken, while Other Bird recipes contain turkey as the main protein. Aside from the main ingredients, all meals include other human-grade ingredients. These could be beans, yeast, and spinach, depending on the dish. 

Smalls’ feline food is free from preservatives, mystery meats, by-products, and other unwanted and harmful additives. The team cooks ingredients at low temperatures for an extended period to preserve their nutritional integrity. Then, the food is frozen to lock in the nutrients.

What Makes It Special?

Smalls has a detailed meal customization quiz that takes into account various factors such as breed, age, health and body conditions, and even your cat's fussy nature.

You can take advantage of Smalls' money-back guarantee. If your cat doesn't like the food or struggles with the transition to its new meals, you'll get a full refund. For details on the refund process, I recommend checking out our in-depth review.

Human-grade ingredients are another thing that sets Smalls apart. This means that its meals contain foods that many people use in their diets. All the ingredients the service sources come from the U.S. or Canada. 

Is It Good Value?

Smalls offers excellent value for money. Nine out of 10 customers have reported health improvements in their cats. Additionally, 78% observed shinier coats, and 64% noted their felines being more energetic.

What's more, I also received free treats in the sampler box once I completed the quiz. And that's not just for the first delivery but for my feline's life. 

How much you spend on Smalls' meals depends on many things, including your mouser's appetite and age. The lowest cost per recipe is $5 per meal.

2. The Honest Kitchen – Best Dehydrated Food for Felines

The Honest Kitchen is among the leading healthy cat food delivery services for its wide assortment. It's also among the rare ones that offer nutritious and time-saving dehydrated meals with a long shelf life that you can serve to your cat in minutes. Besides meals, you can find cat treats and supplements on offer.

What’s on Offer?

The Honest Kitchen offers a variety of cat food options, including dry, wet, and dehydrated varieties. In its extensive line, you'll find items like Grain Free Chicken Clusters, Grain Free Chicken Cate (pâté), and Grain Free Turkey Dehydrated Cat Food.

But I think that dehydrated meals are the company’s biggest advantage. Besides turkey, other dehydrated meals' main ingredients are chicken and chicken & fish. If you're unsure if your cat will give paws up to these dishes, opt for the Variety Pack, which combines all 3 recipes. 

The Honest Kitchen offers a variety of treats, toppers, and supplements for cats. My pets particularly enjoy White Fish and Herring cat treats. For toppers, I recommend Salmon & Pollock and Chicken & Duck blends. The company also has an Instant Goat Milk supplement available.

What Makes It Special?

The meal personalization quiz is 1 of The Honest Kitchen's outstanding features. It can help you personalize your feline's meals based on your answers to several questions. But THK's quiz is far less detailed than Smalls', so you may want to consider this provider instead if your kittie’s OK with fresh food. 

You can consult with an HonestExpert for advice about your pet's nutrition, as highlighted in our full review. These consultations last for 15 minutes.

Is It Good Value?

The Honest Kitchen offers good value for money, especially if you opt for dehydrated meals with a shelf life of 12 months and over. Moreover, its food contains human-grade ingredients and proteins from animals caught in the wild and those roaming freely. 

The cost of meals depends on the type and quantity of product chosen. But the lowest cost per package you can expect to pay is $5.99 for dry food.

3. Raised Right – Best Pâtés for Kitties

Raised Right is the third competitor on my Healthiest Cat Food list for several reasons. Vet-formulated recipes, safety testing, and the ability for prospective customers to check costs are some. It also lets you trace the origins of ingredients in its meals, which is something too few services in the market do. 

What’s on Offer?

Raised Right offers 4 recipes for cat owners – Original Turkey Adult Cat Recipe, Original Chicken Adult Cat Recipe, Turkey & Pumpkin Pâté for Adult Cats, and Chicken & Pumpkin Pâté for Adult Cats. If your pets prefer proteins other than turkey and chicken, check out The Honest Kitchen.

Raised Right's cat recipes include a variety of ingredients that are desirable both in your cat's bowl and on your own table. Depending on the recipe, these may include carrots, blueberries, organic dried kelp, cod liver oil, and organic spearmint.

Besides meals, Raised Right has a couple of treats for your pets. These are Meat Bites containing beef, lamb, turkey, or pork liver. Shake A Flakes toppers are available in beef, turkey, and lamb varieties. Read our in-depth review to learn more about the service’s offerings.

