Top Purr-fection Picks: Best Brands for Cat Dry Food

When it comes to ensuring your feline friend receives optimal nutrition, choosing the right dry cat food brand is essential. With countless options on the market, selecting a brand that prioritizes quality ingredients and caters to your cat's specific dietary needs can be overwhelming. From brands known for their commitment to high-protein formulas to those that emphasize grain-free and limited-ingredient recipes, there is a wide array of choices that can satisfy even the most discerning cats. For a comprehensive list of the top dry cat food brands that can help keep your pet healthy and satisfied, take a look below.

Illustration of cat dry food

Best brands of cat dry food in 2025

Royal Canin

Royal Canin is a leading brand in the cat dry food market, known for its high-quality and nutrient-dense formulations. The brand is particularly renowned for its kitten food, which is highly palatable and calorie-dense, making it an excellent choice for weight gain in healthy cats. Royal Canin is one of the key companies focusing on strengthening its product portfolio and expanding its business globally, contributing to the significant growth of the dry cat food market. In the U.S. market, Royal Canin, although not the largest shareholder, is a major player alongside other top brands like Purina and Mars Petcare. The brand's commitment to nutritional excellence and palatability has earned it a strong position in the global pet food industry. For more detailed information, you can visit their official website.

Hill's Science Diet

Hill's Science Diet is a renowned brand in the cat food industry, known for its science-led ingredients and a wide range of products tailored to meet the individual needs of cats, including those with health conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and sensitive stomachs. The brand's dry cat food products have an average protein content of 33.4%, a mean fat level of 19.6%, and an estimated carbohydrate content of 35.4%. Hill's Science Diet products are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for all life stages, from kittens to seniors. The company has seen significant growth, with net sales totaling $1.11 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023, a 5% increase from the previous year. Hill's Science Diet continues to innovate, with recent investments in new manufacturing facilities and enhanced product offerings. For more detailed information, you can visit their official website.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo is a prominent brand in the pet food industry, particularly known for its high-quality cat dry food. As part of General Mills since its acquisition in 2018, Blue Buffalo has maintained its reputation for offering grain-free, filler-free, and natural ingredients, which are highly beneficial for feline health. In 2022, Blue Buffalo held a 6% market share in the U.S. pet food market, and its Life Protection formula has recently resumed growth in volume sales by high-single-digits in early 2024. The brand's products, such as the Blue Buffalo Wilderness line, are enriched with real chicken, natural sources of fiber, and optimal balances of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, promoting strong muscles, digestive health, and a shiny coat.

Purina Pro Plan

Purina Pro Plan is a leading brand in the cat food industry, renowned for its high-quality dry cat food formulations. Introduced in 1986, it was the first brand to feature real meat as the first ingredient, a milestone that has contributed to its strong market presence. In 2022, Purina Pro Plan achieved sales of nearly $3 billion, highlighting its popularity among pet owners. The brand offers a variety of lines, including Savor, Focus, True Nature, and Prime Plus, catering to different health needs and life stages of cats. With a strong focus on nutrition and health, Purina Pro Plan is vet-recommended and widely available in pet specialty retailers and online.

Wellness Core

Wellness CORE is a highly regarded brand in the cat food market, known for its high-quality, digestible dry cat food formulas. The Wellness CORE Digestive Health range, for example, features probiotic-coated rice kibble with high-quality meat sources as the first ingredient, resulting in a dry matter protein content of 42.2% and a fat level of 18.9%. These recipes are free from fillers, by-products, and artificial additives, making them an excellent choice for promoting optimal digestive health and overall well-being in cats. The brand's commitment to using natural ingredients and essential nutrients aligns with the growing trend of health and wellness in pet food, contributing to the market's expected growth to $30.6 billion by 2028. With its grain-free and grain-inclusive options, Wellness CORE caters to a wide range of feline dietary needs. Learn more about the Wellness CORE Digestive Health dry cat food range and why it stands out in the market.

Orijen

Orijen, a renowned brand under Champion Petfoods, is highly regarded for its premium cat food products, particularly its dry food offerings. Known for their high protein content, Orijen's cat foods are crafted with up to 95% quality animal ingredients, including muscle meat, organs, and bones, ensuring cats receive the nourishment they need. The brand's commitment to nutrition is evident in its new wet cat food line, which features an 80% moisture content to support cats' hydration and overall health. Orijen's products are trusted by pet owners worldwide, and the brand's acquisition by Mars Petcare in 2023 further solidifies its position in the market. With a strong presence in the global cat food market, Orijen continues to innovate and expand its product portfolio.

Nutro

Nutro is a prominent brand in the cat food market, known for its high-quality and nutritious products. As a subsidiary of Mars Incorporated, Nutro develops various diet formulations, including canned and dry foods, with a focus on high meat content and grain-free ingredients, which is beneficial for carnivorous cats. The brand's products, such as the Max and Natural Choice lines, are highly regarded for their nutritional value, including high protein, moderate fat, and low fiber content. For a detailed analysis of the quality and nutrition of Nutro cat food, visit this comprehensive Nutro cat food review.

Acana

Acana is renowned as one of the best producers of dry cat food, distinguished by its unusually high meat inclusions, use of muscle meat, organs, and cartilage in WholePrey(tm) ratios, and relatively low carbohydrate content. The brand achieves a high score in ingredient quality, with a rating of 9/10, and includes fresh or raw animal ingredients rich in nourishing protein, such as in their Highest Protein, Grasslands Recipe. However, Acana has faced criticism since transitioning to their DogStar kitchen in the United States, with some customers reporting changes in taste and appearance. Despite this, Acana remains a top choice, with 75% of its ingredients being animal-derived. The brand's products are crafted in the USA with high-quality ingredients to support digestive health, heart and eye health, and a healthy skin and coat.

Iams

IAMS is a renowned brand in the cat food industry, particularly known for its high-quality dry food products. Their Proactive Health line, for instance, features formulas with up to 84% of protein sourced from chicken and salmon, supporting strong muscles and healthy energy in cats. The unique fiber blend with prebiotics and beet pulp in IAMS cat food enhances digestion, while the optimal Omega 6:3 ratio promotes a healthy skin and coat. IAMS cat food is complete and balanced, eliminating the need for additional vitamin or mineral supplements. With a gradual introduction process over 4 days, IAMS ensures a smooth transition for cats to their new diet.

Merrick

Merrick Pet Care is renowned as one of the top producers of high-quality cat dry food, known for its grain-free and nutrient-rich recipes that cater to various life stages and dietary needs of cats. Despite being acquired by Nestle Purina, Merrick has maintained its commitment to using high-quality protein sources and avoiding fillers, a factor that has retained the trust of many pet owners. The brand offers a diverse range of products, including dry food, wet food, and toppers, with many recipes being free from common allergens like grains, potatoes, and peas. Merrick's products are popular for their nutritional attributes, such as the Purrfect Bistro and Backcountry lines, which are favored by pet parents seeking healthy and palatable options for their cats. With a strong presence in the market, Merrick continues to innovate and expand its product offerings to meet the evolving needs of cat owners.