Ensuring your kitten grows into a healthy adult cat starts with their diet.The best kitten food supports their development throughout their first year of life and makes them look forward to mealtime.
But with dozens of options on the market, how do pet parents decide what dry and wet food to buy? Below, veterinarians break down what to consider while picking a kitten food, including options from Purina, Fancy Feast and Hill’s Science Diet.Experts also shared insights about how much and how often to feed your kitten, plus when to transition them to adult cat food.Selected.Our top picksBest overall dry foodIams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food$undefined$33.98AmazonLearn moreBest overall wet foodFancy Feast Kitten Tender Ocean Whitefish Feast Canned Cat Food$23.04$26.40ChewyLearn moreBest grain-free dry foodMerrick Purrfect Bistro Grain-Free Healthy Kitten Recipe Dry Food$19.98$22.98ChewyLearn moreBest wet food in gravyRoyal Canin Feline Health Nutrition Thin Slices in Gravy Wet Kitten Food$undefined$54.96AmazonLearn moreSee 1 MoreRelatedselectedselectedNot all cat carriers are airline approved — how to find one that isWant more from NBC Selected? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter.The best kitten food in 2026All of the food below, which includes NBC Selected staff favorites and highly-rated options, is specifically formulated for kittens, meets AAFCO nutrition standards and has a meat source as the first ingredient, per expert recommendations.The best dry kitten foodBest overallIams ProActive Health Kitten Dry Cat Food20,245 Amazon Reviews$33.98Amazon$33.98$35.99ChewyNow 6% off$33.99TargetWhat to knowSize: 3.5 lb., 7 lb.
or 16 lb.bag | First ingredient: chicken | Other flavors: salmonWhat we likeSmall kibble sizeFiller-freeVitamin ESomething to noteNothing to note at this timeIams’ kibble is small in size, making it’s easy for kittens to chew.
It’s made without fillers, artificial flavors or artificial preservatives.It con...