What Makes It Special?

Raised Right features an on-site cat food calculator to help you estimate your expenses. It factors in your cat's weight, activity level, and weight management goals. But it's not a meal personalization quiz. Consider researching Smalls for a more customized approach.

Raised Right lets you trace the origins of each ingredient in its products. It will please you to know that the company sources most of its ingredients from U.S. suppliers. The only exception at the time of my Healthiest Cat Food review was cod liver oil, which hailed from Norway. 

Raised Right demonstrates its commitment to environmental sustainability. The company collaborates with carbonfund.org to offset carbon emissions generated through delivery. And it's a partner of rePurpose Global, actively working to remove plastic waste from the environment.

Is It Good Value?

Raised Right is the right choice if your mouser craves poultry. Otherwise, you might want to check out the other providers on my list. But if she does, the company provides tremendous value by letting you know the origin of its food and by being environmentally responsible. 

The cost of your pet's food depends on the recipe, its appetite, activity level, and your weight management goals. Still, you can expect to pay as little as $9.99/bag. 

4. Open Farm – Best Dry Food for Cats

Open Farm prioritizes quality and sustainability. It maintains these standards by thoroughly vetting its suppliers and implementing a climate strategy. The service lets customers easily trace the origin of its ingredients. Besides food, it offers pet supplements.

What’s on Offer?

Open Farm offers a wide range of cat products. You can choose from wet, raw, and dry food, as well as supplements and broths. Also, all Open Farm products contain ingredients that are sourced sustainably and ethically.

The business has 6 wet recipes and 2 RawMixes. But it excels in dry food, with 7 meals at the time of my Healthiest Cat Food Delivery Services review. All these recipes had an average 5-star rating from dozens, even hundreds, of cat parents. 

Homestead Turkey & Chicken Dry Cat Food seem to be the most popular. Along with Wild-Caught Salmon and Pasture-Raised Lamb, this meal is 1 of Open Farm's best-sellers. Besides proteins, each dish contains superfoods and non-GMO ingredients. 

What Makes It Special?

Unlike many other cat food suppliers, Open Farm makes a clear distinction between items suitable for kittens (Kitten Essentials) and grown-up and senior cats (Adult & Senior Cat). Once on the site, look for these under the Tailored Needs category. 

Open Farm sources its meat from farms committed to treating animals with respect. Their animals roam freely and aren't confined to crates or cages, which significantly contributes to the high quality of the meat. Check our complete review to learn more.

The company invests in sustainability through carefully chosen high-impact programs. It aims to reduce its operational carbon footprint by 42% by 2030. Besides, Open Farm is actively working on recycling solid waste. 

Is It Good Value?

Open Farm products are well worth your money. It produces high-quality food while investing in a greener future in the process. On the flip side, it doesn't provide meal customization options like my top 3 picks. 

You can consult with its customer support team, true, but I think that an expert-designed questionnaire is a better option. Smalls has the best cat food personalization tool I've reviewed so far.

Prices at Open Farm vary depending on the type and quantity of product you choose. But the most budget-friendly option starts at $7/lb without auto-shipment.

5. Cat Person – Best High-Protein Recipes for Pussycats

Cat Person excels in the protein content of its meals, with a strong focus on ingredient quality. Also, its starter boxes suit cats of all ages but are especially convenient for kitten owners. It offers wet and dry meal options for felines. If you're more into dehydrated meals, better check out The Honest Kitchen. 

What’s on Offer?

Cat Person provides a selection of 8 wet and 3 dry meals. These feature either a single animal protein or a combination of 2. Some key ingredients, based on your choice and your pet's preferences, include tuna, salmon, beef, duck, and chicken.

I find the choice between 2 versions of wet dishes particularly convenient. You can choose either shreds in broth or pâté, which turns 8 of these meals into 16. Some options are Mecherel & Bream, Chicken & Duck, Beef, and Tuna. Read our review to learn more about other wet and dry meals. 

You'll also find a variety of treats, accessories, and toys on Cat Person's website. Available treats include savory chews and items that support your cat's skin, coat, bones, and joints. Accessories include bowls, beds, and a litter box.

What Makes It Special?

