Outdoor cats are adventurous creatures, exploring the world at their own pace and embracing their natural instincts, which means they expend a great deal of energy and require high-quality food to keep them healthy. However, finding the right brand for your pet can be challenging with so many options available. If you need a little help, keep reading for reviews of the most popular brands. The short buyer’s guide will also help you find the best option for your pet as you shop!
A Quick Look at Our Favorites of 2023
The 7 Best Foods for Outdoor Cats
1. Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Dry Food — Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken by-product meal, ground whole-grain corn |
| Protein content: | 0% min |
| Fat content: | 0% min |
| Calories: | 3,746 kcal/kg, 399 kcal/cup |
Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original With Chicken Dry Cat Food is the best overall food for outdoor cats. It has chicken as the main ingredient and contains many other healthy items, including eggs, beets, and taurine. Fish oil helps provide healthy omega fats, and the vitamins and minerals are balanced for all ages. Natural fiber and prebiotics work to stabilize your cat’s digestive system.
The downside to Iams ProActive is that it is more costly than many other brands on this list, and some cats won’t like it.
2. Purina Beyond White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe Cat Food — Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, pea protein |
| Protein content: | 0% min |
| Fat content: | 14.0% min |
| Calories: | 3,588 kcal/kg, 394 kcal/cup |
Purina Beyond White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe Grain-Free Natural Dry Cat Food is the best food for outdoor cats for the money. It uses steroid-free chicken as the first ingredient, and the limited-ingredient recipe is less likely to cause an allergic reaction or upset your pet’s stomach. There are no artificial colors or preservatives, only added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that will work to keep your pet healthy.
While many cats enjoy Purina Beyond, some won’t. Customers also complained about the large kibble size that turns some cats off.
3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Cat Food — Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, pea protein |
| Protein content: | 0% Min |
| Fat content: | 0% Min |
| Calories: | 3,832 kcal/kg, 443 kcal/cup |
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is our premium choice food for outdoor cats. This high-protein recipe features deboned chicken as a main ingredient and contains many other great elements, including peas, eggs, potatoes, alfalfa pellets, blueberries, and cranberries. It provides your cat with healthy omega fatty acids and contains LifeSource Bits, a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that help keep your pet healthy.
The only complaints concerning this Blue Buffalo food are that it’s quite expensive, especially if you need to feed several cats, and that some cats won’t like it.
4. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Tender Chicken Recipe Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Water, chicken, pork liver, wheat flour |
| Protein content: | 8.0% min |
| Fat content: | 3.0% min |
| Calories: | 77 kcal/2.8-oz pouch |
Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Tender Chicken Recipe Cat Food is our pick as the best food for outdoor kittens. It has real chicken as the main ingredient, and there’s a tasty gravy that your kitten will love. It’s packed with healthy ingredients, including pork liver, egg whites, and chicken liver, and fish oil helps provide important omega fatty acids. This brand is also high in moisture, so it will help your kitten stay hydrated, and there are plenty of vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants. The pre-portioned packages are easy to open and help prevent overfeeding.
The main downside to Hill’s Science Diet kitten food is that some kittens won’t like it, and many owners complained that their kittens would only eat the gravy.
5. Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Recipe Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, sweet potatoes |
| Protein content: | 44% min |
| Fat content: | 20% min |
| Calories: | EM Kcal/lb. 1907 – Mj/lb. 7.98 412 Kcal/cup |
Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Recipe Adult Cat Dry Food is our vet’s choice food for outdoor cats. It contains plenty of protein, primarily from boneless chicken, making it healthy and easy for your pet to digest. It also includes fruits and vegetables, including carrots, apples, oranges, blueberries, and pomegranates, providing a unique flavor that many cats enjoy. The recipe provides a balanced diet, eliminating the need for additional supplements.
The cons of Farmina N&D include that it is expensive, especially when feeding multiple cats, and that like any brand, some cats won’t like it.
6. Fancy Feast Grilled Seafood Feast Variety Pack Canned Cat Food
| Main ingredients: | Fish broth, ocean fish, wheat gluten, liver |
| Protein content: | 0% min |
| Fat content: | 0% min |
| Calories: | 833 kcal/kg 71kcal/can |
Fancy Feast Grilled Seafood Feast Variety Pack Canned Cat Food is a great choice for cats that prefer wet food, and it can help them stay hydrated, especially on hot days. This brand offers three flavors in the same pack, so there is a better chance that your cat will like it. Each serving provides balanced nutrition, with many high-quality ingredients, like liver, chicken, ocean fish, tuna, and shrimp.
The downside to Fancy Feast is that it can get quite expensive, especially since the portion size is 1 can per 2.5 pounds of body weight, meaning your cat will need several cans daily. Also, like any food, your cat may not like one or more of the flavors. Many customers say that their cat only has one favorite, and other cats like to just lick off the gravy and leave the rest.
7. Purina Cat Chow Naturals Original
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal |
| Protein content: | 0% min |
| Fat content: | 0% min |
| Calories: | 3,740 kcal/kg, 398 kcal/cup |
Purina Cat Chow Naturals Original is a great choice when you need high-quality cat food that provides all the important nutrients. It contains 25 essential vitamins and minerals that will help keep your cat healthy and happy. The balanced formula is suitable for all ages, helps with hairball control, and has no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors.
While it can be easier to get many cats to try this brand than many other healthy foods, some customers complained that it gave their cats diarrhea, so you must transition them slowly and watch for problems.
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Food for Outdoor Cat
Nutritional Requirements
Outdoor cats have unique nutritional needs due to their active lifestyle. Look for cat food that balances protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates to support their energy levels and muscle maintenance. Try to find brands that provide essential vitamins and minerals, including taurine, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants for overall health.
High-Quality Ingredients
Choose brands that use real meat as the primary protein source. Avoid foods with fillers, by-products, artificial additives, or excessive grains, as these may not provide adequate nutrition for outdoor cats. Read the ingredient list, and choose products with named meat sources like chicken, salmon, or turkey listed first.
Life Stage and Health Condition
When selecting outdoor cat food, consider your cat’s age, activity level, and specific health conditions. Kittens, adult cats, and senior cats have varying nutritional requirements. If your cat has allergies, sensitivities, or specific dietary needs, choose specialized formulas, or consult a veterinarian for recommendations.
Moisture Content
Outdoor cats may have increased hydration needs, especially in warm climates. Wet or canned cat food can be beneficial because it provides additional moisture, promoting proper hydration and urinary tract health. Consider incorporating wet food and dry food into your cat’s diet, especially in the summer.
Transition Period
When introducing a new cat food, gradually transition your cat by mixing small amounts with their current food to help prevent digestive upsets, and allow them to adjust slowly to the new diet.
Conclusion
Iams ProActive Health Healthy Adult Original With Chicken Dry Cat Food provides a balanced diet with natural fiber, prebiotics, and omega fats, which is why it is our pick as the best overall outdoor cat food. The Purina Beyond White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe Grain-Free Natural Dry Cat Food provides steroid-free chicken and limited ingredients on a budget, while Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe Grain-Free Dry Cat Food is our premium choice and contains LifeSource Bits that will help keep your pet healthy. Hill’s Science Diet Kitten Tender Chicken Recipe Cat Food is pre-portioned and well suited to kittens, while Farmina N&D Prime Chicken & Pomegranate Recipe Adult Cat Dry Food is our vet’s choice among these reviews.
Featured Image Credit: ONUTTO, Shutterstock