What is the number one cat food for cats
The 7 Best Cat Foods for Indoor Cats
If your cat recently switched from an outdoorsy lifestyle to one indoors, then you are likely wondering about the best cat foods for indoor cats.
Thankfully, many cat food brands offer an enticing variety of cat food formulas designed for your cats unique activity levels, age, breed, and health conditions. In this guide, we will explore some of the best food options that we have found on the market for cats who live most of their lives indoors.
At a Glance: The Best Cat Foods for Indoor Cats
Overall Best
9.9
Picked by 31 people today!
- Rich in protein from chicken and liver
- Good source of hydrating moisture
- Adjustable meal plans good for indoor cats
Budget Pick
9.8
Picked by 31 people today!
- Animal proteins are at the top of the ingredient list
- High in protein and moisture, very low in carbs
- Reasonably priced
Premium Pick
9.7
Picked by 31 people today!
- Made with 100% human-grade ingredients
- Packed with high-quality animal protein
- Rich in moisture to support hydration
Best Dry
9.6
Picked by 31 people today!
- Chicken meal is the top ingredient
- Highly digestible for most cats
- No history of product recalls in the company's history
Best for Hairballs
9.5
Picked by 18 people today!
- Simple, highly-digestible recipe
- Limited ingredient list
- Contains egg
Best for Kittens
9.4
Picked by 25 people today!
- One of the most protein-packed kitten foods on the market
- Ultra-soft pt texture is easy for kittens to eat
- Calorie-dense recipe to fuel growth and development
Best for Seniors
9.3
Picked by 31 people today!
- Low in phosphorus, which may help to prevent and ease the symptoms of kidney disease
- Rich in highly-digestible animal protein
- Low carbohydrate content may reduce your cats chances of developing diabetes
Cat foods for indoor cats are of a special variety of food that promises to nutritionally target your cats specific needs. But do cats who live inside really need different food than those who live outdoors?
What Are the Dietary Needs of Indoor Cats?
Think about humans who spend most of their time outdoors versus those who are usually inside. Individuals who spend a lot of time outdoors typically get more exercise than the average desk jockey. Like human outdoor enthusiasts, outdoor cats tend to spend more time exercising by climbing trees, hunting, and exploring.
Decreased activity means decreased calorie needs. Your indoor cat may be inactive or tirelessly energetic, but in general, cats who live indoors dont get as much exercise as those who live outside. This, in combination with an inappropriate diet, puts them at riskof becoming overweight or obese.
Because indoor cats have more free time to spend grooming themselves, they tend to suffer more from hairballscompared to cats who live outside.
Hairball issues are directly linked to poor digestive health something that can be improved through a biologically-appropriate diet. Some of the best foods for indoor cats incorporate additional fiber to help hairballs pass through smoothly.
Why Trust Cats.com
We buy cat food products at full retail price, and the entire testing process was funded by Cats.com without direct input or influence from the companies involved.
Top 7 Best Cat Foods For Indoor Cats
Now that weve established a criteria of what makes the list of the best cat foods for indoor cats, heres a quick list of some of the best foods for your indoor cat.
Choosing a Great Food for Your Indoor Cat
Your indoor cat may not catch mice, but it is a dedicated carnivore nevertheless.
According to much evidence, cats dietary needs havent changed much since they first wandered into human settlements and started killing and eating rodents around 9,500 years ago.Their propensity for eliminating grain-eating mice earned cats their place in human society back then so why are so many people now feeding them mouse food?
The ideal diet for your cat is a balanced raw diet made from raw muscle meat, organs, and bones. If you dont want to feed your cat this type of diet, there are plenty of good alternatives out there, and fortunately, identifying them is simple.
Look for ingredient lists that start with meat. Any food that uses corn or rice as the first ingredient is better off in the trash than your cats food bowl.
Also Read: The 7 Best Raw Cat Food
Avoid By-Products and Fillers
The inclusion of byproducts puts you at risk of feeding your cat low-value meat from low-quality animal parts, unidentified animals that could trigger allergic reactions, and low-quality cuts of meat that arent easily digestible or highly nutritious.
Always look for high-quality meat ingredients like turkey, lamb, beef, and chicken liver. Avoid labels including vague ingredients like poultry, meat byproducts, and rendered meals.
Ingredients like corn, soy, and wheat are fillers that dont offer any nutritional value for your cat. Theyre cheap binders and should always be avoided.