Cat Person takes pride in the high protein content of its meals. Its wet recipes contain 2.2x more protein than the industry standard, while the dry meals boast 75% more protein by the same measure. As highlighted on its home page, the service's food has at least 50% more protein than the industry standard.

The provider has 2 Starter Box types. One contains a combo of wet and dry meals, while the other has wet food only. If you have a playful kitty or a kitten, you can turn this box into a toy. Both Starter Boxes include 2 free Savory Chews.

You can take Cat Person's meal personalization quiz, which includes several questions. These cover topics like your feline's favorite proteins, potential allergies, and appetite. Based on your answers, the company will tailor a Starter Box and meal plan specifically for your mouser.

Is It Good Value?

Cat Person is an excellent choice if you've recently adopted a kitten or cat, as it provides all the essentials in 1 place. But if your furry friend is not keen on dry or wet food, you might want to explore other options like Open Farm.

If you're unsure whether Cat Person's meals will suit your pet, the service's 30-day Money-Back Guarantee covers you. If the food fails to meet your expectations, you'll get a full refund.

The price per product depends on its type the most. The most affordable Cat Person item will set you back $2.76 per day.

6. Chewy – The Largest Cat Food Assortment

Chewy offers a vast selection of feline products from well-known and up-and-coming brands, including Farmina, Fussie Cat, and Nulo. On its website, you can search for food based on specific nutritional needs. The company provides various types of cat food, except for fresh options. If you feed your pet fresh dishes, take a look at Smalls. 

What’s on Offer?

Chewy offers a broad range of cat food types, including wet, dry, freeze-dried, dehydrated, and raw meals. Within these categories, there are hundreds to thousands of products. At the time of my Healthiest Cat Food review, there were over 1,200 wet and more than 300 dry food options available.

At Chewy, you can search for cat food not only by type and brand but also by your pet's specific nutritional needs. Options include High Protein, Weight Control, and Sensitive Digestion. Notably, Chewy is 1 of the top food services for pets with sensitive stomachs.

You can also find mixers, toppers, supplements, and even veterinary diets on the company's website. Other essentials are also on offer, such as litter boxes, flea & thick collars, and healthcare products. You can buy toys, enclosures, waste disposals, and many other products from Chewy. 

What Makes It Special?

Chewy has just about everything you need for your 4-legged family member except fresh food. You'll find a bunch of meals, accessories, and supplies on its website. Anything you need for your pet, just type it into the search bar, and it's likely to show up. 

You can reach out to the service's customer service 24/7, which is a rare quality among pet food delivery services. Check out our insightful review to learn how to get in touch with its customer care representatives.

Is It Good Value?

Chewy offers great value if you know what you're looking for. With a wide variety of brands and products, not all may fit your pet's needs. If you wish to know the source of ingredients and the specific cost of your cat's food, Raised Right may be a better choice.

The cost of your kittie's diet depends on food type, chosen brand, and many other factors. But the starting price for this online pet food shop is <$2 per meal.

7. Darwin’s – Best Raw Food for Felines

Darwin's focuses on raw food for cats and dogs and offers 2 different lines of meals for kitties. One line is for healthy felines, while the other is for cats with specific health issues. The company's commitment to preserving nutrients during production is why our experts ranked Darwin's among the top raw cat food suppliers.

What’s on Offer?

Darwin's offers 2 cat food lines – Natural Selections™ and Intelligent Design™. Natural Selections™ is about general feline health, featuring 3 recipes. Intelligent Design™ is a veterinary-prescribed line with 1 formula. All ingredients are human-grade, as stated in our review. 

Natural Selections™ meals include raw chicken, turkey, and beef meats and organs that have been minimally processed to preserve their nutritional value. A small amount of cod liver oil is added for extra nutrition. These meals are free of fillers, antibiotics, and other unwanted additives.

The Intelligent Design recipe blends chicken and turkey meat and organs specifically formulated for cats with kidney issues. Some other ingredients are parsley, zucchini, and egg whites. This recipe is free from grains, preservatives, and antibiotics. 

What Makes It Special?

Darwin's has an on-site meal personalization quiz that has 9 steps. Some questions you'll have to answer relate to your mouser's life stage, activity level, and desired weight. It has a question about allergies, but only turkey and chicken are options. 

The service has a team of consultants ready to answer all your questions about the company's products and the transition to its food. These consultations are free and usually take about 10 minutes, but they can be longer if needed.

