8 Best Kitten Foods in the UK in 2022 – Reviews & Top Picks

It is important to ensure that you are feeding your kitten a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Your kitten’s diet should be perfected at an early age so that they can get all the nutrients they need to grow and develop properly. There are so many different kitten foods available on the market, but not all of them are good. Some kitten foods are overprocessed, whereas others lack the valuable vitamins and minerals a kitten requires.

We have thoroughly researched and reviewed some of the best kitten foods in the UK. Most of these foods are high-quality and allow you to find desirable food for your kitten with a guarantee of their health.

A Quick Comparison of Our 2022 Winners

The 8 Best Kitten Foods in the UK

1. Royal Canin Kitten Food Dry Mix – Best Overall

Our overall best kitten food available in the UK is the Royal Canin kitten dry mix food because it is excellent at providing your kitten with the nutrients it requires for healthy early development. This food has been manufactured for kittens up to 12 months of age for increased muscle and bone development. The ingredients aid in building natural immunity defenses while providing ultra-strengthened digestive safety. The main ingredients are dehydrated poultry meat, rice, vegetable protein, and maize. This kitten food contains very few preservatives and artificial colorants.

Royal Canin kitten food has been veterinary approved and reduces the smell of your kitten’s waste due to the high content of L.I.P proteins that have been selected for their high levels of ods assimilation. Which helps aid in keeping the litter box smelling clean and fresh for longer. One of the ingredients in fish oil, which has many benefits for your kitten’s coat and nails health, giving it a glossy and soft appearance.

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2. Go-Cat Kitten Dry Cat Food Milk & Veg (Case of 4) – Best Value

The Go-Cat kitten dry food is one of the best products for the value of money. This kitten food features a case of 4 at a reasonable and affordable price per the 2Kg. It is ideal for all breeds of cats and contains no added artificial colors, flavorings, and preservatives. It is a complete diet for kittens up to 12 months of age.

This food uses high-quality protein to support healthy growth and development in kittens. Balanced levels of vitamin E in this kitten food support natural immunity and helps to keep the kittens’ bones and teeth strong. A desirable ingredient in this food is Taurine, which is known to promote a healthy heart and good eyesight in kittens. This is a good choice of food for owners who do not want their kittens consuming harmful ingredients that are found in many of the competitors’ products.

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3. Lily’s Kitchen Smooth Pate for Kitten – Premium Choice

Our premium choice for fancy and delightful kitten food is from Lily’s Kitchen. This kitten food is a nutritionally complete wet food formulated for kittens up to 12 months of age. It has been freshly prepared with proper meat in the form of chicken, pork, trout, and beef. The shredded premium chicken fillet has been steamed cooked to ensure that it is juicy and desirable for kittens. It also contains Taurine which is vital for kittens’ heart and eye health. It contains no derivatives, preservatives, or unnecessary fillers which is arguably healthier for kittens who are at a delicate stage of development. This grain-free recipe reduces the risk of common food allergens in kittens while providing them with natural ingredients and complete nutrition. A downside to this product is that one tin has to be stored in the fridge for a maximum of 2 days before the ingredients decrease in freshness.

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4.  Orijen Cat and Kitten Food – Best for Older Kittens

Orijen cat and kitten food are suited for older kittens between 2 to 15 months of age. It is a biologically appropriate cat food that is made with free-run chicken and turkey, with the inclusion of wild-caught fish and nest-laid eggs. This makes it a sustainable kitten food that is kinder to animals. It is loaded with richly nourishing meats that both kittens and cats need to thrive. A bonus to this food is that it can be fed throughout your kitten’s life until it becomes a senior. This kitten food is preservative-free and features a range of high-quality ingredients. Orijen has focused on producing kitten and cat food that meets their biological requirement for carnivorous foods.

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5. Purina ONE Kitten Dry Food Chicken & Wholegrain

Purine one kitten food contains a unique nutritional formula with beneficial functional bacteria that has been scientifically proven to support your cats’ natural defenses. This food supports a kitten’s healthy development of vital functions supported by a nutrient profile that is adapted to their growth phase. This food promotes healthy muscle mass and skeleton health with the help of high protein levels and a balance of essential minerals. The ingredients are easily digested by kittens and this food is great for gums and tooth health due to the nutrients and crunchy food morsels. Purina one kitten food has a range of high-quality proteins, and it is also a good source of amino acids. Many cats who are accustomed to wet food have been known to enjoy this brand of dry kibble and the two foods can be mixed if your kitten is a picky eater. It is on the pricey end in comparison to other kitten foods in this category, especially considering the volume is significantly smaller at only 800g.

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6. IAMS for Vitality Dry Kitten Food

The IAMS kitten dry food contains a whopping 91% animal protein level to support seven signs of health and vitality in kittens. It contains few fillers, and the formulation is free from wheat which is a common allergen in cats of all ages. This food is free from artificial colors, flavors, and GMOs which can be harmful to your kitten’s health. The IAMS kitten dry food has been formulated with a rich antioxidant blend with essential vitamin E to help support your kitten’s immune system. The crunchy kibbles and mineral levels are great for kittens’ teeth health and help prevent minor dental issues. This cat food has been developed with the help and input of vets who have over 70 years of experience. Taurine and DHA are included to promote healthy vision and development in kittens, and the high vitamin D levels help support strong bones. This food is not great for kittens who have stomach problems as it could potentially make it worse. The ingredients are not guaranteed proper digestibility.