Look for Food That Wont Contribute to Weight Gain
This is the number one thing that cat food manufacturers are targeting when they make cat foods for indoor cats: accommodating the reduced calorie needs of a less active cat.
What they so often get wrong is cutting higher calorie protein and replacing it with lower calorie-containing fillers, so as to appear to contain a lower total amount of calories.
Good cat foods for indoor cats keep them satisfied for extended periods of time. While they often have lower calorie counts, carb-rich foods wont keep your cat full and can lead to blood sugar spikes and fat accumulation.
Instead of picking the first low-calorie food for indoor cats, the best approach is to seek out a high-quality protein (even if it seems to be higher in calorie content compared to other fillers), nutritionally-dense food, and serve it in controlled portions.
Is Dry or Wet Food Better?
Whether your cat lives indoors, outdoors, or somewhere in between, the answer is generally the same: choose wet food.
Cats have naturally low thirst drives and dont typically drink enough water to compensate for the lack of moisture in dry food. Those who consume dry diets often become chronically dehydrated, leading to urinary tract disease and renal failure.
Only wet or raw food, with its approximate 70% water content, can deliver the moisture that your cat needs to stay healthy.
High-moisture foods are also more satiating and help your indoor cat to stay slim and feel less hungry.
With that being said, cats are highly individualistic. Some cats have no problem drinking enough water, and some prefer dry cat food. In these situations, keep a close eye on your cats water intake to make sure they are staying hydrated. You can also incorporate some wet food into their diet on occasion, assuming your cat is open to it.
Also Read: How Long Can A Cat Go Without Drinking Water?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is indoor cat food really better for indoor cats?
Indoor cat food is designed for less active indoor cats and contains fewer calories. This means that your cat is less likely to become overweight or obese, which leads to a number of health problems.
Is dry food or wet food better for indoor cats?
Wet food is generally better for indoor cats. The moisture in the wet food helps keep cats hydrated, which in turn lowers the likelihood of them developing urinary tract disease and renal failure. Some cats may prefer dry food or do not need that extra hydration because they do drink enough, although cats, in general, have a low thirst drive. It can be challenging to track their water intake, and wet food helps to eliminate that guesswork.
Is it OK to give cats wet food everyday?
Yes! Wet cat food with quality ingredients is an excellent thing to feed your cat each day. It also has the benefit of keeping your cat hydrated and feeling satisfied after eating.
The 10 Best Cat Slow Feeders & Puzzle Feeders
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
When a cat eats too quickly, it can lead to regurgitation the expulsion of food from the esophagus before it enters the stomach for digestion. Eating too fast can also cause your cat to eat more than he needs to.
Youve probably done it yourself eaten so fast that your stomach cant keep up. The fullness response becomes delayed, and you wind up feeling over-full later, having consumed far too much food. In cats, this can lead to obesity which may increase your cats risk for other serious health problems like diabetes and osteoarthritis.
Feeding your cat small meals can help curb speed eating behavior, but it could also leave your cat hungry and meowing for more. An alternative solution is to feed your cat using a slow feeder or puzzle feeder. These products can be used for meals or snacks, and theyre designed to make it just a little more difficult for your cat to get the food, forcing him to slow down as he eats.
We researched the options on the market, scoured customer reviews, then purchased and tested ten of the best cat slow feeders and puzzle feeders on the market to bring you this assessment.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Cat Slow Feeders & Puzzle Feeders
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. Youll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Overall Best
10.0
Picked by 31 people today!
- Made from hygienic ceramic materials
- Includes a stand to elevate the bowl by 3 inches
- Fish-shaped obstructions spread the food out
Runner Up
9.8
Picked by 31 people today!
- Engages your cats inquisitive nature and hunting instincts
- Food storage hopper can hold a full days worth of food
- Easy to customize the speed of food distribution
Budget Pick
9.8
Picked by 25 people today!
- Affordably priced under $5
- Simple but functional slow feed design
- Obstacles are lower than the rim for access
Premium Pick
9.7
Picked by 21 people today!
- Two-in-one design for food and water
- Silicone materials are non-slip and easy to clean
- Comes with a stainless-steel bowl
Best Interactive Feeder
9.7
Picked by 18 people today!
- Encourages active play and hunting behavior
- Includes a scoop to easily fill the mice
- Textured fabric materials appeal to your cats senses
Best Puzzle Feeder
9.6
Picked by 31 people today!