Is It Good Value?

You should consider this pet food delivery service if your cat prefers raw food. If it likes wet or dry food better, Cat Person may be a better choice. You should also consider Darwin's if your pet is on a vet's prescription for kidney problems.

The cost of the company's recipes is similar. The difference between its most affordable and priciest food is no more than a few bucks. The cost per package starts at $10.84 per pack.

8. We Feed Raw – A Wide Range of Raw Meals

We Feed Raw's raw meals exceed the AAFCO standards. Known for dog food, as highlighted in our expert review, the company stresses that its meals are also suitable for cats, natural carnivores. The reason is that its dishes consist of meat and organs for the most part. Moreover, experts in the field plan the company's pet food.

What’s on Offer?

We Feed Raw offers 6 raw meals, some of which are quite rare among the healthiest cat food subscription services. The menu includes chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, duck, and venison recipes. These meals are grain-free, made up of animal proteins, and fortified with added minerals and vitamins.

We Feed Raw meals contain meat, organs, and ground bones. But they usually include proteins from more than 1 animal. If you take the Lamb Patty Recipe as an example, you'll find that it contains beef besides the obvious protein. 

The Venison Patty Recipe includes beef components, while the Duck Patty Recipe has turkey additions. But, if you choose the Chicken Patty Recipe, it only contains chicken meat and organs.

What Makes It Special?

We Feed Raw's food primarily consists of animal-based protein. Each recipe I checked contained 80% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, and 10% finely ground bone. Additionally, the company incorporates essential vitamins and minerals during the production process.

The service employs a Ph.D. nutritionist to create recipes that are suitable for felines and canines. Moreover, the service emphasizes that it doesn't add taurine because there's enough of the acid naturally in its recipes. 

Is It Good Value?

If your cat enjoys raw meals, We Feed Raw offers great value for money. For other types of cat food, save fresh, Open Farm could be a better choice. If you're seeking treats, supplements, or accessories, you might want to explore other providers.

The service may not be suitable for mousers with allergies because most of the meals contain 2 types of protein. If your cat is allergic to beef, for example, this would considerably limit your pet's meal options.

The price per meal depends on the meal type and the box size. You can choose between the Small Box, Classic Box, and the Big Box. The lowest cost per unit is $6.59/lb.

Quick Comparison Table

Tips for Choosing the Healthiest Cat Food Delivery Service

Each of the services I have listed provides, among other things, healthy food and treats for cats. To determine which 1 is best for you and your feline friend, consider the following points:

• Check providers based on your cat's life stage. Verify whether the pet food delivery has options suitable for your feline's life stage as not all meet this requirement. Open Farm has recipes for any life stage, and it categorizes them clearly. 

• Determine the appropriate food type. There are several types of cat food, and not every kittie has the same preference. Moreover, the shelf life of these foods varies, and dehydrated food lasts longer than fresh. The Honest Kitchen has various meals, even dehydrated that you can serve to your pet in minutes.

• Set your budget. Every cat meal delivery service on my list provides filler- and additive-free food made with real ingredients, even superfoods. But prices among them tend to fluctuate for many reasons. If you're on a limited budget and would appreciate knowing how much you'll spend, Raised Right is worth considering.

• Customize your feline's mealtime. Some of the healthiest cat food delivery services provide on-site meal customization tools. They suggest meals based on factors such as breed, body condition, and age. Smalls has the most detailed on-site quiz among the services I reviewed.

FAQ

What is the number 1 healthiest cat food?

Opinions on the healthiest cat food vary, but my colleagues and I agree that Smalls stands out as the top choice. It sets itself apart with human-grade ingredients cooked at low temperatures. Also, it has an on-site meal personalization quiz, catering to the specific dietary needs and preferences of each cat.

Should cats eat wet or dry food?

Cats can thrive on wet and dry food, provided that pet food experts formulated them. Look for meals containing human-grade ingredients and meeting or exceeding the AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards for quality and nutrition. Raised Right fresh meals meet these requirements.  

How long can you leave wet cat food out?

Generally, you should leave wet cat food out for 1 or 2 hours at room temperature tops. After this time, it not only becomes less appealing as it dries and congeals but also poses a risk of bacterial growth. 

The Healthiest Cat Food Delivery Service in 2024 — Final Score