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7. James Wellbeloved Complete Dry Kitten Food

The James Wellbeloved dry kitten food is a portion of tasty food for growing kittens. It contains the basic nutrients and minerals to keep your kitten healthy while featuring omega 3 oils for a soft and shiny coat. This food contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. The formula is gentle on your kitten’s stomach and aids in digestion. It is suitable for kittens who have an increased risk of allergens, and it is best for a kitten’s stomach, skin, and coat health. This kitten food is packed with essential vitamins and minerals and contains a range of wholesome ingredients.

We recommend these foods for kittens who have allergies to dairy, pork, soy, eggs, beef, wheat, and cheap bulking products. These ingredients may be necessary for some kittens in terms of health, but it is excluded from this brand due to allergen concerns. However, since these ingredients are missing, it may lower the overall quality of the food even if they are excluded due to allergen concerns.

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8. Whiskas Junior Wet Cat Food for Kittens and Young Cats

Whiskas has formulated a wet kitten food that’s is ideal for kittens between 2 to 12 months of age. This food encourages healthy growth and development. The added calcium benefits kittens by the development of strong bones and the high levels of vitamin E and minerals help to support a strong immune system and healthier coat in growing kittens. It is free from harmful artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. This food has been formulated with the help of nutritionists and vets from the world’s leading authority on pet care and nutrition. This can reassure us that we are giving our cats something approved by experts, however, this food only makes the C-grade level due to the questionable ingredients and cheap ingredients.

This food also contains sugars, which is something not many owners want in their kitten’s diet. Overall, it is affordable and better than many other low-grade kitten foods on the market which is why it makes the list. This food brand is popular, and many customers recommend it.

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Kitten Foods

Wet vs Dry Food

There are mainly two different types of cat food, wet or dry foods. Each type of food may appeal to a kitten more than the other and in some cases, both wet and dry cat foods can be mixed to achieve a balanced nutritional content.

Wet Food

Wet foods for kittens are controversial because it contains no solid grains to aid in dental health. Wet cat food is recommended for better hydration because it contains a higher moisture percentage than dry cat food. Many cats do not like to drink from standing water, so it can lead to increased dehydration in cats if they are fussy about their water. Wet cat food also helps promote lean body mass since it is higher in protein with the benefits of fewer carbohydrates. It may also be preferred for kittens who are picky eaters. The gravy and texture of the wet food may be more enticing to them.

Dry Food

Dry cat food is popular and a portion of more affordable food for kittens. However, many dry foods contain a lot of fillers and excess carbohydrates which are questionable to the health of kittens. Kibbles are recommended as they have dental benefits, and the crunchy texture of the kibble is preferred because it helps keep kittens’ teeth and gums strong and healthy. Dry foods can stay fresher for longer and do not need to be refrigerated which many people see as a bonus. Dry foods also come in large bags and not small portion-controlled tins or packets as wet foods do.

Digestion Aid

Some cat foods have been specifically formulated for kittens who have trouble digesting their food and are prone to diarrhea or vomiting if the ingredients are not of high quality. A vet will be able to determine if your cat has a problem with digesting their food, and then you can go about finding a food that is gentle on your cat’s stomach.

Allergen-free

Many kittens are sensitive to certain ingredients which have an allergen potential. Unfortunately, most kitten foods on the market are not completely allergen-free. Ingredients that are a common allergen for kittens include wheat, gluten, chicken, fish, maize, egg, and soya.

Quality vs Questionable Ingredients for Kittens

Ensuring that the ingredients in your kitten’s food are ideal is important. Your cat’s health and vitality lie based on the ingredients of the food. Low-quality ingredients are not going to benefit or support your cat’s health for a long time in comparison to balanced and complete kitten foods which can sustain them for a while.

Quality ingredients are as organic as possible while being free from artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, and GMOs. This can include chicken, fish, turkey, beef, pork, and other whole ingredients.

Questionable ingredients are found in nearly every kitten food on the market, but some in fewer amounts than others. This mainly includes legumes, wheat, gluten, brewers’ yeast, and filler in the form of corn and maize. Keep in mind that ingredients that make up a large portion of the food are found at the beginning of the ingredients label, while the last few ingredients are found in little amounts in the food. If you see the word ‘meal’ in the first sentence of the food’s ingredient list, it is full of fillers which lowers the overall nutritional value of the food.

Kitten Nutritional Requirements

All kittens require a certain amount of fiber, protein, and fat during their early stages of development for healthy growth and development.

Cats require more protein than dogs because they are obligated carnivores. Macro-elements such as calcium, phosphorus, and potassium encourage growth in young kittens.

Pet Food Grading

Conclusion

Out of all the kitten foods we have reviewed, two stand out against their competitors. Mainly the Royal Canin Kitten Food Dry Mix which is a highly recommended dry food for kittens and Lily’s Kitchen Smooth Pate for Kitten which is a sustainably produced wet food for kittens. Both foods make the top of the list for all they have to offer to your kitten nutrition-wise. The quality ingredients outweigh the questionable ingredients and many customers have spoken highly of these two foods.

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Featured Image Credit: Nynke van Holten, Shutterstock