- Encourages your cat to be active during mealtime
- Made from easy-to-clean silicone and BPA-free plastic
- Cups vary in width and length for adjustable difficulty
Best Treat Dispenser
9.6
Picked by 31 people today!
- Affordably priced under $10
- Encourages your cat to bat and chase during mealtime
- Generous 2/3 cup capacity
Best for Wet Food
9.5
Picked by 25 people today!
- Affordably priced under $10
- Made from nonslip silicone materials
- Varying textures keep your cat interested
Best for Dry Food
9.5
Picked by 21 people today!
- Separates food to slow down eating
- Dishwasher friendly for easy cleaning
- Affordably priced under $10
Best Combo Feeder
9.4
Picked by 18 people today!
- Accommodates both dry and wet food
- Whisker-friendly design with low ridges
- Keeps your cat engaged during mealtime
Top Picks Explained
Why Should You Trust Us?
Over the last three years, weve spent a lot of time figuring out what makes a product safe, effective, and cat-friendly. Weve researched and tested dozens of different cat bowls to learn what features to look for and which to avoid.
We spent hours researching how slow feeders and puzzle feeders work and the situations in which they might be necessary before making our selections.
How We Tested
After thoroughly researching cat slow feeders and puzzle feeders, I read customer reviews to narrow down the options to the 10 picks featured here. When making my selections, I looked for products that were appropriately sized for cats and designed with features to slow down a fast eater.
I chose slow feed bowls with obstacles of various shapes and sizes, both standard cat bowls and elevated cat bowls. I also selected products that incorporated a puzzle or toy element to encourage exercise during mealtime.
I spent 7 days testing the 10 products featured in this review with the help of my three cats Bagel, Biscuit, and Munchkin. I tested the slow feed bowls and mats with both dry food and wet food, where possible, and the puzzle feeders with both dry cat food and treats. I also tested how easy they were to assemble (where necessary) and disassemble for cleaning.
Our Top Picks for the Best Cat Slow Feeders & Puzzle Feeders
After hours of research and hands-on testing, the following are our top 10 recommendations for the best slow feeders and puzzle feeders you can buy.
5 Reasons Some Cats Eat Too Fast
Bagel slowly, and carefully eats from the LickiMat. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Cats have learned to communicate with humans through various meows and yowls. You can probably replicate several of your cats favorite vocalizations off the top of your head especially the one he uses in the morning when hes hungry.
Some cats will beg for food even if the bowl isnt empty while others inhale the entire meal within a matter of seconds. But why do some cats eat faster than others?
Here are the five most common reasons your cat might be eating too quickly:
1. He feels like hes competing for resources with other household pets.
Though your cat may look very different from his wild ancestors, he still retains some of their natural instincts. Protection of resources is in your cats nature and this instinct might kick into high gear if your cat feels like he has to compete with other cats (or even the family dog) for his food.
Making sure each of your pets has their own bowl and separate feeding location can help reduce territorial eating. It may also generally help to ease tension in multi-cat households.
2. He has an underlying condition that affects his appetite.
As a species, cats are pretty good at regulating their own food intake. They tend to eat when theyre hungry and then only as much as needed to feel satiated. Certain health problems like hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus can impact your cats metabolism, causing him to burn through calories more quickly. Because hes feeling hungrier than usual, he may be more prone to scarfing down his food.
If your cat starts to eat more quickly than usual or seems to have a stronger appetite, its wise to consult your veterinarian. A physical exam combined with blood panels or other testing can help diagnose (or rule out) underlying conditions that might be affecting your cats appetite.
3. Hes not getting enough calories or the right balance of nutrients.
Though he may not be conscious of it, your cats body knows what it needs. If your cat isnt getting enough calories or essential nutrients, he may start eating more to compensate.
In the case of calorie deficiency, your cat may eat faster simply because hes very hungry. If its a matter of nutrient deficiency, your cat might feel like he needs to consume food more quickly to obtain the necessary nutrition.
Also Read: The Complete Guide to Feline Nutrition
4. He isnt getting enough exercise or mental stimulation.
When they arent a symptom of underlying disease, behavioral changes are often an indication that your cat isnt getting enough physical or mental exercise. Your cat needs a stimulating environment that enables him to act out his natural instincts. He needs vertical spaces to climb, appropriate surfaces to scratch, and interactive toys to keep his mind sharp. Ten to fifteen minutes of active play per day is usually sufficient for a healthy adult cat.
5. He just loves to eat.
Sometimes speed eating isnt an indication of a problem at all. It could, in fact, simply mean that your cat loves to eat. In the same way humans can become addicted to eating, some cats really enjoy their food and cant wait to scarf it down.
If you suspect this to be the case with your cat, its worth taking a closer look at his diet. Cheap cat foods are often artificially flavored which is what makes them highly appealing to cats. They also tend to be loaded with unhealthy ingredients like meat by-products and plant-based fillers.
Even if your cat doesnt scarf it down like that bowl of Friskies, a high-quality and species-appropriate cat food is best for his long-term health and wellness.
A Slow Feeder or Puzzle Feeder Extends The Length Of Your Cats Mealtime.
Munchkin paws at the slow feeder, fishing for a treat. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Slow feeders and puzzle feeders vary by size, material, design, and capacity. Some are designed for wet food or soft treats while others work exclusively for dry food and treats. Puzzle feeders turn mealtime into a game while still fulfilling the purpose of a slow feeder.
Slow feed bowls and puzzle feeders utilize different technologies and design elements to accomplish the goal of slowing your cats eating.
Many slow feed bowls have ridges or shaped pieces inside the bowl that distribute the food over a wider area. By simply making the food harder to get to, these bowls keep your cat from eating too fast. Some slow feed bowls are designed such that your cat cant stick his face in the bowl to get the food he has to use his paws to scoop it out.
Puzzle feeders and food-dispensing toys incorporate exercise and play into mealtime. Your cat still has to work to get the food but, depending on the product, he gets to exercise his natural predatorial instincts as he does it.
When choosing a slow feeder or puzzle toy for your cat, consider the goal youre trying to achieve.
If you simply want to prevent your cat from eating too fast, a standard slow feed bowl might do the trick. To keep your cat from eating too much at once, a puzzle feeder or food-dispensing toy might be more appropriate.
Also Read: The 8 Best Cat Bowls (Purchased And Tested)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it dangerous for cats to eat too fast?
Dogs who eat too quickly are at-risk for gastric dilation volvulus or bloat. This is a potentially life-threatening condition in which the stomach fills with food, gas, or fluid and then twists, reducing or cutting off blood flow. The problem is less common in cats but still possible.
Even if your cat doesnt develop bloat from eating too quickly, he might end up regurgitating the food. This happens before the food enters the stomach for digestion, so your cat wont get the calories and nutrients he needs unless the food he regurgitated is replaced. An elevated or anti-vomit cat bowl can help prevent regurgitation, though it wont slow down your cats eating like a slow feeder will.
Cats who eat too quickly also tend to eat larger volumes of food than necessary which can put them at risk for obesity. Obesity is linked to a number of chronic diseases that can impact your cats overall health and reduce his lifespan.
Are automatic feeders good for cats who eat too fast?
If your cat has a habit of overeating or eating too quickly, youll want to avoid gravity feeders the type of feeder that continuously refills the bowl from a hopper of food. Automatic cat feeders that enable you to customize your cats meal size are a better option. The options vary from feeder to feeder, but some models enable you to schedule up to 10 meals a day so you can space your cats food consumption out to keep him from eating too much at once.
Depending on the type of automatic feeder you choose, you might be able to use it in conjunction with one of the slow feed bowls recommended above. Some models like the Petlibro automatic feeder and the Feeder-Robot by Whisker have built-in bowls but if you can find a slow feed bowl similar in size and shape to the included bowl, you may be able to make the swap.
How do you clean a slow feed cat bowl?
Your cats food bowl should be washed at least once a day to prevent the accumulation of biofilm and the growth of bacteria. Washing a slow feed bowl can be tricky if the ridges inside the bowl are deep or irregularly shaped. Many slow feed bowls are dishwasher safe, but others need to be washed by hand. When hand washing a slow feed bowl, it helps to use a long-bristled dishwashing brush to get into all the crevices a bottle brush might work as well.
You can soak the bowl in hot soapy water first to loosen any dried-on food and, as an added degree of caution, you can sanitize your cats bowl after washing. Soak the bowl in a solution of 2 teaspoons bleach in one gallon of water for 10 minutes then rinse well and air dry completely before using again.
